Ice bar, Yves Saint Laurent museums and a festival in Bangkok: unusual places to visit

Some places are worth seeing in a particular season. The ice halls of the hotel in Swedish Lapland are built for winter, and in spring they melt. The Yves Saint Laurent museums are open year-round. And Chinese New Year in Bangkok happens once a year.

Planning a trip like this is harder than a regular vacation. The season in Lapland is short, museum slots are best booked in advance, and the holiday dates depend on the lunar calendar.

Below are three destinations. The ICEHOTEL complex and the ICEBAR are located in Jukkasjärvi. Two Yves Saint Laurent museums operate in Paris and Marrakech. The celebrations take place in Bangkok's Yaowarat district.

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Ice hotel and bar in Lapland

💡 In short:

• The hotel is rebuilt every winter from blocks of river ice.
• At the ICEBAR, drinks are served in glasses made of real ice.
• Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official ICEHOTEL website

© Stephan Herz ( User:Stephan_Herz ) · CC BYPhoto: Stephan Herz ( User:Stephan_Herz ), CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), Wikimedia Commons

© Lars Thulin · CC BY-SAPhoto: Lars Thulin, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The ICEHOTEL complex is located in the village of Jukkasjärvi, beyond the Arctic Circle. Each season it is assembled from scratch using blocks of ice from the local river. Builders cut the blocks in March, when the ice is thickest and clearest (according to ICEHOTEL, 09/2026).

The hotel does not stand permanently. In spring, the structures melt and return to the river. Then artists come up with a new design, and everything starts from scratch. That is why the interior is different every year, and you get to experience a season that will never exist again.

The ICEBAR works with the same material. Your drinks are served in a glass made of clear ice (according to icebarbyicehotel.com, 09/2026). When the season closes or the bar is rebuilt, the glassware and walls simply melt away.

Entry to the bar is by ticket, and for those staying overnight at the hotel, admission is included in the price. Opening hours are seasonal, so check the current schedule on the official website (according to ICEHOTEL, 09/2026).

Bring warm clothing even on a daytime tour: the temperature inside stays below freezing (according to the complex’s website, 09/2026).

• The catch: the season is short and weather-dependent: everything lasts until spring, then melts.

Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Paris

The Paris museum occupies number 5 on Avenue Marceau (according to the Paris museum’s website, 09/2026). This is where the couturier worked on his collections. The building has kept the spirit of the workshop, so you see not only the garments but also the setting in which they were created.

© Celette · CC BY-SAPhoto: Celette, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The exhibition is dedicated to the designer’s life and work. For tickets and current opening hours, check the museum’s official website (as of 09/2026, Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris).

Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech

The second museum is open in Marrakech on Rue Yves Saint Laurent (as of 09/2026, Marrakech museum’s website). It stands next to Jardin Majorelle, which the designer once bought and restored.

© Pivari · CC BYPhoto: Pivari, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

The museum is open from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30 (according to the Marrakech museum’s website, 09/2026). Inside, you can see the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. The museum has a bookshop and a cafe.

If you are already visiting the garden, add the museum on the same day, they are next to each other.

• The catch: the museum is closed on Wednesdays, which is worth keeping in mind when planning.

Chinese new year in Bangkok

Bangkok celebrates Chinese New Year in late January or February. The main venue is the Yaowarat district, the local Chinatown. The streets are closed to traffic, and dragons and dancing lions parade through them.

© Nina R from Africa · CC BYPhoto: Nina R from Africa, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

The city is especially crowded on these days.

The festival program includes street food, processions, and fireworks. Large figures of deities are set up in the squares, some of which are brought from China.

• The catch: during the festival days, it is hard to make your way through the crowds in Yaowarat.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to go to the ice hotel?

The complex is open year-round, but the ice interiors are built for winter and rebuilt every season (according to ICEHOTEL, 09/2026). If you want to see the hotel made of ice, plan for the cold months. Check the official website for the season opening dates.

How much do tickets to the Yves Saint Laurent museums cost?

Prices depend on the museum and the season, so check the official websites for current tickets (as of 09/2026, the Paris museum page).

When is Chinese New Year in Bangkok?

The dates follow the lunar calendar and shift every year. The holiday falls in late January or February. The main venue is Yaowarat in Chinatown, with parades, lion dances, and street fairs.

Can you visit both museums in one trip?

The museums are in two different countries, so it is easier to plan them separately. The Paris one occupies a house on Avenue Marceau, while the Moroccan one stands next to Jardin Majorelle. Many people combine a visit in Marrakech with a stroll through the garden.

Do you need to book a hotel in advance during the holiday?

Yes, Bangkok is packed with tourists during Chinese New Year. Hotels in the Yaowarat area get booked up early, and prices rise. Book several weeks ahead and choose a place near a metro line.

In short: what is worth booking

If you have a winter vacation and want something unusual, plan for Lapland. If you are going to Paris, add the museum on Avenue Marceau. If you choose Marrakech, combine the museum with Jardin Majorelle. If you want a vibrant city festival, keep an eye on the Chinese New Year dates in Bangkok. Tours and tickets are easy to book in advance: find tours on GetYourGuide.