In a tiny village in Swedish Lapland, a handful of Scandinavia's most celebrated architects were each asked the same question: what would you build in a tree? The answers are hanging in the pine forest above the Lule River. One is a cube of mirrored glass that all but vanishes against the trunks. One looks like a giant bird's nest of tangled branches. Another is a flying saucer. The newest rooms, including a bird-box-wrapped sphere by Bjarke Ingels Group and a long cabin by Snøhetta with a net terrace stretched over the void, have only added to the legend.
Treehotel is part sculpture park and part forest retreat. It is wholly unlike anywhere else you could spend a honeymoon. You two climb a walkway or ladder to your room and close the door. Then you're alone among the treetops in a quiet that is almost total. In winter the aurora flickers over the valley; in summer the sun barely sets. Either way, this is a place for couples who love design, nature and a story to tell for the rest of their lives.
Highlights at a glance
- Tree rooms designed by Snøhetta, BIG, Tham & Videgård and other studios
- The mirrored Mirrorcube and the branch-wrapped Bird's Nest
- 7th Room's netted terrace for aurora gazing above the forest
- Private sauna and hot tub sessions for two
- Northern lights in winter, midnight sun in summer
- Day trips to the thundering Storforsen rapids
Harads and the Lule River Valley
Harads is not a resort town. It is a small rural village in Swedish Lapland, roughly an hour's drive northwest of Luleå, set where the forest slopes down to the broad Lule River. The tree rooms are spread through the pines on a hillside, connected by paths and walkways, so even with a few dozen guests on site you will feel wonderfully isolated.
The base for everything is a cozy guesthouse at the bottom of the hill, a former boarding house with a mid-century country feel where you check in, eat and book activities. It is a lovely counterpoint to the radical architecture up in the trees: warm, homey and a little nostalgic.
The location, just shy of the Arctic Circle, means real winter and real darkness from autumn to spring. Around midsummer the daylight is endless.
The Tree Rooms, One by One
Each room is a standalone work of architecture. Picking yours is half the fun. A few standouts for couples:
- Mirrorcube, by Tham & Videgård, is a box clad in reflective glass that mirrors the forest. Inside, it is a sleek plywood retreat with windows on every side.
- Bird's Nest, by Inredningsgruppen, hides a surprisingly modern room inside a shaggy shell of branches, reached by a retractable ladder.
- The Cabin, by Cyrén & Cyrén, is a capsule with a big rooftop deck facing the river valley.
- Biosphere, by BIG, is wrapped in hundreds of bird boxes and reached by a suspended bridge, with its own sauna and a roof terrace.
- 7th Room, by Snøhetta, is the showpiece, raised high among the pines with a netted terrace for lying back under the aurora.
Others include the UFO, Blue Cone, Dragonfly and the newer Oasis. All have private bathrooms.
Eating in Harads
Dining is centered on the guesthouse. The cooking celebrates northern Sweden: local fish and game, root vegetables, forest mushrooms and berries foraged nearby. Breakfast is a generous buffet, often brightened with cloudberries or lingonberries picked in the area. Dinners lean toward seasonal set menus. The hotel has expanded its dining under the Table by Treehotel name. You can also arrange special meals in the treetops for a private celebration.
There are very few restaurants in Harads itself, so plan to eat most meals at the hotel. Reserve dinner in advance during peak periods. If you are driving up from Luleå, it is worth picking up any snacks or drinks you would like to keep in your room along the way. Wine and spirits are sold only in state Systembolaget shops, so shop in Luleå.
Why guests fall for it
Saunas, Rapids and the Northern Sky
Treehotel's spa is a private affair. Book a session and you two get the sauna, a hot tub and a fire-warmed lounge to yourselves for a couple of hours, with robes and slippers provided. Afterward, a cold plunge in the snow or the river is entirely optional and entirely recommended.
The activity menu changes with the seasons. Winter brings northern lights photography outings, snowshoeing, dog sledding, ice fishing and snowmobiling. In the warmer months there is kayaking and canoeing on the river, a zipline, hiking and fishing.
Do not miss Storforsen, a short drive away, one of the largest unregulated rapids in Europe. In late spring and early summer, when snowmelt is at its peak, the roar of the water is hard to forget. Boardwalks let you get close.
Why Guests Fall for Treehotel
For most visitors, the architecture alone is worth the trip. Guests describe the rooms as works of art and talk about the thrill of finally stepping inside one they have admired in photos for years. The fact that no two rooms are alike is a constant source of delight.
The silence comes up just as often. Couples say the stillness of the forest, especially in deep snow, made them slow down and feel genuinely far from everyday life. Waking up among the treetops with the river valley below is a moment many single out.
Reviewers also praise the warmth of the guesthouse and its staff, the hearty, local cooking and the private spa sessions. Several travelers recommend moving between two rooms over a longer stay. They say doing so made the trip feel even more special.
Good to Know
A car is the easiest way to reach Harads. The drive from Luleå Airport takes about an hour and the hotel can help with transfers. Luleå connects to Stockholm with frequent domestic flights.
Rooms vary widely in size and access. The Bird's Nest is reached by ladder, so pack light and bring a soft bag. If mobility is a concern, ask which rooms have ramps or bridges.
Treehotel is not a full-service luxury resort; it is a design experience with excellent hospitality in a rural setting. Expect peaceful evenings rather than nightlife. In June and July the forest mosquitoes are fierce, so pack a strong repellent and long sleeves for evening walks.
Winter runs roughly November to March, with the best aurora chances on clear dark nights from late August to early April. The midnight sun peaks around late June. Popular rooms such as the Mirrorcube and 7th Room sell out early, so book months ahead.
Insider tips
- Stay two or three nights and switch rooms, pairing a showpiece like the 7th Room or Biosphere with a more intimate one like the Mirrorcube.
- Book the Mirrorcube, 7th Room and Biosphere as early as possible; they are the most requested rooms for winter.
- Reserve a private tree spa session for the evening, then head to a terrace to watch for the aurora.
- Visit Storforsen in late May or June when spring meltwater makes the rapids their most dramatic.
