Icebar Amsterdam (XtraCold): Tickets, What to Expect & Is It Worth It?

Amsterdam has a bar where it is winter all year round — the walls, the sculptures and even your glass are carved from ice, and it never climbs above -10°C. The XtraCold Icebar is pure novelty, and it is easy to overpay or turn up at the wrong moment. Here is exactly what to expect, what a ticket costs and includes, and whether the Icebar is worth your time.

What is the XtraCold Icebar?

The XtraCold Icebar is Amsterdam’s coldest bar — and, it claims, its coolest. Everything inside is sculpted from natural ice: the bar itself, the seats, the polar-themed statues and the glass your drink comes in. The room is held at a constant -10°C and carved from around 60 tons of ice, with a design inspired by the 1596 Dutch expedition to the North Pole. It is a photo-op as much as a drink.

What to expect on a visit

The visit comes in two parts. You start in the warm lounge bar with a welcome drink (often a cocktail), where staff hand you a hooded thermal cape and gloves. Then you step through the heavy doors into the ice room for your other two drinks. You can stay inside for up to about 20 minutes — long enough to enjoy it, short enough that you won’t freeze. Total visit is roughly 45 minutes to an hour.

Icebar Amsterdam tickets & prices

Ticket	Prijs	Includes
Online (timed, skip-the-line)	from €22.50	Entry + 3 drinks + thermal cape & gloves
At the door	€28	Same, subject to availability
Canal cruise + Icebar combo	combo rate	Both experiences in one booking

Booking ahead saves you around €5.50 and the queue: book Icebar tickets with 3 drinks online.

Is the Icebar Amsterdam worth it?

For what it is — a fun, novel hour and a set of memorable photos — yes, especially with a group, on a birthday, or as a quirky start to a night out. Reviewers consistently call it good value when booked online. Set expectations, though: the ice room is small, you can only hold one ice glass at a time, and the 20-minute limit is real. It is an experience, not a place to settle in for the evening — for that, see the next section.

Where it is & opening hours

The Icebar is at Amstel 194–196, a two-minute walk from Rembrandtplein in the centre — easy to combine with the rest of your evening. Hours are typically Sunday–Thursday from late afternoon and Friday–Saturday from midday until late, but they change seasonally, so confirm when you book. See where it sits on our map of Amsterdam.

Tips before you go

• Wear long sleeves. The cape is warm but sleeveless-ish, so a jumper underneath helps.
• Closed shoes, not sandals. The floor is, unsurprisingly, cold.
• Mind your phone. Batteries drain fast in the cold — take photos quickly.
• Book a slot online — it’s cheaper and you won’t queue.
• Go early or midweek for the quietest experience in the small space.

Pair it with

The Icebar works well as one stop in a bigger night. You can pre-book it together with a boat trip as a canal cruise and Icebar combo, and once you’ve warmed up, swap the novelty for the real thing at one of the city’s traditional brown cafés. For another hands-on drinks experience, the Heineken Experience is nearby, and there is plenty more in our guide to things to do in Amsterdam.

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