Ice, baby

5 iconic places to ice skate

There is no better feeling than whizzing across a mirror-like ice surface on your skates. You do your laps almost effortlessly, enjoying the cool winter air and the lightness of being. It is not known who first had the idea of strapping skates to their feet. What is certain is that around 5,000 years ago, people in southern Finland were already using the precursors of modern ice skates made of bone. In the 18th century, this form of locomotion was finally elevated to a sport and art form. The first figure skating club was founded in Edinburgh in 1742. International competitions have been held since 1882, and a lot has happened since then - sometimes you no longer need frozen lakes to be able to skate. Some of the most iconic places where people currently indulge in the sport include the following:

Suvretta House, St. Moritz/Switzerland

For more than a hundred years, the well-known traditional Swiss hotel has been enthroned at almost 2,000 meters above the snowy surroundings of the Engadin. Directly on the Suvretta slope, guests of the luxury hotel can enjoy themselves on a mirror-smooth ice rink. Just like back then. Well, almost. Because today, of course, the ice surface is created using modern equipment. The hotel's own ice rink is still one of the places to be in the Swiss mountains. Guests can skate their lengths on the well-maintained ice rink to the accompaniment of lively music. And enjoy the surrounding mountain panorama at the same time. www.suvrettahouse.ch

The Mark Hotel, New York/USA

Guests at The Mark Hotel in New York also have a magnificent view, but not of the mountains, but of the rooftops of a metropolis of millions. The hotel's ice rink in Central Park is available to guests of The Mark Penthouse. They can play ice hockey here, pirouette on the ice or simply enjoy the panorama. Privacy is guaranteed in any case. Incidentally, the hotel also offers magical sleigh rides on Cedar Hill in Central Park in winter. On the hotel's own designer sleigh, of course. www.themarkhotel.com

Rockefeller Center, New York/USA

The ice rink in front of Rockefeller Center is world-famous from numerous films. Among others from "Lovestory", "Because you exist" and "Kevin alone in New York". No wonder, after all, it scores with its gigantic Christmas tree and the festive Christmas lights that stay on until late January every year. The square is smaller than Central Park, but there are usually fewer people out and about. www.rockefellercenter.com

Vienna Ice Dream, Vienna/Austria

The small Alpine republic is big in winter. Not least because of its wonderful ski slopes. But winter in Austria can also be enjoyed to the fullest away from the mountains. In the Austrian capital, for example, numerous visitors flock to the "Vienna Ice Dream" every year from January to the end of March. The ice rink in front of Rathausplatz consists of two levels and also leads along winding paths through the adjacent park. Visitors have been enjoying themselves on the skates here since 1996. www.wienereistraum.com

Fairmont Lake Louise, Banff/Kanda

Depending on the weather conditions, you can ice skate on beautiful Lake Louise until late April. The panorama consists of the dramatic Victoria Glacier and the snow-covered Rocky Mountains. Floodlights illuminate the ice every evening, so you can let off steam here until late at night. CNN and the Huffington Post have already declared the part of the lake that has been cleared of fresh snow and is ready for ice skating to be the "best ice skating rink in the world." Ice skating equipment is available directly at the hotel. www.fairmont.com


Text: Claudia Hilmbauer