Attraction
Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavik's landmark Lutheran church on Skólavörðuholt hill, designed by Guðjón Samúelsson, with a lift up the tower for views across the city and bay.
Perlan
Glass-domed nature museum on Öskjuhlíð hill, built over the city's hot water tanks, with an indoor ice cave, a northern lights planetarium show and a 360-degree viewing deck.
At a glance
- Type
- Nature museum and observation deck
- Area
- Öskjuhlíð, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Official site
- perlan.is
Good to know
- Indoor ice cave
- Planetarium
- Observation deck
- Restaurant
- Café
- Ice cream parlour
- Shop
Why we recommend it
Perlan, meaning the pearl, is the glass dome that sits on top of Öskjuhlíð, a wooded hill south of the city centre. The dome rests on six large tanks that store hot water for Reykjavik's district heating system, the first of which was built in 1939. Perlan opened in its current form on 21 June 1991, and today it combines a nature museum, branded Wonders of Iceland, with a viewing deck, restaurant and café, making it one of the most useful places in the city to learn about Iceland's landscape before or after heading out to see it.
The exhibitions explain the forces that shaped the country: glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes, geothermal water and wildlife. The highlight for many visitors is the ice cave, a walk-through tunnel of real ice and snow about 100 metres long, built inside one of the tanks, so bring a warm layer. Another tank holds a planetarium showing Áróra, an 8K film about the northern lights, which is worth seeing if you are visiting in summer when the aurora is not visible. There is also a large model of the Látrabjarg seabird cliff, a volcano show about the Geldingadalir eruption, and exhibits on water in Icelandic nature and the country's geological timeline.
On top of the tanks, the observation deck gives a 360-degree view over Reykjavik, the bay, Mount Esja and the Reykjanes peninsula. It is one of the best panoramas in the city, especially in clear weather and at sunset. Inside the dome there is a restaurant and bar, a café and an ice cream parlour, so it is easy to combine a museum visit with a meal.
Perlan works well for families, for anyone visiting in poor weather and for travellers who want context before a road trip. Tickets are sold online through the Perlan website, and booking ahead makes sense in summer and at weekends. Allow two to three hours to see the exhibitions, planetarium show and viewing deck without rushing. The exhibitions are open from 09:00 to 21:00, with shorter hours for the café and restaurant.
Perlan is about a 30-minute walk uphill from the centre, or a short taxi or bus ride. The wooded slopes of Öskjuhlíð around the building are pleasant for a short walk before or after your visit.
Perlan FAQs
What is there to do at Perlan?
Perlan has a nature exhibition called Wonders of Iceland, an indoor ice cave, a northern lights planetarium show, a volcano show, an observation deck, a restaurant, a café and an ice cream parlour.
What are Perlan's opening hours?
The exhibitions are open 09:00 to 21:00. The café, restaurant, bar and shop keep their own, shorter hours, which are listed on the Perlan website.
Is the ice cave real ice?
Yes. The ice cave is an indoor tunnel about 100 metres long made from real ice and snow, so bring a warm layer.
Can I see the northern lights at Perlan?
The planetarium shows Áróra, an 8K film about the northern lights, which you can watch at any time of year.
How long should I allow?
Two to three hours is enough to see the exhibitions, the planetarium show and the observation deck.
Is Perlan good for children?
Yes. The ice cave, the bird cliff model and the interactive exhibits make it popular with families.
Do I need to book tickets?
Tickets can be bought online on the Perlan website, which is sensible in summer and at weekends.
How do I get to Perlan?
Perlan is on Öskjuhlíð hill south of the centre. You can walk uphill in about half an hour or take a taxi or bus.