Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Iceland Travel GuideLOCAL TRAVEL AGENCY IN ICELAND
My trip
Talk to a local
Perlan is a glass-domed building on Öskjuhlíð hill above Reykjavík, built over the city's hot water storage tanks. Inside are the Wonders of Iceland exhibitions, an artificial ice cave, a planetarium and a 360-degree observation deck. It is about a 30-minute walk or a short bus or taxi ride from downtown, open all year, and most visits take 1–2 hours.
Perlan ("The Pearl") sits on top of six huge hot water tanks that are still part of Reykjavík's district heating system, which is why the building has its distinctive dome shape. The observation deck that circles the dome gives a 360-degree view over the city, the surrounding sea and, on a clear day, the mountains around the capital area.
Inside, the Wonders of Iceland exhibitions cover the country's volcanoes, earthquakes, glaciers and northern lights with hands-on, family-friendly displays. The highlight for many visitors is the man-made ice cave, about 100 metres long, built from real snow and ice and kept below freezing, and the Áróra planetarium show, which explains the science behind the northern lights. There is also a restaurant, café and shop on site.
It is one of the best-known landmarks in Reykjavík and an easy visit in any weather, which makes it a good choice with children. After dark the tanks are floodlit, so the dome can be seen glowing from much of the city.
Hot water tanks have stood on Öskjuhlíð since 1939, storing geothermal water for the city's heating. In 1991 the glass dome was added on top of six rebuilt tanks, to a design by the architect Ingimundur Sveinsson, and Perlan opened to the public. The Wonders of Iceland exhibitions, the ice cave and the planetarium were added later and turned the building into the nature museum it is today.
Perlan stands at the top of Öskjuhlíð, a wooded hill in the middle of the city. More than 176,000 trees have been planted on its slopes, and a network of walking and cycling paths runs through them. You are quite likely to meet the wild rabbits that live on the hill.
A walk here is free and a good way to get some fresh air before or after the museum. Paths lead down the south side to the geothermal beach at Nauthólsvík, and the city centre, Hallgrímskirkja and the harbour are all within easy reach for the rest of the day.
Perlan has a restaurant, a café, an ice cream parlour, a shop and toilets. The building and observation deck are accessible by lift, making it one of the easier Reykjavík attractions for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Perlan is close enough to downtown Reykjavík that any city-centre hotel or guesthouse works well as a base, with the walk or a short bus ride bringing you to the building.
It is a good option for families and for anyone who wants an indoor look at Icelandic nature and a wide view over Reykjavík, especially on a day when the weather rules out other plans.
City bus routes 18 and 13 stop nearby, or it is about a 30-minute walk from the centre through Öskjuhlíð.
No, access is included with the Wonders of Iceland exhibition ticket and cannot be bought on its own.
Most people spend 1–2 hours on the exhibitions, ice cave and observation deck. Allow more time if you also eat there.
The Wonders of Iceland exhibitions on glaciers, volcanoes and wildlife, a man-made ice cave about 100 metres long, the Áróra planetarium show, a 360-degree observation deck, and a restaurant, café and shop.
Any season works, since everything except the deck is indoors. Summer gives the longest views and the midnight sun; winter gives snowy views and a small chance of northern lights from the deck.
Tours and trips that include Perlan, booked directly with a local travel agency in Iceland.
