If you want to take a complete tour of the island of fire and ice without leaving Reykjavik, the Perlan Iceland museum is the plan for you.
But if you also want to have one of the best views of the capital, admire unique architecture in Reykjavik, savor its gastronomy under a glass dome, go ziplining or enjoy a great plan in Iceland with kids, the Perlan museum is also the plan for you.
There is so much to see, do, and learn at Perlan Iceland. Here I’ll tell you everything this museum offers, as well as all the practical information you need to organize your visit.
Perlan, a surprising building
The Perlan museum revolves around the ‘Wonders of Iceland‘ exhibition, which represents a tour of the natural wonders that this destination boasts, such as volcanoes, glaciers, or waterfalls.
And although its interior is very attractive, its exterior alone will catch your attention. This innovative building, perched on top of a hill, is built on six gigantic geothermal water tanks that have been supplying hot water and maintaining the heating system for a large part of Reykjavik since the 1940s.
At the very top, 25 meters high, a glass dome designed by architect Ingimundur Sveinsson crowns the ambitious project that was Perlan Iceland and which was inaugurated in 1991. Just for the climb to the observation deck installed at the top, it is worth buying tickets for the Perlan museum.
Apparently, at night the four-story building dresses up and the glass dome lights up, creating a beautiful effect that can be seen from various points in the city center. I say apparently because when I was there, in early June, the midnight sun never allowed the sky to get dark.
Perlan Iceland: what this museum has
Visiting Perlan Iceland is like touring the whole island at once. Inside this museum, you can experience many of the things Iceland offers as a tourist destination, presented from an educational and scientific point of view.
During the tour of the Perlan museum you will be able to see northern lights, walk through the heart of a glacier, watch puffins, admire an erupting volcano, and even spot whales.
Wonders of Iceland Exhibition
Fire, ice, and water are the protagonists of the central exhibition at Perlan Iceland called Wonders of Iceland. Throughout the various rooms and floors of the museum, you will learn a lot about how the forces of nature have shaped and continue to shape this country.
Remember that the panels and interactive activities are not available in Spanish, but they are in English. Here are some of its most striking sections:
-Látrabjarg Cliffs:
A reproduction of the Látrabjarg cliffs, in the East Fjords, allows visitors to ‘observe’ puffins and other birds up close thanks to an original augmented reality system. This area of Perlan Iceland is a guaranteed hit with children.
-Forces of Nature Expo:
In Iceland, the ground shakes, vibrates, and even boils. In this section of Perlan Iceland, you will learn in a very interesting way how earthquakes, volcanoes, and geothermal energy make this island pulse, where geology plays an important role.
-Underwater cinema:
A curved screen will transport you to the bottom of the ocean on an underwater journey to contemplate the animals and beings that inhabit it. In addition, the floor around this small cinema holds surprises that will delight the little ones.
-Glaciers and Ice Expo:
Housed in one of the circular tanks of Perlan Iceland, I found this exhibition to be one of the most interesting and original in the museum. If you go with children, it is a brilliant resource to raise awareness about the serious consequences of climate change on Iceland’s glaciers, just as happens with Alaska’s glaciers.
–Vatnid, fresh water:
This is the most interactive area of the entire Perlan Museum. Here you will learn about the overwhelming, yet tiny, life that inhabits Iceland’s freshwater. If you go to Iceland with children, you will spend a good while in this area.
In this exhibition organized by the Icelandic Museum of Natural History, you will be able to dip your hands in the water, play at feeding fish on a screen without touching it, and learn which animals live in the water with an original system of interactive magnifying glasses, among other activities.
Ice Cave
One of Perlan’s main attractions is the recreation of an ice cave that will make you feel as if you are in the heart of an Icelandic glacier. There are slots every fifteen minutes, and the entrance is on the ground floor, somewhat hidden next to the ocean area.
Wrap up warm because in this tunnel, about 100 meters long and built with more than 350 tons of real ice and snow, the temperature is -15ºC.
Áróra Planetarium
The aurora borealis are, without a doubt, one of Iceland’s greatest attractions. This phenomenon that lights up the sky with the so-called Northern Lights can only be seen between September and April, provided that the necessary weather and darkness conditions are met.
But at Perlan Iceland you can watch them dance above your head in the planetarium, which projects an 8K resolution interesting and beautiful immersive video about the aurora borealis. If you travel in summer as I did, at least you can console yourself with this lovely show that lasts just under half an hour.
Upon entering, ask for the show times to organize your time inside Perlan Iceland; they are usually every 40 minutes. Remember that no photos are allowed inside and the only languages in which it is broadcast are Icelandic and English. You can enter with children and babies, but you must leave the stroller outside.
Observation Deck
If anything characterizes the striking architecture of the Perlan Museum, it is being topped by a monumental glass dome. Go up to the top floor to admire this architectural landmark from the inside and from the outside by stepping out onto the terrace that completely surrounds it.
From this privileged observation platform, you have beautiful 360º views of the entire city of Reykjavik with explanatory panels. On the clearest days, you can see Mount Esja and even, further away, the Keilir volcano and the Snæfellsjökull glacier.
Easier to admire will be the famous tower of the Hallgrímskirkja church, whose shape is inspired by the famous basalt columns so common in Iceland.
Extra attractions: zip line and bouncy castles
If you go with children, the first thing that will catch their attention upon arriving at Perlan Iceland is a gigantic set of inflatables located outside before entering the museum. It is Adventure Land and will delight kids and adults alike with its castles, slides, and fun inflatables.
In addition, a zip line is installed on the dome of the Perlan Museum to fly over the forests surrounding the museum. The price for this activity, which is only available during the spring and summer months, is 2,990 krona, about 22 euros.
Perlan Museum Iceland: prices and ticket types
Tickets for Perlan cost 33.50 euros for adults (4,690 krona), 19.30 euros for children and youth between 6 and 17 years old (2,690 krona), and are free for children under 6 years old.
If you are traveling with children aged 6 and up, you can save money by purchasing the family pass directly at the ticket office for two adults and two children for 78.50 euros (10,990 krona).
These tickets grant access to:
- Wonders of Iceland exhibitions
- Aurora Planetarium
- Ice Cave
- Observatory (glass dome where the outdoor viewpoint, restaurant, cafe, ice cream parlor, zip line, and a souvenir shop are located).
Additionally, Perlan Iceland offers two other types of tickets in case you don’t want to see the entire museum:
- Planetarium + Observatory: 25 euros (3,490 krona), 14 euros (1,990 krona) for ages 6 to 17
- Observatory Only: 7 euros (990 krona) for minors between 6 and 17 years old
If you want to save a bit of money on the Perlan entrance fee and also plan to go to other museums in Reykjavik and even bathe in some of the city’s public thermal pools, it is worth buying the Reykjavik City Card. Although the Perlan is not included in this tourist card, it does offer a 20% discount on tickets.
How to get to the Perlan museum
The Perlan museum is located on the outskirts of Reykjavik, heading south towards the coast. The exact address is Öskjuhlíð, 105, but here is a map with the exact location of Perlan Iceland to help you find it more easily.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1x3qQqJJzhA2CWNtmoxJ7GaOAHl-6jiw&ehbc=2E312F&w=640&h=480]If you are going in your rental car, you just have to put the address in the navigator and park right at the door, as it has free parking.
To get there by public transport, you have to take the line 18 bus and get off at the stop that bears its name: Perlan.
Another very good option to get there is on board the Reykjavik tourist bus. This panoramic bus service takes you to the most interesting places in the center of the capital and drops you off at the museum door. Additionally, during the route which has 15 stops, you will learn curiosities and historical facts about the city thanks to the audio guide in Spanish that is included.
Where to eat at Perlan Iceland
The museum has a complete catering offer on the top two floors. There is a restaurant, a cafeteria, a bar, and even an ice cream stand (in Iceland they are big fans of this sweet and cold snack).
The Perlan restaurant also offers spectacular views, as it is located under the famous glass dome.
Surely you are wondering what the prices are like. The cheapest thing you can have is an espresso for 540 krona (about 3.9 euros) and for a little more you have a single scoop ice cream. If you want to eat in the restaurant, get your wallet ready because a salad costs about 21 euros and a pizza about 25 euros.
How long a visit to Perlan Iceland lasts
In order to enjoy everything the museum offers, I recommend setting aside about three hours. This time would be to see the exhibitions, cross the ice tunnel, contemplate the northern lights in the Planetarium, and go up to the dome to contemplate the views of Reykjavik.
Obviously, this is an indicative time because it depends on your interest in reading the explanatory panels (in English) or experimenting with the interactive proposals, also on whether you are going with children or if you want to slide down the zip line.
If, in addition, you want to rest by having a drink in the cafeteria or even eat in the panoramic restaurant, set aside more time. In short, you can easily spend a whole morning or a whole afternoon at the Perlan Iceland museum.
In my case, I visited Perlan Iceland with three young children aged 5, 3 and 1 and spent about three hours.
Perlan Iceland Opening Hours
Here are the opening hours for everything you can do at the Perlan museum, which receives visitors every day from Monday to Sunday.
- Museum – Exhibitions: From 9:00 to 20:00. Tickets are sold only up to one hour before closing.
- Restaurant: from 11:30 to 18:00
- Ice cream parlor: from 12:00 to 20:00
- Cafeteria: from 10:00 to 17:00
- Bar: from 11:30 to 20:00
- Zip line from 12:00 to 17:30. You can ride every 30 minutes, as there are passes on the hour and half-hour. It is only operational in spring and summer; for the next season it opens in May 2023.
The ideal complement to Perlan
Very close to the museum, there is one of the places to see in Iceland that not everyone knows and that is very worthwhile, especially in summer. It is the Nauthólsvík geothermal beach where you can take a free thermal bath next to a beach unique in the country, as its sand was brought from the Sahara desert.
Travel insurance for Iceland
I recommend that you do not go to Iceland without good travel insurance that covers not only healthcare but also cancellations and many of the unforeseen events that could spoil your adventure. I always travel with Mondo insurance; I’ve had to use it on a couple of occasions and they have always responded brilliantly
From just 17 euros, you already have the Tranquility Trip policy for a week’s stay in Iceland. For a trip as expensive as this, investing a little money in Mondo travel insurance is very much worth it. Take a look at the different policies to see which one interests you most, keeping in mind that you have a 5% discount for being a reader of this blog.
One of the most practical things about this insurance is its app, which includes a 24-hour medical chat so you can consult with a healthcare professional at any time and from anywhere.
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