Perlan — Museum & View★★
Iceland's Nature Under a Glass Dome
The Perlan ("The Pearl") sits atop the Öskjuhlíð hill south of the city center and is unmistakable: A glittering glass dome rests on six former hot water storage tanks from the 1930s, which once secured the city's geothermal supply. Today, the building houses one of Iceland's most modern natural history museums.
The exhibition "Wonders of Iceland" is excellently done and ideal for informing yourself about Iceland's nature before the actual trip:
- Ice Cave: A walkable, 100-meter-long tunnel made of real ice that simulates the inside of a glacier — with ice sculptures, blue light, and temperatures below zero. Perfect if you can't make it to a real ice cave in Vatnajökull
- Planetarium: Northern Lights show in a 360° dome — the next best alternative if you don't catch real Northern Lights
- Underwater World: Interactive exhibition about Iceland's marine ecosystem, whales, and fishing
- Volcano Exhibition: Films and simulations of Iceland's most active volcanoes
The 360° observation deck on the dome (included in the museum ticket) offers a fantastic panoramic view over Reykjavík, the mountains, and the sea — next to the Hallgrímskirkja tower, the best viewpoint in the city. On the ground floor, there is a café, and the surrounding Öskjuhlíð forest (one of the few forests in Iceland) is ideal for a walk.
💡 Tipp
Perlan is the perfect bad weather plan — when it's stormy and raining outside, spend 2–3 hours in the exhibition. The ice cave and the planetarium also captivate children. The visit is especially worthwhile BEFORE your trip along the Ring Road because then you'll know what to look out for.
