Awe, Delight & Surprise at the Immersive Perlan Museum: Reykjavík, Iceland
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While I ended up really loving the tour that we took, I wish that I would have been able to book a Golden Circle tour that included the Blue Lagoon during our NCL Prima 11 Night Northern Europe cruise. The biggest reason is I wish that my family would have been able to go to this museum as well – it was so great for so many reasons! I know that they would have enjoyed it as much as I did as there was something for everyone!
Ha! So you may have already noticed that I am a nerd with a capital N as I am fascinated by so many things and am insatiably curious so I LOVE museums. But you don’t have to love them to really enjoy the Perlan, it allows you to experience so much of what makes Iceland, Iceland in a fun, educational and immersive way – take a look for how that’s done!
LOGISTICS
Location:
Varmahlíð 1, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland
Museum Hours:
9:00 – 21:00 | Open Daily
Café / Restaurant Hours:
10:00 -18:00 / 11:30 – 18:00 | Open Daily
I paid $39.05 for the ticket which covered admission, the exhibits and access to the observation lounge. Here’s Why I love to use GetYourGuide and Viator whenever I can!
How To Get Here:
Perlan is atop Öskjuhlíð which is Reykjavík’s highest hill. Walking takes about 30 minutes from the city center while the same trip is 5 minutes in a taxi. Local bus no 13 and 18 stop the closest to Perlan (with a regular schedule everyday!)
This will take care of admission and transportation – as the Perlan (if applicable, the cruise terminal) is one of the 16 stops for the Hop-on Hop-off bus!
PERLAN MUSEUM
The Perlan (Pearl in English) Museum is a very distinctive looking building with a glass dome that sits atop six old water tanks. The museum allows you to experience and explore Iceland in such engaging and fun ways while educating and awing – often at the same time. It’s easiest if I can show you a little of what I was able to experience but also want you to know that I was so into checking everything out that I was too distracted to take photos. The only reason I have these is that I was sending them to my family and a couple friends that would have been thrilled to be here too!
The Northern Lights Show
We started here and I would recommend that this is one exhibit that you do not miss. While you wait for the show inside the planetarium, a film plays that showcases the natural wonders found throughout Iceland – while the island may not be that large in area, it has an out sized number of site and places to explore.
Once inside, this was the beginning of the immersive experience as we got seated in the planetarium. Looking up at the domed ceiling to watch the film gives you an awe inspiring 360° look at the auroras.
Ice Cave
Afterwards we headed to the world’s first indoor ice cave. You read that correctly – there is an actual ICE CAVE that was built with 350 tons of snow that was bought in from the Blue Mountains. Maybe because I am from Colorado, I wrongly assumed that the snow would be man-made to make up the 328 feet (100 meters) long cave. (Where I’m from, we give Mother Nature a hand when the snow is sufficient during ski season sooo I think it’s not too weird to think of snow making machines but lol I can concede it might be!). I love the mix of education and immersion and this exhibit really does both well – you do get a glacial experience.
Glacier exhibition
This is a second interactive exhibition that specially looks at Icelandic glaciers and their bleak future. Things that we may not want to think about much less confront in the rest of the world – places like Iceland have no choice. Here they are seeing the immediate effects of climate change specifically with the rapidly shrinking glaciers and changing landscapes.
Amazing geological wonders / Geldingadalir eruption
(Left photo) In the Forces of Nature exhibition, guests experience the power of volcanoes, earthquakes, and geothermal energy. / (Right Photo) Get an insight into the Geldingadalir volcanic eruption, which started on March 19, 2021, in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, marking the first eruption in the area in over 800 years.
There is not just one screen but multiple screens showing videos that also extend to the floor and seating areas so you feel as if you are in the middle of these phenomena – more education and immersion.
Largest seabird cliff in Europe
I am not a birder but even I was impressed with this exhibit. When I say that it is massive, it is a reference not only with the size of the cliff but the number and diversity of the birds showcased.
Underwater journey
There’s a virtual fish tank that continues the education and interactive fun as you go on an underwater journey around Iceland.
Water in Icelandic Nature
Water is so cool – I am so tempted to launch into all of its properties right now but I will restrain myself. But really water is so cool and the exhibition showcases just how cool and important it is: for the environment but also for the society and how it made and shaped the land.
And so there’s still so much more to explore in the museum!
Observation Deck
But maybe the best part of the museum is that it’s location affords it a perfect place to enjoy some stunning views of Reykjavík. The observation deck surrounds the Perlan and you can walk around to get an incredible overview of the capital.
Observation deck rocks
FOOD & DRINK (& ICE CREAM!)
Restaurant
Location: the restaurant is located on the fifth floor, housed in the glass dome / Hours: 11:30 – 18:00
One of my favorite spots in Reykjavík as you’re able to enjoy some delicious and reasonably priced food and drinks in such a phenomenal setting – look at this view over Reykjavík! It’s also a revolving restaurant aka where the floor makes a 360° rotation meaning that your views will be constantly changing as the backdrop to your meal.
And the interior is just as lovely with tastefully Nordic designs and all of those plants! Hopefully you’ll get to experience some sunshine streaming in as well. Here’s my delectable passionfruit lemonade.
Perlan Herring: Home-baked rye bread, egg, potatoes, and dill mayonnaise showcases how the menu is designed to be simple, fast and good. This was so good, I got a second one rather than try the fish and chips – and I am typically not a fan or rye and herring! Cost was 4250 ISK.
Ice Cream Shop
Location: the ice cream shop is located on the fourth floor / Hours: 11:00 – 21:00 Open Daily – The ice cream is made in house and they love to experiment with new flavors – I can’t wait to come back and try more. Of course I got a triple scoop: normally I try to get complementary flavors but I couldn’t resist with their selection and really happy with my choices: cinnamon, panna cotta with cherries and passionfruit sorbet. The sorbet is the BEST I had ever had, similar to the passionfruit lemonade, the passionfruit was front and center – fresh (as opposed to artificial), tart and refreshing – sooo good!
Café
Location: the café is located on the fifth floor, next to the restaurant / Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 Open Daily
Bar
Location: the bar is also located on the fifth floor / Hours: 11:30 – 21:00 Open Daily – Enjoy a handcrafted cocktail or unwind with a glass of wine or beer whilst enjoying some killer views.
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