We were scheduled to go to Perlan ("Pearl") as part of our Reykjavik City Tour provided by Gate 1 Travel, but our tour guide and bus driver agreed that the weather was not favorable for that visit because the Perlan visit that is part of that tour is focused on the observation deck and one would not be able to see much of a view with the blowing snow. Instead, they planned for us to go to Perlan the next day, after our morning at Blue Lagoon. I'm happy they made that decision because the weather was much clearer the next day and we had some outstanding views from that observation deck.
It turns out that Perlan has much to offer indoors in addition to the great views, but it is of course best to enjoy what they have to offer indoors while also being able to enjoy their outstanding view of Reykjavik and the harbor. Here is a photograph of Perlan's replica of Iceland's Látrabjarg Cliff with puffins.
Instead of using the ticket we were provided as part of our Reykjavik City Tour to use for the Perlan observation deck only, we purchased the "combo" tickets "Wonders of Iceland & Áróra - Northern Lights Planetarium Show." This ticket included the following museum attractions:
- "Wonders of Iceland"
- "Real indoors ice cave"
- "360° Observation deck"
- "Water in Icelandic nature"
- "Áróra - Northern Lights Planetarium Show"
- "Forces of Nature" (volcanoes, plate tectonics, earthquakes, and geothermal) exhibit and film
The planetarium is between the entry to Perlan and the ticket desk and Áróra - Northern Lights Planetarium Show was just about to start as we concluded our ticket purchase, so we went into watch this show first. Although we never saw the northern lights firsthand while in Iceland, this show in the planetarium was very impressive visually and was an interesting presentation. Between this Áróra Northern Lights Planetarium Show and the film was saw earlier in the week at Aurora Reykjavik, I feel like we experienced the next best thing after seeing the northern lights in person. The Áróra presentation is just over 20 minutes in length.
One of the most advertised features of Perlan is its real ice cave.
Although not as colorful as the blue ice caves or the black ice caves we experienced earlier in the week, this white cave did provide an accessible way to feel what it's like to be inside an ice cave. It also features an ice throne perfect for photographs.
The Perlan 360 degrees observation deck surrounds its glass dome.
The observation deck at Perlan deserves its acclaim.
Although the weather was much calmer on this day than the windy day before, it was still quite cool and we have the observation deck to ourselves most of the time we were on it.
We ate lunch at the Perlan Cafe and it had great views from inside the dome.
The location inside of the dome allowed natural light to add to the atmosphere.
With the planetarium presentation on northern lights, the ice cave, the observation deck, and the many exhibits about Icelandic nature, Perlan is certainly a "pearl" worth visiting when in Reykjavik.
Not surprisingly, the Perlan website contains several articles with interesting facts and details with about Iceland with accompanying photographs. Here are a few of them:
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