capital-region · Iceland
Perlan — Museo de las Maravillas de Islandia
About Perlan — Museo de las Maravillas de Islandia
Perlan ("La Perla") es el museo de historia natural de Reykjavík en la colina Öskjuhlíð, ubicado en una distintiva cúpula de vidrio encima de seis enormes tanques geotérmicos de agua caliente. La atracción estrella del museo es la única cueva de hielo cubierta de Islandia, un túnel de hielo real de 100 metros excavado en el edificio. Las exposiciones cubren glaciares, volcanes, geología y naturaleza islandesa. La plataforma de observación ofrece vistas de 360° de Reikiavik y el edificio en sí es un hito arquitectónico.
History & Background
Öskjuhlíð fue elegido en los años 1930 como emplazamiento para los depósitos geotérmicos de almacenamiento de agua caliente. La estructura actual de seis tanques con cúpula de vidrio se completó en 1991. El restaurante giratorio funcionó entre 1991 y 2017. El museo Maravillas de Islandia abrió sus puertas en 2017 después de una importante renovación. El edificio es ahora uno de los monumentos más reconocibles de Reykjavík.
Did You Know?
- Glass dome atop 6 massive hot water tanks
- 100m real ice cave kept at -10°C year-round
- 350 tonnes of ice in the cave
- 360° observation deck with outdoor terrace
- Second-best view in Reykjavík after Hallgrímskirkja
Tours Near Perlan — Museo de las Maravillas de Islandia
Best-rated Iceland experiences — book with free cancellation
Why Visit
Perlan ('The Pearl') is Reykjavík's natural history museum on Öskjuhlíð hill, housed in a distinctive glass dome atop six massive geothermal hot water tanks.
Did You Know?
The ice cave at Perlan is made from real glacier ice — but ironically, climate change is melting Iceland's real glaciers faster than they can be studied. Perlan's artificial cave may outlast the natural ones.
The Pearl on the Hill
Perlan was built to store hot water pumped from deep underground — but someone decided that if you're going to build six giant tanks on a hill, you should put a glass dome on top and make it beautiful.
Stories & Legends
Icelandic sagas and folklore from this area
Hidden Gems Nearby
The Observation Deck at Sunset
The outdoor observation terrace at sunset offers arguably the best panoramic view in Reykjavík — and unlike Hallgrímskirkja, there's space to sit and watch.
The Forest Walk Below
Öskjuhlíð hill is covered in planted forest with walking trails — a rare sight in Iceland. The paths from Perlan down to Nauthólsvík beach are genuinely beautiful.
Practical Information
Best Time
Afternoons for best observation deck light
Duration
2–3 hours
Access
Öskjuhlíð hill, 2 km from city centre — bus or drive
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ice cave really ice?
Yes — 350 tonnes of real compacted snow and ice kept frozen at -10°C. Dress warm.
How much is admission?
Around 5,900 ISK adults, 2,900 ISK children 6–15. Check perlan.is for current prices.
