Perlan, The Pearl of Reykjavik

Originally designed by Ingimunder Sveinsson, this large structure sits on the hill, Oskjuhlid, and looks over the entire city. Standing at about 84.3 feet high and stretching over almost 40,000 square feet, the Pearl is an impressive dome made of glass and steel. The glass dome sits upon walls that link six aluminum sided tanks, each of which can hold 4 million liters of water. Water also acts as the buildings heating and cooling system as hot and cold water can be pumped through the metal framework to help keep the building at a comfortable temperature all year long.

But the Pearl itself is not the only sight to see. Within the structure, there are three shops, a bar, a cafeteria, a resturant, a museum, a viewing deck and an indoor manmade geyser, all of which only create more incentive to make the Pearl a must see.

The first floor constists of 10,000 cubic meters of exhibition space, known as the Winter Garden. This space hosts various concerts, expos, and markets throughout the year. You can also visit the Saga Museum, located wihthin one of the cleared out water tanks. The museum teaches visitors about Icelandic sagas, Icelandic history, and shows viewers how Icelanders use to live many years ago. The ground level also holds the base of the Pearl’s man-made geyser that rockets a stream of water towards the ceiling beside the large staircase.

The three shops in Perlan are all on the fourth floor. There is a Gourmet Shop, which sells delicious foodstuffs including oysters, langoustine lobsters, mushrooms, world jams, beef fillets, wild game fowl and smoked salmon. Inside the Souvenir Shop, you will find many little items and trinkets such as playing cards, statues, t-shirts, Vikings helmets, wool sweaters, and even some original Icelandic art. And lastly, the third is an all year Christmas Shop where you can purchase Icelandic Christmas related items such as Christmas tree decorations, handcrafted artwork, and of course, statues of the Icelandic Julelads, the thirteen “Santa’s” of Iceland.

After taking in all these wonderful sights, the Pearl has great options for food. On the fifth floor, visitors have a choice between grabbing a bite to eat at the cafeteria, where for a smaller fare, you can buy delicious breads, cakes, and pastries along with hot soups, sandwiches, and assorted salads. But if you are looking to sit down and enjoy a meal, the top floor  has been turned into a revolving restaurant and cocktail bar. You can sit down for a four-course meal or just relax and have a drink while the revolving floor shows you a complete view of Reykjavik in a two hour turn. And to end your night with a treat, try some of the Pearl’s homemade Italian ice cream, prepared daily for visitors.

Lastly, if you step outside of the fourth floor and onto the viewing deck, you will be able to see a panoramic view of  the entire city. The deck contains six telescopes at each corner of the deck, each with recorded guides in Icelandic, English, Norwegian, German, and French.

All in all, with this mixture of breathtaking views, fantasic foods, and interests for everyone, the Pearl of Iceland is not to be missed. Make sure that you don’t.