It is not every day you walk out of a warm museum lobby and into an ice cave. At Perlan, you do exactly that, and then you go and watch the northern lights at noon.

Perlan is the glass-domed building on Öskjuhlíð hill that you will have spotted from half of Reykjavík. Inside is Wonders of Iceland, an award-winning exhibition about the country's nature, built around interactive displays rather than glass cases and long wall texts. Plan on about two hours to see it all without rushing.

What you'll see at Perlan

• A real ice cave built inside the building, which you can walk through
• An interactive exhibition on Iceland's nature
• A volcano show
• Áróra, a northern lights show in Perlan's planetarium, projected in 8K
• The 360° observation deck, looking over Reykjavík and beyond

The idea is to cover ice, fire and sky under one roof, with each section telling a piece of the story of how Icelanders live with nature. It works well as a first-day primer before you head out to see the real glaciers and lava fields, and just as well on a day when the weather has cancelled your plans.

Good to know before you visit Perlan

Perlan is open from 09:00 to 21:00 every day, except over the holiday season and during occasional events. Check perlan.is before you go to make sure it is open on your day.

Transport is not included, so you will need to make your own way up the hill. Food and drinks are not included either, but there is a café and a restaurant on site if the ice cave gives you an appetite.

Who this suits

Families, rainy-day planners, and anyone who wants the big picture of Icelandic nature in one visit. It is rated easy, with no special fitness needed.

Pro tip: Save the observation deck for last. After two hours of learning about the landscape, the view across the city and the mountains means a lot more.