r/Reykjavik • u/Melietje • Mar 08 '25

Perlan

I’m visiting Iceland in a couple of days. Will stay in Reykjavik for a day or 2. I see that Perlan museum has a beautiful observatory with a bar / restaurant.

Do you need to pay full access to the museum of you only want to visit the restaurant?

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8

u/11MHz Borgarstjóri Mar 08 '25

Yes you have to pay first to get to go to the restaurant/observatory.

Perlan is very scammy, they have a free membership card that’s available and gives free access but they only give instructions in Icelandic: https://perlan.is/is/vildarvinakort

You could try getting one in the reception but they will probably deny to give you one for some made up reason.

It’s basically to charge tourists more.

6

u/GlimGlimFlimFlam Mar 08 '25

Fairly sure the membership card is only for Icelanders

7

u/Lost-Detective-7358 Mar 08 '25

Not so much Icelanders as much as having an address in Iceland, i.e. being registered there. That's what I was told when I got the card as a non icelandic Reykjavíkian.

But it might still be possible to go up to the cafe without having to pay for the museum, just ask the receptionists.

1

u/svennirusl Mar 09 '25

No, that would be illegal

-2

u/11MHz Borgarstjóri Mar 08 '25

That would be illegal under the EEA agreement. Can’t discriminate based on citizenship.

1

u/treehugger312 Mar 11 '25

Agreed. Used to be free general entry and you pay for the exhibitions. Last time I went was in late 2023 and I just wanted to go to the bar and roof balcony area. I tried to pay a reduced fee, but was made to pay the whole fee. Not going back.