Are you considering booking the Lava Show in Iceland on your upcoming trip? This guide details my experience (I went to the Lava Show in Reykjavik) and whether it is worth it. Keep reading for more information!
If youʻre booking your trip to Iceland last minute, I have you covered. Below are some of the top tours, hotels, and more!
🇮🇸 Popular tours/activities in Reykjavik (and nearby):
- Icelandic Lava Show Reykjavik (reviewed below – loved it!)
- Icelandic Lava Show (the Vik location!)
- Golden Circle day trip from Reykjavik (best day trip option)
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Full-Day Trip (includes dinner in Vik)
🛌 Top places to stay in Reykjavik:
- Reykjavik EDITION (5-star luxury hotel at the Old Harbor)
- Hotel VON (mid-range boutique hotel with epic location)
- Kex Hostel (famous budget accommodation in city—near water!)
✈️ Want to get from the Keflavik airport to Reykjavik hassle-free? Find the best airport transfer option here!
The first time I heard about the Icelandic Lava Show was a few years ago when I had to meet for a Katla tour at their Vik location.
They had a nice cafe, and while I didn’t have enough time to book a time slot for one of the actual lava shows, I did enjoy one of the tasty soups offered at the cafe/eatery inside (The Soup Company).
Fast forward a few years and I found myself back in Iceland twice. I wasn’t heading to Vik, but I was excited when I saw a Lava Show in Reykjavik, where I was basing myself on these two trips.
I booked myself a ticket to a show in December and planned my entire day of sightseeing around it.
In this guide, I will write a bit about my experience at the Reykjavik Lava Show and what to know before booking one of your own. Spoiler alert: I loved it so much.
In this post...
What is the Lava Show in Iceland?
The Icelandic Lava Show is a presentation (an award-winning one!) and one of the best things to do in Reykjavik in winter, summer, or any time!
The experience is immersive and you will learn all about volcanoes (and lava) and how their existence has shaped Iceland’s past and present.
Iceland is constantly on the news for its recent eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula, and this is a cool way to understand volcanoes a bit more without putting yourself in harm’s way.
The founders are a husband and wife team, Julius and Ragnhildur, and the idea was conceived in 2010 (although not started until 2018).
At the show, they use real lava that came from the 1918 Katla eruption, which is honestly so cool. They (safely) recreate what lava would do during a flow by superheating lava to 1100°C (2000°F) and showing everyone what it looks like.
You also get to see it dry and harden. I have never been to anything quite like this experience.
The Icelandic Lava Show has two locations:
How to Book the Lava Show in Iceland in Reykjavik
⏰ Duration: about 1 hour
📍 Meeting point: Fiskislóð 73 (near the old harbor)
🌎 Language: English
➡️ BOOK HERE
There are several shows a day and they start every two hours. The first shows are usually at 10am (depending on availability) and the last shows are in the evening (sometimes later in summer).
I had to book tickets twice as I got sick on the day of my first experience. I used GetYourGuide, my trusted partner for experiences in Iceland and other parts of the world.
The cool thing about Get Your Guide is that they have thousands of other Iceland tours and tickets you can book on their site and pay for all at the same time!
When on their site, you can select the time you want and then pay for your ticket!
It is pretty easy and you will get a confirmation sent right after you pay for it (as well as a reminder of the time a day prior).
Classic Experience Ticket vs. Premium Experience Ticket
There are two ticket types you can choose from: a classic experience or a premium experience.
I opted for the classic experience as it was around $30 cheaper. Here is a quick overview of the differences:
Classic ticket (about 1 hour)
People with a classic ticket will be able to go to the lava show and choose a seat (there is room for 118 people) in the audience. Drinks and food are not included.
I had this ticket, and to be honest, the Lava Show did a stellar job of making sure 118 chairs were in this space without it feeling crowded.
The way they spaced them out in a horseshoe around the stage left no bad seat in the house (in my opinion!). I sat in the back row so I could stand up and take some photos to share here!
If you are a wheelchair user, please contact them beforehand and let them know so they can have a place set up for you.
>> Click here to check rates and availability for a Lava Show Classic Ticket
Premium ticket (1 hour and 15 minutes)
Guests will get a drink upon arrival, VIP access to a premium lounge, a balcony view over the stage, a backstage tour of the furnace room, and a gift-wrapped piece of lava from the show to take home as a souvenir.
The maximum capacity is 32 people, and please note that this is on the second floor and there is no elevator available, so this will be suitable for those with mobility issues or wheelchair users.
>> Click here to check rates and availability for a Lava Show Premium Ticket
What to Know Before Visiting the Lava Show Iceland (Reykjavik)
You will need to arrive a little early. Their check-in area is large and you can sign in, grab a drink or coffee, and peruse the gift shop. They recommend arriving about 20 minutes early.
The room can get a bit hot. It didn’t bother me so much as I went in winter, but just beware that you will want to have layers on in case you need to remove the top one.
They also give you goggles to wear throughout the presentation.
Ask questions! They welcome questions at the end of the experience and I think it is super cool to ask (because many people are probably thinking the same thing).
The Lava Show in Reykjavik is located in an area with a lot of other things to do, but it is a short walk from the city center.
Some of the other places you should visit in the area are the Whales of Iceland Museum (reviews are mid for this museum but I loved it because it had replicas of full-size whales), FlyOver Iceland (I wanted to go but my friend Kate wrote that it can cause motion-sickness so I opted out), and Omnom ice cream (a must!).
Was the Icelandic Lava Show in Reykjavik worth it?
Yes! I have had bad luck with some experiences in Iceland in the past (some northern lights tours and the dreadful Magic Ice Bar) so whenever I find one that I think is SO worth it, I get really excited.
The Lava Show in Reykjavik is the perfect way to spend an hour in the Icelandic capital city.
I am 40 years old and I went alone and still loved it. It is an experience that is perfect for kids, solo travelers, big groups, etc.
I honestly think that everyone will enjoy the Icelandic Lava Show and it is a must for every first-timer’s itinerary when in Reykjavik (or Vik).
One quick note is that the Lava Show says they do not advise this immersive and interactive experience for kids under the age of 5.
Do you have any questions about the Lava Show in Iceland? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!
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- Reykjavik in winter
- ATV tour in Iceland
- Katla ice caves tour
- Silfra snorkeling review
- Iceland in April
- Glacier hiking at Skaftafell tour
- Westfjords itinerary
- Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
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Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now splits her time between Frankfurt, Germany and Arctic Finland after also living in Norway, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.