Lava Show Reykjavík Premium Experience – Our Review
Unique Iceland Experiences
Lava Show Reykjavík – First-Hand Experience Guide
Our first-hand Premium Experience at Lava Show Reykjavík — from the relaxed upstairs lounge and balcony seating to the unforgettable moment real molten lava began flowing in front of us.
Reykjavík, Capital RegionExperienced September 20261 hour 15 minutes
Quick take
4.8 / 5Our verdict
A genuinely unusual experience that combines entertainment and volcanic education extremely well. Seeing real molten lava flow up close — while feeling the heat radiating through the room — was easily the highlight, and the Premium seating made the experience even better.
Would we do it again?Yes, absolutely.Best for:Families, couples, solo travellers, first-time visitors, volcano enthusiasts and rainy-day activities.
We visited Lava Show Reykjavík for the 4:00 PM Premium Experience, and from the moment we arrived, the experience felt welcoming and relaxed.
We were greeted by smiling staff and received two poker-style chips, which could each be exchanged for a drink. A member of staff then showed us to the elevator and directed us upstairs to the Premium lounge on the second floor.
A Relaxed Start in the Premium Lounge
The upstairs area immediately surprised us. It was cosy and atmospheric, with warm lighting, comfortable seating and volcanic details throughout the space.
There was a bar where we could use our drink tokens, and plenty to look at while waiting for the show. Photographs of volcanic eruptions, pieces of lava and other volcanic displays made the lounge feel like part of the experience rather than simply a waiting area.
It was a nice way to start. Instead of arriving and immediately taking our seats, we could sit down with a drink, look around and settle in before the show.
When it was almost time to begin, the bartender let everyone know and explained a few important points, including the rules around photography during the show. Then we were invited inside.
Photos & videos from our experience
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lava Show Reykjavík?
Lava Show is a unique live demonstration in central Reykjavík where real volcanic basalt rock is melted and poured before a live audience. You see, hear and feel actual molten lava at around 1200°C from a safe indoor viewing distance. It is the only experience of its kind in the world.
How long does the Lava Show last?
The main lava pour lasts around 30 minutes. The full experience, including a pre-show explanation of Icelandic geology and volcanic history, runs about 45–50 minutes. Premium ticket holders have access to a private lounge before the show and balcony seating with a closer view.
Is the Lava Show suitable for children?
Yes — the show is family-friendly. The lava pour is spectacular for children. It involves heat and loud crackling sounds, so very young children might find it startling, but it is safe for supervised children of all ages.
Where is the Lava Show located in Reykjavík?
The Lava Show is at Laugavegur 12 in central Reykjavík, close to the main shopping street. It is within easy walking distance of most central hotels and the Lækjartorg bus stops.
GoIceTravel was invited to experience Lava Show Reykjavík as a guest of Lava Show. This did not influence our review, and all opinions are based on our own first-hand experience.
Visit this place
Lava Show
Indoor live molten-lava demonstration at Lava Show, Fiskislóð 73 in Reykjavík’s Grandi district.
Explore more — waterfalls, glaciers, hot springs and more.
Premium Seats Above the Main Auditorium
Our Premium seats were on a balcony overlooking the main auditorium. The seats were positioned along the wall, which meant nobody was sitting directly in front of us. They were comfortable, and we had a clear view of both the large screen and the area where the lava demonstration would take place.
More guests were seated on the main floor below us. Once everyone had found their seats, our host for the show, Alma, came out.
A Host Who Made the Show Fun
Alma was one of the highlights of our visit. She was energetic, funny and clearly enjoyed what she was doing. Her jokes came naturally rather than making the presentation feel scripted, while she still managed to explain the science and safety aspects clearly.
She introduced the show, went through the safety information and started explaining what we were about to see, including some of the incredible temperatures involved with molten lava.
We were also introduced to the person operating the furnace used to melt the lava. Seeing him working in protective fire-resistant clothing was a good reminder that although this is a visitor attraction, the heat and molten material involved are very real.
Iceland's Volcanic Story on the Big Screen
The first major part of the show used a large screen to tell the story of volcanoes. From our balcony seats, we could see the screen clearly.
We genuinely enjoyed this part more than we expected. It was visually beautiful but also educational, taking us through Iceland's volcanic history and eruptions while putting them into the wider context of volcanoes around the world.
Even before any molten lava appeared, the presentation managed to keep our attention. But then came the part everyone had been waiting for.
Then the Lava Started Flowing
Seeing real molten lava flowing inside the room is difficult to describe until you experience it.
As soon as the lava appeared, you could feel the atmosphere in the auditorium change — and then you could literally feel the temperature change too. It became noticeably warmer.
The glowing lava was beautiful to watch, but what made the moment even better was hearing the reactions from everyone around us. There were spontaneous gasps and plenty of “wow” reactions from the audience. For a few moments, everyone was simply watching the lava.
Seeing, Feeling — and Hearing — Lava
Alma remained in control throughout the demonstration and continued explaining what was happening as the lava cooled and changed.
We learned more about its temperature and composition, but one of the most memorable demonstrations involved a steel rod and the cooling lava. As the surface began to harden, Alma used the rod on the lava so we could actually hear what the cooling and hardened material sounded like.
That combination of seeing the glow, feeling the heat and hearing the lava made the demonstration much more immersive than simply watching volcanic footage on a screen.
Questions From the Audience
There was also an opportunity to ask Alma questions, and we were impressed by how confidently and clearly she answered them.
That chance to ask questions added to the experience and made the presentation feel more personal.
We were then treated to another visual presentation with beautiful colours and imagery before the experience came to an end.
After the Show
Afterwards, there was time to look around and visit the shop, where Lava Show sells a variety of volcanic-themed souvenirs and other merchandise.
By that point we'd spent around 1 hour and 15 minutes at the experience, but it hadn't felt long.
Our Verdict
We would 100% recommend Lava Show Reykjavík.
What surprised us most was how well the entertainment and education worked together. We learned something, laughed, saw something genuinely unusual and — perhaps most memorably — felt the heat from real molten lava up close.
The Premium Experience also added something worthwhile for us. Having a drink in the relaxed upstairs lounge before the show and then watching from the elevated balcony made the whole visit feel more like a complete experience rather than simply attending a presentation.
It was fun, educational, visually impressive and definitely hot. And hearing the reactions when the lava first started flowing probably says it better than anything else: Wow.
Our verdict
Would we do it again?
Yes, absolutely.
Pros
Real molten lava demonstration
Excellent and engaging host
Educational without becoming boring
Strong view from the Premium balcony
Relaxed lounge before the show
Unique indoor activity in Reykjavík
Cons
Premium Experience costs more than the standard experience
Best for
Families, couples, solo travellers, first-time visitors, volcano enthusiasts and rainy-day activities.
