Icelandic Lava Show – daily showtimes

Are you fascinated with lava, volcanoes, and geology? Is seeing molten lava on your bucket list? Are you going to Iceland, the land of fire and ice? If the answer is YES, then you need to go see the Icelandic Lava Show in Vík. It is fast becoming a must see for everyone traveling to Iceland. Just look at the incredible reviews!

A unique experience

Icelandic Lava Show is the first and only live lava show in the world. They recreate a volcano eruption by melting real lava up to 1100 degrees Celsius (2000°F) which they then pour into a showroom full of people! It is literally the only place in the world where you can safely experience hot molten lava!

The show is split into three main parts.

1. First, the live host gives a warm welcome to the visitors and explains all about this family startup and what is about to happen. When the host gives a warning that it’s going to get really hot in the room, encourages people to remove some layers, and then starts explaining the evacuation procedures in case of Katla volcano erupting (Katla is one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes, situated only 20 km North of the beautiful town of Vík where the lava show is located) most people get quite excited.
2. Then a short video begins, explaining why Iceland is so volcanically active, focusing on the surrounding volcanoes with special emphasis on Katla volcano. It then tells the story of one of the founder’s great grandfather who was herding sheep really close to Katla volcano when she last erupted in 1918 and the dramatic course of events that followed.
3. After the video, everyone is asked to put on their security goggles (included in the price) before the lava starts pouring into the room. As the lights dim, you start hearing this rumbling sound as if the earth is shaking and then the lava starts flowing into the showroom like a sunrise, neon bright. As it flows into the lava slide and over the ice that is there, you can see the lava bubble and sizzle as the elements of ice and fire wage an epic war. You hear the lava bubbling, smell the melting minerals, but most of all, you suddenly are hit by the intense heat that fills the room like a transparent blanket, so hot that it’s impossible not to be surprised. Once the lava starts cooling down, the impossible happens when the host starts to manipulate the lava, literally playing with it, creating all sorts of lava games while explaining how flowing lava works in nature. You get to see them create Pele’s hair (called witches hair in Icelandic), and showcase how a lava tunnel and lava cave forms in nature. It is an educational, intimate, and thrilling experience, truly different from everything else you’ve ever witnessed.

As the show draws closer to its end, the visitors are encouraged to ask questions in an open Q&A. For those interested, it is even possible to buy a back stage tour after the show, where you get to see the inner workings of how the lava is melted and even get to try on some lava-gear that is specifically used to work the lava-melting furnace.

All in all, it’s a one of a kind experience that has received high praise from people who’ve already visited and we thoroughly encourage people to add this to their itinerary when in Iceland. It is both family friendly, and gives a completely new understanding of Icelandic nature. This will likely be one of the highlights of your whole Iceland trip.