Two venues, one show
Reykjavík or Vík: which Lava Show
The same live lava show runs in two places. Where each venue is, how they differ, how to get there and which one fits your route around Iceland.
Reserve your Lava Show seat ↗Two venues, two places on the map
The Lava Show is run by one company at two venues. The Reykjavík venue is at Fiskislóð 73, in the Grandi harbour district beside the Old Harbour. The Vík venue is at Víkurbraut 5 in Vík, a village on Route 1 on the South Coast, a few minutes from the black sand beach. The company says its first Lava Show opened in Vík in 2018 and that the Reykjavík venue followed in 2022. The ticket on this site is for the Reykjavík venue.
What each venue focuses on
Both venues pour real lava in a darkened showroom with a live host, but the venue describes a different emphasis at each. Reykjavík focuses on Iceland's volcanic systems and recent eruptions. Vík focuses on Katla and the geology of the South Coast. That fits the setting: Vík lies south of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which sits on top of the Katla volcano, and the company says the lava poured at both venues comes from Katla's 1918 eruption.
Ticket options differ too
The Classic show is the standard ticket at both venues. Premium, which adds a welcome drink, a lounge, balcony seats, a backstage tour and a lava souvenir, is offered at the Reykjavík venue only. If Premium matters to you, the choice is made for you. If you only want to see the lava, either venue will do, and the better question is which one sits on your route rather than which one has the better show. Check the option names on the booking page before you pay.
Getting to the Reykjavík venue
In the capital you can take bus 3 or 14, call a taxi, rent an e-scooter or walk about 20 minutes from the centre, and parking on site is free. A free Grandi Shuttle has run from central stops on a seasonal schedule, so check that it is operating on your date. The district sits beside the harbour, so you can combine the show with a walk along the water. The practical guide to the Reykjavík venue covers each option, plus what to wear.
Read next: Getting to the Lava Show in Reykjavík
Getting to the Vík venue
Vík is on Route 1 on the South Coast. Wikipedia puts it about 180 km southeast of Reykjavík by road. The venue gives driving times from nearer towns: about 58 minutes from Hvolsvöllur and about an hour and 40 minutes from Selfoss, so allow for road and weather conditions and any stops on the way. Parking is free. The venue shares its building with a restaurant, and the Lava Show reception and gift shop are at the far end. Check road conditions and wind alerts on Safetravel before you drive.
Which one fits your route?
Staying in Reykjavík, or short on time before a flight, points to the Reykjavík venue: it is close, it is indoors and Premium is available. Driving the South Coast, with Vík already on your itinerary for the beach and the sea stacks, points to Vík. They do cover different ground, so a long stay could include both. A single day trip from the capital for the show alone is a lot of driving for about an hour of lava, so combine it with other stops if you go.
Booking each one
This site books the Reykjavík venue. The Vík venue sells its own tickets, and you can find both locations on the venue's own site. Whichever you choose, compare the option names and cancellation terms before you pay, and check that the date and the location on your confirmation match the venue you meant to book. The two venues share a name, and a booking made for the wrong one is an easy mistake to make in a hurry.
Who this isn't for
If you have no car and no tour on the South Coast, Vík is a long way for the show alone. If you want Premium, Vík cannot offer it. And if you want to see an active eruption site, neither venue is that: both pour lava indoors, and real eruptions are unpredictable and often out of reach.
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