The lava that pours into the room in Vík is not from just anywhere. It comes from the 1918 eruption of Katla, the volcano under the glacier just up the road, and it is melted down and brought back to life a few metres from your seat.

Lava Show Vík was the first live lava show in the world. It is a 50-minute show, easy on the legs, and it makes a natural stop on a drive along the South Coast, where you spend all day looking at what volcanoes have done to the landscape.

What happens at Lava Show Vík

Your host opens with a welcome, explains what is coming and covers the safety details. A short film follows on Icelandic volcanism, with special focus on Katla, the volcano closest to Vík, and a personal story from the 1918 eruption. The crew even walk you through the evacuation plan if Katla were to go off right then.

Then the lava arrives, at around 1100°C (2000°F), and the room warms up in an instant. The host works it with an iron rod, pulling out Pele's hair and Pele's tears, forming a tiny lava tunnel and a small lava cave, and explains each step. A Q&A closes the show.

What's included

• Safety goggles
• A live host who runs the show
• A short film about Icelandic volcanism
• A true story from the 1918 Katla eruption
• Real flowing lava, close enough to feel the heat
• A Q&A session at the end

A backstage tour is not included but can be added. Handmade souvenirs made from the show's own lava are sold on site.

Good to know before you go

Arrive at least 10 minutes before the show. An e-ticket on your phone is enough at the counter. Keep your goggles on whenever lava is in the room, including while it cools. The heat is not a safety issue, but pregnant guests, people with infants and anyone with a heart condition are advised to sit in the second row or near the exit.

Pro tip: Dress so you can take off a layer. You arrive from a windy South Coast afternoon and ten minutes later you are sitting next to molten rock.