Reykjavik: Volcano Express Simulator & Harpa Hall Entry

Inside Harpa: A 10-Minute Volcano Ride That Moves Your Seat

You spend thirty minutes exploring live eruption footage, four volcanic films, an interactive map, and a live earthquake monitor before strapping into a motion seat for a ten-minute simulator ride with real heat effects and dynamic seating. The whole experience happens on floor K2 of Harpa Concert Hall in central Reykjavik, with shows departing every fifteen minutes: no long waits, no travel outside the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Volcano Express immersive experience

• Arrive at Harpa Concert Hall
• Explore pre-show area exhibits
• Watch live eruption footage
• View volcanic short films
• Interact with eruption map and earthquake monitor
• Take Instacrater photo experience
• Enjoy 10-minute volcano simulator ride

The experience

The motion hits you before the screen does. You're strapped into a seat on floor K2 of Harpa Concert Hall in central Reykjavik, and the moment the Volcano Express simulator starts, the whole thing tilts and shudders like you're standing on actual ground that's about to split open. Real heat pulses across your face (not a suggestion of heat, actual warmth), while footage of Iceland's volcanic eruptions fills the screen in front of you. It's ten minutes long, and it feels closer to an active eruption than most people will ever get without a helicopter and a very good insurance policy.

But the ride itself is only half the thing. Before you get strapped in, you spend about thirty minutes in the pre-show area, which is where the experience actually starts to stick with you. There's live eruption footage playing on loop, four short volcanic films you can watch in whatever order you want, an interactive eruption map where you can see where Iceland's volcanoes actually are and what they've done, and a live earthquake monitor that shows tremors happening right now. The Instacrater photo experience is there too. It's the kind of thing that sounds gimmicky until you're standing in front of it and realizing you can actually frame a shot that makes sense. Shows run every fifteen minutes, so you're not waiting around for hours to get your turn.

The whole setup is inside Harpa, which is the concert hall that looks like a glass cube someone dropped on the harbor, and it's accessible by public transport if you're coming from elsewhere in Reykjavik. Wheelchair users can get everywhere. All areas and surfaces are accessible, and service animals are allowed. The one thing worth knowing: the motion seat isn't recommended if you have spinal injuries, are pregnant, or have cardiovascular issues that motion might aggravate. For everyone else, ages four and up, it's open.

What’s included

Your ticket includes access to the pre-show area with live eruption footage, four volcanic short films, an interactive eruption map, a live earthquake monitor, and the Instacrater photo experience, followed by the ten-minute Volcano Express motion simulator ride with dynamic seating and real heat effects.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day20 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 19:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 39

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Volcano Express Iceland

Is this one for you?Right for families, couples, and solo travelers who want a concentrated indoor experience of Iceland's volcanic activity without leaving central Reykjavik: the motion seat and heat effects do the work of making it feel real, so you don't need a guide or a long drive to get the point.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

How long is the actual volcano simulator ride?

Ten minutes. The pre-show area adds about thirty minutes before that.

How often do shows run?

Every fifteen minutes throughout the day.

Where exactly is it located?

Floor K2 of Harpa Concert Hall, Austurbakki 2, central Reykjavik. Public transport stops nearby.

Can I use a wheelchair?

Yes. All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and service animals are allowed.

Who shouldn't do the motion seat?

Not recommended for people with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or those with poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the ticket?

Access to the pre-show area (live footage, four films, interactive map, earthquake monitor, photo experience) and the ten-minute motion simulator ride.