2,173 written customer reviews of Volcano Express (of 2,580 ratings in total) from Google (4.8/5), Tripadvisor (4.8/5) and GetYourGuide (4.55/5), shown unedited with a link to each original. Five-star reviews first (1,904 of them), newest first; this page shows reviews 2161–2173.
The best thing we did in Reykjavik. We'd done the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon but this was the highlight for both of us
Reply from Volcano Express
We’re glad to hear the experience stood out as the highlight of your time in Reykjavík, even after visiting the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon! 🌋😊 That truly means a lot to our team.
We’re a bit surprised by the one-star rating, but we really appreciate you sharing your thoughts and would love to understand more about how we could improve.
Warm regards,
Volcano Express Team
Honestly, advertised as a 15-minute immersive show, it actually lasts 8 minutes, and considering the price and the content, I personally don't recommend the attraction...!!
Reply from Volcano Express
Thank you for your review. We’re sorry to hear the experience felt shorter than expected. The show is designed to be a compact and immersive journey, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.
The Volcano Express Team
Thank you for your feedback. Our goal is to create a high-quality, immersive experience that brings Iceland’s volcanic world to life in a short but intense format. Pricing reflects the technology and production behind the show, and we appreciate you taking the time to visit and share your thoughts.
The Volcano Express Team
Thank you for your review.
We’re sorry to see that your experience didn’t meet expectations. If you’d like to share more about what went wrong, we would genuinely appreciate the feedback so we can improve.
Warm regards,
Volcano Express Team
Well although this is meant to be incredible it is the most terrifying experience I have ever had, within 2 Minutes I was hating it and think it brought on a panic attack, it’s not for the faint hearted.
Reply from Volcano Express
Thank you for sharing your feedback.
We’re very sorry to hear that the experience felt overwhelming for you. Our goal is to create an exciting and immersive show, but we understand that everyone reacts differently to intense environments.
Your comments are important to us, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
We hope the rest of your time in Iceland was enjoyable.
The Volcano Express team
Beware! You'll receive a voucher for the Hnoss Bar here. However, this is just a scam. It's best not to use it. As for the show itself, it has potential, but at under 10 minutes, it's definitely too short and therefore not recommended.
Reply from Volcano Express
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
We’re sorry to hear that the experience didn’t fully meet your expectations. We always aim to offer a concise yet impactful journey, though we understand that preferences around length can vary. Your feedback is noted and appreciated, as it helps us continue refining the experience 🌋
Warm regards,
The Volcano Express Team
I really had to think carefully about how I felt about this experience. I visited Volcano Express with my 8-year-old son, hoping for something memorable. Unfortunately, it was anything but.
The entire “show” lasts exactly 9 minutes. In those 9 minutes you watch some undeniably nice footage of Icelandic landscapes and volcanoes, while sitting on seats that move and gently bump from time to time. That’s it. No story, no build-up, no real immersion.
When the screen suddenly went black, I actually told my son: “Now it’s really going to start.” To my surprise, the doors opened and we were told to leave. That was the end.
Charging around €20 per person for a 9-minute film with minimal motion effects is, frankly, absurd. This feels like a textbook example of a tourist trap, and it’s genuinely disappointing that a prestigious building like Harpa lends itself to something of this quality.
If you’re looking for value, depth, or a meaningful experience especially with children I would strongly recommend spending your time and money elsewhere in Reykjavík.
What I honestly don’t understand are the many glowing reviews. After experiencing it myself, I find it hard to see what justifies such high ratings. Perhaps expectations play a role, but based on content, duration, and price, the enthusiasm in some of the reviews feels completely disconnected from the actual experience.
I hope this helps others make a more informed choice.
Reply from Volcano Express
Dear Cees,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re genuinely sorry to hear that Volcano Express didn’t meet your expectations.
Volcano Express is designed as a short, cinematic volcanic experience, not a theme park ride or a long-form narrative attraction. The 10-minutes format is intentional: it reflects the structure of a high-end immersive film, combining original footage, motion seats, sound design, and visual effects to deliver a concentrated sensory experience.
Regarding pricing, it’s important to note that Iceland is an expensive country in general, accommodation, food, transport, cultural attractions, and entertainment are all significantly higher than in most European destinations. Volcano Express is priced in line with other premium, short-format cultural and cinematic experiences in Reykjavík, particularly those located in landmark venues such as Harpa. The cost reflects production quality, location, staffing, licensing, and ongoing operational expenses in Iceland.
We appreciate your honesty about expectations, as expectation-setting plays a huge role in how experiences are perceived. Many of our positive reviews come from visitors who are specifically looking for a brief, visually striking introduction to Iceland’s volcanic nature, often as a complement to museums, tours, or limited-time itineraries.
That said, feedback like yours is valuable, and we continuously work on improving how the experience is communicated so guests can make fully informed choices before attending.
The Volcano Express Team
Screen is literally broken with a huge black area. They paused the show in middle because someone was filming it. And it’s disturbing. Bad experience. Not recommended
Reply from Volcano Express
Dear Zhao,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. We’re truly sorry that your visit wasn’t as enjoyable as it should have been.
About the pause during the show: filming is not permitted due to copyright protection, as explained in the safety video shown before the performance. We only pause the show when absolutely necessary to ensure a fair and respectful experience for all guests.
Regarding the screen, our show is designed to deliver a flawless visual experience every day. The issue you noticed was reported immediately and our team fixed it right away. If you are still in Iceland, please feel free to contact us — we would be happy to offer you an additional ride at no extra cost. We always want to make sure our guests enjoy the best possible experience.
We truly appreciate your feedback, and we hope to welcome you back!
Warm regards,
Volcano Express Team.
The experience lasted approximately 10 minutes. Incredibly over priced and a waste of an opportunity to experience much more of Iceland. This should be longer and then maybe it would attract more visitors.
Reply from Volcano Express
Dear Samantha,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
We’re sorry to hear the experience didn’t meet your expectations.
Our aim is to create an intense, immersive journey through Icelandic volcanic forces within a focused 10-minute format.
Iceland is by nature an expensive destination and we understand the concerns visitors may have about costs but everything here, including experiences like ours, reflects the realities of operating in such a unique environment.
We truly appreciate your feedback about the length, and we’ll take it into consideration as we continue to develop and improve the experience.
Volcano express team
Complete ripoff! We paid £80 for 4 of us for a 9 minute ‘experience’. There was hardly any information in the video, it was like watching a trailer! We came away having learnt nothing about the volcano. More importantly, there was no warning/information before paying about the intensity of the movement. Even after paying, there was not much warning, and as a result, my mum had to ask to stop 30 seconds in and leave due to the intensity of it and the risk to her neck/back. AVOID!!
Reply from Volcano Express
Dear Amy,
We're sorry the experience didn't deliver what you hoped for, and especially sorry your mum had to stop partway through because of the movement — that's not how we want anyone to leave. You're right that the intensity should be clear before you pay, and your feedback has been passed to the team.
So you have the accurate picture: the ride itself runs 10 minutes, and a full visit is 15–45 minutes including the self-guided pre-show, where guests can take in the films and the live earthquake monitor at their own pace. Conventional non-moving seating is available for anyone who prefers it, and staff can arrange it on arrival.
We'd be grateful if you could email info@volcanoexpress.is with your visit date.
— The Volcano Express team
Tourist trap. Oh and they'll charge you 200isk (about $2) for using the restroom on top of your ticket
Reply from Volcano Express
We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet expectations. While the restroom facilities are operated independently by Harpa Concert Hall , we understand how that may have been frustrating. However we have tickets for our guests that need to go to the bathroom free of charge.
Our goal at Volcano Express is to offer a unique and immersive journey through Iceland’s volcanic power using real eruption footage and multi-sensory effects. We hope you had at least a moment of wonder during the show, and we truly appreciate your feedback.
NOT worth it at all. You pay about $25 for 9 minutes show that is nothing in it. DO NOT waste your money. It is like you are paying $300 for 2 hour movie. It is a tourist trap and a ripoff.
Reply from Volcano Express
Thank you for visiting and for taking the time to share your feedback, Tahseen.
We're sorry the experience didn't feel worth it to you. The ride itself runs 10 minutes, and the whole visit is 15–45 minutes, since it includes the self-guided pre-show with its films and interactive eruption map. We understand that felt short for the price, and your feedback has been passed to the team. Wishing you the best on the rest of your travels.
— The Volcano Express team
NOT worth it at all. You pay about $25 for a 10 minutes show that is nothing in it. DO NOT waste your money. VERY bad experience. It is not acceptable that they charge so much for a 10 minute show.
Reply from Volcano Express
Thank you for your feedback, Tahseen. We're sorry the experience didn't feel worth it to you.
The ride itself runs 10 minutes, and the whole visit is 15–45 minutes, as the self-guided pre-show with its films and interactive eruption map is included before the ride. We understand that didn't come across clearly enough for you, and your feedback about the price has been passed to the team.
We appreciate you taking the time to write, and we wish you well on the rest of your travels.
— The Volcano Express team
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