Volcano House
Volcano House
4
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About
Volcano House is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the heart of Reykjavik. This is the place where one can learn about the Icelandic volcanoes by watching high quality film that were created for the Volcano House. Moreover, there is a great lava stones collection, souvenir shop and the collection of arts from famous Icelandic artists. We pride ourselves with of our multilingual staff many of whom have studied geology and so can add to the understanding of our customers.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
1,702 reviews
Excellent
654
Very good
699
Average
272
Poor
60
Terrible
17
BOLDHORN
Brooklyn, NY7 contributions
Jan 2012 • Couples
Ditto on everyone's elses comments except the 2 films last 40 minutes. Spend an hour, take time to speak with the owner. The first film shows the efforts of a town to save their fishing industry when threatened by a major eruption. The 2nd film shows the most recent massive eruption with spectacular photography. Samples of different kinds of ash are in the museum.
Written January 26, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SS99_11
Rockhampton, Australia37 contributions
Dec 2011
The two short films (20 mins each approx) were interesting. I guess I was hoping for a slightly more in-depth explanation of what was happening inside the volcano. It was interesting, but was really only a time-filler - an hour an a half max.
Written December 23, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DevonshireDumpling90
Birmingham, UK34 contributions
Interesting, informative and good value! A great way to spend a few hours in Reykjavik. The staff were very knowledgeable, eager to please and served a lovely cup of coffee. The documentaries were very interesting and taught a lot about icelands volcanic history. A must see!
Written December 21, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TJBrooke
Burley in Wharfedale, UK569 contributions
Sep 2011
If you have a share hour pop down to the Volcano House (near to the old Harbour) and watch the volcano film. In fact it is two films in one which tells the story of the last two major eruptions in both 1970's and 2010. You can get a coffee or a beer and sit back and watch what the Icelandic people have been through - extraordinary strength to over come these natural disasters. Great for all ages and afterwards there is a collection of stones to look at (they mean more on the way out than before the film starts).
A great way to spend an hour of your time. Why wouldn't you go see a film about volcano's when in Iceland!!!!
A great way to spend an hour of your time. Why wouldn't you go see a film about volcano's when in Iceland!!!!
Written September 30, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lena_111111
Malmö, Sweden3 contributions
Jul 2011
Volcano House in Reykjavik, Iceland is one of the latest tuarist attraction. We had found it very fashionable. They are showing two very intresting films on the eruption in Iceland. Good food, halpful staff. The souvenirs they are selling are presenting the Icelandic culture so we could foundsomething we were interesting in.
Written July 30, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wellygoot
hong kong32 contributions
Jul 2011
This places has a small and very nice cinema where they showed two short films about the eruption of a volcano in Iceland and the partial destruction of a town by ash and lava in the 1970's. Very interesting (one film was a documentary dating from the 70's). Also they had a very cosy cafe and sold souvenirs from volcanoes/rocks. I would definitely not go out of my way to see it, but if you have some free time you should enjoy it.
The price for the film was reasonable (about $4 as I recall).
The price for the film was reasonable (about $4 as I recall).
Written July 17, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JP!
Brighton, UK103 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
We weren’t sure whether to go here at first, especially when you walk through a fish n chips restaurant to get in but as soon as you are in the volcano house section, amazement begins. They have a fair few volcanic rocks on show which you are able to touch. There is also various ash remains from the famous eruptions in the place which you can purchase as a memento. What also is amazing is the 2x documentaries on the 2 large eruptions from Iceland. Beautifully shot and well thought out. Absolutely loved it!
Written February 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynderella43
Fort Lauderdale, Florida505 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
If you are interested in volcanoes, want to learn more about them, or see what kind of destruction they can cause, then this is the place for you.
As you enter and turn to the right, as the restaurant is to the left, you enter a galley-sized museum with hands-on exhibits of semi-precious stones, minerals, ash,and pumice from various volcanoes. They also have nice gifts for sale.
The movie, while it is very informative and showcases mainly the 1973 eruption of Eldsfell on the Vestmann (Westman) Island in black and white, is quite long and can definitely be shorted. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary footage. The second movie is about the very famous Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which is colorized and more interesting, is quite short. I would have liked to seen more footage about this one.
I would recommend a stop in here to watch the hour-long movie. It was interesting and I did learn some things.
PS - If this review was useful, please click the HELPFUL button on your phone or you can click the THANK YOU button on your computer. I'd appreciate it! :-D
As you enter and turn to the right, as the restaurant is to the left, you enter a galley-sized museum with hands-on exhibits of semi-precious stones, minerals, ash,and pumice from various volcanoes. They also have nice gifts for sale.
The movie, while it is very informative and showcases mainly the 1973 eruption of Eldsfell on the Vestmann (Westman) Island in black and white, is quite long and can definitely be shorted. I felt there was a lot of unnecessary footage. The second movie is about the very famous Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which is colorized and more interesting, is quite short. I would have liked to seen more footage about this one.
I would recommend a stop in here to watch the hour-long movie. It was interesting and I did learn some things.
PS - If this review was useful, please click the HELPFUL button on your phone or you can click the THANK YOU button on your computer. I'd appreciate it! :-D
Written September 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helen S
London, UK33 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
We are interested in volcanos and we're looking forward to going. The exhibition is about 9 foot square in the shop, consisting of a few cases of different stones - there is very little information and the exhibits are tatty and 'home made'. The two films were a complete con - the first was a far too long documentary on the volcanos in 1960s in west Iceland and the second was a a brief description of the recent volcanos with much repeated footage and virtually no information - the films undoubtedly are available on YouTube, which has for more interesting and informative films than this exhibition. We
Tickets were the equivalent of £11.10 per person - a complete rip off.
Tickets were the equivalent of £11.10 per person - a complete rip off.
Written February 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear madam, while we appreciate all feedback yours seems less than merited. We never make out that the exhibition is anything huge, but it's definitely bigger than 9 ft. sq., and there is a wide selection of different minerals, ashes and semi-precious stones packed in there. Also the exhibition is free of charge so no matter how little you think of it, it's hardly a rip-off.
The films can categorically not be found on youtube - they are bespoke documentaries made specifically for Volcano House. And calling the first documentary overlong and the latter brief is a stretch, since they are each about a half hour long. The second of the films uses proprietary Emmy-nominated footage so I doubt you'll find anything like that on youtube - in addition to which that's hardly similar to watching it in our cozy little cinema.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I lament our show wasn't to your taste, but I think calling it a "rip-off" is unfair and inaccurate. Regardless I hope you enjoyed your time in Iceland and that you have a safe journey home.
Written February 29, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nins
Doha, Qatar5,426 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
I definitely would recommend this place over the national museum. For me this holds my interest and if you inquisitive about volcanos it’s happening and everything related to it, this is the place. I’m sure you would love it. Thou the place is very tiny but for me it was great, different kinds of stone, ashes and of course the film. In my opinion the film should be a little short it’s a little lengthy.
I would like to say people go place to enjoy what it offers and not just the coffee shop/cafe.
Overall wonderful!
I would like to say people go place to enjoy what it offers and not just the coffee shop/cafe.
Overall wonderful!
Written March 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank your Nins for positive review. We are glad that you like what we have to offer. Yes we are small, but most people like what we have here at Volcano House.
Written March 6, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
What is the cost of the movies for people over 65?
Gribit
Written August 13, 2017
It was less than the adult ticket but I don't recall amount. Interesting fact seniors get into the settlement museum free!
Written August 17, 2017
hi its free , we werent charged at all , which in Iceland is unusual !!! please do go visit , its small , wont take long but it is very informative .
Written March 12, 2017
Quelle est la meilleure periode pour y séjourner ?
à ne pas rater et les tarifs spéciaux ?
Bon WE à vous.D.Catz.
Written January 3, 2015
Quelle est la meilleure periode pour y séjourner ?
à ne pas rater et les tarifs spéciaux ?
Bon WE à vous.D.Catz.
Written January 3, 2015
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