We were staying in Hella, and visited the museum early on in our trip, which was a great choice, because it gave us the context for Iceland's geology and volcanic history before we saw it up close and personal. We learned about the different types of volcanos and lava flows with very effective and interactive exhibits. The sights, sounds and information were top-notch. We spent an hour there, but could have probably spent another 30-40 minutes if we had more time. If you are in the Hella are or touring the South Coast, I would recommend stopping here.

We were travelling around Iceland on our own and visited the museum before adventuring closer to many of the volcanoes. The exhibit and film really helped us to understand the context of the area and Iceland's volcanic history - past, present, and future - especially the details that we weren't previously familiar with. The exhibit is very interactive and engaging to learn about the different types of volcanoes and magma/lava flows. We were surprised that it was not only interactive but somewhat immersive by incorporating multiple senses into the experience. We spent about 75 minutes to watch the film and wander through the exhibit rooms, reading most of the information available. We chose to do the viewing platform last, which helped to incorporate the information from the exhibit into the surroundings. We would recommend stopping here and taking your time to learn about Iceland's volcanoes past, present, and future.

Other than the Perlan, I don’t think there’s a finer museum in Iceland than the LAVA Center in Hvolsvolluron, about a half-hour past Selfoss on the early part of the South Coast road. It's spendy, even for Iceland, but as others have said here, the Center provides great context for Iceland’s geology and for what you’ll see throughout your visit. The exhibits are interactive and educational, and if the weather is clear, the observation deck provides a great view of some of the nearby volcanoes and the impacts they’ve had on the land.