LAVA Centre is a volcano and earthquake exhibition in Hvolsvöllur, in South Iceland. It covers the volcanic systems of the surrounding region — Hekla, Katla and Eyjafjallajökull among them — through interactive displays, an earthquake simulator, a magma column and a corridor of volcanoes. The building is black outside and open inside, with graphics doing most of the explaining. There is a café. The centre sits on the South Coast route and works as a stop between longer drives.
LAVA Centre
Here the floor shakes on purpose: the exhibition includes an earthquake simulator, alongside a magma column and a corridor of volcanoes.
- Entrance
- Entry is ticketed. Current prices are on the centre's website.
- Accessibility
- Step-free entrance, accessible parking bays and an accessible toilet.
- Parking
- Free car park at the centre, plus free street parking around it.
- Difficulty
- Easy — indoor exhibition with a café
- Transport
- Self-drive on the Ring Road; buses stop in Hvolsvöllur
- Advance booking
- Not needed — walk in
- Hours
- Open daily 08:30–19:00.
- Address
- Austurvegur 14, 860 Hvolsvöllur
What makes it special
The exhibition is built around what the ground under South Iceland actually does. A corridor of volcanoes leads past the systems that surround Hvolsvöllur, one by one. An earthquake simulator shakes the floor. A magma column stands among the displays. The material is carried by graphics and interactive pieces rather than by walls of text, and staff take questions on the floor. The building is black outside, in the manner of ash fields and the black beaches down the coast, and the interior is open and spacious.
Good to know
- Indoors throughout. The exhibition works in any weather, which makes it the fallback when the South Coast is closed in by rain or wind.
- The café is a coffee stop, not a meal stop. The coffee is good and the staff are friendly, but servings are small.
- Toilets on site, and the exhibition is set up for children.
- Fits into a South Coast driving day. The centre is in Hvolsvöllur, on the route east from Reykjavík towards the glaciers.
Getting there
The centre stands in Hvolsvöllur itself, so the last stretch is ordinary town driving rather than a gravel track. There is a car park at the building and street parking around it. From either, the entrance is step-free, with accessible bays marked by the door.
Best time to visit
Better: soon after opening, or in the last hours before closing.
Avoid: the middle of the day in summer, when coach tours running the South Coast stop here.
The exhibition is indoors and depends on neither light nor season, so a wet or windy day is the right day to use it.
Things to do nearby
All tours in Hvolsvöllur on GetYourGuide
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Frequently asked questions
What is there to see inside LAVA Centre?
A corridor of volcanoes, interactive displays on the volcanic systems of the region, an earthquake simulator and a magma column. The displays lean on graphics rather than text panels, and staff answer questions.Which volcanoes does the exhibition cover?
The volcanic systems around Hvolsvöllur and the wider south of Iceland, including Hekla, Katla and Eyjafjallajökull.Is LAVA Centre suitable for children?
Yes. The centre is set up for children, much of the exhibition is hands-on, and there are toilets on site.Is there a café?
Yes. The coffee is good and the staff are friendly, but servings are small, so do not plan a meal around it.