Hellisheiði Geothermal Exhibition: Entry and Audio Tour

Geothermal science feels hands-on at Hellisheiði. At the Hellisheiði Geothermal Energy Exhibition near Selfoss, you walk through a working power plant and follow the story with an audio guide and hands-on displays. I also liked the way the visit zooms in on the plant’s Carbfix room, tying Iceland’s geothermal work to real climate solutions.

One thing to plan for is that it is truly self-guided, so you will learn at your own pace, but you will not get a full employee-led walk through inside the plant area. You will also want your own headphones, since the audio tour runs on your smartphone.

Key points before you go

• Largest single-site geothermal plant focus, built beneath Mount Hengill in active geothermal country
• Carbfix room shows how the facility partners on turning emissions into mineral form
• Audio guide on Android and iOS in English and Icelandic, designed for a self-paced route
• Interactive exhibition layout with videos, displays, and indoor viewing platforms
• Flexible start times with open-ended time inside, you can stay as long as you like after entering
• On-site staff available for questions, including an employee named Antonia who has been singled out for help

Entering Hellisheiðarvirkjun: how close it feels to real power

This is not a museum about geothermal energy. It is the front line of it. The Hellisheiði Power Plant sits about 20 minutes outside Reykjavík, beneath Mount Hengill, surrounded by lava fields, moss, and mountain views. That setting matters. You are not imagining how heat comes from the ground. You are standing near an industrial site that uses it every day.

When you arrive, go straight to the entrance of the Geothermal exhibition with your ticket, at Hellisheiðarvirkjun, 801 Selfoss, Iceland. You do not need to meet a person or wait for a group. The place works best when you treat it like a self-paced learning route.

Value tip: the entry price, $21 per person, is buying you more than a walk-through. You are paying for admission plus a self-guided audio tour and a well-designed interactive setup that explains the process in plain language.

Start with the audio guide, not the big screens

Your experience begins inside the interactive exhibition with your audio guide. The guide is available in English and Icelandic, and it works on Android and iOS. Before you get going, make sure you have headphones and a charged phone, because the experience depends on you using your device.

I like this setup because it keeps you moving at a pace that fits you. You can stop at a display, press play again, and connect the words to what you are actually seeing in the room. It also helps the visit feel structured even though you are not with a guide.

What you will learn as you move through the exhibits is the basics of how geothermal power and geothermal hot water are produced, plus the story of how Iceland has built expertise around a unique natural resource. The exhibition also includes informational videos and A/V-style presentations, which help if you are more of a learn-by-watching person.

Practical note: if you prefer someone to explain everything out loud, you might find the self-guided method a little less satisfying. One visitor even wished for a more employee-led walk through inside the main plant area.

Following the process route, Production Process is where it clicks

Most people get the most out of this exhibition when they slow down at the part that explains the industrial workflow. In the route, there is a highlighted Production Process stop (often labeled Stop 9). If you want to leave feeling like you truly understand what is happening, this is the place to spend extra time.

Here is what makes that section useful for you:

• It helps you connect the geothermal basics to the real machinery and engineering behind it.
• It gives you better context for the rest of the exhibits, so later stops do not feel repetitive.
• It makes the whole experience feel less like trivia and more like a system you can picture.

This is the sort of stop you can revisit as you walk through the building. Listen, look again, and then keep going. You will notice how the later displays make more sense when your mental model is already built.

The Carbfix room: geothermal power’s climate side

A big reason this place is worth your time is the Carbfix room. This is where the exhibition shifts from energy production to a climate-focused partnership. Carbfix is presented as one of the leading solutions for the global warming crisis, and you learn how that idea connects back to the geothermal plant’s work.

Even if you do not remember every technical detail, you should leave with a clear takeaway: Iceland is not only using geothermal energy because it is low carbon. It is also thinking about what to do with emissions and how to manage the broader environmental impact.

If you care about sustainability stories that go beyond slogans, this room is where the visit feels most grounded. It is not abstract. It is about an approach that is being applied in partnership with a specific solution.

Viewing platforms and the art of looking closer

The exhibition includes viewing platforms inside, and they matter more than you might expect. You get ways to look at the setup from different angles, which helps you understand scale and process without needing to step onto a restricted industrial area.

I recommend treating these platforms like photo stops. Pause. Look around. Then use the audio guide to match what you see with what you hear. This is how you turn a passive visit into real comprehension.

The result feels satisfying. You are standing indoors, safe and comfortable, yet the experience keeps you close to the sense of an operating plant.

Getting the timing right, winter versus summer hours

This is one of those experiences where time is flexible once you are inside. Start times are flexible, and you are welcome to stay as long as you like after entering. Hours depend on the season:

• Winter (Nov 1 to Mar 31): 9 AM to 4 PM
• Summer (Apr 1 to Oct 31): 9 AM to 5 PM

I like that arrangement because it reduces stress. You can build it into a day trip without having to sprint to a strict meeting time.

How long should you plan? A common rhythm is about an hour or so to see the main exhibits and audio stops, longer if you pause a lot at the Production Process area or replay sections.

Who this is best for, from science teachers to first-timers

This is suitable for all ages, and it feels particularly strong for people who like science, technology, and how systems work. As a stem science teacher would likely tell you, the content gives you enough structure to explain geothermal energy to students, not just impress them with cool facts.

You will also like it if:

• you want a self-paced learning experience without a group schedule
• you enjoy interactive displays and audio commentary
• you are curious about Iceland’s approach to sustainability

If you are bringing kids, I would plan to help guide the experience. The exhibition is designed for all ages, but the technical side can be a lot for younger learners without conversation and prompting from you.

Staff help when you need it, even in a self-guided setup

Even though it is self-guided, you are not on your own. You can ask on-site staff questions during your visit. That makes a difference if you have one specific thing you want clarified, like how the process connects to the emissions topic or what a particular piece of equipment does.

One name that stands out in the staff praise you can look out for is Antonia, recognized for answering questions. You should still count on help from the team in general, but it is comforting to know the facility has staff who take curiosity seriously.

Price and value: what $21 buys you

At $21 per person, this is a straightforward add-on for a Reykjavik area day. The value comes from what is included:

• Entrance to the Geothermal Exhibition
• Self-guided audio tour on Android and iOS
• Free parking
• Audio support in English and Icelandic

You are not just paying for entry. You are paying for interpretation, interactive exhibits, and a guided structure via audio. That combination is why many people find it more educational than they expected.

The only value trade-off is the lack of a guaranteed staff-led plant walk inside the main operational areas. If you were hoping for hardhats, safety gear, and a staff-run route through the plant, plan for learning through the exhibition instead.

Practical tips that make the day smoother

Here are a few things that will help you enjoy the visit more, without overthinking it.

Bring headphones and a charged smartphone. The tour is delivered through the audio guide app experience on your device. If your phone battery is low, your audio will run out right when you get to the best parts.

Plan to ask one question. The facility encourages Q and A, so bring something specific to your curiosity. It could be about how geothermal heat becomes usable energy, or how the Carbfix work fits into the climate story.

Give the Production Process stop time. If you only do one thing longer than the rest, make it that section. It helps everything else click.

Wear comfortable walking shoes. It is an exhibition with movement between exhibits and viewing platforms. You will feel better if your feet are happy.

Should you book Hellisheiði?

Book this if you want a real-world geothermal experience that explains how Iceland turns heat from the Earth into energy. It is especially good for science-minded travelers, families with curious teens, and anyone who likes learning at their own pace. The audio guide, the interactive exhibits, and the Carbfix room make it more than a quick stop.

Skip it or reconsider only if you strongly prefer an employee-led tour inside the plant itself, with extra safety gear and a staff-run walkthrough. This is designed to teach through the exhibition, with staff available for questions, not as a guided walk through restricted areas.

If your goal is to understand geothermal power and see how it ties to climate solutions, Hellisheiði is a smart use of a day near Reykjavík.

FAQ

Where is the Hellisheiði Geothermal Energy Exhibition?

You should go directly to the entrance at Hellisheiðarvirkjun, 801 Selfoss, Iceland.

How much does the entry cost?

The price is $21 per person.

Is the tour guided by a person?

No. It is a self-guided audio tour. A tour guide is not included.

What does the audio tour require?

Bring headphones and a charged smartphone, since the audio guide is included and runs on your device.

What languages are available?

The audio guide is available in English and Icelandic.

How long does the visit take?

The activity is listed as 1 day, and the visit is self-paced. Hours let you enter within the opening window, and you can stay as long as you like after entering.

What are the opening hours?

Winter (Nov 1 to Mar 31): 9 AM to 4 PM.

Summer (Apr 1 to Oct 31): 9 AM to 5 PM.

Is parking available?

Yes. Free parking is included.

Is food included with the ticket?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you can purchase them on-site.