Making a Booking
Contact our friendly Bookings staff by email on bookings@esplora.org.mt or phone on 2360-2299 to make your booking. The earlier you book, the more likely we will be able to accommodate you on the date that is your first preference.
Booking is easy! Just follow the links below to help you:
(1) Choose your package
(2) Choose your content
And then contact our Bookings staff to book your choices.
1. Choosing your Package
Most school visits run from 9:30am to 12:30pm, and are divided into 2 sessions, from 9:30am to 11am and 11am to 12:30pm.
Mix and match to build your visit, choosing one or more Planetarium, Exhibition or Activity sessions.
A short lunch break for your students is built into the timings of the Planetarium and Activity sessions, so if you book a package with 2 sessions, your students will always stop to eat between sessions.
The basic student package costs €3 per student and includes:
-
1 session in the Exhibition building (visiting up to 3 galleries) plus 1 session in the Activity Building for a workshop or science show.
OR -
1 session in the Planetarium including 2 Planetarium galleries and 1 Planetarium film or live show
OR - 1 session in LittleEsploras and 1 session in the LittleEsploras lab or theatre for a workshop or show (this package is suitable for Kinder 1 to Year 2)
The upgraded student package costs €4 per student and includes:
-
2 sessions in the Activity Building, for two workshops or a workshop and a science show
OR -
1 session in the Planetarium AND 1 session in the Activity Building for a workshop or science show
OR - 1 session in the Planetarium AND 1 session in the Exhibition building (visiting up to 3 galleries)
Basic Package
Choose 1 Experience
- Main Exhibits + 1 Activity Experience OR
- Planetarium Experience OR
- LittleEsploras Experience
Upgraded Package
Choose 1 option
- 2 Activities (no Exhibits) OR
- Planetarium Experience plus 1 Activity OR
- Planetarium Experience plus Main Exhibits
Below is a sample schedule of a school booking for 4 classes, using the basic package of Main Exhibits plus 1 Activity. These students have a 90-minute session in the Exhibition building to visit three galleries (chosen at booking) for half an hour each, and also have an Activity session which includes a break to eat, and an hour-long activity (in this case a Science Show).
2. Choosing your Content
No matter how many times you visit Esplora, you will always find new things to see and do! Take advantage of our rotating schedule of workshops and shows to enrich your repeat visits, and challenge your students to think of new ways to experiment with our interactive exhibits.
A visit to the Planetarium involves visiting the two Planetarium exhibit galleries, as well as your choice of a film or a live show in our fulldome theatre. Visit the Planetarium page to choose your film or live show before booking!
Important: Planetarium theatre seating is capped at 50 visitors per show, so when you book it is important that you include all adults and carers in your figures, so we can book you the correct number of showings. We can accommodate up to 2 wheelchairs per showing, but we must be informed in advance, and this slightly reduces the total seating capacity.
Our Exhibition Building is the centre of Esplora – the main exhibits occupy six galleries on two floors, and there’s enough to keep you busy for days!
Choose any three galleries for your Exhibits session, and we’ll reserve half an hour for your class in each one – your Explainer will help you to follow your schedule and will escort you between galleries, so there’s no fear of getting lost! If you are also booking an Activity or Planetarium session, some classes may be at their activity while other classes are in the Exhibition building, and then swap.
Visit our Exhibition page for more information about each of the six galleries, and access activity resources that you can use before, during and after your visit to further extend your students’ experience.
Want extra time for in-depth exploration? Book extra time in a gallery, or extend your visit (subject to availability) – our Bookings staff will help you plan the ideal visit for your needs.
Important: All students in a particular class must remain in the same gallery as their class teacher during their visit – students are not permitted to roam freely around the Exhibition building unless they have booked a Science Quest.
Have a look at our Activity page to see what’s on offer for your students’ age range – different workshops and science shows are available at different times through the year, giving you varied content for repeat visits.
Choose a workshop to give your students a hands-on experience or book a Science Show where our Science Communicators make science come alive through an engaging show with lots of science demonstrations. Either way, it will be a memorable experience, and you can even do both by booking an Upgraded Package!
Underneath the Exhibition building is our area dedicated to our youngest visitors, and ideal for school children from Kinder 1 to Year 2.
Visit the LittleEsploras page to discover the wealth of activities, labs and shows available and plan your booking.
Note: Kinder 1 and Kinder 2 bookings must be for LittleEsploras, but Year 1 and Year 2 can book LittleEsploras or the Main Exhibits. Priority for using the outdoor Playscape is given to schools with LittleEsploras bookings.