Updated in November 2026, this Esplora Interactive Science Centre guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
Esplora is an interactive science centre in the historic Villa Bighi buildings at Kalkara, above Malta‘s Grand Harbour. More than 200 hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, live science shows and landscaped gardens fill the site. You can book through GetYourGuide before you travel. As of November 2026, an adult ticket costs €12 and a child ticket (3 to 15) costs €10. The centre closes at 15:00 on weekdays and at 17:00 at weekends and on public holidays.
Quick facts for the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Dawret Fra Giovanni Bichi, Villa Bighi, Kalkara KKR 1320, Malta |
| Opening hours | Monday to Friday 9:00 to 15:00. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10:00 to 17:00 |
| Adult (16 and over) | €12 |
| Child or teenager (3 to 15) | €10 |
| Student (16 and over) | €10 |
| Senior Card or Disability Card holder | €6 |
| Children 0 to 2 | Free |
| Ticket with the Luzzu Experience, adult | €15 |
| Nearest transit | Bus 3 from Valletta |
| Typical visit | Three hours or more |
| Phone | +356 2360 2300 |
Why book Esplora Interactive Science Centre tickets?
- 🔬 More than 200 hands-on exhibits: Indoor halls and landscaped gardens turn science into play.
- 🌌 A planetarium with a 10.7-metre dome: A full-colour 4K system shows immersive films and live presenter-led journeys.
- 🎭 Science shows and workshops: Daily sessions are included in your ticket, subject to availability.
- ⛵ The Luzzu Experience: You can add a trip on a traditional Maltese boat for a few euros more.
- 🌅 Grand Harbour views: The centre stands at Villa Bighi above the Grand Harbour.
Esplora Interactive Science Centre ticket prices – and how to book
All prices are in euros. Special events have their own prices.
| Ticket | Esplora Experience | Including Luzzu Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (16 and over) | €12 | €15 |
| Child or teenager (3 to 15) | €10 | €13 |
| Student (16 and over) | €10 | €13 |
| Senior Card holder | €6 | €10 |
| Disability Card holder | €6 | €10, carers free |
| Children (0 to 2) | Free | Free |
| Individual membership | €45 | Included |
Residents of Cottonera and Kalkara receive 20% off with an ID card. Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Disability Card holders can bring a carer, who enters free.
Your ticket includes entry and any shows, workshops, history tours and planetarium films on the daily schedule, subject to availability. Each of these needs a ticket from Reception, because capacity is limited. The Racing Car Simulator costs extra. You can book through GetYourGuide before you travel.
Opening hours for the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
Esplora opens every day, with shorter hours on weekdays. Weekday and weekend hours differ, so check the day you plan to visit.
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 9:00 to 15:00 |
| Saturday, Sunday and public holidays | 10:00 to 17:00 |
The planetarium is open to the public at weekends, on public holidays and during special events.
How to get to the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
Esplora is on Dawret Fra Giovanni Bichi road in Kalkara. By bus, take route 3 from Valletta. The sightseeing hop-on, hop-off bus also stops here. By water taxi, cross from Valletta to Bormla (Cospicua), then take bus 3 or walk for 20 to 30 minutes. By car, there is roadside parking in the square and along most of Dawret Fra Giovanni Bichi.
Parking at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
Roadside parking is available in Kalkara square and along most of Dawret Fra Giovanni Bichi road. A parking area is also on the corner of Fuq il-Fortini and San Dwardu road. Spaces can fill up on busy days.
How long to spend at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
Allow at least three hours. The exhibits, shows and workshops all take time. Add more for the café and the gardens.
Accessibility at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
The main entrances and exits are wheelchair accessible, and lifts carry one wheelchair and one carer. The second floor of “The House” exhibit is not accessible. A raised platform at “The Ball Machine” can be reached only by stairs, but wheelchair users can join that activity from ground level.
The planetarium has one permanent wheelchair space, and you must book it in advance. Some planetarium shows are not recommended for visitors with balance disorders or severe motion sickness. Paying visitors who need help can bring a carer, who enters free.
What to see at the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
The exhibition halls. More than 200 hands-on exhibits fill the halls and gardens. They make science interactive and playful.
The planetarium. The dome is 10.7 metres across and uses a full-colour 4K theatre system. It is housed in the shell of the former Auxiliary Hospital and offers full-dome shows and live presenter-led journeys through astronomy.
The Universe exhibition. An adjoining exhibition explores the Universe, the cosmos and life in space.
The science shows and workshops. Shows and workshops run on a daily schedule. They are first come, first served, so collect a ticket for each at Reception.
The Luzzu Experience. The Luzzu Experience is a ride on a traditional Maltese boat called Sansone. It is sold as an add-on to your ticket.
The Racing Car Simulator. This activity costs extra.
The site history tour. A self-led tour explains the history of the Bighi site.
EsploraCafé. The café serves food and drinks at the centre.
Practical visitor tips for the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Book ahead | You can buy at the centre. Book tickets in advance to plan your day. |
| Collect session tickets first | Shows, workshops and planetarium films need a ticket from Reception, and capacity is limited. |
| Plan around the weekday close | Esplora closes at 15:00 Monday to Friday, so arrive in the morning. |
| Visit at the weekend for the planetarium | The planetarium is open to the public only at weekends, on public holidays and at special events. |
| Budget for extras | The Racing Car Simulator costs extra, and the Luzzu Experience adds €3 to €4 to most tickets. |
Frequently asked questions about the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the opening hours? | Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 15:00. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 to 17:00. |
| How much does a ticket cost? | Adults pay €12 and children aged 3 to 15 pay €10. Students pay €10, and children aged 0 to 2 are free. |
| Is the planetarium open every day? | It is open to the public at weekends, on public holidays and during special events. Schools use it on weekdays. |
| Is Esplora wheelchair accessible? | Yes. The entrances and lifts are accessible, with a few exceptions such as the second floor of “The House”. |
| Do I need to book in advance? | You can buy at the centre, but advance booking is recommended so your visit is planned. |
Things to do near the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
Birgu: A fortified waterfront town, also called Vittoriosa, across Kalkara Creek in the Three Cities.
Fort St Angelo: A medieval fort at the tip of Birgu overlooking the Grand Harbour.
Malta Maritime Museum: A museum of Maltese maritime history in the old naval bakery in Birgu.
Valletta Waterfront: A line of restored warehouses with cafés and harbour views in Valletta.
Upper Barrakka Gardens: A hilltop garden with a panoramic view of the Grand Harbour in Valletta.
Alternatives to the Esplora Interactive Science Centre
Malta National Aquarium: A large aquarium at Qawra on the north-east coast of Malta.
Malta Aviation Museum: A museum of historic aircraft at Ta’ Qali, near Mdina.
Mdina: A walled medieval city in the centre of Malta. Home to St Paul’s Cathedral and Palazzo Falson.
Marsaxlokk: A fishing village with colourful boats on the south-east coast of Malta.
Mosta Rotunda: A large domed church in the centre of Malta.
More Malta travel
- Malta’s Museum of Natural History: Updated visitor guide for this Mdina favourite.
- Practical guides to visiting St John’s Co-Cathedral and the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta.
- National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta: Visitor guide with ticket prices and opening hours.
- Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum in Valletta: Guide with hours, prices and what to see.
- Underground Valletta visitor guide: Explore the cisterns, tunnels and WWII shelters beneath Malta’s capital.
