Popeye Village is a family attraction built around the original set of the 1980 film ‘Popeye’, on the cove of Anchor Bay in Mellieħa, in the north-west of Malta. Colourful wooden houses, daily entertainment and summer swimming add up to a playful day out, ideal for families and for big kids too.
Popeye Village is neither a thrill park nor a genuine historic village: it is the set of the 1980 film of the same name, colourful and a little kitsch, preserved on the cove of Anchor Bay. The ticket is all-inclusive (entertainment, shows, cinema, museum, swimming in summer) and the setting of the bay remains its real selling point. Approached with the right expectations, it works best for families with children aged 3 to 12, thanks to its entertainment programme and supervised swimming area; teenagers get the most out of it in summer, when the swimming takes over.
The site is slightly out of the way, especially for travellers staying in the south of the island: a trip to Popeye Village is therefore usually a half-day outing, or a full day for those planning to make the most of its swimming zone.
To get your money’s worth, play along: arrive at opening time, follow the entertainment schedule handed out at the entrance and take part in the mini-film re-enacted with the actors, later screened in the park’s little cinema. In the off-season, when the swimming and part of the entertainment stop, a walk around the set takes one to two hours and the ticket can feel expensive. In that case, the free viewpoint on the cliff opposite, the finest view of the village, remains a good alternative.
The village was built from June 1979 for the shooting of the musical Popeye, starring Robin Williams in the title role. In seven months, an international crew of 165 builders put up around twenty timber houses, with logs shipped from the Netherlands and thousands of shingles imported from Canada, to recreate Sweethaven, the sailor’s fictional hometown. The build even called for a breakwater of around sixty metres at the mouth of Anchor Bay and an access road. Filming ran from January to June 1980.
Once the film wrapped, the set was never dismantled: it was preserved and turned into a theme park. It is now one of the very few film sets to have become a permanent tourist attraction, welcoming several hundred thousand visitors every year.
The film set, the entertainment, swimming at Anchor Bay and Malta’s northern beaches, a break overlooking the cove: here is what a visit to Popeye Village looks like.
Around twenty crooked, colourful wooden houses are open to explore: Popeye’s, Olive’s, the bakery, the post office, the fire station. Inside, you will find original props, wax figures, a comic-strip museum, a corner dedicated to Robin Williams and Bluto’s House, devoted to the behind-the-scenes story; the little cinema screens a fifteen-minute documentary about the shoot.
Puppet shows, costumed characters singing and dancing, treasure hunts and face painting for children set the pace of the day, daily programme in hand (given out at the entrance). The highlight: a mini-film re-enacted with visitors, then screened in the little cinema. This is what keeps the visit lively, even if you have never seen the film.
The cove right in front of the village offers clear, sheltered water, well suited to snorkelling among fish and octopuses. In summer, inflatables, a floating sun deck and sunbeds are included in the ticket, with lifeguards on duty.
Several food outlets overlook the bay: a restaurant with a terrace, a bar, ice cream and a beach bar in summer. The cooking stays simple but the setting more than makes up for it, and a picnic area comes in handy.
| Low season, adult / teen | €15 |
|---|---|
| Low season, child (3-12) / senior | €12.50 |
| Mid-season, adult / teen | €18 |
| Mid-season, child (3-12) / senior | €14 |
| High season, adult / teen | €25 |
| High season, child (3-12) / senior | €16 |
| Low season (6 Nov – 30 Apr) | 9:30 – 17:00 |
|---|---|
| Mid-season (May, Oct) | 9:30 – 17:30 |
| High season (1 Jun – 30 Sep) | 9:30 – 18:00 |
Popeye Village sits at Anchor Bay, in the north-west of Malta, a few minutes from Mellieħa.
The final leg is always on route 101, which links Mellieħa to the park during its opening hours. From Valletta, Sliema or Buġibba, make your way to Mellieħa first, then catch the 101.
By bus: route 101 serves Popeye Village directly (the ‘Popeye’ stop) from Mellieħa, but only during the park’s opening hours and at limited frequency. At closing time the buses fill up fast: leave a little early.
By car: free parking is available on site (be aware that the last stretch of road is narrow).
By taxi or ride-hailing app: Bolt and eCabs drop you off at the entrance. Fares climb at closing time: better to book your ride in advance.
On foot: from Mellieħa Bay, allow around 25 minutes.
Yes, they are its ideal audience. The upper complex has ball pits, shallow splash pools and games designed for ages 3 to 8, on top of the entertainment and the characters younger kids love. Teenagers enjoy it most in summer, when the swimming and the inflatables take over.
A walk around the set alone takes one to two hours. With the entertainment and the shows, allow three hours; in summer, between swimming and inflatables, many families spend half a day or even the whole day there.
Yes, the cove of Anchor Bay offers clear, sheltered water, ideal for families and snorkelling. Swimming and the inflatable structures on the water are mainly available from mid-season through summer, with sunbeds, parasols and lifeguards included.
It is advisable in high season and during school holidays, as the queues at the entrance can get long. Booking online saves time and often works out cheaper than the ticket desk.
Access to the set and the interiors, the entertainment and shows, the mini-film re-enacted with visitors, the little cinema and its documentary about the shoot, the nine-hole mini-golf and the wooden games, plus free popcorn and a postcard. In summer, the supervised beach, sunbeds and inflatables are added. Only the motorised water activities (jet ski, paddle boards, pedalos) cost extra.
Yes, picnics are allowed and a dedicated area overlooks the bay. On site, the offer is limited to a restaurant and snacks, decent but fairly expensive; families who plan ahead often bring their own food.
Yes. The lookout on the cliff facing the village is freely accessible, no ticket needed. It offers the most photogenic view of the colourful houses and the turquoise bay, not to be missed even if you skip the park itself.
Yes, the park opens 7 days a week throughout the year. However, the water activities (swimming, inflatables, floating sun deck) and some of the entertainment only run from mid-season through summer.
No, pets are not allowed inside the park, with the exception of guide dogs.
