There are places in Malta that surprise you. Popeye Village in Anchor Bay is one of them – not because it is particularly grand or ancient, but because it is something completely unlike anything else on the island. A cluster of crooked, colourful wooden houses perched above a crystal-clear bay, built for a Hollywood movie in 1980 and still standing today as one of Malta’s most visited and most photographed spots.
If you have not been, here is everything you need to know before you go.
What Actually Is Popeye Village?
Popeye Village is the original film set built for the 1980 musical Popeye, starring Robin Williams. And when we say original – we mean exactly that. The wooden buildings you see today are not a replica or a tribute. They are the actual structures that were constructed in 1979 for filming at Anchor Bay.
That changes how you look at the place once you know it. The whole village was built in about seven months, and it was never meant to last. Timber came from Holland, roof shingles from Canada, and an international crew worked through months of preparation. The bay itself was altered – a breakwater was added just to protect the set from rough seas during filming.
When production wrapped, instead of being dismantled, the set was kept. Over the years it was slowly developed into what it is now: a family attraction, a seaside retreat, and a piece of genuine film history all in one.
Where Is Popeye Village?
Popeye Village sits in Anchor Bay, on the northwest coast of Malta near the town of Mellieħa. It is also very close to Għadira Bay – Malta’s largest sandy beach – which makes it easy to combine both into one trip up north. From Sliema, you are looking at roughly 40 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic.
One of the best parts of visiting is the approach. As you drive towards Anchor Bay, the road gradually opens up and suddenly – there it is. The bay below you, the colourful wooden village clinging to the hillside, the sea stretching out behind it. It is the kind of view that makes you instinctively slow down to take it in.
Your Guide to Getting Around (Map Inside)
The site is more spread out than it first appears, and knowing the layout before you arrive helps you make the most of your time. As the map shows, the village is divided across different levels – from the free parking area at the top, down through the main film set, out to the bay and water activities below.
The upper section is where you will find the mini golf course, kids’ games area, and the entrance point. As you descend into the set itself, the original film buildings open up around you – Popeye’s house, the various character areas, the cinema, and the performance spaces. At the lowest level, the bay gives way to the swimming area and seasonal inflatable attractions.
A good approach is to start at the top, work your way down through the set, and let the day naturally pull you towards the water. Save the climb back up for when you are ready to leave.
What Can You Do at Popeye Village?
Walk Through the Original Film Set
The heart of the visit is the village itself. You wander through the leaning wooden houses, peer into Popeye’s house, see rooms and props from the original production, and get a sense of just how much detail went into building a film set that was only supposed to last a few weeks of shooting.
It does not feel like a sanitised theme park. There is still something genuinely rough and characterful about it, which is part of the appeal.
Meet Popeye, Olive Oyl and the Characters
Throughout the day, costumed characters move around the village – Popeye, Olive Oyl, and others from the film. They talk to visitors, pose for photos, and perform small moments in character.
For children especially, this feels quite personal. These are not distant mascots standing by a rope barrier. They interact, they joke around, and they move freely through the village just like anyone else.
Live Shows and Entertainment
There are live shows running throughout the day, and they are designed to be participatory rather than passive. Comedy sketches, music, dancing, and audience interaction are all part of the format, with children often brought into the performance.
The atmosphere shifts a little depending on the day and season, but there is consistently something happening if you time your walk around the schedule.
The Parrot Show
Quietly one of the more memorable surprises for visitors – a parrot show where trained birds perform tricks and respond to their handlers. Simple, but genuinely entertaining, especially for younger visitors and anyone who was not expecting it.
Cinema Documentary
Inside the village there is a small cinema screening a short documentary about how Popeye Village was built and how the movie was filmed here.
It is well worth watching before or after you explore. It puts everything into context and makes the walk around the set feel much more layered.
Summer Water Activities
In summer – roughly June through September – Popeye Village takes on a second identity. Inflatable structures appear in the sea, the bay opens up for swimming, sunbeds and umbrellas are set up along the water, and there are splash zones for younger children.
The water in Anchor Bay is exceptionally clear, and even within the context of a themed attraction, the natural beauty of the bay is obvious. Many visitors end up staying far longer than they planned, simply because the setting is so pleasant to sit in.
Mini Golf and Kids’ Areas
The upper section of the village has a nine-hole mini golf course, obstacle courses, and traditional outdoor games. It is where a lot of energy gets burned if you are visiting with children, and the setup is relaxed enough that parents can sit nearby while kids move around freely.
How Much Does Popeye Village Cost?
Ticket prices vary by season, so it is worth factoring this into your planning.
High Season (June to September) – Full access including water activities, all shows, and entertainment.
- Adults: approx. €25
- Children (3-12 years old) and pensioners: approx. €16
Mid Season – Slightly reduced prices, some activities may be limited.
- Adults: approx. €18
- Children (3-12 years old): approx. €14
Low Season / Winter – Quieter, but you still get access to the film set, mini golf, museum, and shows.
- Adults: approx. €15
- Children (3-12 years old): approx. €12.50
Note that tickets are generally non-refundable, so it is worth checking the weather forecast before you go – especially in the shoulder months.
Food and Facilities
Nothing says lunch better than sitting under an umbrella on a beautiful terrace overlooking Anchor Bay. Whether you are after a quick bite between activities or a proper sit-down meal with a view, Popeye Village has a good spread of options across the site – and they cater for different styles, whether it is a seated or standing setup, a hearty buffet, or plated dishes designed to tickle everyone’s taste buds.
Film Set Outlets
The Sea Farers Restaurant is the main food outlet on the film set and operates as a counter service restaurant. It serves home-made signature burgers, freshly made pizzas, and mouth-watering salads – all made to order. You can take your food to your own Bedouin bed on the bay or sit at one of the tables with views over Anchor Bay. It also serves cold beverages, draft beer, alcoholic drinks, cocktails, and hot coffees. Open throughout the year with shaded outdoor areas and indoor seating for the cooler months.
The Winery is one of the nicest spots on the film set – a shaded terrace with views of both the village and Anchor Bay, where you can enjoy a glass of wine alongside the same menu offered at Sea Farers. It also stocks individually packed ice-creams, Slush Puppies, cold beverages, draft beer, alcoholic drinks, and cocktails. Open throughout the year with indoor options available too.
The Beach Bar is open between June and October and is perfect for a lighter stop. Fresh fruit salads, a variety of ciabattas prepared daily, soft ice-creams, Slush Puppies, cold beverages, draft beer, alcoholic drinks, healthy ready-made juices, and cocktails are all on offer. Locker rental is also available here.
Upper Complex
The Popeye Diner is the largest food outlet on the premises, located in the upper area near the car park before you enter the film set. It has both indoor and outdoor seating and serves breakfast, kids’ meals, salads, pizzas, and burgers. Between October and June it also houses Malta’s largest soft-play area and regularly hosts children’s parties and coffee mornings. Open all year round, with hot drinks, cold beverages, alcoholic drinks, cocktails, and ice-creams available. Parking is no problem when dining here.
Dinners and Private Events
If you are organising a group dinner or corporate event, Popeye Village offers something genuinely hard to find elsewhere. Guests can arrive by coach or boat and be welcomed in the main square by Popeye and the gang, with welcome drinks served as everyone roams freely around the film set at sunset.
Dinner can be held on one of the terraces or in the Rough House Hall, overlooking Anchor Bay with the film set on one side and the Maltese cliffs on the other. The kitchen team can prepare everything from finger food for standing events to large barbecue spreads with meat, poultry, and fish, freshly made salads, home-made pasta, and a Western-themed menu. Beverage and open-bar packages are available, and the film set can be taken on an exclusivity basis with an after-party, DJ, or live band to follow.
Parking and Getting Around the Site
Free parking is available at the top of the village. From there, you walk downhill to enter the set. The descent is gentle enough, but keep in mind that you will be walking back uphill at the end of the day – something worth noting if you are visiting with elderly family members or very young children in pushchairs.
Events and Special Occasions
Not many people know this, but Popeye Village is also used as an events venue. Weddings, pre-wedding photo shoots, and birthday parties have all been held inside the set – and it makes sense once you see it. The combination of colourful wooden houses, the bay in the background, and the slightly theatrical feel of the whole place creates a genuinely unusual setting for photographs.
How to Get There from Sliema
By car is the easiest option. Head north along the coast through St. Paul’s Bay and continue towards Mellieħa. Parking at the top of the village is free. From there you walk downhill into the set, which is actually a lovely part of the experience because the whole village reveals itself as you descend.
By bus it is doable, though slower. You would typically need to change routes via Valletta or St. Paul’s Bay and then take a northern connection towards Mellieħa. The last stretch involves a walk down to Anchor Bay.
By taxi or Bolt is the most comfortable option, especially for families. Direct, door-to-door, and no route planning required.
How Long Do You Need?
Most people underestimate Popeye Village. It does not look big from above, but once you are inside and the day gets going, time moves differently.
Here is a realistic breakdown of how a visit actually flows:
- Exploring the set and taking photos – 30 to 60 minutes
- Shows, characters, and Popeye and Olive Oyl interactions – around 1 hour
- Water fun, mini golf, and relaxing by the bay – 1 to 2 hours
- The viewpoint and a slow walk back up – 15 to 30 minutes
In spring or autumn, most visitors find it fills a comfortable half day. In summer, with swimming, sunbeds, and the full activity schedule running, it very easily becomes a full day out without you planning for it. Pack accordingly.
Is It Worth Visiting Popeye Village Malta?
If you are in Malta and wondering whether Popeye Village deserves a place in your itinerary, the honest answer is yes – but with the right expectations.
It is not a grand historical site. It is not a world-class theme park. What it is, is a genuinely unique place that manages to be several things at once: a real piece of film history, a relaxed family day out, a beautiful bay to swim in, and a setting that does not quite exist anywhere else in the world.
You go for Popeye. You stay for the atmosphere, the water, and the strange, warm feeling of a place that was accidentally built to last.
For families, it is easy, entertaining, and well-paced. For couples, it is scenic and relaxed. For anyone with an interest in film history or just looking for something a bit different from Malta’s beaches and medieval towns – it is genuinely worth the drive to Anchor Bay. And if you are heading up that way, Għadira Bay is just minutes down the road, so the two make a very natural pairing for a full day in the north of Malta.
For the latest ticket prices and seasonal opening hours, always check directly with Popeye Village before your visit or call them P: (+356) 2152 4781/2 / 3 / 4