There are places in Malta that surprise you. Popeye Village, tucked into Anchor Bay on the north-west coast, is one of them, not because it’s grand or ancient, but because it’s genuinely unlike anywhere else on the island. A cluster of crooked, colourful wooden houses perched above a crystal-clear bay, built for a Hollywood film in 1980, kept standing long after the cameras left, and still drawing visitors more than four decades later. This guide covers what you actually need before you go: what the site really is, the layout most visitors don’t understand until they’re already inside, current ticket prices, and honest advice on timing your visit around the shows rather than guessing.
What Popeye Village actually is
This is the original film set built for the 1980 musical Popeye, starring Robin Williams and directed by Robert Altman. When people say “original,” they mean it literally: the wooden buildings standing today are the same structures raised in 1979 for the production, not a replica built later for tourists. Construction ran through the second half of 1979, roughly seven months, with an international crew of 165 workers. Timber came from Holland, roof shingles from Canada, and a breakwater was built specifically to protect the set from rough seas during filming. Filming itself ran from 23 January to 19 June 1980. When production wrapped, instead of being torn down, the village was kept and gradually developed into what stands today: part family attraction, part seaside retreat, part genuine piece of film history.
Where it is
Popeye Village sits at Anchor Bay, near Mellieħa on Malta’s north-west coast. Għadira Bay, Malta’s largest sandy beach, is only a few minutes down the road, which makes the two an easy pairing for a full day in the north. From Sliema, expect roughly 40 to 50 minutes by car depending on traffic. The approach itself is part of the experience: the road opens up as you near Anchor Bay, and the village appears below all at once, wooden houses clinging to the hillside with the sea stretching out behind them. It’s the kind of view that makes you slow down without meaning to.
Understanding the layout
The site is more spread out than it looks from above, and knowing the layout in advance makes the day flow better. It runs across three levels: free parking and the entrance at the top, the original film set in the middle, and Anchor Bay itself at the bottom. The upper section holds the mini golf course, kids’ games area, and main entrance. Descend into the film set and the original buildings open up around you: Popeye’s house, the various character areas, the cinema, and the performance spaces. At the lowest level, the bay takes over, with the swimming area and, in season, inflatable attractions. The natural approach is to start at the top and let the day pull you downhill toward the water, saving the climb back up for when you’re ready to leave.
Things to do
Walk the original film set
The heart of the visit. You wander through the leaning wooden houses, look into Popeye’s house, and see props and rooms from the actual production, with a real sense of how much detail went into a set that was only ever supposed to last a few weeks of shooting. It doesn’t feel like a sanitised theme park; there’s still something genuinely rough and characterful about it, which is a large part of the appeal.
Meet the characters
Costumed characters, Popeye, Olive Oyl and others, move through the village throughout the day, talking to visitors, posing for photos and performing small in-character moments. For children in particular this lands differently than a distant mascot behind a rope: the characters interact directly and move freely through the crowd.
Catch the live shows
Shows run throughout the day and lean participatory rather than passive, comedy, music, dancing and audience interaction, often pulling children into the performance. Expect around three shows a day in July and August, dropping to one or two in the shoulder months, and very few during winter low season. Exact times are posted at the entrance and shift week to week, so if a young visitor specifically wants to meet Popeye, build the day around the schedule rather than arriving and hoping.
The parrot show
One of the quieter surprises: trained birds performing tricks and responding to their handlers. Simple, but genuinely well done, and a hit with younger visitors especially.
The cinema documentary
A small on-site cinema screens a short documentary on how the village was built and the film shot here. Worth watching either before or after you explore the set; it adds real context to what you’re walking through.
Summer water activities
From roughly June through September, the site takes on a second identity. Inflatable structures go up in the sea, the bay opens for swimming with Red Cross lifeguards on duty, sunbeds and umbrellas line the water, and splash pools run for younger children. Anchor Bay’s water is genuinely clear, themed attraction or not, and it’s common for visitors to stay considerably longer than planned simply because the setting is that pleasant to sit in.
Mini golf and kids’ areas
The upper section has a nine-hole mini golf course, obstacle courses and traditional outdoor games, a reliable way to burn energy if you’re visiting with children, with enough space for parents to sit nearby while kids move freely.
Ticket prices
Prices are set directly by Popeye Village and change by season; these are the official current rates, but always check popeyemalta.com before you go, since dates and figures do shift year to year. High season, 1 June to 30 September: Adults and teens €25, children (3 to 12) and pensioners €16. Includes the full water inflatables, splash pools, sunbeds, umbrellas and showers, subject to availability. Mid season, May and 1 October to 5 November: Adults and teens €18, children and pensioners €14. Low season, November to April: Typically around €15 for adults and €12.50 for children, though the swim area is largely out of use given the colder water, and character shows run less frequently. Christmas week runs on low season pricing with added festive events, including a Santa grotto. One detail worth knowing: visitors aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult (18+). Online tickets are generally non-refundable, so check the forecast before booking, particularly in the shoulder months.
Opening hours
- High season (June to September): 9:30am to 6:00pm
- Mid season (April to May, October): 9:30am to 5:30pm
- Low season (November to March): 9:30am to 5:00pm
All areas close 10 minutes before the official closing time, and the site is open year-round, including public holidays, with closures only for genuinely severe weather.
Food and facilities
Sea Farers Restaurant, the main outlet on the film set, is counter service, serving burgers, pizzas and salads made to order, alongside cold drinks, draft beer and cocktails. You can take food to a Bedouin bed on the bay or sit at a table with views over Anchor Bay. Open year-round, with shaded outdoor seating and indoor space for cooler months. The Winery is one of the nicer spots on site, a shaded terrace looking over both the village and the bay, serving the same menu as Sea Farers alongside wine, ice creams and slush drinks. The Beach Bar, open June to October, is the lighter option: fruit salads, fresh ciabattas, soft ice creams and cold drinks, with locker rental available here too. In the upper complex, the Popeye Diner is the largest food outlet on site, near the car park before you enter the film set, serving breakfast, kids’ meals, pizzas and burgers year-round. Between October and June it also houses Malta’s largest soft-play area, and regularly hosts children’s parties.
Getting there
By car is the easiest option: head north along the coast through St Paul’s Bay toward Mellieħa. Parking at the top is free, and the walk down into the set is genuinely part of the experience, since the whole village reveals itself gradually as you descend. By bus is doable but slower, typically requiring a change via Valletta or St Paul’s Bay onto a northern connection toward Mellieħa, with a walk down to Anchor Bay at the end. By taxi or Bolt is the most comfortable option for families: direct, door to door, no route planning required.
How long to allow
Most visitors underestimate this place. It doesn’t look large from above, but once you’re inside, time moves differently.
- Exploring the set and photos: 30 to 60 minutes
- Shows, characters and interactions: around an hour
- Water activities, mini golf, relaxing by the bay: 1 to 2 hours
- The walk back up: 15 to 30 minutes
In spring or autumn, that adds up to a comfortable half day. In summer, with the full water and activity schedule running, it easily becomes a full day without anyone planning for it.
Events and private hire
Popeye Village also operates as an events venue: weddings, pre-wedding shoots and birthday parties have all been held on site, and it’s easy to see why once you’re standing in it. For group dinners or corporate events, guests can arrive by coach or boat and be welcomed in the main square by the characters, with dinner served on one of the terraces or in the Rough House Hall overlooking the bay. The kitchen handles everything from standing finger food to full barbecue spreads, and the entire film set can be booked on an exclusive basis with a DJ or live band after-party.
Is it worth visiting?
Yes, with the right expectations. This isn’t a grand historical site or a world-class theme park. What it is, is a genuinely unusual place that does several things at once: real film history, a relaxed family day, a beautiful bay to swim in, and a setting that doesn’t quite exist anywhere else. You come for Popeye. You stay for the water, the atmosphere, and the slightly strange, warm feeling of a place that was only ever supposed to be temporary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Popeye Village the actual film set?
Yes. The wooden buildings standing today are the original structures built in 1979 for the 1980 film Popeye, starring Robin Williams and directed by Robert Altman, not a later reconstruction.
How much does Popeye Village cost?
High season (June to September) is €25 for adults and teens, €16 for children (3-12) and pensioners. Mid season (May, October) is €18 and €14 respectively. Low season (November to April) is typically around €15 and €12.50. Check popeyemalta.com for current confirmed prices before you visit.
How far is Popeye Village from Sliema?
Roughly 40 to 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic, heading north through St Paul’s Bay towards Mellieħa.
Can you swim at Popeye Village?
Yes, in Anchor Bay itself. Swimming, sunbeds and, in summer, inflatable water attractions are all part of the site, with Red Cross lifeguards on duty during the June to September high season.
How long do you need at Popeye Village?
Two to four hours covers the film set, a show and some time by the water. In summer, with the full water activities and character schedule running, many visitors end up staying a full day.
Is Popeye Village good for young children?
Yes. Costumed characters interact directly with kids, there are dedicated splash pools and a play area in the upper complex, and the pace of the site suits families well. Visitors 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
Is there food at Popeye Village?
Yes, several options: Sea Farers Restaurant and The Winery on the film set, the seasonal Beach Bar by the water, and the Popeye Diner in the upper complex near the car park, open year-round. For current ticket prices and seasonal hours, confirm directly with Popeye Village before your visit, or call +356 2152 4781.