Popeye Village Malta & Anchor Bay: The Complete 2024 Guide (+ Full Review)

Thinking of visiting Popeye Village in Malta?

If you find yourself exploring the sun-soaked Mediterranean island of Malta, be sure to keep an eye out for a hidden bay where the laughter of children and the smell of fresh spinach fill the air. Nestled along the rocky coastline is Popeye Village – a real-life tribute to the iconic cartoon sailor.

Tour the original movie set where Robin Williams himself once hammed it up for the big screen. Strike a pose by Popeye’s lopsided shack and Olive Oyl’s charming cottage. See the old film props and sets that bring this nautical wonderland to life.

During my first visit to Malta in 2018 I spent a day exploring the Popeye Village to see what the hype was about. In this guide, I provide my insight on the attraction and tips for your visit.

When you’re not checking out the whimsical buildings, take a spin on the vintage carousel or chow down on spinach like Popeye himself. Little ones especially will love exploring this immersive village.

When I visited Popeye Village, it was one of the most memorable experiences I had in Malta. This place will capture your imagination like it did me, and give you an experience like no other, all while showing you the secrets of Sweethaven and its jolly one-eyed resident.

Popeye Village Malta: Ultimate Guide

A complete guide to things to do in Popeye Village Malta, the most visited destination on the island – everything you need to know.

👉 Short on time? Book your Popeye Village tickets in advance here and skip the long queues with priority admission.

Opening Hours:

• 9:30am-6pm (Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
• 9:30am-5pm (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)

Where is Popeye Village?

Popeye Village, also known as Sweethaven Village, is a purpose-built film set village that has been converted into a small attraction fun park. It is located at Prajjet Bay/Anchor Bay, 3km (2 miles) from the village center of Mellieħa, Malta.

What are the top places and best things to do in Popeye Village Malta?

The purpose-built village was constructed by Hollywood studio Paramount for their big-budget Popeye movie, and it’s now a small attraction fun park, consisting of a collection of rustic and ramshackle wooden buildings.

But what can you actually do there, you may ask? Well, first of all, you can simply explore the village and take in the quirky, colorful buildings that make up this unique attraction. You can also catch daily live performances by actors dressed up as Popeye, Olive Oyl, and other characters from the movie.

And if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can even take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of Anchor Bay, where the village is located.

1. The Film Set

There’s a shipload of fun to be had at Popeye Village for both young and old. Once you step foot in this nautical Neverland, you’ll find it jam-packed with activities for all ages.

Start off with a visit to the original movie set where Robin Williams himself hammed it up as Popeye back in 1980. It’s a hoot seeing the wonky buildings and colorful props up close.

Then let the kiddos run wild in Olive Oyl’s playhouse or on the antique carousel while Popeye’s famous scatting songs play overhead.

Grown-ups can get their history fix at the cinema with a 15-minute flick on how this hidden gem came to be. When ya get a hankerin’ for grub, bellies of all sizes can be filled to the brim at the Seafarers Bar & Restaurant. And for the adults, you can sample sweet wines at the winery before heading off.

So don’t just stand there looking like a bilge-sucking bilgerat. Hoist anchor and make way for Popeye Village, where kids, adults, and kids-at-heart can all live out their Popeye fantasies.

📍Popeye Village Malta movie set tours: Book your tickets here:

2. Family-friendly activities at Popeye Village Malta

Popeye Village is not just a film set, but also has a plethora of activities for all ye landlubbers to enjoy!

A 2022 survey by Family Travel Magazine found that over 80% of visitors ranked Popeye Village as a top family-friendly attraction in Malta.

There are shows, rides, and museums, as well as playhouses for children to climb and explore. What’s more, there’s several demonstrations including puppet shows and glassblowers, there’s the Slash Pool, a mini golf course, and even free wine tasting for adults.

Scheduled shows

At around 10am is the Welcome Show. This short skit features Popeye gallantly defeating his nemesis Bluto to rescue darling Olive Oyl. Now I’ll admit – the storyline is endearingly cheesy in that classic cartoon way. But there’s something charming about these small-scale, good-humored shows that takes me back to childhood park visits.

Later, we gleefully braved joining the interactive Dance Show that soon had Ariel and I boogying alongside performers and families to upbeat tunes. Embracing those playful moments and not taking ourselves too seriously is the key to fully immersing in the vibrant spirit of Popeye Village.

The final performance awaited at Olive Oyl’s storybook home – the Puppet Show stage. Now I expected we’d be the only adults without kids in tow. But peering around, it was just eight awkward grown-ups packed onto tiny benches amidst the dollhouse set.

You could sense the puppeteers’ trepidation realizing this was not their typical pint-sized audience. But with some words of encouragement, the show hilariously went on. And let me tell you, watching two theatrical pros valiantly tailor juvenile jokes for a crowd of dubious adults delivered even more entertainment than expected!

The highlight had to be when a clumsy Olive Oyl leaned in to sniff a rotund man for any lingering burger scents after accusing him of hoarding all the village’s patties. In that moment, all us big kids transformed back into guileless children giggling at the playful absurdity. And isn’t finding that youthful wonder what nostalgic family getaways are all about?

📍Popeye Village Malta Christmas events

3. Water Sports Activities in Anchor Bay

Well shiver me timbers, are you ready to dive into the sparkling blue waters of Malta’s Anchor Bay? There are swimming pools, trampolines, and all sorts of water attractions and games perfect for the kids.

This hidden cove is also perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving, a true treasure for scallywags looking to explore the briny deep. Once you wade into the bay’s crystal clear shallows, you’ll find yourself surrounded by craggy cliffs and sea caves just begging to be explored.

The local dive shops are happy to kit you up with snorkels and tanks so you can see magical marine life like sea turtles, octopus, and colorful fish. No diving experience? No problem! Many shops offer beginner crash courses for landlubbers.

If you prefer to stay above deck, there’s kayaks and boards available to rent too. You can paddle and drift across the calm bay, dipping in for a refreshing swim whenever the mood strikes. The waters here are mild and gentle.

You can even take a boat ride around Anchor Bay, which we did, and needless to say e thoroughly enjoyed the views of Popeye Village from the sea.

4. Popeye’s House Museum

There is a small museum on site that guides visitors through the history of Popeye Village Malta. We discovered the fascinating comics and the filming process documented here, as well as watched a short documentary.

There are many different rooms we explored here and we even got to see the original furniture and props that were used during the filming of the movie. Such is the authenticity and the impressive decoration here that we felt like we were part of the cartoon series itself!

We finished our visit by checking out the Popeye Village Malta souvenirs in one of the shops.

Popeye Village Malta tour prices

Aside from the general admission tickets, there are some highly-recommended, curated tour packages suited for groups and those who want to visit Popeye Village as part of a larger tour of Malta, including:

📍Private Minivan tour of Malta (includes Popeye Village, Mdina, Valletta, and more): $218 per group of up to 8 people.

📍Half Day Private tour of Malta (a completely tailored tour of Malta customized to your preference): $661 per group of up to 2 people.

Popeye Village: How to Get There

If you’re planning to visit Popeye Village in Malta, you’ll be happy to know that it’s fairly easy to get there. The village is located at Prajjet Bay/Anchor Bay, which is about 3km (2 miles) from the village center of Mellieħa.

One way to get there is by taking a bus, like we did. If you’re coming from Valletta, you can take bus number 41 to Mellieħa and then transfer to bus number 101, which will take you directly to Popeye Village. The bus ride takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes in total.

Another option is to drive your rental car there or take a taxi. If you’re driving, you can take the main road that leads to Mellieħa and then follow the signs to Popeye Village. There is a large parking area available at the entrance of the village.

Taxis are also readily available in Malta and can be arranged through your hotel or by hailing one on the street.

Top Places to eat near Popeye Village

If you’re looking for places to eat near Popeye Village in Malta, there are several superb options to choose from. Some of the top restaurants near Popeye Village are:

1. Popeye Grill – Situated right in Popeye Village, Popeye Village has a simple yet relatively affordable menu with great taste. It also offers live music and a fun pirate-themed atmosphere.
2. Billy’s Sports Bar & Kitchen – located in the heart of Mellieha just a short drive away, this spot offers decent, reasonably-priced food with a great atmosphere.
3. Munchies Mellieha Bay – Our favorite food joint this side of Malta – if you’re looking for a more casual dining option, Munchies is a great choice. This restaurant specializes in fast food and snacks, and has received positive reviews for its friendly staff and great views of Mellieha Bay.

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👉 For a complete guide on the best accommodation options to suit your needs and budget, head over to my post: Where to Stay in Malta.

Popeye Village Malta FAQs:

Below are some commonly-asked questions about the Popeye Village in Malta: