Visiting Popeye Village in Malta

If you’re in the midst of planning your trip to Malta, you’ve surely heard of Popeye Village. During my stay there, I went to admire the panoramic view of the village and Anchor Bay, but I also visited it. So, we’ve received quite a few questions like: is it worth visiting Popeye Village in Malta? We’ll tell you everything in this dedicated article.

Personally, I found it was a nice change from the more classic must-dos, like touring the best beaches (Golden Bay, Mellieha Bay, Paradise Bay), small coves, lagoons (Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, etc.), hikes in the great outdoors or cities and villages like Mdina, Valletta, Marsaxlokk and the Three Cities. As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in Malta.

A visit to Popeye Village makes for a nice break to enjoy with family or friends. Fun fact, it’s not a real village! It’s actually a movie set built in 1979 for the filming of the movie Popeye, starring Robin Williams. You can see that the village was entirely built from wood, the old-fashioned way. But it’s very well preserved. In fact, after the filming, it could all have been dismantled. But no, they turned it into a play park for kids and adults. Honestly, even if you haven’t seen the movie Popeye, it’s a fun theme park to visit.

More concretely, in addition to the film sets and the view over Anchor Bay (a magnificent cove with turquoise, crystal-clear water), there’s an events program throughout the day. In reality, it’s a one-of-a-kind park! So, does that sound appealing?

As I mentioned, it’s a real movie set that has today become a theme park. It’s not huge, but between the games and the activities, if you take your time, you’ll get a good three hours out of it. What I find striking is that you wouldn’t think the village dates back to 1979.

You can clearly see the materials aren’t brand new. But since it’s colorful and lively, you don’t focus on that at all! The visit is designed to be playful, immersive, and engaging: you won’t get bored! Even if you don’t know the movie or its protagonist, Popeye the Sailor who loves spinach, you’ll learn about him through all the animations. There’s even a documentary shown in the village cinema to explain the history of the site and the film. You won’t be lost, and neither will your kids!

We’ve received this question many times and I’ll try to answer it as best I can. To start, I’d say it really depends on how much time you have and what you’re looking for. However, you’re obliged to stop at the viewpoint over the village from the opposite cliff. It’s simply magnificent: with the turquoise bay and the village in the background.

As for me, I’d heard about it and visited out of curiosity. Since it was early April, even going late in the morning there were visitors but not crowds. I’d say it’s a truly unique place; it’s not a historic village. But it’s a genuine, colorful, slightly offbeat theme park.

What I really liked is the natural setting of the village. It sits around Anchor Bay and, as I mentioned, the view alone is worth the detour. You can also swim and have a picnic on the other side of the cliff, right opposite Popeye Village. If you head there for a visit, it’s a mix of animations among wooden houses and family-friendly activities: mini-golf, skill games, puzzle games, and even workshops for children. Well, I admit it was a bit kitschy, but that’s also part of the village’s charm.

In summary, if you’re traveling with family, I think it’s a visit that should please the kids. If you’re traveling as a couple or with friends, it’s more of a fun outing, like a cartoon set placed on the sea. When I went, there was a bit of everything: families, friends, etc. It’s really up to you if it appeals. For my part, I’d say it’s a must-see that breaks from the classics and offers a great half-day break! It’s quite unusual!

In the northwest of Malta, just after discovering the paradisiacal Għajn Tuffieħa Beach (my favorite on the whole island), we stopped at Popeye Village. There’s a large parking lot. Even though the roads to get there are narrow, it’s still entirely accessible.

The entrance itself is already very colorful; we’re greeted by guides who give us a map of the park with numbered locations, so the visit flows smoothly. They also give us two tickets: one for a postcard of Popeye Village, one for free popcorn at the village cinema. It’s always nice to receive little gifts. I have to say it’s well thought out: that way, we first stop by the gift shop to collect our postcards and see if anything else catches our eye. Otherwise, we might not have even gone in.

To give you an idea of the souvenirs you can find: mugs with Popeye, Brutus, and Olive, fake spinach cans, figurines, key rings, and more! From our first steps into Popeye Village, you feel like you’re stepping behind the scenes of a cartoon, all set in a magnificent backdrop. You can see the wooden houses aren’t from yesterday, but honestly they’re almost intact. They’re very colorful, crooked, warped; it looks like a cartoon, but in real life.

You can enter several buildings like the Popeye museum, the bakery, the greengrocer, the medical office. Inside these places, you can imagine yourself even more immersed, as they’re far from empty. There are still props, photos, wax figures. Everything’s there so you feel like the village hasn’t moved and is still inhabited. Special mention to the cinema, where there’s a real hall showing a documentary about Popeye, with popcorn at the entrance. I’ll admit the popcorn wasn’t very flavorful, but it’s still a nice touch! What I also loved is that some buildings have an upper floor. Just imagine the view over the village and Anchor Bay from up there!

Returning to the atmosphere, it’s really good-natured. If you like Popeye or feel nostalgic for the film, you’ll enjoy your visit even more! Even if that’s not the case, though, you’ll still find yourself absorbed by the atmosphere, as if you were in a fun bubble.

What makes the visit to Popeye Village even more immersive and fun are the animations organized throughout the day! It’s also on the program they gave us at the entrance. It’s a good way to catch the ones that might interest you! For my part, I attended a puppet show with the characters Popeye, Olive, and Brutus.

There are also animations where the audience is invited to participate. Several hosts dressed as the movie’s characters come to pick participants among the visitors. The goal is to act out a scene from the film or take part in a game. To give you a clearer idea of the animations, there are mini theater plays with visitors, dances and songs with the characters, treasure hunts with clues scattered around the village, and face painting sessions for children. Honestly, it’s relaxing and really sets the mood!

In addition to the scheduled animations, there are fun games throughout the visit to play on your own. To give you some examples of games:

• a skill game where you have to throw a toilet paper roll into the toilet bowl! (yes, really, and it was very popular!),
• another skill game where you have to pass a ball through a moving pendulum without dropping it,
• block tower building where you have to stack pieces without knocking them over.
• Not to mention the “trap” photos: throughout the village, there are quirky setups to capture fun memories.

I briefly mentioned it: Anchor Bay is a small cove bordering Popeye Village. This bay is stunning, with its turquoise, crystal-clear water—you’ll want to dive in. You can’t do water activities from the Popeye Village cliff. You can do them from the cliff opposite! On the village side, there are fences and it’s not the cleanest part, whereas on the other side there’s a stone platform from which you can jump into the water!

Another note: this isn’t a typical beach, but more of a cove. Again, there’s very little sand. It’s mostly rocks! But that doesn’t take away from the setting; it’s a beautiful spot. Since it’s surrounded by cliffs and rocks, it brings a discreet, peaceful vibe to the place.

Talking again about water activities, it’s the perfect spot for snorkeling or scuba diving. The water is calm and shallow; you can easily spot colorful fish and even octopuses! In summer, you can rent snorkeling gear on site—snorkel, mask, and fins. For the rest of the year, you’ll need to bring your own equipment!

By the way, I had the chance to go snorkeling in Gozo, while I went diving on the island of Malta. Honestly, across the archipelago, there are beautiful spots for snorkeling or diving, and Anchor Bay is one of them! Even if you just want to swim in translucent water, it’s a great backdrop: between the cliffs, the hills, and the movie set!

I think taking a trip to Anchor Bay is a good idea right after visiting Popeye Village. It makes for a great combo in one day without moving around too much!

After or during the visit, to take a little break between games or animations, you can relax in Popeye Village! To eat and enjoy a large terrace overlooking Anchor Bay, there’s a restaurant offering simple but satisfying dishes, let’s say haha: pasta, burgers, pizzas, salads… There are kids’ options too. Sure, it’s not gourmet cuisine, but the setting makes up for it!

If you prefer to have a drink or grab a snack, there’s also a bar inside the village. There, too, you’ll have an unobstructed view of the bay and its cliffs! Right next to this bar, there’s a picnic area. That way, you can bring your own snack while enjoying the scenery of Anchor Bay and the atmosphere of Popeye Village.

If you’re planning to go to northwest Malta to visit Popeye Village, know that there are quite a few spots nearby. So, you might as well take advantage! To give you your bearings, you’re just minutes by car or bus from the town of Mellieħa and its beach. It’s the largest white sand beach on the whole island!

Speaking of beaches, there are two other very beautiful ones: Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa Bay. In my eyes, they both rank among the most beautiful beaches in Malta. I really recommend you go; you won’t regret it. As I mentioned above, I had a real crush on Għajn Tuffieħa Bay. It’s wilder, less crowded, and its sand is reddish-golden. The contrast with the turquoise water is stunning! I also think it’s a great spot to come and watch the sunset.

So, for a well-rounded day, I’d recommend: Mellieħa and its beach, Popeye Village, a trip to Anchor Bay, then follow up with Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa Bay to catch the sunset. It may seem packed for one day, but since everything’s close by, it’s totally doable! You get a complete program of swimming, chilling, visiting, playing, and sunset watching.

As usual, we’ve compiled all the practical info so you know everything about Popeye Village. Since things can always change, I recommend checking the official Popeye Village website.

When I went there last April, it was €16 for adult admission. That’s the rate for visiting Popeye Village in low season: from November to May. At this price, I could access all the park’s attractions: movie sets, animations, the Popeye museum, the cinema with the documentary about the character, and even the souvenir postcard.

For children and seniors over 60, admission is €12.50 in low season. Honestly, given everything that’s included, it’s still a fairly accessible activity. In high season, from July to September, rates go up. For adults, it’s €25 and €16 for children and seniors. However, there are extra inclusions: access to several pools, inflatable water games, sun lounger access, and other activities ideal for enjoying the Maltese sun. Again in high season, I recommend booking your tickets online and in advance, as it fills up quickly!

On that side, it’s easy to remember! Popeye Village opens every day at 9:30 AM, no matter the season. For closing hours, it depends a bit on the season, although there’s not a huge difference:

• November to March: closing at 5:00 PM
• April to June and October: closing at 5:30 PM
• July to September: closing at 6:00 PM

I still recommend always checking the official Popeye Village website, because things can always change. In any case, at the time I’m writing this article, these are the hours to consider.

Since Popeye Village is in northwestern Malta, there’s Mellieħa nearby. Mellieħa is very well served! You can get there by bus with the following lines:

• From Valletta: take buses 41, 42, 49, or 250 to Mellieħa
• From Sliema: bus 222 will take you to Mellieħa
• From Buġibba: take bus 221

Once you’re in Mellieħa, there’s bus 101 which takes you directly to Popeye Village. However, this bus only runs during the theme park’s opening hours.

If, like me, you rented a car, it’s very simple to drive to Popeye Village. You’ll obviously have to go through Mellieħa to Anchor Bay. Everything is well signposted, and I’m sure you’ll have your GPS. The last roads are a bit narrow, but you can still pass another car without issue. On site, there’s free parking, so everything’s perfect! If it helps, I rented my car through the aggregator Discover Cars. Honestly, it’s practical and lets you spot the best deals directly!

Lastly, another way to get to Popeye Village: you can take a taxi or a rideshare like Bolt or eCabs. They’re easy to book! Prices are generally not expensive, although it always depends on demand at the time of your trip. It also depends on your starting point!

If you want to make the most of Popeye Village, I recommend going between May and October. That’s when there are more options to enjoy the setting and Anchor Bay. However, in July–August, it can get very hot and quite busy, especially with families. In that case, I’d recommend going very early in the morning. To avoid that peak period, you can easily favor April–May and September–October.

For my part, early April, late morning to early afternoon, was perfect. The weather was nice, we enjoyed the setting and took great photos. The water was still a bit cold for swimming. We could have, but at the time, we weren’t tempted! We preferred to relax on the fine sandy beaches I mentioned earlier.

If you’re visiting Malta in winter, Popeye Village is open, but depending on the weather, the animations may vary or be limited. Visiting the park on a rainy day probably isn’t ideal. But if you get a good day, you’ll be in peace and without a crowd of tourists.

I take this opportunity to tell you we wrote a complete article on when to go to Malta. It’s always a plus if you’re hesitating on setting your travel dates!

So, taking your time to fully enjoy the film sets, the animations, and the view of Anchor Bay, I’d say you need a good three hours. I think that’s about the time I spent there. I didn’t really check, but I’d say it’s around that. If you’re with family and want to take part in all the animations and play as many games as possible, I think it’s better to plan for a full half-day, or a bit more. Not counting if you eat or have a drink on site!

In summer, since there are extra options with inflatable structures or sun loungers to enjoy the bay, some visitors decide to spend the whole day. It all depends on when you go and your pace of visiting Popeye Village!

We’ve reached the end of this article. I hope you enjoyed this tour of Popeye Village in Malta. Again, I think if you’re traveling with family, you’ll spend even more time there! And just for the view, it’s worth the detour!

I almost forgot: since this isn’t the most fun part, but still important in organizing your trip, I recommend checking our article on the budget to plan for your trip to Malta.

See you soon for new visits in the Maltese archipelago!

Written by Laura CALLES

Thanks to Mélanie and Sylvain, I had the chance to explore the beautiful Maltese archipelago and share all the beauty of its islands with you. A little piece of paradise not to be missed!

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