Popeye Village in Anchor Bay, Mellieha, is the preserved film set built for the 1980 live-action film "Popeye" starring Robin Williams. The production built a complete village of colourful wooden buildings directly into a narrow rocky cove on Malta's north coast, and the set was converted to a permanent attraction after filming finished. Today it functions as a family theme park, museum, and quirky tourist destination. The appeal is dual: part genuine film history (the set, props, and production photographs are authentic), part charming seaside novelty. It's not a large or high-tech theme park—more of a heritage attraction with added entertainment and concessions.
The village is worth a visit if you have an afternoon free and enjoy film history or are travelling with children. It sits at the junction between "genuine piece of cinema heritage" and "seaside funfair," which makes it interesting without being pretentious. The setting in Anchor Bay—a narrow cove with turquoise water and dramatic limestone cliffs—is the main draw; the village itself is colourful and photogenic but modest in scale. Allow 2 to 3 hours if you want to see everything at a relaxed pace, or 1 to 1.5 hours if you're just there for photos and a quick look around.
Actors in Popeye and sailor costumes posing among the colorful village buildings.
What's actually there
The village consists of roughly 20 to 25 colourful wooden buildings painted in bright reds, blues, yellows, and greens, arranged on different levels within the cove. The structures are film sets rather than genuine buildings; they're designed to look charming on camera rather than to last centuries. Key buildings include Popeye's house, Olive Oyl's dwelling, Sweethaven pub, and various shops. A small museum in the village contains original film props, production photographs, and information about the filming. There's a gift shop, a restaurant, and various arcade and fairground games (whack-a-mole, shooting galleries, and so on).
The main activities are boat rides in the bay (small motorboats that circuit the cove and nearby coastal waters), paddle boats (pedal-powered boats for two or more people), a small trampoline area, mini-golf, an animal farm with goats and other domestic animals, and simply wandering around taking photographs. Nothing is high-adrenaline or ambitious; everything is geared toward families and casual visitors. The village is compact; you can walk the entire perimeter and see all buildings within 30 minutes at a normal pace.
The film history
The 1980 "Popeye" film was directed by Robert Altman and starred Robin Williams as Popeye and Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl. It was a critical disappointment at the time but has since gained a cult following, largely because of its quirkiness and Altman's distinctive directing style. The film was shot on location in this cove, and the village set was one of the most expensive components of production. The buildings were constructed to specifications, allowing cameras to film at different angles. After filming wrapped, the filmmakers left the set standing—a generous decision for film tourism. The set has been maintained and added to over the decades, though weather (salt air, Mediterranean storms) takes its toll on the wooden structures, requiring regular restoration.
If you haven't seen the film, the village is still worthwhile as a quirky piece of cinema archaeology. If you have seen it, there's satisfaction in recognising building layouts from scenes. The museum does a decent job contextualising the production; it's more focused on the "making of" aspect than on the film's narrative or legacy.
The appeal is the combination of genuine film-set authenticity and seaside attraction novelty—it's not quite a museum, not quite a theme park, but something between the two that works better than it logically should.
Popeye Village buildings with actor in costume standing in wooden-framed doorway.
Practical logistics
Popeye Village is in Mellieha, on Malta's north coast. From Sliema or St Julian's, the drive is roughly 30 to 35 minutes by car or taxi. There is no direct bus route; buses from Sliema go to Mellieha town centre (roughly 45 minutes), from which you'd need a secondary transport (taxi or local bus) to reach Anchor Bay. Hiring a car for the day or taking a taxi both work if you don't want to drive yourself. Parking at the village is limited but usually available; there's a car park a short walk away.
Admission is roughly €15 for adults, less for children. This covers entry to the village, the museum, and access to the grounds. Boat rides, paddle boats, mini-golf, and the trampoline are pay-as-you-go extras on top of admission. The gift shop and restaurant are also separate expenses. If you're on a tight budget, entry plus a walk around costs €15; if you want to do boat rides and eat lunch, budget €40 to €50 per person. Food in the restaurant is standard tourist-destination pricing; a casual meal and drinks for two people costs roughly €35 to €50.
Practical info
Open year-round, typically 9am to 6pm in summer, 10am to 5pm in winter (check exact hours on the website, as they can vary). The village can get busy in the afternoons during peak season (June to August), so arriving early (mid-morning) or late afternoon (after 4pm) means fewer crowds and better photography light. The site is partly exposed to the sun; bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. It can be windy at the clifftop areas, so a light jacket is useful even in summer.
The buildings themselves are not air-conditioned and have minimal shade; the museum and restaurant offer cooler respite if you're visiting on a hot day. Facilities include toilets in the main building and near the restaurant. Accessibility: the village has stairs and uneven ground; it's not particularly wheelchair-friendly, though the main lower sections are relatively flat. Bring or buy water; the village's only water access is in the restaurant.
Allow 2 to 3 hours for a full experience (entry, museum, a boat ride, walking the perimeter, lunch). You can do it in 1 to 1.5 hours if you're just there for photos and a quick look. Combine it with a visit to Mellieha beach (a short drive away) if you want a full beach-and-activity day. Book Popeye Village tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to have seen the Popeye film to enjoy the village?
Not at all. The film history adds a layer of interest, but the village works as a seaside attraction and quirky photo location even if you've never heard of Popeye. Families with young children often visit because it's family-friendly and has activities for kids, regardless of film knowledge.
Is the village suitable for young children?
Yes. There's a small animal farm, a trampoline, mini-golf, arcade games, and boat rides—all gentle, age-appropriate activities. The village is compact and flat enough for prams. A child aged 4 to 12 would likely find it engaging; very young children might find it limited, and teenagers might find it a bit low-key.
Are the boat rides safe and worth doing?
The boat rides are short (roughly 15 to 20 minutes) and cover the cove and nearby coastal waters. They're conducted in small motorboats with safety briefings. They're worth doing if you want a different perspective on Anchor Bay and the village. If you're prone to motion sickness, sea conditions might affect you; the bay itself is sheltered, but wind can occasionally make the ride choppier than expected.
Can I eat my own food in the village, or is the restaurant the only option?
There's no explicit ban on outside food, but the village is small and there are few benches. The restaurant is the primary eating option, though the village also has snack stalls. Bringing your own picnic is technically possible if you find a quiet corner, but it's not the intended use of the space.
Is the village accessible by public transport?
Not directly. Buses from Sliema go to Mellieha town centre, from which you'd need another bus or a taxi to reach Anchor Bay (roughly 2 to 3 kilometres further). A car hire or taxi is more practical if you don't want to drive yourself.