Popeye Village is the original 1980 film set turned fun park on Anchor Bay, and it is worth it if you want a colourful slice of movie history or you have kids to entertain. If all you want is the iconic photo of the cove, you can skip the ticket and shoot it from the cliff opposite, then decide if the shows and sets are your thing.
Popeye Village sits in northwestern Malta. The village curves around Anchor Bay, a tight inlet where the rickety wooden houses climb the slope and the water below goes that postcard turquoise on bright days. It is also known as Sweethaven Village, built for the Robin Williams and Shelley Duvall film, and today it runs as an open‑air museum and seaside resort with a cheerful, slightly kitschy feel.
Who gets the most from it are families, especially with primary‑age children, or anyone nostalgic for the film. If you dislike theme‑park energy, you will enjoy it more as a short look and a photo stop from the opposite cliff. There is a viewpoint on the opposite cliff worth stopping for the view.
Once inside, the streets wind past nineteen weathered wooden buildings dressed with props, and performers keep things lively with interactive family shows. Children can meet Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto and Wimpy, and the little ones gravitate to the climbing playhouses. In the small cinema, a 15 minute show plays. It runs every hour, and the room seats about 40. Mid season adds traditional games and silversmith demonstrations, while High Season brings water inflatables, a floating sun deck and splash pools that turn the bay into a low‑key seaside club. Water inflatables and a floating sun deck are included in High Season.
For families, this is one of the easiest wins in the north. The characters are around for photos, the play spaces are contained, and the shows run throughout the day so you never wait long to be entertained. If you visit in summer, bring swimwear and plan some time on the floating deck while the kids tackle the inflatables. In cooler months, it is more about the sets, the mini‑golf and the live animation shows.
How long to allow depends on your pace. If you want the shows, the cinema and a swim in summer, plan around 3 hours. If you just want to peek at the sets and take photos, you can be out quickly.
Hours change by season. In High Season, from 1 June to 30 September 2026, it opens 9:30 to 18:00 daily. In Mid Season, 1–31 May and 1 October to 5 November 2026, it opens 9:30 to 17:30 Monday to Sunday. In Low Season, 6 November 2026 to 30 April 2027, it opens 9:30 to 17:00 daily. It operates seven days a week, but individual activities are seasonal, so water fun is a summer and shoulder‑season thing rather than winter.
Tickets are seasonal, with different inclusions. In High Season 2026, adult and teen entry is €25.00, children 3–12 and pensioners pay €16.00. High Season includes the film set, live shows, mini‑golf, cinema, water inflatables, a floating sun deck, splash pools, sunbeds and umbrellas. In Mid Season 2026, adult and teen entry is €18.00, with €14.00 for children 3–12 and pensioners; that brings the film set, live shows, mini‑golf, traditional games, cinema and silversmith demonstrations. In Low Season 2026/2027, adult and teen entry is €15.00, children 3–12 and pensioners €12.50, including the film set, live shows, the Comic Museum, cinema and a scavenger hunt. Book online to skip the queue.
Timing matters. High season sunbeds are limited, first come first served, and the bay bakes at midday. Aim for opening time or the last two hours for softer light and shorter lines, especially if you want the inflatables. Early April tends to be quiet by late morning, while peak summer days often sell the place out to families.
Where to eat is simple rather than gourmet. At certain times of year the village hosts barbecue lunches and dinners, and there are casual options in nearby Mellieħa. If you want a proper beach meal, plan lunch at Mellieha Bay and drop into Popeye Village before or after.
Driving is the easiest way to get here. Parking is easy thanks to a large parking lot. Final roads are narrow but the site remains easy to reach. If you are on the buses, routes to Mellieħa Bay from Valletta, St Julian’s, Bugibba and the airport run frequently, then it is a short taxi hop up the hill.
What to bring depends on the season. In summer, pack swimwear, a light towel and reef‑safe sunscreen for the inflatables and splash pools, plus water and a hat. In shoulder and winter months, comfortable shoes and a windproof layer make wandering the sets more pleasant. If you are mainly coming for photos, the opposite‑cliff viewpoint is best in the morning when the façades are lit.
What people get wrong is expecting a full water park all year. The seaside extras are a High and Mid Season perk, while in Low Season the value is the sets, shows and a quieter bay. Another mistake is paying the entry fee for the photo when the free view from the other side of the cove is just as good.
Extra ideas nearby: make a beach day of it at Paradise Bay or Golden Bay Ghajn Tuffieha, book a boat to the Blue Lagoon Comino or Crystal Lagoon, or plan a dive at Cirkewwa diving if the sea is calm.
Practical extras to know before you go: boat rides around Anchor Bay run every 15 minutes on fair-weather days, and sun umbrellas are available in High Season. If the cinema is on your list, check the time board on arrival and plan a loop of the sets to land back at showtime.
What is actually bookable here
- 1 bookable option via Klook
- about €16 per person at the time of checking
- Rated 4.9/5 on average by travellers on the partner sites, across the 1 that carry ratings.
Taken from the operators' own listings, checked 15 September 2026. Ratings are theirs, not ours, and we do not host reviews.
Common questions
Is it open all year?
Yes, it operates seven days a week with hours that change by season. High season is 9:30–18:00, mid season 9:30–17:30, low season 9:30–17:00.
Is it worth paying in winter?
If you like the sets, characters and shows, yes. If you mainly want pools or water inflatables, those are a summer thing, so you may prefer to just photograph the bay from the opposite cliff.
How do I get there without a car?
Buses run to Mellieħa Bay from Valletta, St Julian’s, Bugibba and the airport, then a short taxi ride or uphill walk. Driving is easier, and parking is straightforward on site.
Do I need to book ahead?
You can book online to skip the queue, which helps in high season and school holidays.
Is it still called Sweethaven?
The film set village is also known as Sweethaven Village, and today it runs as an open‑air museum and seaside resort.
Last checked: 27 September 2026. Prices, opening hours and timetables change, verify anything time-sensitive before you travel. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
