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Is the Popeye Village in Malta Good? Well, that’s a good question. Popeye Village in Malta can be found in the north-west corner of the island in a pretty inlet called Anchor Bay. The village is the original set of the 1980s film, Popeye starring a very young Robin Williams. Since then the set has been been turned into a small theme park called Popeye’s Village.

Unless you are planning to travel to Malta on holiday, you have probably never even heard of this place! Popeye’s Village is a little bit of fun film trivia and great for the old and the young. Here are 12 reasons we think you should pop along to Popeye Village with your kids!

1. Getting There – Popeye Village in Malta

If you are travelling to Popeye Village in Malta on local transportation it is all very easy. All you need to do is:

1. First of all get a bus to Mellieha Bay. At the round-a-bout with the DB hotel on your right
2. Make your way to the roundabout keeping the DB Hotel on your right hand side.
3. Walk up the road that leads away from the sea still keeping the DB Hotel on your right.
4. Walk up the road until you see a sign for Popeye Village.
5. As signposted veer right onto a much smaller road and walk to the end. It’s a lovely and very scenic 15 minute walk.

2. Freebies

On entrance you get free popcorn, postcard and 2 x free photos that are taken on the day available for collection 5 minutes later!

You also have access to a small, but free mini golf area that is situated at the top of the bay and is one of the prettiest places I have played mini golf

You are also entitled to a free boat ride around the bay and the film set, but this is 100% weather dependant.

3. Swimming at Popeye Village in Malta

In the summer months your entrance ticket allows you to have enormous amounts of fun on giant inflatables that are arranged in the bay.

Once you are finished splashing around in the sun, there are showers and toilets available to get you cleaned up. Then you are ready to go and explore the village.

4. Beautiful Pictures of Popeye Village in Malta

You can take some really lovely pictures of the set and Anchor Bay. It’s really very pretty!

5. Learn Something New at Popeye Village in Malta

Inside Popeye Village you and the kids can visit the comic museum and learn all about Popeye’s creator, American cartoonist E. C. Segar.

Spend some time learning how Popeye went from a one off character in a comic strip called Thimbles Theatre to the lead in his very own.

You can also learn how the music was recorded live on set and who wrote all the songs in the Music Hall.

Watch the film in its entirety and a documentary on how the film was made in small viewing theatres.

And in September 2019 they will be unveiling a new museum dedicated to the life and works of Robin Williams.

6. Food and Drink at Popeye Village in Malta

There are a couple of places to eat in Popeye Village such as the Rough House and a small bar that serves snacks and drinks in the middle of the village. All provide beautiful views out to the sea.

7. Parade

If you are travelling to Popeye Village with children they will probably enjoy the small parade the staff at Popeye’s Village put on.

It’s not amazing, however, it still draws in the crowds and it’s a bit of fun for five minutes.

8. Key Events at Popeye Village

At specific times of the year, for example Easter and halloween, Popeye’s Village puts on themed extras such as ghosts and ghouls and the Easter Bunny.

When we visited they had created an Alice in Wonderland walkthrough. My little girl is a HUGE Alice fan and she thought this was AMAZING!

For us, it was a little on the homemade side, but saying that, it was well thought out and the kids really did love it!

9. Meet the Characters! Popeye and Olive

You can meet the characters from the comic such as Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto.

Before we made the trip to Sweethaven, we showed our little girl some of the old Popeye cartoons. This means when she got to Popeye’s Village she knew who everyone was.

Her knowing the characters made such a difference to the day. She knew who the good ones were and who the bad ones were and could join in a little more. We made the time she invested in the day mean something, which is a definite bonus!

You can also have a look around Olive and Popeye’s house and where they shot all the scenes!

10. Star in a Movie – Is the Popeye Village in Malta good?

You get the opportunity to star in your own version of a Popeye film and then watch it back in the on site theatre!

It happens twice a day, but if there isn’t enough people to take part they will cancel it, which is exactly what happened to us! So disappointed – both parents and kids!

11. Kids Section

There is a dedicated kids section at Popeye Village where you can play giant garden games and puzzles. Good fun for all the family and a chance for the kids to let off some steam.

12. Soft Play at Popeye Village in Malta

There is another restaurant with an indoor soft play facility on the outside of the village.

However, to use the soft play you need to pay again so we opted out of this. If it was included in the ticket it would have been great!

Other Things to Know:

1. Ticket prices change depending on what time of the year you decide to visit. We paid €11.50 per adult and €9.50 for every child over 3 years of age.

At these prices a trip to Popeye Village becomes a considered decision. If you are travelling with a big family it becomes quite a pricey day.

There are no actual rides at Popeye Village. It is much more about exploring the village and enjoying the film set.

2. When our chance to star in a movie got cancelled, I asked if the kids could have a picture with Popeye. He said he would be right over, but he never came and found us. Instead he pulled all the characters over to another part of the village where he felt more was going on.

Bad form Popeye! I then had one very disappointed little four year old!

Good thing Olive Oyl was aware and happily stepped in instead!

I always liked Olive better anyway.

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