Popeye Village (Sweethaven)

Popeye Village, also called Sweethaven, is a colourful wooden village at Anchor Bay in Mellieha, in north-western Malta, about 17 km in a straight line from Valletta. It was built as the film set for the 1980 film Popeye and has since become a visitor attraction, with weathered timber houses set along a small rocky cove. The usual public transport route is Malta Public Transport bus 41 or 42 from Valletta Bus Terminus to Mellieha Bay, followed by route 101 to the Popeye stop; fares are EUR 2.00 (USD 2.30) single in winter and EUR 2.50 (USD 2.88) in summer, valid for two hours with free transfers. Route 101 can have long intervals, so timing the transfer matters, and a taxi or ride-hailing car from Valletta is an alternative. At the village, visitors can walk through the film-set buildings, see exhibits connected to the production, and enjoy views across the bay. The setting is compact, and the cove below can be used for a swim or a short boat ride in season. A suggested one-day arc is to leave Valletta in the morning, reach the village shortly after opening to avoid peak family crowds, spend two to three hours there, then continue to Mellieha town or Mellieha Bay for lunch. The afternoon suits a beach stop at Mellieha Bay, Malta's longest sandy beach, or a continuation to Cirkewwa for the Comino or Gozo ferries. April to October gives the best weather for the bay and outdoor areas. The site involves some steps and slopes down to the waterfront, so comfortable footwear is useful. Drinks and snacks are available on site, but prices are higher than in Mellieha itself. Visitors planning to combine this with other sites should check the return bus timetable in advance, since evening service can thin out.