Did you know that Popeye Village, also known as Sweethaven Village, started life as the set for the 1980 musical Popeye? These days it is open to the public as a museum. It is a cluster of wooden cottages in Anchor Bay, on the northwest of the island.
The story of the village goes back to June 1979. A construction team spent seven months building nineteen wooden houses. Hundreds of logs and thousands of boards were brought in from the Netherlands, and the roof shingles came from Canada.
To keep the set safe from the tides during filming, a 60m breakwater was built around the mouth of Anchor Bay.
As well as being a film set, Popeye Village has plenty to keep you busy, with shows, attractions and museums. You can try your hand at mini-golf, or take a 15-minute boat ride (weather permitting) to see the area. There is also a pool to cool off in and sun terraces to relax on.
If you fancy a souvenir, stop by the local jewellers and take home one of the lovely Maltese pieces.
Tickets and Opening hours :
9:30am – 4:30pm from November to March
9:30am – 5:30pm from April to June, September, and October
9:30am – 7pm in July and August
Tickets for the original Popeye Village are sold at the gate. The maximum entrance fee is 15€ for adults and 12€ for children (3-12 years). Tickets are cheaper in winter.