Popeye Village

Popeye Village sits in Anchor Bay just outside Mellieha in the north of Malta, and it is exactly what it sounds like. The wooden, ramshackle houses were built as the film set for the 1980 Robin Williams musical Popeye, and rather than tear them down afterwards the site was turned into an open-air attraction. You wander through the tumbledown huts of Sweethaven, meet costumed characters, watch shows, and take in the view over the bay, which is genuinely lovely.

Alongside the film set there is plenty aimed at children, including a comic museum, mini-golf, animation and character meet-and-greets, and in the warmer months (roughly June to October) an inflatable water park and children's pool where kids can swim. Weather and sea conditions permitting, entry usually includes short boat trips around the bay. Ticket prices are modest, generally in the region of 15 to 17 euros for adults with reduced rates for children, and there is a car park close to the entrance.

We would say this is first and foremost a place for families with children, and it works best on a bright day when the water activities are running. It can get busy and hot in July and August, so arriving early in the morning tends to make for a calmer, more comfortable visit. The site is on a slope down to the bay, so bear that in mind if you are bringing a buggy.