Anchor Bay is barely 100 metres across, a narrow slot of impossibly clear water cut into the limestone of Malta's north-west coast. What makes you stop is the frame around it: the crooked, candy-coloured timber houses of Sweethaven, built in 1979 as the set for Robert Altman's Popeye and never taken down. From the ridge above, the whole bay reads like a diorama — clapboard rooftops, a wooden jetty, water shifting from jade at the edges to deep blue in the middle. Sound carries strangely here; you'll hear the slap of swell against the caves at the mouth of the inlet, gulls, and the distant hum of a boat-trip engine. Come outside opening hours and it is startlingly quiet.
🚗 Getting There
Anchor Bay sits roughly 3 km west of Mellieħa town, at the end of Triq tal-Prajjet. Driving is easiest: follow signs for Popeye Village from Mellieħa's main road, then descend the steep, winding lane to the car park on the headland above the bay. Parking is free but limited and fills quickly in July and August. By bus, route 101 is the service that runs nearest to Anchor Bay — check timings carefully, as frequency is low. Otherwise take 41, 42, 221 or 222 to Mellieħa and continue by taxi, or walk the 3 km downhill (about 40 minutes; the return climb is punishing in summer heat).
📅 Best Time to Visit
May, June, September and early October are ideal — the sea is warm (around 23–26°C by late summer), the light is good for photographs and the site is far less crowded. August brings coach parties and the hottest walk back up the hill. Mornings before 11:00 are calmest and the bay sits in flattering light. Avoid strong north-westerly or tramuntana days: the inlet faces open sea and swell pushes straight in, making the rocky entry unpleasant and murky.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
There is no public sandy beach at Anchor Bay. The swimming area with a small beach, jetty and inflatables belongs to Popeye Village, which is a ticketed attraction — access to the water there is included with admission in the summer season, and the site has toilets, a café and shops. Prices and seasonal opening vary, so check the official website before travelling. Outside the attraction, the shoreline is rock and ledge, with paths down from the headland that are uneven and unsuitable for young children or anyone unsteady. Water is deep and beautifully clear, but there are no lifeguards, no shade and no facilities on the public rocks. Watch for boat traffic from the village's cruises and for occasional jellyfish after easterly winds. Families with small children are far better served inside the attraction than on the open rocks. Dogs are not permitted in the attraction; assume no facilities outside it.
💡 Insider Tips
- Park at the top viewpoint before descending — the classic photograph of the whole village and bay is taken from the road above, not from inside.
- Check the Popeye Village website for the current season's opening hours and whether the swimming zone and boat trips are operating before you drive out.
- The walk back up to Mellieħa is steep and unshaded; if you bussed in, plan your return timing or pre-book a taxi rather than risk it at midday.
- North-westerly wind pushes swell directly into the inlet — check a wind forecast the morning you go, and switch to Għadira if it's blowing hard.
- Bring water shoes: every entry point outside the attraction is rock and ledge, often with sea urchins in the shallows.
- Arrive at opening time for near-empty photographs; coach groups typically land mid-morning and the site feels crowded until mid-afternoon.
- Combine it with Għajn Tuffieħa or Golden Bay for sunset — both are a short drive south along the same coast road.
🔄 How It Compares
If you want sand and lifeguards, Għadira (Mellieħa Bay) is ten minutes away and is Malta's largest sandy beach, shallow and ideal for children. Paradise Bay, near Ċirkewwa, offers a small sandy cove with a lido, sunbeds and food — better swimming, far less scenery. Anchor Bay wins purely on setting: nowhere else in Malta pairs a clear-water inlet with a preserved Hollywood film set. Treat it as a sightseeing stop with a swim attached rather than a beach day.
🚌 Getting Around Malta
Reaching the quieter swimming spots is far easier with your own transport, and a taxi is often cheaper than you would expect for a short hop.
