Published: 30 October 2026
Mellieħa, Popeye Village & Golden Bay: North Malta in a Day
Mellieħa, Popeye Village and Golden Bay sit a few kilometres apart in the north-west of Malta and fit into one day: a sandy beach at 08:00, the 1980 film set from late morning (tickets from €15), lunch in the town, a shallow family beach in the afternoon and the Red Tower at sunset, by hire car or bus.
It is the plan we give guests for their day off the water: we run water sports from St Thomas Bay in the south-east and take people to Comino daily in summer from St Julian's, so we know how the north behaves in July. Timings, parking, bus fares and the version with kids are below.
North Malta in a day: the timed plan
- •08:00 — Golden Bay: sand, almost empty, car park still with space. Swim first; on a summer weekend it is full by mid-morning.
- •10:30 — Popeye Village in Anchor Bay, about 5 minutes by car from Mellieħa: two to three hours, more with children in summer.
- •13:30 — Lunch in Mellieħa town, then the parish church and the WWII shelters under it.
- •15:00 — Mellieħa Bay (Għadira), Malta's longest and shallowest sandy beach, or Paradise Bay near Ċirkewwa for fewer people.
- •Last hour of light — the Red Tower (1649) above Għadira for the sunset over Comino and Gozo; check the sunset hour for your date.
Golden Bay or Għajn Tuffieħa: which beach to start with
Golden Bay is the easy choice: a wide sandy beach with a hotel behind it, a road down to the sand and a car park that fills on summer weekends from mid-morning. It faces west, so if you prefer a beach sunset to the Red Tower, reverse the order and start with Għadira.
Għajn Tuffieħa, the next bay south, is reached by a long staircase, which keeps it quieter and wilder; on some days the currents are strong, so stay inside the swimming area and respect the flags. Golden Bay with small children, Għajn Tuffieħa for a proper swim; either one before 09:00 in July and August. The sea is typically 18–19 °C in May and 26–27 °C in August.
Popeye Village: how long you need in Anchor Bay
Popeye Village is the wooden set built in 1979 for the 1980 film with Robin Williams, in Anchor Bay, about 5 minutes by car from Mellieħa. It is open all year; from May to October a bathing platform and inflatables fill the cove. Tickets from €15, parking included, drones not allowed — the rest of what the ticket covers is in our separate Popeye Village guide.
For this plan the point is timing: arrive at 10:30 and you walk in ahead of the coach groups. Without children two to three hours cover the village, the museum and the documentary; with children in summer count on four hours and a swim, and book ahead in July and August — it sells out. The “Book now” button opens our partner's booking page in a new tab.
Things to do in Mellieħa: lunch, the church and the shelters
Mellieħa sits on a ridge between its two bays, with the parish church on top, and is the natural lunch stop: restaurants and cafés on the main street, a supermarket for beach supplies. Eat at 13:30 and you miss the tour-bus hour.
Give the sights half an hour. The parish church has a terrace with the view straight down over Għadira; under the town, the WWII shelters are tunnels cut into the rock where people sat out the air raids — cool, atmospheric, a few minutes from the church. Check their opening times on the day.
Mellieħa Bay (Għadira), Paradise Bay and the Red Tower at sunset
Mellieħa Bay, usually called Għadira, is Malta's longest sandy beach and its shallowest: you walk a long way before the water reaches your waist, hence the families and the crowds.
Paradise Bay is the opposite: a small sandy cove near Ċirkewwa with steps down from the car park, clear water and little space, so arrive early or late. On north-westerly wind days (the majjistral) the open north-west beaches get rough and swimming may be stopped; Għadira is the most sheltered.
St Agatha's Tower, the Red Tower, was built in 1649 on the ridge above Għadira; from its base you see the whole bay, Comino and Gozo. Go for sunset and bring a layer: it is windy up there.
With kids or without: two versions of the day
- •With kids: Golden Bay at 08:00 (flat sand, car to the beach), Popeye Village from 10:30 with the children's pool and inflatables (May–October), late lunch, then Għadira — shallow, warm, ice cream nearby. Older kids: the inflatable course, then snorkelling at Paradise Bay.
- •Without kids: Għajn Tuffieħa for the swim, Popeye Village in under two hours, lunch in Mellieħa, the shelters, Paradise Bay and the Red Tower at sunset.
- •Windy or rainy day: Popeye Village is open all year, and the Malta National Aquarium in Qawra (tickets from €17, 1–2 hours) is on the way back to Sliema.
- •Bring water and snacks (no shade beyond what you rent), reef shoes for Paradise Bay and a hat for the tower; in July and August (typically 31–32 °C) do the beaches before 10:00 and after 16:00.
How to get to Mellieħa, Golden Bay and Popeye Village: bus or car
By bus. Mellieħa has the best bus service in the north: the Valletta–Ċirkewwa routes (41 and 42) and the Sliema/St Julian's–Ċirkewwa route (222) stop in the town and at Għadira — check the route in the tallinja app, as numbers change. Golden Bay and Anchor Bay have separate, less frequent routes, so plan connections; summer buses fill up. A single ticket is valid 2 hours with transfers and costs about €2.00 in winter and €2.50 in summer; a 7-day Explore card is about €25 for Malta and Gozo.
By car. This is the day a hire car pays off in Malta: the north-west beaches are spread out and the Golden Bay car park fills on weekends, so start early. You drive on the left and the island is only about 27 km long, so every stop is a short drive from Mellieħa. Parking is included with the Popeye Village ticket. Ride-hailing apps (Bolt, eCabs) work everywhere; metered white taxis cost more.
Adding Comino: from Ċirkewwa, or our day trip from St Julian's
Ċirkewwa, at the north tip, is the Gozo Channel ferry port: Mġarr in about 25 minutes, sailings roughly every 45 minutes by day, foot passengers paying at Mġarr on the way back (about €4.65 adult, €1.15 child 3–12) — check the current timetable and fares on gozochannel.com. Guests in Mellieħa often ask whether to squeeze Comino into the same day. Don't — the Blue Lagoon is a full day — and the entry pass is a mandatory government QR, not included in any boat trip, only at blcomino.com/product/blue-lagoon.
Our Comino & Blue Lagoon trip is the simple way to do it on another day: daily at 10:00 from Welbee's Supermarket, Pendergardens, St Julian's (arrive 20 minutes early), €30 per person paid online, daily until 15 September, about 30 guests per departure, return transfer included. It is a boat transfer with crew, not a guided tour; there is no shade at the lagoon, so bring water. If we cancel for sea conditions you get a full refund or a free reschedule.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Golden Bay, Popeye Village and Mellieħa in one day without a car?
Yes, with planning. The Valletta–Ċirkewwa and Sliema–Ċirkewwa buses reach Mellieħa and Għadira directly; Golden Bay and Anchor Bay need a connection on less frequent routes, so check the tallinja app the night before and start early.
How much time do you need at Popeye Village?
Two to three hours without children for the village, the comic museum and the 15-minute documentary. With children from May to October, when the bathing platform and inflatables are open, count on four hours.
Is Mellieħa Bay or Golden Bay better for families?
Mellieħa Bay (Għadira) for small children: Malta's longest sandy beach, shallow a long way out. Golden Bay is prettier at sunset but gets deeper sooner and its car park fills on weekends. Għajn Tuffieħa has a long staircase and currents on some days.
Can I combine Popeye Village with a trip to Comino on the same day?
We advise against it. The Blue Lagoon is a full-day plan — our trip leaves St Julian's at 10:00 and gives you the whole day there — and you also need the mandatory government entry QR from blcomino.com/product/blue-lagoon, which no boat trip includes.
When is the best time of year for a Mellieħa and Golden Bay day?
For swimming, late May to October: the sea is typically 18–19 °C in May, 22 °C in June, 26–27 °C in August and 23 °C in October. June and September give warm water without the July–August heat and car-park queues. Popeye Village is open all year, and winter days are typically 15–17 °C.
