Planning a trip to Skiathos and Skopelos? These are the locations where the Mamma Mia movie was filmed in Greece.
Last summer, Mary and I dreamed of taking a girl’s trip to some of the lesser-known islands in Greece. star clippers. When we told Elsa we'd never seen Mamma Mia – the ultimate celebration of girlhood and Greek wanderlust – she was shocked and had an obligatory movie night. After a themed watch party and ABBA music on repeat, we were ready to set sail. Then came the surprise. When we dug into our itinerary we discovered we were visiting two of the Greek islands where Mamma Mia was filmed!
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Last updated: November 5, 2025
It all started with a Mamma Mia viewing party
If it weren't for our friend Elsa, we wouldn't be so excited to visit these Mamma Mia movie locations in Greece. Her love for Mamma Mia is so infectious that it's hard not to fall in love with it.
Where was Mamma Mia filmed?
Much of Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia Here We Go was filmed at Pinewood Studios in London. However, most of the first film's exterior shots were shot on Skopelos, with some scenes on Skiathos.
As for Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, they shot on location in Vis, Croatia, not in Greece.
Mamma Mia film location in Skiathos
Skiathos island from the water
39.160325, 23.489953, map
Mamma Mia opens with the boat scene from the song “I Have a Dream.” It's a pretty dark scene, but you can still make out the silhouette of Skiathos from the water.
See more: 15 beautiful beaches in Greece to add to your bucket list
Saint Nicholas Church and Bell Tower, Skiathos
Τ.KΠλατεία Aγίου Νικολάου, Skiathos 370 02, Greece, map
St. Nicholas Church and the bell tower were also part of I Have a Dream, which features a scene where Sophie sends letters to her three would-be fathers.
Local Tips: If you're a cat lover, there's a group of cats waiting for you, including an adorable, toothless black cat.
Port of Skiathos
39.16194, 23.48939, map
The port of Skiathos was the location for the scene in Honey Darling where Sam and Harry miss the ferry. This is a convenient location if you arrive in Skiathos by boat as this is where the supply ship dropped us off.
Pro tip: Finding this port was a bit confusing as either Google Maps marked it incorrectly or it is not the old port of Skiathos like other guides have mentioned. Use the coordinates above or the map to find the correct location of the Lieutenant General Laskos Monument.
See more: Best day trips from Athens
Mamma Mia movie location in Skopelos
Agios Ioannis Church
39.17478, 23.65148 map
Next up was the Skopelos location, where they shot most of the outdoor scenes. The most well-known location is the Church of St. Ioannis, which happened to be the first stop on our Mamma Mia bus tour.
This is where Sophie and Skye got married, and where Donna ascended the steps in “Winner Takes All.” The interior of the actual church is quite small, as you can see from my photo below. Like all other interior scenes, the wedding scenes were shot at Pinewood Studios in London.
Even if you're not a big fan of Mamma Mia, it's worth heading to the top of the church for great views of the coast.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to bring your red scarf! I had to borrow a scarf from a friend to recreate the run.
See more: The Essential Guide to the Acropolis
Kastany Beach
39.12165, 23.65517, map
Kastani Beach is where Sophie crawls on the beach in “Put All Your Love on Me.” It's great to hear that some locals still call it “put all your love on my beach”. This is also the filming location for “Does Your Mother Know?”
We did a quick swim and Mary taught me to crawl since I had never tried a sexy crawl before. Think cats, not beach whales.
Pro tip: Head straight to the north side of the beach, where most of the scenes were filmed.
Aniontas Beach
39.08368, 23.71147, map
During the bus tour we passed Aniontas Beach where there were many scenes of ports and arrivals, such as the reunion of Tanya, Rosie and Donna.
See more: Santorini’s most charming bookstore
amarandos bay
39.07411, 23.70867, map
I wish we had stopped at Amarandos Cove on our Mamma Mia bus tour. You could see it from the other side as we drove past it. This is where they shot “Our Last Summer” and some beautiful transition shots. You’ll recognize these two iconic trees. They also filmed “Honey, Honey” here.
I would love to go back and explore more of this area.
See more: Best place to watch sunset in Oia, Santorini
Mamma Mia movie filming locations map
How to get to Skiathos and Skopelos
- star clippers – We stopped in Skiathos and Skopelos aboard the Star Clipper, which unlike larger cruise ships is small enough to access smaller ports.
- Fly to Skiathos Airport (JSI). You will most likely have a short stopover in Athens or Munich. Skopelos does not have an airport, so you must take a ferry, water taxi, or charter a private boat to get to Skopelos from Skiathos. Depending on the mode of transportation, it may take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Tips for visiting the Mamma Mia Islands
- if you are prone to seasicknesspackages of dimenhydrinate tea, scopolamine patches, and ginger mints (I bought them from Trader Joe's).
- peak season – July and August are the busiest months. It has the best swimming weather, but accommodation is more expensive and can be crowded.
- shoulder season – May to mid-June and mid-September to early October. We went there in mid-October and you could see a lot of businesses starting to close.
- Eating and shopping before 2pm or after 5pm. A typical nap in Greece lasts from 2 to 5 hours; however, during high season many restaurants and shops are open all day. It was off-season when we went, so the shops were closed.
planning checklist
Have you ever dreamed of visiting the Mamma Mia movie set? Or which Greek islands are on your short list?
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“Discovery lies not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, one of the top 5 travel blogs in the United States. They believe adventure can be found near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. Each year they delve into a new city and are currently based in Las Vegas.
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