This past summer, Mari and I were dreaming up a girls’ trip to some of Greece’s lesser-known islands with Star Clippers. When we told Aishah we had never seen Mamma Mia, the ultimate celebration of girlhood and Greek wanderlust, she was shocked and hosted an obligatory movie night. After one themed watch party and listening to ABBA on repeat, we were ready to set sail. Then came the surprise. When we dug deeper into our itinerary, we found out we were visiting the two Greek islands where Mamma Mia was filmed!

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Last Updated: November 5, 2025

It Started with a Mamma Mia Watch Party

If it weren’t for our friend, Aishah, we wouldn’t have been as excited to visit these Mamma Mia movie locations in Greece because her love for the movies was infectious.

Where was Mamma Mia Filmed?

The majority of both Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia Here We Go Again were filmed in Pinewood Studios in London. The exterior shots of the first movie, however, were mostly filmed on Skopelos Island, plus a few scenes in Skiathos Island.

As for Mamma Mia Here We Go Again, they filmed the exterior scenes in Vis, Croatia, instead of back in Greece.

Mamma Mia Movie Locations in Skiathos

Skiathos from the water

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Mamma Mia opens with a boat scene in the song “I Have a Dream.” It’s a rather 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

Agios Nikolaos Church and Clock Tower, Skiathos

Τ.Κ Πλατεία Αγίου Νικολάου, Skiathos 370 02, Greece, map

The Agios Nikolaos Church and Clock Tower is also part of “I Have a Dream, which features the scene where Sophie mails out her letters to her three prospective dads.

Local Tip: If you’re a cat lover, there were a bunch of cats waiting here, including a sweet, toothless black cat.

Skiathos Port

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The Skiathos Port is where they filmed the scene where Sam and Harry miss the ferry. It’s a convenient location if you’re arriving in Skiathos by boat, since this is where the tenders dropped us off.

Pro Tip: Finding this port was a little confusing because either Google Maps labeled it incorrectly, or it’s not the Old Port of Skiathos, like other guides mention. Use the coordinates above or map to the Monument of Lieutenant General Laskos to find the correct location.

See More: Best Day Trip from Athens

Mamma Mia Movie Locations in Skopelos

Agios Ioannis Church (Chapel of St John)

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Next up are the locations in Skopelos, where they filmed most of the outdoor scenes. The most recognizable location is the Agios Ioannis Church, and it happened to be our first stop on the Mamma Mia bus tour.

It’s where Sophie and Sky get married and where Donna runs up the steps in “The Winner Takes It All.” The inside of the actual chapel is tiny, as you can see from my photo below. Like all the other interior scenes, the wedding scene was also filmed at Pinewood Studios in London.

Even if you’re not a massive fan of Mamma Mia, it’s worth going to the top of the chapel to see the coastal views.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget to pack your red scarf! I had to borrow a scarf from a friend to recreate the running scene.

See More: Essential Guide to Acropolis of Athens

Kastani Beach

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Kastani Beach is where Sophie crawls on the beach in “Lay All Your Love On Me.” It was cute to hear that some locals still call it the Lay All Your Love On Me Beach to this day. It’s also where they shot “Does Your Mother Know.”

We went for a quick swim, and Mari coached me through crawling, since I had never attempted a sexy crawl before. Think cat, not beach whale.

Pro Tip: Head straight to the north side of the beach, where most of the scenes were filmed.

Agnontas Beach

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On the bus tour, we passed through Agnontas Beach, which featured many harbor and arrival scenes, for example, the reunion scene between Tanya, Rosie, and Donna.

See More: Most Charming Bookstore in Santorini

Amarandos Cove

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I wished we had stopped by Amarandos Cove on the Mamma Mia bus tour. You could see it from the opposite side as we drove past it. This is where they filmed “Our Last Summer” and some beautiful transition shots. You’ll recognize the iconic two 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

Map of Mamma Mia Movie Locations

How to Get to Skiathos and Skopelos

• Star Clippers – we stopped in both Skiathos and Skopelos on the Star Clipper, which is small enough to get into smaller ports, unlike the big cruise ships.
• Fly into Skiathos Airport (JSI). Most likely, you’ll have a layover in Athens or Munich. Skopelos has no airport, so you must then take a ferry, water taxi, or charter a private boat from Skiathos to Skopelos. Depending on the mode of transportation, it can take between 15 minutes and 1.5 hours.

Tips for Visiting the Mamma Mia Islands

• If you’re prone to getting seasick, pack Dramamine, scopolamine patches, and ginger mints (I get mine from Trader Joe’s).
• Peak Season – July and August are the busiest months. It has the most pleasant swimming weather, but accommodations are more expensive, and it will be more crowded.
• Shoulder Season – May to mid-June and mid-September to early October. We went in mid-October, and you could see many businesses starting to close for the season.
• Eat and shop before 2 PM or after 5 PM. Typical siesta hours in Greece are between 2 and 5; however, during peak season, many restaurants and shops are open all day. We went during the shoulder season, so the shops were closed.

Is it a dream of yours to visit these Mamma Mia movie locations? Or which Greek Islands are on your short list?

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