You've seen the movie. You’ve definitely hummed "Dancing Queen" while doing the dishes. And if you're like most people who watched Meryl Streep run up those limestone steps, you probably immediately opened a browser tab to look for flights to Greece.
The film location for Mamma Mia is technically a place called Skopelos, but honestly, it’s a bit more complicated than just pinning a map.
Back in 2007, when the production crew was scouting for the fictional island of Kalokairi, they needed something that felt untouched. They didn't want the white-washed, blue-domed clichés of Santorini. They wanted green. Deep, lush, Aegean green. They found it in the Northern Sporades.
But here’s the thing: most of what you see on screen is a clever mix of real Greek soil and a massive soundstage in Pinewood Studios, London. It’s kind of a bummer to realize Donna’s villa—the Villa Donna we all want to retire in—doesn't actually exist. It was a set built at Pinewood. Even that iconic "Dancing Queen" dock? Built specifically for the movie and dismantled right after.
Where the magic actually happened on Skopelos
If you head to Skopelos today, you’re going to be looking for the church. It’s the big one. The Agios Ioannis Kastri.
It sits on top of a rock formation that juts out into the sea like a giant’s thumb. In the movie, it looks epic. In real life, it’s even more vertical than it appears on camera. There are 198 steps. I’ve talked to people who tried to do the Meryl Streep run up those stairs and let’s just say, unless you’re a marathon runner, you’re going to be huffing and puffing by step sixty.
The interior of the church you see in the wedding scene? That’s not Agios Ioannis. The real chapel inside is tiny—maybe enough room for ten people if everyone squeezes. The production built a larger "interior" church set back in the UK to fit the cast and the cameras.
Kastani Beach: The "Lay All Your Love on Me" Spot
Then there’s Kastani Beach. This is the film location for Mamma Mia where Sophie and Sky roll around in the sand.
It’s on the western coast of Skopelos. Before the movie, it was just a quiet, somewhat rugged beach. After 2008, it became a pilgrimage site. The production team actually brought in their own sand and built a wooden jetty and a beach bar for the shoot.
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Funny story: the locals liked the beach bar so much they basically kept the vibe going, though the original movie structures are long gone. The water there is that crazy, electric turquoise that looks color-graded but is actually just the way the Aegean hits the white pebbles.
- Pro tip: Don't expect the jetty to be there for your "Does Your Mother Know" reenactment. It was a prop.
- Access: You can get there by car or bus from Skopelos Town, but the road down to the beach can be a bit sketchy if you aren't used to Greek island driving.
The Skiathos Connection
While Skopelos did the heavy lifting for the "island life" scenes, neighboring Skiathos got some screen time too.
When you see the three dads—Harry, Bill, and Sam—meeting for the first time at the ferry terminal, that’s the Old Harbor in Skiathos. It’s much more developed than Skopelos. It has an airport with a runway that’s famous for being terrifyingly short, where planes fly right over the heads of tourists.
The St. Nikolaos Bell Tower is another spot you’ll recognize. It’s where Sophie mails her three letters at the very beginning of the film. You can walk up there. It’s a steep climb through narrow alleys, but the view over the harbor is exactly what you see in the opening frames.
Skiathos is basically the gateway. Most people fly into Skiathos and then take the ferry over to Skopelos to see the "real" Kalokairi.
Why they didn't return for the sequel
Here is a bit of trivia that usually shocks fans.
When it came time to film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the production didn't go back to Greece. Not even for a day.
They moved the entire film location for Mamma Mia 2 to the island of Vis in Croatia.
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Why? Money. Mostly tax incentives. Croatia offered a much better deal for the studio, and honestly, Vis looks remarkably like Greece if you don’t look too closely at the architecture.
The "Greek" village in the second movie is actually the town of Komiža. It’s beautiful, but for purists, it feels a little "off." The light in Croatia is different. The stone is different. If you’re planning a trip specifically to see the locations from the first movie, stay in the Sporades. If you want the sequel vibes, you’re heading to the Dalmatian Coast.
The Villa Donna Myth
I get asked about the villa constantly. "Can I stay in the hotel from Mamma Mia?"
Short answer: No.
Long answer: The exterior was filmed at a private estate on a hill above Glysteri Beach called the Villa Pyrgos. But it was heavily modified with fake walls and greenery. The courtyard where they sing "Money, Money, Money" was a set built in a nearby olive grove.
After filming wrapped, they stripped everything back. If you go to that hill now, you’ll see the view, but you won't see the fountain or the iconic blue shutters.
However, Glysteri Beach itself is worth the trip. It’s where the "Voulez-Vous" sequence started and where Sophie, Bill, Sam, and Harry jumped off the rocks into the water. The rocks are still there. The water is still cold. The cliff-jumping is still a thing people do, though I’d recommend checking the depth before you go full Meryl.
Getting there in 2026
Traveling to the film location for Mamma Mia requires a bit of logistical gymnastics. Greece hasn't made Skopelos "easier" to get to, which is honestly a blessing. It keeps the island from turning into a theme park.
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- Fly to Skiathos (JSI): This is your best bet. Direct flights from London, Athens, and Munich are common in the summer.
- The Ferry: You’ll take a ferry or a "Flying Dolphin" hydrofoil from Skiathos to Skopelos. There are two ports: Loutraki (Glossa) and Skopelos Town.
- The Port of Choice: If you want to be near the wedding church, get off at Glossa. If you want the main hub of restaurants and shops, stay on until Skopelos Town.
Real Talk: Is it worth the hype?
Look, some movie locations are letdowns. You show up and realize it was all CGI and clever angles.
Skopelos isn't like that.
The island actually smells like pine needles and salt. The goats really do have bells around their necks that jingle when they move. The locals aren't sick of the Mamma Mia fans yet; they’re actually quite proud of it. You’ll see "Mamma Mia" tours advertised everywhere, and while they can be a bit cheesy, they’re the easiest way to hit all the spots in one day if you don't want to rent a Suzuki Jimny and navigate the hairpins yourself.
The most authentic experience isn't standing where the actors stood, though. It’s sitting at a taverna in Agnontas (where some of the forest scenes were shot), eating a piece of Skopelos cheese pie—which is a spiral-shaped, fried delicacy that has nothing to do with the movie but everything to do with why you should visit.
Actionable Travel Checklist
If you are serious about visiting the film location for Mamma Mia, do these three things:
- Book your ferry in advance. During July and August, the boats fill up. Use an app like Ferryhopper to see the real-time schedules between Skiathos and Skopelos.
- Rent a 4x4. The road to the church is paved, but many of the "Kalokairi" style paths are dirt and gravel. A tiny rental car will struggle.
- Visit the Church at Sunrise. By 10:00 AM, the tour buses arrive. If you want to feel the "The Winner Takes It All" energy without sixty other tourists in your selfie, you need to be at the bottom of those 198 steps by 7:00 AM.
The Sporades remain some of the greenest islands in the Mediterranean. Even without the ABBA soundtrack, they’re spectacular. But with the music? Yeah, it’s pretty magical.
Don't bother looking for the "Dancing Queen" dock—it’s gone. Don't look for the villa—it was a plywood shell. Just look at the horizon. That’s the real star of the movie anyway.
Final Insight: For the most accurate movie-to-reality experience, skip the high-end resorts. Stay in a traditional stone house in the village of Glossa. The view from the top of the village looking out toward the sea is exactly what the directors were trying to capture: a place where time sort of just stopped.