Where Was ‘Mamma Mia!’ Filmed?

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd, “Mamma Mia!” (2008) is based on the hit Broadway musical of the same name, also directed by Lloyd. The inspiration for both movie and musical came from the 1999 book “Mamma Mia,” written by Catherine Johnson. “Mamma Mia!” is a romantic comedy musical about what happens when the past resurfaces. It tells the story of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), a bride-to-be that desperately wants to be walked down the aisle by her father, whom she has never known. So, where was “Mamma Mia!” filmed?

Mamma Can Be Found Among the Greek Islands

Sophie is the daughter of Donna (Meryl Streep), the owner of a local hotel. Sophie decides to read her mother’s private journals to find her father in time for her upcoming nuptials. When Sophie contacts the three men she believes are paternity candidates, she invites the men for a blast from the past. Antics naturally ensue when Mom is caught off guard by her former lovers’ sudden, surprise return to her life. The musical takes classic songs by the 1970s pop band “ABBA” and introduces them to a new generation of fans. It simultaneously stirs the musical memories of the generation that first enjoyed popular songs like “Dancing Queen (1976).” “Mamma Mia!” is a charming, though some might say “campy,” middle-aged love story that will have you dancing and singing until the end.

Besides the mesmerizing musical numbers, expect to be enchanted with “Mamma Mia!” by the breathtaking beauty of the beaches and landscapes of Greece. Many travelers think of the Mykonos Islands when the country Greece comes to mind, and they mistakenly believe the film was produced there. However, it will take a visit to the islands of Skopelos and Skiathos in Greece, where Lloyd primarily filmed, along with some beaches of Damouchari, to bask in the relaxing scenery depicted in “Mamma Mia!”

Skopelos Island, Film Location for “Mamma Mia!”

Skopelos is as close as you will get to the fictional island of Kalokairi, where “Mamma Mia!” takes place. Skopelos was the location where the majority of outdoor scenes were filmed. It is located in the Western Aegean Sea and is one of several islands that make up the Sporades Island group. Skopelos and Skiathos are both part of the Sporades Islands, which inhabit the Pelion Peninsula. The Kastani Beach of Skopelos was the location of several song and dance performances, including, “I Have a Dream,” “Lay All Your Love on Me” and “Does Your Mother Know?” The tiny church featured at the end of “Mamma Mia!”, Agios Ioannis Kastri, is in the Northern section of Skopelos. It has 199 steps that lead to it, with a sandy beach beneath its cliff.

Three Men, a Baby, and Glysteri Beach

The scene where Sophie and her three dads jump into the crystal blue waters below was filmed at Glysteri Beach. The location of the fictional Donna Villa hotel, managed by Donna, is also said to be located there in the area of Nisi.

“Mamma Mia!” was shot in 2008, but there was a scene in the movie that supposedly takes place in 1980. Damouchari was the only island the producers found that still had the charm of the 1980s, with few skyrises, traffic, modern enhancements, or other “tourist traps.” That is why Damouchari was chosen as the location of the scene where Donna dances through a village and down to a harbor. It’s been said that all the inhabitants of Damouchari island were recruited to be extras in this scene. Damouchari is a small port on the Eastern coast of Pelion Peninsula, not far from Skopelos and Skiathos. It can be reached by boat from Agios Ionnis and Mylopotamos. It can also be reached by walking the road from Tsagarada or Mouressi.

Skiathos Island, an Entry Point to Skopelos

Skiathos is the only island of the Sporades group that has its own airport. It is, therefore, the most efficient way to reach both Skopelos. Athens is the nearest major airport and it is 20-30 minutes flight to Skiathos Airport from there. Skopelos is a 30-minute ferry ride from Skiathos port. Besides flying into Skiathos Airport from the mainland, there are 4 ports that offer ferry services to the Sporades islands at Volos, Mantoudi, Agios Konstantinos, and Thessalonik. Volos port has the fastest ferry, the Aegean Flying Dolphin, which can reach Skiathos in an hour and 25 minutes and Skopelos in an hour and 55 minutes.

Though the various locations where “Mamma Mia!” was filmed were once “lesser known,” they became popular thanks to the movie. The increased tourism led to an unprecedented need for hotel accommodation and increased prices at restaurants and bars on the tiny islands of the Aegean Sea. However, many local Greeks recognize the potential that film tourism has to boost the local economy.

When visiting the locations where “Mamma Mia!” was filmed, don’t be surprised to find ready-made tour packages that lead directly to where the scenes were filmed.