Where was Mamma Mia filmed? Explore the gorgeous Greek and Croatian locations behind Kalokairi, from Skopelos and Skiathos to Vis.
Grab your dancing shoes, because Greece is about to steal the show. The country’s dazzling coastlines and sun-soaked landscapes provided the backdrop for Mamma Mia! (2008), even though the fictional island of Kalokairi doesn’t actually exist.
Based on the hit stage musical built around the unforgettable songs of ABBA, the film follows Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) as she secretly invites three men from her mother Donna’s (Meryl Streep) past to her wedding, hoping to discover which one is her father.
Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Stellan Skarsgård play her three possible dads, with Julie Walters and Christine Baranski joining the wonderfully chaotic mix. Then Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) packed its platform shoes and headed to Croatia, which stepped in as the new Kalokairi.
Together, the films turn Greece and Croatia into two very different versions of paradise, blending spectacular real-world locations with carefully constructed sets.
Table of Contents
🌞 Where Was Mamma Mia 1 Filmed?
Follow the sun, songs, and seriously scenic locations that brought Kalokairi to life in Mamma Mia! (2008).
🌴 Skopelos, Greece
Skopelos, Greece is the star of the original movie’s outdoor locations, standing in for the fictional island of Kalokairi.
Kastani Beach became one of the movie’s signature locations, appearing in musical numbers including Lay All Your Love on Me and Does Your Mother Know.
The spectacular Agios Ioannis Chapel (now known as the Mamma Mia chapel) provided the setting for the wedding procession, while Glysteri Beach appears in several coastal sequences.
What was filmed here:
- Kastani Beach: Sophie and Sky’s seaside musical numbers.
- Agios Ioannis Chapel: Wedding procession and cliffside scenes.
- Glysteri Beach: Coastal views and villa approaches.
- Cape Amarantos: Scenic coastal shots and island scenery.
What to see & do here:
- Skopelos Town: Wander the whitewashed old streets.
- Panormos Beach: Swim in sheltered turquoise waters.
- Hovolo Beach: Explore dramatic rocks and coves.
- Glossa: Enjoy hillside views and traditional tavernas.
Book a tour:
- Skopelos Mamma Mia Tours
- Skopelos: Mamma Mia Experience
- Skopelos: Mamma Mia Cliff Tour
- From Skiathos: Mamma Mia Chapel, Kastani Beach
⚓ Skiathos, Greece
Skiathos, Greece provided another important piece of the Kalokairi puzzle, particularly its picturesque old harbor. The island appears during the arrival sequences involving Sophie’s three potential fathers, giving the movie another excuse to point a camera at sparkling Aegean water.
Skiathos is also an easy starting point, with an airport and ferries to neighboring Skopelos. This is where your Mamma Mia! pilgrimage can begin without a yacht, helicopter, or Donna’s supernatural ability to juggle three ex-boyfriends.
What was filmed here:
- Skiathos Old Port: Potential fathers’ arrival sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Skiathos Town: Explore the waterfront and old lanes.
- Koukounaries Beach: Relax beside the famous pine-fringed shore.
- Lalaria Beach: Take a boat ride to the blue caves and dramatic cliffs.
Book a tour:
🌊 Damouchari, Pelion
Damouchari is a tiny seaside hamlet on the Pelion Peninsula, but it gets one of the biggest musical moments in the original film.
Its waterfront, stone pathways, and small harbor were transformed into the setting for the exuberant Dancing Queen sequence, where Donna and the Dynamos dance toward the sea with the confidence of people who have completely forgotten that knees have consequences.
Unlike Skopelos and Skiathos, Damouchari sits on mainland Greece, proving that the filmmakers did not restrict their Greek location hunt to islands. Its combination of forested hills, stone buildings, and bright blue water made it a natural fit for Kalokairi.
What was filmed here:
- Damouchari Harbor: Dancing Queen waterfront sequence.
- Damouchari Paths: Donna and Dynamos‘ dance procession.
What to see & do here:
- Damouchari Beach: Swim beside the picturesque harbor.
- Pelion Villages: Historic villages and olive oil tasting.
- Agios Ioannis: Explore another beautiful coastal settlement.
Book a tour:
- Boat Cruise to Damouchari: Mamma Mia & Blue Caves of Veneto
- Volos: Explore Magic East Pelion Tsagarada & Damouchari
🌊 Where Was Mamma Mia 2 Filmed?
The sequel kept Kalokairi fictional but swapped the Aegean for the Adriatic.
🌅 Vis, Croatia
For Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, the production moved from Greece to Vis Island, Croatia. The island stood in for fictional Kalokairi, with filming concentrated around Vis Town, Komiža, and Stiniva.
Barjaci Bay and Barjoška Bay on the remote western tip of Vis Island, served as the primary location for the massive “Dancing Queen” musical number and the custom wooden jetty scenes in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
What was filmed here:
- Vis Town: Harbor and market sequences.
- Barjoška Bay: Major beach and sailing scenes.
- Barjaci Bay: Custom jetty and Dancing Queen scenes.
- Stiniva Beach: Dramatic coastal and romantic scenes.
- Srebrna Bay: Romantic seaside sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Vis Town: Explore the historic waterfront.
- Military Tunnels: Discover the island’s underground history.
- Stončica Beach: Swim beside the lighthouse.
- Blue Cave: Take a boat trip to Biševo.
Book a tour:
- Mamma Mia Snorkeling Tour: Blue Cave, Vis, Blue Lagoon & Hvar
- Blue Cave, Mamma Mia, Hvar and 5-Island Small-Group Tour
- Vis Island: 3 Islands, 2 Caves, and 6 Spots Boat Tour
🏘️ Komiža, Vis
The historic fishing village of Komiža in Vis, Croatia became one of the most recognizable Croatian stand-ins for Kalokairi in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, with its narrow streets, stone houses, waterfront scenery, and Mediterranean atmosphere.
The production also transformed real businesses into fictional Greek locations, including the waterside Jastožera restaurant, which became a Greek taverna where Bill and Harry meet.
Komiža was effectively the sequel’s village-sized film set, except the buildings were real, the harbor was real, and the seafood was presumably considerably less interested in method acting.
What was filmed here:
- Komiža Harbor: Kalokairi waterfront sequences.
- Komiža Streets: Village scenes and character walks.
- Jastožera: Greek taverna interior and exterior.
- Pansion Dionis: Greek-style market sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Komiža Harbor: Watch fishing boats return.
- Komiža Old Town: Explore narrow stone lanes.
- Traditional Sailing: Sail on a traditional Gajeta Falkuša boat.
Book a tour:
- Mamma Mia Snorkeling Tour: Blue Cave, Vis, Blue Lagoon & Hvar
- Blue Cave & Island Treasures: Komiža & 5 Gems Boat Tour
- Private Tour: Mamma Mia, Blue Cave and Hvar 5-Island Tour
🪨 Stiniva Beach, Vis
The secluded cove of Stiniva is one of Vis‘s most spectacular natural landmarks, and its dramatic cliffs made it a natural choice for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, adding another dose of postcard-worthy Croatian coastline to the fictional Greek island.
Stiniva Beach is enclosed by steep rock walls that narrow toward the sea, creating a distinctive visual that’s easy to recognize onscreen. It is also one of the island’s busiest attractions in summer with spectacular scenery.
What was filmed here:
- Stiniva Cove: Dramatic coastal and beach scenes.
- Stiniva Cliffs: Romantic seaside establishing shots.
What to see & do here:
- Stiniva Beach: Swim in the sheltered cove.
- Stiniva Cliffs: Admire the dramatic rock formations.
- Vis Coast: Join a scenic island cruise.
Book a tour:
- Private Tour: Mamma Mia, Blue Cave and Hvar 5-Island Tour
- From Split: Blue Cave, Mamma Mia, Vis & Hvar 5-Island Tour
- Vis Island: 3 Islands, 2 Caves, and 6 Spots Boat Tour
🍽️ Jastožera, Komiža
Jastožera is a real waterside seafood restaurant in Komiža that received a temporary Hollywood makeover for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
On screen, it becomes a Greek taverna where Bill and Harry meet fisherman Alexio, helping Komiža double as the village heart of Kalokairi. The location is a functioning restaurant in a real Croatian fishing town.
What was filmed here:
- Jastožera Restaurant: Greek taverna scenes with Bill.
- Waterside Terrace: Kalokairi waterfront dining sequences.
What to see & do here:
- Jastožera: Enjoy fresh lobster and local seafood.
- Komiža Harbor: Watch boats along the waterfront.
- Traditional Sailing: Sail on a traditional Gajeta Falkuša boat.
❓ Mamma Mia! FAQs
Here are the answers to the questions most likely to send you down a Kalokairi-sized rabbit hole.
What was the Mamma Mia! movie based on?
The film is based on the stage musical Mamma Mia!, which was created around songs by ABBA.
Where is Mamma Mia! set?
The story is set on the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, where Donna runs a hotel and Sophie prepares for her wedding.
Is Kalokairi a real island?
No. Kalokairi is fictional, although the movies make it look remarkably convincing by using real Greek and Croatian islands.
Where was Mamma Mia! filmed in Greece?
The principal Greek locations were Skopelos, Skiathos, and Damouchari, with Skopelos providing many of the movie’s most recognizable outdoor scenes.
Where was the Dancing Queen scene filmed?
The famous original-film sequence was filmed at Damouchari in Pelion, while the sequel’s large-scale Dancing Queen production used Barjaci Bay.
Can you visit the Mamma Mia! filming locations?
Yes. Skopelos, Skiathos, Damouchari, and Vis are real destinations, and many of the locations are accessible to visitors. The original Villa Donna set, however, was a studio construction.
What is the Mamma Mia! movie location everyone visits?
Kastani Beach and Agios Ioannis Chapel on Skopelos are among the best-known locations from the original film.
Where is Villa Donna?
Villa Donna was a constructed set at Pinewood Studios’ 007 Stage for the first movie rather than a real Greek hotel.
Did Mamma Mia! use real trees on the Villa Donna set?
Yes. Pinewood’s Villa Donna set included real trees that had to be watered to keep them alive.
Was Sophie’s “I Have a Dream” scene really filmed at night?
No. The I Have a Dream scene was filmed in daylight and digitally altered to look like nighttime.
Why did Pierce Brosnan want to make Mamma Mia!?
He was attracted by the chance to work with Meryl Streep, perform ABBA songs, and film in Greece.
Who are Sophie’s three possible fathers?
- Pierce Brosnan: Sam Carmichael
- Colin Firth: Harry Bright
- Stellan Skarsgård: Bill Anderson.
Who is Sophie’s biological father?
The movie never reveals the answer. Sam, Bill, and Harry ultimately agree to share fatherhood.
How long is the Mamma Mia! movie?
Mamma Mia movie length: The 2008 film runs for approximately 1 hour and 48 minutes.
Will there be a Mamma Mia 3?
Yes, a third Mamma Mia! movie is officially in development, though it does not have an official release date yet.
Does ABBA appear in Mamma Mia!?
Yes. Benny plays the piano during “Dancing Queen,” while Björn appears as a Greek god during the finale.
Who’s in the Mamma Mia! & Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again cast?
- Meryl Streep: Donna Sheridan
- Amanda Seyfried: Sophie Sheridan
- Lily James: Young Donna Sheridan
- Cher: Ruby Sheridan
- Andy García: Fernando Cienfuegos
- Pierce Brosnan: Sam Carmichael
- Colin Firth: Harry Bright
- Stellan Skarsgård: Bill Anderson
- Julie Walters: Rosie Mulligan
- Christine Baranski: Tanya Chesham-Leigh
- Dominic Cooper: Sky
What are some movies like Mamma Mia!?
- The Holiday (2006): Romance, friendship, charming escapes, emotional reunions.
- La La Land (2016): Dreams, romance, music, bittersweet choices.
- The Greatest Showman (2017): Big songs, romance, spectacular musical numbers.
- Ticket to Paradise (2022): Tropical wedding, family chaos, romantic comedy.
Where is Mamma Mia playing on Broadway?
MAMMA MIA! the Musical is not currently playing on Broadway, but you can buy tickets for the show in London’s West End. (➡️ Book tickets here)
📺 Where to Watch Mamma Mia! 1 & 2
Ready to trade the remote for a Greek island?
From Skopelos‘s sun-drenched beaches to Vis‘s rugged Croatian coves, Mamma Mia! proves that when your story involves ABBA, weddings, three possible fathers, and several bottles of wine, the Mediterranean is your set designer.
Disclaimer: This fan-created article is provided for entertainment purposes only. We don’t guarantee the accuracy of any of these facts and don’t recommend making important life decisions based on them. All referenced titles, names, and related intellectual property are the property of their respective owners. No copyright infringement is intended.
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