10 Ways To Bring The Magic of Mamma Mia! To Your Skopelos Visit
Mamma Mia! As I sat in the theater back in 2008, singing along to my favorite ABBA songs, I never would have guessed that 8 years later I would be channeling my inner Amanda Seyfried on Skopelos, the very island where much of the movie was filmed. I even spent my 30 days on Skopelos helping to clean a villa, though it was not the fictitious Villa Donna (but more about that here). After 1 month of “research” enjoying the island’s beautiful views, lush forests, and scouting out Mamma Mia’s filming spots, I’m ready to reveal my top 10 tips for finding Mamma Mia’s filming locations and infusing a little Mamma Mia magic into your vacation! Andddd Action!
Press play to really get in the spirit!
1. Stay in a Villa
Mamma Mia:
Villa Donna, Mamma Mia!
In Mamma Mia, the “Villa Donna” is tirelessly tended to by Donna and Sophie (Streep and Seyfried). Fortunately, on Skopelos, there are many beautiful villas available for rent with stunning vistas over the Aegean sea and neighboring islands. Or if, like me, you’d rather keep things “authentic”(cough are on a budget) clean a villa instead.
Real Life:
2. Visit Kastani Beach
Mamma Mia:
The songs Does Your Mother Know, Lay All Your Love on Me, and I Have a Dream were all filmed on this beach, and it’s no surprise why. The beautiful blues of the water set against a background of white cliffs and green trees create quite the pretty picture. Today, Kastani is quite busy, with a popular beach bar and lounge furniture you can rent and relax on.
Real Life:
3. Explore the Island By ATV
Okay, so the characters don’t hop on an ATV to get from A to B, and yes, it is possible to rent a car in Skopelos, but I can promise you that an ATV is infinitely more fun. The other advantage of renting an ATV is that you can get to hard to reach places like secluded beaches and ancient ruins that lie tucked away on dirt roads. For tips on where to take your ATV around Skopelos, check out this post!
Real life:
4. Visit Agios Ioannis
Mamma Mia:
Image: Giphy
A word of WARNING! The Agios Ioannis church is not, I repeat, NOT, exactly the same in real life as in the movie! So don’t make the mistake of hiking up 200 plus stairs to the top with your heart set on the Hollywood version of the chapel only to be disappointed by the fact that the interior of the church is almost nothing like the one that appears on the silver screen.
That being said, a visit to the church is still incredible, and the hike is totally worth it! (Unfortunately no donkeys magically appear to transport you to the top, and no townspeople spontaneously arrive bursting into song.) Nonetheless, the views are second to none, and the water below appears even more pristine from such a height.
Real life:
5. Rent a Boat (or settle for a boat tour)
Mamma Mia:
Not all of us can hop from island to island on a sailboat like Sophie’s 3 dads Bill, Sam, and Harry, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to see the island by boat!
Image: GIPHY
Visitors to Skopelos can rent a motorboat, hire a sailing boat, take a boat tour around the island, or even take a day trip to nearby Alonnisos. I opted for the latter and had a great day checking out new beaches and visiting Old Town Alonnisos.
Real Life:
6. Hit the Road
Mamma Mia:
Image: GIPHY
Good news! Skopelos is STUNNING. If the movie made the island look amazing (which it did) then you’ll be happy to know that it is even better to explore in real life. There are tons of trails around the island, winding through pines, leading to secluded beaches and mountaintop vistas. Though I doubt you’ll be dancing around like Meryl Streep after an exerting hike, you may find the energy later!
7. Take A Dip
Mamma Mia:
Watching Mamma Mia is enough to make even the most tentative of swimmers long for a dip in the Aegean. Fortunately, the water on Skopelos is even better in person! In fact, it is so clear that on multiple occasions I found myself reaching for the bottom only to discover that I was several feet from it. So go ahead and enjoy some of the most refreshing water in the world.
Real life:
8. Watch Mamma Mia!
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Whether you’ve seen the movie 1,000 times or never, there is no better time to watch Mamma Mia than during a visit to the Sporades islands. Just 1 island away in Skiathos is an outdoor theater that regularly plays the film. Guests even participate in the film by getting onstage and singing along.
9. Enjoy a Stunning Sunset
Mamma Mia:
Sunsets were one of my favorite parts about staying in Skopelos. Watching the sun sink behind distant sea and islands is simply unforgettable. For a truly unique experience, try a sunset Stand Up Paddleboard tour. I spent 1 month doing just that with Sporades Sup and it was one of the best experiences I had in Skopelos. Better than the movie!
Real Life:
10. Have A Blast
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Mamma Mia is all about fun-from the songs, to the costumes, to the storyline. Relax, kick back, and enjoy an epic getaway on one of Greece’s most picturesque and naturally gorgeous islands.
Did Mamma Mia inspire you to go to Skopelos? Let me know in the comments, or check out the links below for more on Skopelos!
- How I Spent 1 Month In Greece (Almost) For Free!
- My ATV (Miss) Adventures in Skopelos, Greece
- Skopelos to Alonissos Day Trip-Must or Bust?
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