Guide · Film locations

Mamma Mia boat trip from Skiathos to Kastani and Agios Ioannis

Skopelos has two film spots: the cove of Kastani and the chapel on its rock at Kastri. A Mamma Mia boat trip from Skiathos reaches the first and sells the second as an add-on.

Check availabilityfrom $72 · cancel for free

Editorial team, skiathosboattrip.comUpdated October 20, 2026about 8 min to read21 sources

The tour behind this guide Skiathos: Mamma Mia Island and Beach Day Cruise 4.3 (939 reviews) 7 hours from$62per person Check availabilityFree cancellation until 24 hrs before start

The short version

01Where it goes: Kastani for an hour, an unnamed stop, 2 hours at Panormos and a last hour the listing places at Milia.
02The chapel: Agios Ioannis is an optional seat you book while sailing to Kastani, charged extra per person.
03Day and fare: 7 hours from the New Port at 09:15, from $62.
04Score: 4.25 from 939 reviews; cancel free until a day ahead.
05Another way: This site's own day ends with a 1-hour swim that its listing places at Kastani in one spot and Milia in another.

Skopelos, the island the film put on the map

A Mamma Mia boat trip from Skiathos is really a day spent along the shores of Skopelos, the next island over. Visit Greece writes that film producers chose the island for scenes of Mamma Mia! and that the shoot made Skopelos known around the world.¹ The tourism board names the places tied to the film: the beach of Kastani and Agios Ioannis in Kastri.² The rest is swimming, lunch and green coast.

Skopelos is the largest island of the Northern Sporades and lies between Skiathos and Alonissos.³ Visit Greece also calls it the greenest island in the Aegean, with 80% of its land under forest.⁴ From the deck that reads as pine running down to the waterline, broken by pale rock and coves. It looks nothing like a postcard of the Cyclades, and that difference is a large part of the charm.

The island's ancient name was Peparethos, after a son of Dionysus and Ariadne who, in the myth, was its first settler.⁵ Its main town keeps the traditional Pelion style of building, and the film then gave the place an international audience.⁶ A beach cruise does not stop in that town. Treat its stepped lanes and slate roofs as a reason to come back on the ferry for a second, slower day.

The day, stop by stop

The Kalypso's beach day on Skopelos

09:15

Departure

The Kalypso leaves the New Port of Skiathos, opposite Alpha Bank.
After 100 minutes

Kastani Beach

1 hour at the sandy cove from the film, with the chapel seat offered on the way.
25 minutes on

Hidden gem

An unnamed stop of 1 hour that the itinerary keeps as a surprise.
Next

Panormos Beach

2 hours of free time for lunch, a swim or a walk.
20 minutes on

Last stop

A final hour, which the listing's description places at Milia.
End of the day

Drop-off

The return lists 22 drop-off points around Skiathos.

Kastani, the cove from the film

On the Mamma Mia Island and Beach Day Cruise, Kastani is the opening stop, reached after 100 minutes on the water from Skiathos, with 1 hour to enjoy it. Visit Greece describes sand and turquoise water there and lists the cove among the island's Mamma Mia! filming locations.² That hour is enough for a swim, a stroll along the sand and the picture you came for, provided you do not spend it hunting for shade.

An hour on a famous beach goes quickly. Swim first and take pictures afterwards, while the water is calm and the light is high, and keep an eye on the crew for the call to reboard. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes, keep a small towel in a dry bag and leave heavy camera gear behind. Getting on and off a boat is easier with free hands, and wet sand gets into every zip, pocket and lens.

Other boats call at Kastani too, and a few of them make it part of a sailing day. Katerina Traditional Sailing lists it between Lalaria and Panormos, Aeolus Sailing names it among its stops, and the Diamanti sailing day anchors there before the Dasia sea cave. They swap the motor cruiser for a sailing yacht, a slower rhythm and a smaller deck, and they cost more: from $156, $162 and $150.

Guest ratings

How the boats that call at Kastani score

Average guest rating of each listing that names Kastani, as GetYourGuide shows it.

Kastani on the listings

Five boats that call at the film beach

Listing	At Kastani	Agios Ioannis	Day length
Mamma Mia Island and Beach Day Cruise	1-hour visit	Paid seat, optional	7 hours
Skopelos Beaches Cruise	Visit	Paid option	7 hours
This site's Skopelos and Alonissos day	1-hour swim, Kastani or Milia	Photo stop	9 hours
Yacht Marina, PERFECT SAILING	Named bay	Not named	8 hours
Aeolus Sailing yacht	Named stop	Not named	7 hours

Every cell as the listing states it on GetYourGuide.

Three ways to Kastani

Beach cruise, budget twin or sailing yacht

Chapel seat option

Beach day cruise

Kalypso, New Port

At Kastani: 1 hour
Panormos: 2 hours
Price: from $62

See this boat

Lowest fare here

Beaches cruise

Same boat, second seller

Stops: Kastani, Panormos, Milia
Guide: Live, in English
Price: from $59

See this boat

Skiathos: Full-Day Sailing Cruise with Lunch

Lunch cooked aboard

Sailing yacht day

Aeolus Sailing

Kastani: On the stop list
Lunch: Around 14:00
Price: from $162

See this boat

Decision helper

Which Kastani boat fits your day?

Start from the thing you want most

Film beach plus the chapel The lowest fare to Kastani Two islands, not only beaches Lunch made for you A skipper and a taverna lunch

Beach day cruise

Kastani for 1 hour and an optional chapel seat on the way.

Skopelos Beaches Cruise

From $59, on the same Kalypso.

This site's day

Skopelos, Alonissos and a 1-hour swim in 9 hours.

Aeolus Sailing

Lunch is cooked on board at around 14:00.

Yacht Marina

Lunch is included, with Kastani and Hovolo among the bays.

Kastani enchants with its sandy beach and turquoise waters, while Agios Ioannis, the Meteora of the Sea, inspires awe with its chapel perched atop the rock

Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Source 2

Agios Ioannis in Kastri and the chapel option

The second film location is a chapel on a rock. Visit Greece writes that Ai Giannis in Kastri stands on a steep rock with wide views over the sea, and it calls the place the Meteora of the Sea.⁷ ² The nickname borrows from the cliff-top monasteries of central Greece, and it suits a chapel that seems to grow out of the stone. It is also the one film spot that the beach cruise keeps outside its ticket.

The Kalypso cruise treats the chapel as an add-on. While the boat heads for Kastani you can book a seat for a visit to Agios Ioannis Chapel, which the listing also calls the Mamma Mia Chapel; that visit is not part of the fare and is charged per person. The Skopelos Beaches Cruise, sold by a second company on the same boat, offers the same optional visit. Ask the crew on the day how the seat and the timing work.

If the boat trip from Skiathos to the Mamma Mia church is the whole point of your day, read each listing carefully: a photo from the water and a visit on foot are different things. This site's own Skopelos and Alonissos day lists photo stops at Agios Ioannis Chapel and at Amarantos Rocks on the way home. That is a view rather than a climb. If you take the land option, wear shoes with grip and carry water for the steps up the rock.

Map

From Skiathos harbor to Skopelos, Alonissos and Lalaria

The day boat's route east to Skopelos and Alonissos, then Skiathos itself with the north-coast beaches and the islets off the harbor.

Map of the Northern Sporades from Skiathos east to Skopelos and Alonissos — Skiathos to Alonissos

Map of Skiathos from Koukounaries in the south-west to Lalaria and Kastro in the north — Around Skiathos

1
Skiathos town and Bourtzi
Bourtzi, a small green peninsula, splits the harbor into the old port and the new port; the boat to Skopelos and Alonissos leaves from the old port.⁸
In Google Maps ↗
2
Glossa
A stop of the Aegean Flying Dolphins hydrofoils between Skiathos and Skopelos town.⁹
In Google Maps ↗
3
Agios Ioannis in Kastri
A chapel on top of a rock above the sea, one of the Mamma Mia! filming locations.²
In Google Maps ↗
4
Kastani and Milia
Kastani is the sandy Mamma Mia! beach; Milia looks across to the islet of Dasia.² ¹⁰
In Google Maps ↗
5
Skopelos town
The largest island of the Northern Sporades, with a town in the old Pelion style.³ ⁶
In Google Maps ↗
6
Patitiri
The port and capital of Alonissos, below the old village and its castle.¹¹
In Google Maps ↗
7
Lalaria
Reached only by sea and only in dead calm, with white cobbles and the Trypia Petra arch.¹² ¹³
In Google Maps ↗
8
Kastro
The medieval town on the northern tip, 11 km from the modern town.¹⁴
In Google Maps ↗
9
Tsougria
An islet with pines and two small lakes, less than 2 nautical miles from the port.¹⁵
In Google Maps ↗
10
Arkos
One of the small islands the municipality names for a sailing day from Skiathos.¹⁶
In Google Maps ↗
11
Koukounaries
The pine-backed beach on the south-west point, with boats for rent and a sunset viewpoint.¹⁷
In Google Maps ↗
12
Agia Eleni
A west-coast beach known for its sunsets.¹⁸
In Google Maps ↗
13
Aselinos
A north-coast beach reached by dirt road or by boat; a north wind brings big waves.¹⁹
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

Pack for a film-beach day

On the boat

Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for the open deck
Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel for Kastani
Your booking voucher and the boat's name, Kalypso

On Skopelos

Money for lunch at Panormos
A little extra for the chapel seat, if you want it
The reboarding time the crew gives you

Cost calculator

Price the Kastani boats for your group

Pick a boat and the number of travelers.

Beach day cruiseKalypso boatfrom $62 Beaches cruiseSame boatfrom $59 Two-island daySkopelos, Alonissosfrom $72 Sailing yachtLunch on boardfrom $162

People 2

Total from$124

each from $62

Check availabilityfree cancellation

Each total multiplies the lowest per-person fare a boat lists on GetYourGuide by your group size, converted at the European Central Bank rate; checkout shows the final sum.

Video

Mamma Mia Boat Trip | Skiathos to Skopelos Vlog

Nothing from YouTube loads on this page until you press play.

Panormos and the long lunch break

After Kastani the boat sails for 25 minutes to a stop the itinerary calls a hidden gem, stays 1 hour, then moves on to Panormos Beach for 2 hours of free time. Panormos is the longest stop of the day and the obvious place to sit down for a proper lunch. Pick a table early, order something simple and use the rest of the time for a swim, so you are not rushing back with a full stomach.

Visit Greece calls Panormos a well-serviced pebble beach 18 km from the main town of Skopelos, below ancient walls on Palaiokastro hill.²⁰ Food and drinks are not part of the cruise ticket, and neither are personal expenses: lunch is yours to buy. Bring small notes for a taverna or a beach kiosk rather than relying on a card machine, and keep enough back for a cold drink later in the afternoon.

The 2 hours here suit a meal and a swim, or a walk toward the old walls if the heat allows it. A hat matters more than you expect on a pebble beach with little shade, and so does a refillable bottle. Keep your phone clock set to local time and note the reboarding hour the crew gives you: the boat still has one more stop to make before it turns for Skiathos, and it will not wait long for latecomers.

The last swim and the way back

The itinerary closes with a 20-minute sail and a final 1-hour stop before the drop-offs; the listing's own text names Milia for that last call. Visit Greece writes that many consider Milia the top beach on Skopelos, with views across to the islet of Dasia and clear water between large rocks.¹⁰ By this point of the day the swim tends to feel like a reward, so leave some energy for it.

Coming home is simple, and nobody has to find their own way back. The return lists 22 drop-off points on Skiathos, and if you chose the transfer option, pickup and drop-off use the main road by your hotel. The whole day lasts 7 hours. Plan an easy evening afterwards: hours of sun and salt water call for a shower, an early dinner and nothing more ambitious than a slow walk along the harbor front.

The listing warns that rough seas or high winds can change the route and the stops. According to the management body of the Alonissos marine park, the meltemi, very strong north winds, blow over the area in August.²¹ A changed plan is part of island boating. Book with a spare day in your holiday, and a cancelled or shortened outing becomes a reschedule rather than a lost trip, with no scramble for a replacement.

Who this cruise suits, and who should skip it

The Mamma Mia Island and Beach Day Cruise is rated 4.25 from 939 reviews, and its breakdown gives the guide 4.3, the transport 4.4 and the price-to-value score 4.2. Among the boats that call at Kastani, the Aeolus Sailing day scores higher, at 4.93 from 367 reviews. They are different kinds of day: a shared beach cruise at a low fare, and a smaller sailing yacht with lunch at a much higher one.

Read the restrictions before you book. The listing says the cruise is not suitable for wheelchair users or for people who have had recent surgery, and pets are not allowed on board. The Skopelos Beaches Cruise on the same boat warns people prone to seasickness instead. If you get queasy on the water, sit low and near the middle, look at the horizon and skip a heavy breakfast before the crossing.

If Kastani is only one wish among several, this site's own trip covers more ground: 1.5 hours on Skopelos, 1.5 hours on Alonissos and a 1-hour swim, in 9 hours, from $72. The beach cruise is shorter and cheaper, from $62, and keeps to Kastani, Panormos and the coast in between. Choose by what you want to remember from the holiday: a film beach and a long lunch, or a pair of island towns.

Booking the day without surprises

The Kalypso leaves from the New Port of Skiathos, opposite Alpha Bank, with departure at 09:15. The Bourtzi peninsula separates that new port from the old one, where the boat to Skopelos and Alonissos meets its passengers.⁸ The two quays sit close together but they are not the same, and finding the right one the evening before saves a nervous jog along the waterfront with a beach bag on the morning itself.

Calling the day off costs nothing until 24 hours ahead, and the fare can be held now and settled later. The host on board speaks English. Pickup is offered as an option, and the transfer collects guests from the main road beside their hotel rather than from the door. If you are staying near the harbor, walking down is the calmer start, with time for a coffee and a pastry before boarding.

Pack a swimsuit, a towel, sun cream and water, plus money for lunch and for the chapel seat if you want it. A light layer helps on the open deck during the 100-minute crossing to Kastani. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch, charge it the night before and bring a cap that will not blow away. Those small things decide whether you come home with sharp photos and good memories or just a sunburn.

Book your seats

Skopelos, Alonissos and a swim in one day

Pick a date, reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before.

See datesfrom $72 · cancel for free 4.8 · 701 checked reviews

You ask,we answer.

Does the cruise stop at the Mamma Mia chapel?

Only as a paid extra. You can book a seat for Agios Ioannis while sailing to Kastani; the visit is not included in the fare.

How long is the stop at Kastani?

1 hour. The boat gets there after 100 minutes from Skiathos and then sails on to the other stops.

Where does the boat leave from?

Skiathos New Port. Look for the Kalypso opposite Alpha Bank; it departs at 09:15.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are excluded, and Panormos gives you 2 hours of free time for a meal.

Which film locations does Visit Greece name?

Kastani and Agios Ioannis. Both are on Skopelos, and Agios Ioannis stands on its rock in Kastri.²

Can the route change on the day?

Yes, in rough weather. Rough seas or high winds can change both the route and the stops.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes, up to 24 hours before. You get a full refund, and you can also reserve now and pay later.

Is there a sailing alternative?

Yes, with lunch on board. Aeolus Sailing lists Kastani among its stops and cooks lunch on the boat.

Sources

Sources and evidence

1
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Skopelos
↩
2
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)The Beaches of Skopelos
↩
3
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Skopelos
↩
4
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)The Beaches of Skopelos
↩
5
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Skopelos
↩
6
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Sporades Islands
↩
7
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Sporades Islands
↩
8
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Bourtzi of Skiathos
↩
9
Aegean Flying DolphinsSporades timetable 01.06.2026 - 31.10.2026
↩
10
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)The Beaches of Skopelos
↩
11
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Sporades Islands
↩
12
Municipality of SkiathosLalaria
↩
13
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Beaches of Skiathos
↩
14
Municipality of SkiathosKastro
↩
15
Municipality of SkiathosTsougkrias
↩
16
Municipality of SkiathosSailing
↩
17
Municipality of SkiathosKoukounaries
↩
18
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)Beaches of Skiathos
↩
19
Municipality of SkiathosAselinos
↩
20
Greek National Tourism Organisation (Visit Greece)The Beaches of Skopelos
↩
21
Management Body of the National Marine Park of Alonissos Northern SporadesNational Marine Park of Alonissos Northern Sporades
↩