A Guide to Greece's Most Iconic Film Locations

Summer holidays are approaching. Many have long waited for the moment they would finally lie in sunny, sandy beaches, and stroll around the lanes of picturesque villages. It’s easy to picture themselves there. It couldn’t be otherwise anyway, considering the dozens of famous films that have been shot in Greece turning this country into a renowned summer destination.

In this article, we will explore nine popular film locations that have captured spectators’ hearts. These could be great travel opportunities for film lovers, and for anyone who chooses the Mediterranean landscape as their summer destination.

Who can deny that the sirtaki dance scene of Zorba, at Stavros beach, has made Greek music and Greece, in general, known to the world? Zorba the Greek (1964) was filmed in Chania, right below Stavros mountain, which has ever since attracted thousands of tourists who wanted to see one of Greece’s most iconic film locations in person and spend their holidays in the sunny island of Crete.

Chania has a rich history, breathtaking beach landscapes, lots of delicious food, and an old town whose colorful buildings and Venetian influence make it stand out. This city’s charm has largely contributed to Crete continuously being ranked as one of the world’s top tourist destinations. No wonder it has also been chosen as the film location of an Oscar-nominated film.

It is undeniably one of the most famous Greek islands; Mykonos. A perfect place to watch the sunset over the Aegean Sea. You might recall the scene from Shirley Valentine (1989), when Shirley asked to move the restaurant table by the edge of the sea to watch the golden sunset. The romance between Shirley and Costas started right there, at Agios Ioannis (Ai Giannis) beach, the second in our list of renowned film locations in Greece. The restaurant is still there, only with a different name, in case you would like to go.

A popular party destination for tourists, Mykonos has lots of famous clubs and bars, while during the day-time it offers a bunch of leisure activities like strolling at the old port and around the whitewashed old town, buying souvenirs, art, or trying the Greek cuisine at one of the restaurants in the “Little Venice” neighborhood. 

Pine forests and white houses surrounded by crystal clear water compose a saxophone-shaped island in the Sporades Archipelago called Skopelos. This island is located next to the largest marine protected area in Europe - the Alonissos National Marine park - home of the Monachus Monachus monk seals.

A paradise-like location, Skopelos is in perfect harmony with the bright, happy vibes of UK’s National Awards musical winner Mamma Mia (2008) that was shot there. One of the most delightful moments in the film is when Sophie and Sky lovingly sing the famous love song “Lay all your Love on me” to each other at Kastani beach. Interestingly, despite its small size, Skopelos has more than 360 churches, with the marvelous church of the Virgin Mary (Panagitsa of Pyrgos), being a top marriage spot choice by couples from all around the world.

The Unesco World Heritage Site of Delphi with its sanctuary ruins dating back to the 6th century B.C. is located right below Parnassus mountain peak. It is where the movie My Life in Ruins (2009) was partly filmed, and it is the fourth in our list of visit-worthy film locations in Greece.

A 2h 30m drive from Athens airport, Delphi allows the visitor to enjoy a trip back to ancient Greece and seize the chance to walk through the Apollo Temple, the shooting location of the touching oracle scene. Don’t forget to ask yourselves for an oracle; you might get one ;)

Kardamyli is a village on the coast of Mani, really close to the city of Kalamata, which has been described as the new Côte d'Azur. It has a view of both the mountains and the sea, and it offers lovely beaches like Foneas and Kalogria.

Before Midnight (2013) includes some fine-looking shots of this place, a special one being when Jesse and Celine are on a date night on Kardamyli dock, watching the sun hide behind the mountains.

James Bond traveled to Meteora, so why shouldn’t you? In the finale scene of For your eyes only (1981), Bond is directed to hide in Holy Trinity Monastery, which is on top of a precipice of the Peneas Valley. Meteora is certainly one of the most iconic film locations in Greece. Monasteries are “suspended in the air”, as the word meteora translates in Greek, making us stare at them in awe and wonder how monks built them back in the 14th to 15th century.

Kefalonia is one of the seven Ionian islands, located west of mainland Greece. It is known for its mysterious caves, such as Melissani and Drogarati cave. Also, it boasts the only national park in Greece situated on an island.

Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001) includes shots from Myrtos beach and the ruins of Agioi Fanentes monastery near Sami village, where one can take the highly recommended ancient Sami trail.

Le Grand Bleu (1988) was filmed in Amorgos, one of the islands of the Cyclades group. Enzo’s death scene featured Hozoviotissa Monastery in the background. This 11th-century monastery was built right by the edge of the cliff and offers views of the blue waters of the Aegean sea. It is a breathtaking location that no visitor of this island should miss.

In Amorgos one can also try scuba diving to enjoy a similar experience to that of the protagonists of this movie. Needless to say, amazing beach landscapes and villages are also at the tourist’s disposal to explore.

Finally, let’s take a look at Lindos, a great travel destination and the place where scenes for The Guns of Navarone (1961) were shot. Either by walking, or by riding a donkey, you can reach the Acropolis of Lindos, situated on the east coast of Rhodes. Rhodes offers a wide variety of archaeological sites and beaches to choose from.

It is said that it was visited by Alexander the Great, Heracles, and Helen of Troy. What we know for sure is that Anthony Quinn, after shooting the film, wanted to buy land in Rhodes and that, even though his attempt was unsuccessful, the local authorities named a bay after him that attracts thousands of tourists every year.