Kalokairi Island

1. Overview

• The island of Kalokairi captured the hearts of viewers in the movie with its:
  • Beautiful waters
  • Stunning surroundings
  • Charming Greek houses
  • Quaint narrow streets
• In reality, Kalokairi is actually named Skopelos, located in the western Aegean Sea and part of the Northern Sporades islands.
• Skopelos is both the name of the island and its main port and town, which featured prominently in the filming of Mamma Mia!.

Tourism in Kalokairi Island

• The name "Kalokairi" was created for the movie, but "kalokairi" is a real Greek word meaning 'summer'.
• Skopelos has always been a popular tourist destination due to its beauty, with tourism being a major part of its economy.
• Since the release of Mamma Mia!, Skopelos has seen an increase in international visitors, including tourists from:
  • The United States
  • The United Kingdom
  • Other nationalities
• Once primarily a destination for Greek nationals, Skopelos now attracts a diverse range of international visitors.

2. Visiting Kalokairi Island

• Visiting Kalokairi (Skopelos Island) is a bit trickier than expected due to the island not having its own airport.
• As part of Greece’s effort to preserve its islands, it’s rare to find airports on islands like Skopelos.
• This means that boats are the primary mode of transportation between Greek islands.

How to Get to Kalokairi (Skopelos) Island:

• One of the best ways to reach Skopelos is to:
  • Fly into Athens, which has the largest and best-served airport in Greece.
  • Take a connecting flight from Athens to Skiathos, a gateway island to many other Greek islands in the Aegean Sea.
  • From Skiathos, take a boat to Skopelos.
• For more details, check out this video about Kalokairi Island.

3. Things to Do on Kalokairi Island

• There are plenty of great places to stay on Kalokairi (Skopelos) Island, including:
  • Local hotels and accommodations
  • Villas and apartments available for rent through various booking sites
• The Villa Donna from the movie does not exist, but there are several notable places to stay:
• Hotel Skopelos Village – Where movie stars like Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan stayed during filming.
  • Check out the guest book to find messages from the stars
  • Specialized 'Mamma Mia' suite available to book (additional fee)
• Villa Metochi and Pyrgos Villa – Also used by the film's stars and available for booking.

Exploring Skopelos Island:

• Skopelos is a small, simple Greek island, so visitors shouldn’t expect numerous man-made attractions.
• Instead, visitors can enjoy a sublime environment for unwinding, relaxing, and de-stressing.

Mamma Mia! Filming Locations:

• Fans of Mamma Mia! will enjoy visiting Kasteri Beach, where key scenes were filmed.
• The small chapel where parts of the wedding scene were filmed is also located on the island.
• These locations are not only beautiful but will also appeal to non-movie fans.

Special Events:

• Skopelos is a welcoming and attractive place to explore, with events like live music, dance, and theater occasionally held.
• February 25: Celebrates the island's patron saint.
• Loizia Festival: Takes place in August.

Food on Kalokairi Island:

• Expect plenty of fresh fish and seafood, straight from the waters surrounding the island.

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