8 famous movies filmed in Greece (and where)

1. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – 2022- With Daniel Craig, Kate Hudson, Jaimie Lee Curtis, Edward Norton, Janelle Monae.

Filmed in two locations in Greece. The first on the island of Spetses which was the port where all the guests meet before the yacht takes them to Miles Bron’s private island. The island of Spetses is located in the Argo-Saronic island complex and about a 3 hour ferry ride from Athens. In the photo below you can see the Spetses port with the famous Posidonian Hotel in center.

The second filming location is Porto Heli where Miles Bron’s private island and mansion are located. Porto Heli is actually not an island, it is located on mainland Greece (Peloponnese) and the mansion where filming took place is the luxury hotel and beach resort Amanzoe. Scattered with Unesco-protected ruins. It is situated about 205 kilometers (2 hour 40 min drive) from Athens and 40 km southeast of Nafplio. You can take a short 10 min ferry ride from Porto Heli to the island of Spetses.

2. Mamma Mia! – 2008 with Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, and Colin Firth.  

The wedding took place at Agios Ioannis Prodromos church.

Filmed on the island of Skopelos located in the Sporades island complex. You can get there from the port of Volos in mainland Greece which is about a 3 hr 30 min drive from Athens (328 km/204 mi). The boat trip from Volos to Skopelos island is 2 hr 45 min to 4hr 30 min depending on the ferry company that you use.

3. Tomb Raider : The Cradle of Life – 2003 with Angelina Jolie, Gerard Butler. A Lara Croft adventure.

The movie was filmed in many Greek locations. The opening scene is from the island of Santorini. You can see the island’s caldera in the background.

The island of Santorini is part of the Cyclades island complex and you can reach it by air (50 min flight from Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport) or sea (between 5 hours 30 minutes to 11 hours depending on the ferry company you use and the number of island stops before Santorini).

4. For Your Eyes Only – 1981. The 12th film in the James Bond 007 franchise. Starring Roger Moore and Carole Bouquet.

Some scenes were filmed at the Agia Triada Monastery in Meteora ( One of Greece’s 18 UNESCO world heritage protected sites).

Meteora is located on the Greek mainland about  222 miles (357 km) which is about a 4 hr drive.

5. Bourne Identity –  2002 – Action thriller franchise with Matt Damon, and Clive Owen.

Final scenes were shot on the island of Mykonos beneath the famous windmills in Little Venice.

Mykonos is part of the Cyclades island complex and you can reach it via air (about a 1 hr flight from Athens) or via ferry from Athens. The trip ranges from 2 hr 35 min to 5 hr 15 min, depending on the type of vessel and the weather conditions.

6. My life in Ruins – 2009 – with Nia Vardalos and Richard Dreyfuss. Sequel to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” 

Filmed in various locations in Greece such as Athens and Delphi. This was the first time that the Greek government gave its approval to an American film studio to film on location at the Acropolis. The photo below is from the Temple of Hephaistos.

7. Captain Corellis Mandolino – 2001. An action romance during World War II with Nicholas Cage, Penelope Cruz and John Hurt

Filmed on the island of Kefallonia – For the film, the town was recreated over on the east coast at the port of Sámi. Some scenes were filmed at the ruined monastery of Agios Fanentes – a protected archaeological site on a promontory above Sámi.

The scene where the WWI mine is washed up and detonated is Myrtos beach. This white pebble beach and jagged cliffs is regarded as the most beautiful – and renowned beach on the island.

Kefallonia is part of the Ionian Island group. You can reach the island by ferry from Kyllini (3 hr drive from Athens) on the mainland (Peloponnese). The ferry ride from Kyllini to Kefallonia is 1 hr 30 min.

8. Zorba the Greek– 1964 – With Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates and Irene Papas.  Based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis.

Filmed at Kokkino Chorio and Stavros beach near Chania on the  Island of Crete. Specific locations featured include the city of Chania, the village of Kokkino Chorio in the Apokoronas region and Stavros beach in the Akrotiri peninsula.

You can reach the island of Crete via air or sea. The flight from the Athens Eleftherios Venizelos airport direct to Chania is a 50 min flight. The duration of the ferry trip from Athens to Chania, Crete ranges from 8 hr to 11 hr depending on the type of vessel and the ferry company.