If you ask my kids what my favorite singing group is, they might say ABBA. That’s because they grew up doing chores on Saturday mornings to great songs like “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” and “Take a Chance on Me.” I was so excited when the movie “Mamma Mia!” came out, and I sang my heart out as I sat in the theater and each new song unfolded. If you’ve never seen the movie, not only will you fall in love with some of the greatest ABBA music ever, but you’ll probably be drooling over the beauty of the Greek islands where the movie takes place.
Greece is open to tourists now, after a hard year of quarantining in 2020! Today I’m going to outline what you need to know about traveling to Greece and spotlight an amazing Mamma Mia! trip idea. You might want to take a chance on this great destination.
Here’s what you need to know about visiting Greece:
· Greece is requiring either a vaccination, evidence of recovery from Covid, or a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. Children 5 and under are exempt.
· Americans are required to complete a pre-arrival online Passenger Locator Form, with information about travel plans in the country.
· Health professionals are conducting random antigen Covid tests upon arrival in the country.
· Many airlines have announced plans to restart nonstop flights from the U.S. to Greece.
· Many sites and museums are now open, with capacity restrictions.
· Outdoor seating is available at most cafes, restaurants, and bars.
· Beaches are open.
· Local tours are operating on a limited capacity.
· Indoor shopping is open with restrictions, such as limiting the number of people allowed in stores and shops.
· It’s predicted that once cruise ships are stopping in Greece (later this summer), there will probably be pre-reserved time slots needed for popular attractions like the Acropolis in Athens.
· Before returning to the U.S., everyone is required to complete a Covid test; the Athens airport is offering the test for 15 euros per person.
If you’re thinking about a trip to Greece and you’re a fan of the movie, I recommend doing a Mamma Mia!-style tour.
Sometimes a pre-packaged tour is a perfect way to see it all, with the perfect price tag. This trip is pre-packaged, meaning that the locations and transportation are all pre-arranged, but it’s not a group tour. You arrive and depart on dates of your choosing, traveling with the people you want to go with. In this great itinerary, you have a chance to see where so many scenes from the movie were filmed.
The 8-day trip includes round-trip flights to Athens, all of your transportation, 3 nights in Athens, 2 nights in Skiathos, and 2 nights in Skopelos, plus breakfast every day. Let’s look at each day’s inclusions.
Greece Mamma Mia! Trip
Day 1: Arrive in Athens.
Your driver will pick you up and take you to your hotel, the Polis Grand Hotel or similar. The Polis Grand Hotel is a 4-star property located in the heart of the historical and commercial center of Athens.
Day 2: Athens.
Today, you'll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Athens!
Your expert guide will take you to see the center of the city, the Constitution Square (Syntagma), the House of Parliament, the Memorial to the Unknown Soldier and the National Library.
On your way to the Acropolis you will see the Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, and will make a short stop at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first Modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. On the Acropolis visit the architectural masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally the famous Parthenon.
Your first taste of Athens would not be complete without a visit to the Acropolis Museum, a modern architectural building where, at last, the statues have found their home. Here, you can admire the wonders and architectural masterpieces of the classical era.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure when the tour is finished!
Day 3: Athens to Skiathos.
After breakfast, check out of the hotel. Today you’ll be transferred to the ferry dock, where you’ll board your ferry to the island of Skiathos. Upon arrival, you’ll be taken to your hotel, the Skiathos Palace Hotel or similar. This 4-star property offers brightly colored, modern air-conditioned rooms, indoor and outdoor bars, a rooftop restaurant and garden, a pool, and massage services, and overlooks Koukounaries Beach.
The rest of the day is yours to explore this amazing island.
Day 4: Skiathos.
Skiathos has some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, with crystal clear waters and white sands, along with some incredible nightlife. Inland are many hiking trails through rolling pine forests.
Day 5: Skiathos.
Spend the day exploring the vibrant Skiathos.
From the movie, the Nikolaos Bell Tower is where Sophie posts her wedding invitations to her three possible dads. The Old Port of Skiathos was the backdrop for the scene in which the three possible dads first meet each other.
Day 6: Skiathos to Skopelos.
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and transfer to the ferry terminal. Take the ferry to the island of Skopelos, where your driver will take you to your hotel, the Skopelos Village Hotel or similar. The Skopelos Village Hotel is the ideal mix of elegance and warmth. It sits near the harbor, with gorgeous views and an incredible sea breeze. The Skopelos Village Hotel is where the cast stayed while filming on the island.
The rest of the day is yours to explore this amazing island.
Day 7: Skopelos.
Skopelos is verdantly green, with some of the most spectacular landscapes in the area, and it’s easy to see why it captured the attention of the Mamma Mia! film crew.
You’ll recognize the small Greek clifftop church where Donna walks away from Sam, although it’s actually a much steeper climb than the film shows. Amarandos Beach is where Donna sings about “Money, Money, Money,” and Glysteri Beach is where the fictitious Villa Donna is located.
Kastani Beach is where Tanya performs “Does Your Mother Know,” and where Sophie and Sky sing “Lay All Your Love on Me.”
Day 8: Skopelos to Athens.
You’ll be transferred from your hotel to the ferry terminal for the ride back to Athens. Upon arrival, your driver will take you to your hotel. Spend your final night at the Hotel Titania or similar. Located close to the National Historica Museum, the Hellenic Parliament, and Syntagma Square, Titania is a 4-star property with a marble-and-mosaic lobby, on-site restaurants, and up-to-date guest rooms.
The remainder of the day is at leisure to sightsee or shop, enjoying your final day in Greece.
Day 9: Say goodbye!
After breakfast, you’ll be transferred to the airport to catch your flight home.
What do you think? Pretty amazing, right? If you’re ready to travel, maybe Greece is the place to go. Restrictions are lifting, there are some incredible locations and sightseeing to visit, and it’s the backdrop for a great movie. Sounds like a wonderfully scripted scene for your next adventure.