promenade of Spetses island © A view of the port of the beautiful Greek Island, Spetses and some of the local architecture.

Hollywood Comes To Porto Heli and Spetses: Visit the Locations of Glass Onion and The Lost Daughter!

    Your guide to ALL the locations in Porto Heli and Spetses recently seen in The Glass Onion and The Lost Daughter movies. PLUS: Stay in the actual Glass Onion villa! 

    When Hollywood is looking for fantastic locations, Greece is always a popular choice. It’s a country with natural beauty, stunning landscapes, and impressive historical sites, making it just perfect for any kind of movie. 

    This year, even more attention has been focused on Greece, with everyone asking the BIG question: Where was the Glass Onion – A Knives Out Mystery filmed?

    Glass Onion – A Knives Out Mystery

    poseidonion grand hotel front view

    We have the answers to that, and can even tell you where the villa that a large part of the movie took place in is located. And, if you want to relive the movie, you can book a stay at the villa with your family!

    In the movie, Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc character is invited to a mysterious party at the mansion of billionaire Miles Bron and from there, the mystery unfolds. The first part of the movie is set on the island of Spetses, which is only a few hour’s drive away from Athens. If you have seen the movie, you will recall the guests gathering at a small port. This is Dapia in Spetses, with the emblematic Poseidonion Grand Hotel in the background. 

    From there, the guests are whisked away by yacht to the billionaire’s ‘island’ called and invited to stay at his magnificent residence. The real location of this luxury mansion is none other than the Amanzoe Resort on the mainland.

    Amanzoe Porto Heli

    The spectacular Amanzoe Villa 20 became the setting for the murder mystery although the Glass Onion structure you can see in the movie was added on during post-production using visual effects by the technical team. 

    While some parts of the movie were also filmed in Serbia, most of the cast and crew traveled to Greece to take part. Apart from Daniel Craig, the cast includes Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, and Madelyn Cline, with cameo appearances by Hugh Grant, Serena Williams, Jeremy Renner, and Angela Lansbury.

    Where is the Island of Pisceshite?

    The mesmerizing island of Pisceshite featured in Glass Onion is not an island at all, but that didn’t stop the filmmakers from creating one using computer-generated effects. As the guests arrive to meet their host, the beach where Edward Norton (Miles) awaits them is Korakia Beach near the chic town of Porto Heli. The villa towering overhead looks as if it is right on the water, even though the Amanzoe Resort is 3 miles away. What you do see is the Amanzoe Beach Club, which is part of the Amanzoe complex.

    The Amanzoe Resort sits near Porto Heli, which is a small coastal town in the Peloponnese belonging to the prefecture of Argolida. It is built around a scenic natural harbor and draws many tourists during the summer due to its easy access from Athens and its delightful setting.

    water taxi spetses

    From Porto Heli, you and your family can enjoy our organized day trips to the nearby islands of Spetses, Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. You can also explore the Peloponnese region by land in our Percy Jackson Mythology Tours and Guided Wine-tasting Tours

    A cosmopolitan hot spot, Porto Heli boasts some high-end hotels and resorts yet has retained a lovely traditional atmosphere. For more information about a vacation in Porto Heli and to book accommodation there, contact us at Kids Love Greece and we will prepare a family vacation tailor-made to suit your needs.

    The Glass Onion House

    The stunning house owned by Miles Bron in the movie was partially filmed at Amanzoe’s Villa 20 – a luxurious complex with panoramic views over the Aegean Sea. This exclusive getaway boasts nine bedrooms spread over six levels, six swimming pools, a private spa, and all the amenities you would expect in a world-class hotel.

    The layout flows around an impressive central staircase, with each studio bedroom opening up onto private terraces. The architecture is a nod to classical Greece, with smooth columns and water features complementing the beautifully landscaped gardens. 

    To find out more about the accommodation options at Amanzoe, check out our special feature here.

    For more info - Kids Love Greece hori

    Where Was The Lost Daughter Filmed?

    If you are a fan of Olivia Coleman, you will have seen the movie, The Lost Daughter, in which she stars. You were probably bewitched by the enchanting scenery and wondered where it was filmed. Once again, Greece was chosen for this excellent production of Elena Ferrante’s best-selling novel, which was originally set in Italy. 

    Written and directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, the drama stars an amazing cast, with the actors Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Dagmara Domińczyk, Paul Mescal, Jack Farthing, Peter Sarsgaard, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, and Ed Harris. 

    The producers chose the stunning island of Spetses for most of the movie’s setting, and it’s a destination well-known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and pine-clad beaches. Filming took place in 2020, with the producers making use of the normally busy empty bars and hotels that were closed due to the pandemic. 

    Which Beach on Spetses is Featured in the Movie?

    One of the main locations featured in the movie The Lost Daughter is Zogeria Beach. It’s a beautiful quiet cove with sparkling blue water, making it an obvious choice for the story. Most of the scenes took place on the small beach of Zogeria, while a large one joins it to create one pristine piece of paradise.

    Here, Leda encounters young mother Nina (Dakota Johnson) and her family, and the tavern found there is also the seating area where Leda meets Will (Paul Mescal). 

    What Other Spetses Locations Were Used?

    A drone shot of the port and village in Spetses

    The town featured in the movie is Spetses Town, which is a small, chic seaside center for tourists and locals alike. The apartment where the main character Leda stays on the island is in the tiny port of Kounoupitsa, to the north of the town. At Dapia, we often see Leda and the other characters, with the island of Dokos just visible in some of the scenes.

    It’s also the location of the tavern named Bouboulina where she dines with Will. Bikini, the bar where Leda sings Living on a Prayer, can be found in the Old Harbour area of Spetses to the south end of the town.

    The Poseidonion Grand Hotel served as a base for the film crew while in Spetses and the hotel-run open-air cinema, Ciné Titania, provided the backdrop for one of the movie’s most dramatic moments. Even the flashback scenes in the movie were filmed in Spetses and Leda’s American east coast apartment was actually part of the neoclassical Anargyrios and Korgialenios School in Spetses. 

    Contact us at Kids Love Greece to find the best accommodation for you and your family at Spetses. 

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    Watch This Space

    Rumor has it that a TV adaptation of ‘The Magus’ will also soon be filmed on the island of Spetses. The movie will be based on the brilliant novel by John Fowles, who was inspired by his time spent in Spetses in 1951 where he taught English. The 1968 version of ‘The Magus’ was also filmed on Spetses and starred Michael Caine, Candace Bergin, Anthony Quinn, and Anna Karina. Check back with us for more details about this exciting new production!

    Are you planning to visit Spetses or Porto Heli with your family?

    • For family activities in Spetses, go to our dedicated page here.
    • Contact us for accommodation options in Spetses and Porto Heli
    • Discover more about our tailor-made day trips to Epidavrus (here) and Nafplion (here) : Percy Jackson and Non-Percy Jackson tour
    • Let us plan a Day Trip to Athens (by car) for you to explore the capital city of Greece. For more information, have a look at out “Design your Own Family Trip” form here.

    How can you get to Porto Heli and Spetses?

    By Car

    The easiest way to reach Porto Heli is by car and it only takes 3 hours from Athens. We can arrange a private transfer for you if you prefer.

    By Boat

    Ferries to Porto Heli from Piraeus, the main port of Athens depart frequently and about 4-5 times per day during the summer months. The journey lasts around 2 hours and there are also connections from Porto Heli to other destinations in the Saronic Gulf, such as Poros, Spetses, Hydra, and Ermioni. 

    You can also get to Spetses island by taking the local boat that operates the route from Kosta (a small port 4 km from Porto Heli). The water taxis leave every 30 minutes and the trip takes 20 minutes. 

    By Helicopter

    You can fly to Porto Heli and Spetses from Athens by helicopter in 20 minutes.

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