Greece has provided the backdrop for a wide variety of movies and TV shows, and there’s no wonder when you consider its gorgeous beaches, impressive ancient monuments and spectacular rocky landscapes. If you’re planning to explore Greece by car, think about incorporating these three iconic spots into your road trip.

1. Monastery of Holy Trinity, Meteora, from For Your Eyes Only

For Your Eyes Only, the twelfth movie in the James Bond franchise, highlighted a breathtaking view of the Monastery of Holy Trinity when it was released in 1981. The monastery sits 300 metres above a town called Kalabaka and is one of six built on Meteora, a rock formation that consists of several huge natural pillars and boulders.

The monasteries are built up to the very edges of the vertical cliffs, making for breathtaking views both from them and of them from afar. The Holy Trinity was a key feature in For Your Eyes Only, which saw Roger Moore as James Bond climbing the steep cliffs to reach the monastery at the top.

2. Damouchari, Pelion, from Mamma Mia

2008 musical Mamma Mia was filmed in various locations in Greece but it was predominantly set on the islands of Skiathos and Skopelos. You can visit these islands by taking a ferry from one of several ports on mainland Greece, including Thessaloniki, Volos, Agios Konstantinos, Kymi and Mantoudi. This can allow you to see the iconic white sands of Kastani Beach where the majority of Mamma Mia’s beach scenes were filmed.

However, the region of Pelion, a rugged mountainous peninsula on the west coast of Greece’s mainland, was also used as a backdrop for a few scenes and this makes it a great spot to roll into a Greek road trip. The pretty Blue Beach in the village of Damouchari is where Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski and Julie Walters jumped into the sea at the end of musical number “Dancing Queen”.

3. The Acropolis, Athens, from The Two Faces of January

This movie has extensive shots of Athens which is one of the world’s oldest and most fascinating cities. Athens is perhaps best known for the Acropolis, an ancient citadel that has extensive remains to explore.

The Acropolis is where the leading characters go to explore upon their initial arrival in Athens in The Two Faces of January. The city is home to many more attractions besides, including the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium and Lykavittos Hill where you can enjoy incredible panoramic views of the city.

Greece is one of Europe’s most beautiful and popular tourist destinations, so no matter which parts of the country you visit you’re sure to see some incredible sights worthy of the big screen.