Milos, the southernmost of the Cyclades islands off mainland Greece, located about halfway between Athens and Crete. It is a volcanic oasis home to picturesque whitewashed villages and hidden cliff-ringed coves. Formed around a central caldera and characterized by lunar-like rock formations, it has the highest concentration of beaches in the entire island group - and yet, with only 5,000 permanent residents, Milos sees fewer tourists than other islands such as Santorini and Mykonos.

The island itself is quite rural. There is about one main road that leads you throughout the island connecting you to the major towns. It is a perfect island for travelers looking for picturesque landscapes and a calming vacation. It’s not known for a party scene, but you can find a lively bar and restaurant scene in the main town of Plaka. If you are looking for a unique island to visit with plenty of beaches, Milos has you covered!

Milos is the 5th largest Cycladic island out of 29 main islands (and 220 in total), with an area of 58 square miles. It's slightly larger if you include the neighboring islands Antimilos and Akradies that are part of Milos.

You can arrive in Milos by both plane or ferry depending on where you are traveling from. You can travel by ferry to Milos from mainland Greece through the port of Piraeus in Athens. The distance between Athens and Milos Island is 98 miles. The main port of Milos is Adamas which is located in the center of the island. The ferry route from Piraeus to Milos runs regularly with weekly trips and the ferry journey between the two ports lasts from 3 to 7 hrs.

The benefit of arriving and leaving by the ferry is that you leave from the main Adamantas Port where you can rent cars directly. It made for an easy exchange when renting our car.

The flight time between Athens (ATH) and Milos (MLO) is around 45 min and covers a distance of around 91 miles. Services are operated by Olympic Air and Sky Express. Typically eight flights run weekly, although weekend and holiday schedules can vary so check in advance. The airport is located 3-miles southeast of the harbor of the island.

The duration of the Santorini to Milos ferry trip ranges from 2 hr to 5 hr. The travel time varies depending on the ferry company and type of vessel you're traveling with.

Milos is known for its pristine beaches and volcanic landscape. It is also the island where Venus de Milo, the statue of the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite, was discovered in 1820.

There are three popular areas to stay in Milos: Adamantas (the port), Plaka (main town), or Pollonia (fisherman’s village).

Adamas (the port)
Adamas is the largest village in Milos and is the perfect place to stay for convenience as it has lots of restaurants, accommodation, and shopping options. And because the island is small, you won’t be far away from all the sites.

Plaka Village (main town)
Situated in a hilly landscape, Plaka, the capital of Milos, can get quite crowded with tourists but is very cute. If you are looking for more nightlife and energy, then Plaka is where to be. The streets are a maze of whitewashed buildings, museums, and restaurants, and castles, and you’ll be stopping every few feet for some awesome photo opportunities. A negative is that you’ll have to find parking outside Plaka and walk up to your accommodations.

Pollonia Village (fisherman’s village)
Located in the northeast of Milos, Pollonia is a very small fishing village full of cute whitewashed houses, shops, and restaurants. This is one of the most serene spots you’ll find on the island with a charming local vibe, so if you’re looking for some quiet, we recommend this area. There are plenty of seaside restaurants, a small beach, and fisherman boats. It is a perfect area for couples or families that want a more quiet scene.

Pollonia is also a great starting point if you plan on visiting the island of Kimolos as there are daily ferry connections.

Kilma Village
For the cutest little fishing town and a true Greek experience (it’s very quiet when there are no organized tours around) , stay in Klima. You’ll find a lot more color on the buildings in Kilma than in the other villages, and photographing the harbor during the golden hour will get you some amazing photos.

If you don’t have a vehicle, then keep in mind the closest bus stop to Kilma is Trypiti, and it’s a bit of a hike to get there.

Trypiti Village
Trypiti is a little village on the hill, perfect to stay for a few nights. You’ll probably recognize Trypiti from photos of the white windmills that line the hill on the outskirts of town - they’re iconic!

In addition to the windmills, Trypiti is home to the Early Christian Catacombs of Milos, the Ancient Amphitheater and the Greek Orthodox Church.

Milos is more rural than other Greek Islands, so depending on busses to get you around will take more time and energy. The amazing beaches are spread out through the island, so it’s best to rent a car on the island for the full flexibility, and also due to the limited schedule of the bus routes.

We suggest renting a car prior to your visit online to guarantee the type and model that you want. Milos Rent is one of the most popular car rental companies in Milos with an office in Adamantas, conveniently located just across from the ferry port, Polonia, and the airport.

Driving around the island is actually quite relaxing. Once you drive outside of the main areas of Adamantas or Plaka, there is just one paved road that takes you through the island. The rest of the roads shown on Google Maps are dirt roads.
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Plaka does get a bit difficult to visit because there is no driving in the town center. You’ll have to park outside of Plaka and walk up. This makes staying in Plaka a bit difficult because you’ll have to carry your luggage from the parking lot to your accommodation.

You also may choose to rent a motorcycle or ATV. You can drive ATVs on the main roads, but just use caution with traffic and let other cars pass you as you’ll likely be going a lot slower than the cars.

We do recommend getting a real map and staying on the main roads. Do not rely on Google maps, as it will sometimes take you down dirt roads that dead end. For more on getting around the island click here.

The currency of Greece is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Greece by clicking here.

English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. Greeks do have great regard for those that try to speak Greek so it is a good idea to learn a few phrases. We suggest you get a good English-Greek guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Greek food comes in many shapes, forms and varieties to keep even the most demanding traveler satisfied! So It's no surprise that pretty much every island has some amazing restaurants, and Milos Island is no different.

Milos is known for its cooking and has more good restaurants for an island of its size than most of the popular islands. Finding a good restaurant is not a difficult task with or without recommendations. Keep in mind that some of the restaurants are seasonal, which means that they may not be open before June or after September.

Spring and Fall are without a doubt the best times to visit Milos. Like most of Greece, July and August have the hottest days and are the peak months for tourism. To beat the heat and the crowds, traveling in the shoulder seasons will give you the best of all fronts.

Tourism slows down a lot in the Winter, and while snow is next to non-existent on the island, the days can get chilly. Travel is still possible to Milos in the wintertime, just be prepared for cooler days and fewer options for activities.

Generally speaking, with a Mediterranean climate, you can expect relatively warm days no matter what time of year you visit Milos. However, as mentioned before, Winter can get a bit chilly and has a higher chance of rain. In the summer, the days are hot and humid.

Milos is an island that’s easy to underestimate. It’s still relatively off the beaten path and much larger than one expects so it’s easy to assume you don’t need more than a day or two to see everything.

Milos can be done in 24 hours or 48 hours if you stick to the main clusters of villages and beaches on the northern part of the island. However, be warned that you will be planning your trip back on the way to the airport!

There are a lot of things to do and see so, as with everything, it comes down to what you want to do and what you’re interested in. Beach-hopping alone can add some time to your itinerary.

If you’re planning to spend a day sailing you should budget an extra day on top of your itinerary. Likewise, if you love getting off-the-beaten path and looking to explore the “wilder” Western side of the island, you’ll need at least an extra day.

Three or four days is best and will give you enough time to see most things. If time allows, you could easily spend a week or longer with plenty to see and do. What is the nightlife like?

Milos is known for attracting many couples with its romantic atmosphere. Many bars are found in the streets of Plaka, the capital of the island, playing lounge music and staying open until a bit after midnight. Most noisy bars and few clubs can be found in Adamas, the port of the island, that stay open till the early hours. The other villages of Milos, such as the tourist place of Pollonia, have few lounge bars, as most nightlife is found in the seaside taverns.

There are many little shops all around the island but mostly gathered around the port of Adamas. Most shops sell souvenirs, handmade gifts and jewelry as well as local weaving, embroidery and food products. Local products and delicacies as well as gift shops can be found in most of the island’s villages too.

The very distinctive coastline is magnificent, with rugged cliffs of every color and rock formations, created by volcanic activity from as far back as 90,000 BC. Also along the coastline, you’ll find over 70 beaches, each one unique in its own way, where you’ll find adventure, tranquility or both.

Sarakiniko Beach is by far the most famous beach in Milos and a place you shouldn’t miss! Consisting of chalk-white volcanic cliffs, the landscape at Sarakiniko is just beautiful with amazing rock formations, small pools with clear emerald water, natural arches and cliff jumping sports. Sarakiniko is like nature’s playground and it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the best beaches in Milos.

Firiplaka Beach, located on the southern coast of Milos, features a large bay with shimmering turquoise waters, golden sands and amazing cliffs in shades of orange, pink and white. In the middle of the beach, there’s a massive rock jutting out of the sea which hides an archway that you can swim through. With its beautiful colorful landscape and clear shallow sea, Firiplaka is undoubtedly one of the best beaches in Milos, and one of the most popular.

Gerakas Beach is small, surrounded by white cliffs on the southern coast of Milos. Even though Gerakas beach can only be accessed by boat, it’s unlikely that you’ll have the place to yourself because many sailing tours make a stop here for lunch or just for a swim here. A great way to experience this breathtaking beach is to take your snorkeling mask, jump into the sea from your boat and swim to shore. Firopotamos Beach sits on the northwestern shore of the island. It is one of the most charming beaches on the island because of its stunning blue water and white boat houses that surround the bay. Since Firopotamos is a fishing village, the houses (which are called ‘sirmata’) have traditionally been used by fishermen to store their boats. These days some of the houses have been renovated and are rented out for tourists, so if you like the idea of spending a night in a quaint Greek village and waking up next to a beautiful turquoise bay, consider staying there for a night or two. Although the beach is quite isolated, it gets pretty lively during the day.

Polyaigos Island is not necessary a beach, but more like a swimming spot, and it's not located in Milos. However, it is located on the neighboring uninhabited island Polyaigos, and most people visit it as part of a boat tour from Milos. It offers vertical cliffs in shades of white and orange, the water is a small bay and has an amazing azure blue color. This, combined with the bright cliffs create an absolute oasis. And although there's no beach to put sunbathe, swimming in this paradise spot is an amazing way to enjoy the day.

Papafragas Beach is one of the most unique beaches situated on the northeastern part of the coast. It is a small beach situated between vertical cliffs. On the beach there is a small stretch of sand between two cliffs that form a long narrow canal to the sea. It is possible to swim all the way through the canal but use caution as the waters can be choppy. Also, on the left side of the beach, there's a small tunnel in the rocks that you can swim through and come out on the other side of the cliff.

Kastanas Beach is a little piece of paradise hidden between the Sulphur mines. It is more off-the-beaten-path, and because it is more remote, getting their can be a bit of an adventure. It sits on the eastern coast of Milos and to access it, you need to drive through the Sulphur mines dirt roads. However, it is worth the trip. Surrounded by beautiful pink, white and red cliffs, there's a small pebble beach overlooking a cove with shimmering aquamarine water. On the left side of the beach, you’ll find a sea cave and a natural arch you can swim through. Since there are almost no people, Kastanas beach is a truly peaceful and relaxing place and the ideal choice for the ones looking to escape the crowds.

Paleochori Beach offers underwater thermal springs that heat the seawater in some parts of the shore. In addition to that, the beach offers some amazing pink and orange cliffs that create a stunning contrast with the surrounding aqua water. This beach is also a great spot for snorkeling, as you'll experience tiny gas bubbles that rise up from the sea beds due to the geological processes in the ground.

Note: Be flexible with your beach schedule and monitor the wind, which often blows from the north. Most beaches on the southern side are great to visit during those times, and some are even nestled between walls of rocks for additional protection.

If the winds come from the south, you'll want to check out a northern beach. However, beaches on the northern side of the island tend to get more winds and are best visited when wind speeds are lower than 20 mph. This includes Sarakiniko, Papafragras, Firopotamos, and Mytakas, which have virtually no protection from the winds and can see relatively aggressive waves.

Sailing trips get canceled when there are high winds (typically over 25-30 mph). If you book in advance, keep an eye on weather and touch base with your tour company a couple of days before the tour, they'll be able to confirm whether or not it's still a go.

In an emergency, dial tel. 112

There is a health center in Milos, located in Plaka. It can treat most emergencies, but for serious incidents, patients may have to be flown to Athens by helicopter. There are also 3 pharmacies in Milos, in Adamas, Triovasalos, and Plaka.