Milos is a volcanic island home to picturesque fishing villages and with the highest concentration and variety of beaches in the entire Cyclades. From caves, rocky cliffs, lunar landscapes and fine sands, there is a beach for everyone in Milos. Its quaint villages are not just Instagram worthy. They also are full of family-run restaurants offering fresh catch and some of the best seafood we ever had. The island is also famous for the marble statue of “Venus de Milo” that is exhibited at the Louvre in Paris.
For all these reasons, this island is quickly becoming popular among travellers. Especially those who want to experience the real Aegean life without the crowds. And yet, Milos is off the beaten path and much less crowded than other famous Cyclades islands, such as Santorini and Mykonos. We spent 3 days on the island as part of our Greek honeymoon and it was one of the highlights of our trip. You can easily spend a week or more just driving around and exploring different beaches and villages.
Read on to find out why you should definitely include Milos on your list of must-visit Greek islands.
Milos beaches
If you love wild and unspoiled beaches, Milos is the place for you. Because of its volcanic origin, the island has a great variety of beaches, some with fine white sand, others with sulfuric rocks or spectacular mineral formations. We spent most of our time in Milos hopping from one stunning beach to another. However, with over 70 beaches around the island, it’s hard to choose which ones to go to. They all deserve to be visited, but if you have a tight schedule make sure at least to check these out.
Sarakiniko
Sarakiniko is probably the most famous and photographed beach in Milos, due to its unique white cliffs that form an almost lunar landscape. Between the cliffs there are clear blue lagoons, arches and cenotes, and you’ll find many cliff diving spots. The beach is about 15 minutes’ drive from Plaka and can get quite crowded, so make sure you get there early in the morning. We spend a few hours there, but some tourists come for the day. There are no shops or facilities around, so make sure you bring enough water with you.
Paliochori
If you’re looking for an easy access sandy beach, head to Paliochori on the south-east coast of the island. The beach stretches for a few kilometers and is characterizes by colourful volcanic rocks and the geothermal springs. The beach is well appointed, with several restaurants, bars and sunbeds, as well as watersport facilities.
Tsigrado
Tsigrado is a secluded beach cove that is not for the fainthearted. It takes a bit of effort to get to, climbing down a narrow crevasse and a makeshift ladder. Once down by the beach, it’s not easy to find a spot to lay down as it’s usually packed with tourists, since the stretch of sand is quite small. However, you’ll find caves and arches to swim through for an adventurous experience.
Fyriplaka
Fyriplaka is not far from Tsigrado, so you can visit both in the same day. It’s a long stretch of sandy beach flanked on one side by volcanic cliff. There is also one giant rock about half way down the beach which you can swim around. This beach is a great sunset spot and there is also a nice beach bar with sun loungers if you’re planning to spend some time here.
What to visit in Milos
If you want to take a break from lounging in the sun and swimming in the clear blue waters of the Aegean Sea, Milos offers plenty of interesting sights. From fishing villages to historical sites, you can explore the island for a glimpse into the authentic Greek island life.
Milos fishing villages
Driving around Milos you will come across many small fishing villages, with colourful fishermen houses called syrmata, and small family-run restaurants serving the freshest catch of the day. Our favourite village, and probably the most picturesque, is Klima, famous for its colourful fishermen house. Go there at sunset and stay for dinner for an unforgettable evening.
Another village we recommend is Mandrakia. There you will find fishermen houses built on the rocks of a small cove with boats docked in from of the blue doors. Stop for lunch at the Medusa ouzeria and admire the views.
Plaka
If you are in Milos, make sure you visit Plaka with its small narrow streets that lead up to the castle on the hill. On top of the hill, you will also find a small church where you’ll be able to enjoy sweeping views of the island, best enjoyed at sunset.
Tripiti
Near Plaka you’ll find another small village called Tripiti, where you can visit the Catacombs and the Ancient Roman Theatre. The Catacombs is one of the most important Christian burial sites in the world, dating back to the 1st – 5th century and can be visited with a guide. It’s an interesting place to visit if you are not claustrophobic.
Adamantas
Adamantas is the main town and harbour on the island. It will be most likely your point of arrival or departure, whether you come by boat or plane. It gets rather busy in the evening, when tourists come to the restaurants along the port or to look for souvenirs in the many shops along the main road. We only spent a few hours there as we preferred to explore the rest of the island instead.
Where to eat in Milos
There are many restaurants available in Milos, serving real home cooked meals at reasonable price. We never had a bad surprise at the moment of paying a bill and all staff always treated us with great politeness. We loved the fish and seafood plates, so rich in taste even though extremely simple.
Among the various restaurants we tried, we warmly recommend you to try these out.
Medusa, Mandrakia
Mandrakia is a tiny, though charismatic fishing village. When we arrived, fishermen were hanging octopuses to dry in the sun and cleaning their fishing gear. We got a table at the local restaurant Medusa and ordered the semi-sundried grilled octopus and sardines and the never-missing Greek salad. The seafood meze, sunshine and the sea breeze were a superb combination.
Astakas Café, Klima
Plan your visit to Klima in the afternoon and make sure to book a table at Astakas Café. Its white tables meters from the water offer an incredible sunset spot. Don’t be shy ordering from this café as the food is excellent. We had fried shrimps, fish carpaccio, fish stew and grilled fish and struggled to finish all that amazing and flavoursome food.
Enalion Restaurant, Pollonia
We explored Pollonia on a sunny day and decided to have a quick lunch by the beach. We picked Enalion for the outdoor veranda without high expectations. Instead, they surprised us with one of the best ouzo seafood and octopus stew we ever had!
Tarantella, Agios Sostis Beach
On our way to Tsigrado beach we decided to quickly stop at Agios Sostis beach for a quick look. The beach is nothing special really, but the restaurant got our attention with a wide veranda overlooking the sea. We really liked the grilled squid and octopus we had as light lunch and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings.
Where we stayed in Milos
Since Milos is not as touristic as other Greek islands, you won’t find here a flood of international hotel chains. And that’s probably for the better, although luxury hotels have started to pop up in recent years. However, you’ll get a much more authentic experience staying in a converted fisherman house or in boutique hotels.
We chose to stay at the Milos Breeze Boutique hotel, in a quiet spot of the island close to Pollonia, as we were on our honeymoon and were looking for comfort. The hotel is on top of a hill with a huge infinity pool overlooking the sea and the town below and keeps in line with the traditional white washed rustic Greek houses. However, we were a bit disappointed that, although the hotel knew we were on honeymoon, they did not even acknowledge it or greet us with a welcome gift, unlike the other hotels we stayed at during our trip.
Getting To Milos
The island is well connected with mainland Greece and with the other islands via ferries and planes. The small airport in Adamas has numerous flights with Athens and with some of the major cities in Europe. Between islands, the ferry boats are a good means of transportation. The best way to explore the island is to rent a car or scooter and drive around at leisure. You can rent one on the spot at your arrival or ask your hotel for assistance. They are cheap and it is the best way to explore the many hidden gems the island has to offer. Keep in mind that the maps are not always updated, and we found it difficult to find our way at night because most roads are not clearly marked.
Read also: Honeymoon in Greece – Short Guide
