Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Milos is a great island and falls somewhere between the popular islands like Sanotorini and the smaller and less popular islands. We visit Milos during the summer of 2024 and will share our top things to do on Milos Island as well as general information about where to stay and how to get around the island.
We were drawn to Milos for the gorgeous water and the stunning white cliffs.
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Things to Know about Milos
Size and Geography
Milos is approximately 160 square kilometers (61.8 square miles). Known for its volcanic landscapes, colorful cliffs, whitewashed villages, and over 70 stunning beaches.
How to Get There
Milos has a small airport with flights connecting to Athens, making it more accessible than some other Cyclades islands. You can also reach Milos by ferry, with routes from Athens (Piraeus Port) and other nearby islands like Sifnos, Serifos, and Paros. Ferry journeys from Athens typically take 3-5 hours, depending on the service.
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit Milos is between May and September, when the weather is warm and sunny, perfect for beach days and exploring.
Best Things to do on Milos Island
Milos Island, part of Greece’s Cyclades, is famous for its stunning beaches, charming villages, and rich history. Here are the 10 best things to do on Milos Island:
1. Explore Sarakiniko
If you’ve seen a photo of Milos, chances are you’ve seen photos of Sarakiniko. This stunning area has a small beach but is best known for the white cliffs that plunge into the vibrant water. Many people come here to cliff jump or just get in a soak. It was a little sketchy to cliff jumping due to the high waves and people struggling to get out of the water.
This is a very popular spot to visit and gets very crowded. These is a somewhat large parking lot and then you need to walk down to the water on a somewhat rough path.
2. Explore the Beaches
Most people visit Milos for the beaches. In addition to Sarakiniko there are many beaches all around the island. You’ll generally find calmer water along the southern coast and bigger waves along the north. Some of our favorite beaches on Milos include
- Kleftiko Beach: Accessible only by boat; stunning sea caves and turquoise waters.
- Firiplaka Beach: Family-friendly with colorful cliffs and soft sand; perfect for sunsets.
- Tsigrado Beach: Secluded and adventurous; requires climbing down a rope ladder.
- Papafragas Beach: Natural pool surrounded by cliffs; ideal for swimming and exploring caves.
- Agia Kyriaki Beach: Quiet and shallow waters; great facilities nearby.
3. Stroll Around Plaka
We absolutely loved exploring Plaka. This gorgeous town perched above most of the island offers tremendous views, excellent dining, and a maze of narrow streets. Make sure to catch the sunset at the Church of Panagia Korfiatissa.
4. Discover Ancient Catacombs and Ancient Theatre of Milos
Located near Trypiti village, these early Christian burial sites are some of the oldest in the world and provide insight into Milos’ historical significance. These sites are located between Plaka and Clima and you can drive to them or walk from one of the towns. We walked down from Plaka. This is an impressive site and worth a short stop.
5. Visit the Village of Klima
Famous for its vibrant “syrmata” houses, Klima is a traditional fishing village where you can stroll along the waterfront and enjoy local seafood. We spent a while walking along the walkway here and ate lunch right on the waterfront. There are several places that offer lodging right on the waterfront here.
Due to a really strong wind, the water level was very high when we visited!
6. Take a Boat Tour Around the Island
A boat trip is the best way to explore Milos’ hidden beaches, sea caves, and dramatic coastline. Many tours include stops at inaccessible gems like Gerakas and Sikia Cave. We did a private sailing tour, but you can also find many tour companies that offer group tours in both sailboats and motorboats. It’s also possible to rent boat along the southern coast to visit some of these sites yourself.
The tour around the island was a highlight of our visit to greece.
Things to Know About Planning a Visit to Milos
Where to Stay in Milos
If you just have a few days, the easiest place to stay is in the port town of Adamantas. This isn’t far from the airport and is the best place to get a boat tour, rent a car or catch a bus. There are a lot of places to stay in Milos.
We booked an apartment through booking.com and you can search for lots of options through Booking.
If you have more time you might want to find a place to stay outside of the port town. There are many beaches and places to stay around the island.
How to Get Around Milos
The best way to get around Milos is to rent a car, specifically if you want to get to some of the more remote beaches. There is a bus service that will take you to the main towns and we used this bus to get up to Plaka.
We rented a car for two days of our visit and spent the other days on a boat tour and relying on the bus system.
How Many Days do you Need on Milos
In our opinion you should plan at least 3 days on Milos. Many people come and stay much longer but with 3 days you can do a boat trip and rent a car to get around to the different beaches and towns.
