Milos, Greece: Everything You Need to Know

While studying as a fashion student in NYC, I followed many fashion influencers who traveled the world and posted on social media photos of their outfits and destinations. In 2018, one of my favorite bloggers was vacationing in Greece and posted pictures on an island with beautiful rock formations that looked like it was taken straight from the moon and plopped into the Aegean Sea. I remember paying close attention to her aesthetically pleasing posts for days until she tagged the location, Milos. She had found a hidden gem that had breathtaking scenery, smooth sand beaches, and was not overrun by tourists. The island still has its Greek authenticity and affordable prices, unlike some of its neighboring Islands in the Cyclades. Here is your guide for navigating the astonishing island of Milos.

Number of Days to Stay: 3-4 Days

Expenses: $-$$$

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Where to Stay: 

Adamantas/Adamas – The main town of Milos and where the port is located is Adamantas, also known as Adamas. This is where my family and I stayed, and where I highly recommend staying, especially if you are traveling with friends or even solo. Adamas is where most of the nightlife and restaurants are, as well as a central point for traveling to the popular destinations around the island. The town is walkable, and most accommodations have parking, which is great if you plan to rent a car to explore the island. You can find all boat excursions at the port as well as any vehicle rentals. Even though it is the main town of the island, it is quiet at night, which is a plus considering there is nightlife and restaurants all around. If you want convenience and accessibility to all of Milos’s treasures, Adamas is a great place to stay. Take a look at the hotels my family and friends have stayed at below as well as some researched recommendations.   

Pollonia – The second largest village of Milos is Pollonia. Pollonia is the perfect village to stay in if you are traveling with family and young children. It has many accommodations, restaurants, and not to mention that the Port Beach is beautiful. My family and I debated on staying here, but decided against it as it was harder to drive to the destinations we wanted to visit. This town, too, is very walkable and has parking near the port and on the streets. If you don’t mind being far from the main port and want to be away from the buzz of Adamas, Pollonia is the village for you!

Klima – Klima is the most unique village on the island, as there are colorful houses and apartments located right at the shore of the beautiful, crystal-clear Milos water. Recently, the village has become popular on Instagram and TikTok as vloggers have highlighted their stays at these special accommodations in Milos. If you want a unique one-of-a-kind experience, you should stay here! I would caution that Klima’s location is far from the main towns and destinations on the island. This isn’t ideal if you plan to stay for only a few days unless you don’t mind traveling far distances with a rental vehicle! Some accommodations will allow you to spend one night, but do your research beforehand of the stay requirements! Below are some accommodations I found that are right on the water and are similar to those shown on social media. 

Plaka – Plaka is a nearby village north of Adamas where you can view the amazing sunset while enjoying dinner or sipping a cocktail. It is located on top of the mountain, and locals say it has the most incredible sunset view on the island. This is also a great village to stay in if you do not want to be in the main town and live like a local. The prices for accommodations are a little more expensive compared to the villages mentioned above, as most rentals are full homes. The neighboring village, Trypit,i is close by to also offers a great view of the sunset and has many delicious restaurants. 

Where to Eat: 

• Medusa ($$) – Located near Sarakiniko beach, this is one of the best spots to grab food on the island, especially lunch if you are visiting Sarakiniko, where there are no beach bars for you to order drinks or food while swimming and relaxing. 
• Barirello ($$) Trypiti – I personally have not eaten here, but have heard from friends that it is the best restaurant on the island and that you must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance of your dinner date. Not to mention, Trypiti is one of the best villages on the island to get a view of the sunset! Vegan options!
• Astakas ($$) Klima – A lunch spot right on the water before walking towards the fishermen’s houses and shops in Klima. The seafood was delicious (we ordered sea urchin to try something new, but it wasn’t our favorite). Vegan options!
• Gialos ($$) Pollonia – A great spot to grab lunch while sunbathing on the beach of the port. We decided to pick this restaurant randomly and were not disappointed! 

Other Recommendations: 

• Akrotiri ($$) – Pollonia 
• Hanabi ($$-$$$) – Pollonia vegan options!
• Rifaki ($$-$$$) – Pollonia vegan options!
• Aktaion ($$) – Adamas
• O! Hamos! ($$) – Adamas
• Mikros Apoplous ($$) – Adamas 
• Nostos Seafood Experience ($$) – Adamas
• Kokkino ($$) – Plaka 
• Gyros of Milos ($) – Takeaway!

Vegetarian/Vegan Recommendations: 

• Artemis Bakery ($$) – Adamas 
• Avil Milos ($$) – Plaka 
• I Stasi ($$) – Plaka 
• Milors Café ($$) – Adamas 

What to Do: 

Beaches

• Sarakiniko Beach – The most famous beach of Milos and the biggest attraction of the island. There is only a very small part of this beach where you will find sand, otherwise, you will find most visitors lying out on the white rock formations. There are no chairs and umbrellas for rent. You can swim in the inlet that leads to the sea and walk through the different rock formations. As you walk around Sarakiniko, you will find the other side of the beach, which is famous for cliff jumping. I only spent half a day here as there is no shade and lying on the large rock platforms can get very hot, so don’t forget your sunscreen! It is truly one of the most unique beaches I have ever traveled to and hope to return to one day!   
• Firopotamos Beach –  This is one of the most picturesque spots on the northern side of Milos. A traditional fishing village with striking natural colors. It is set within a deep, protected cove that offers a unique blend of historical architecture and pristine Mediterranean scenery.
• Paliochori Beach – One of my favorite beaches on the island! The red rock formations and caves are fun to explore. You can rent chairs and umbrellas as well as eat at the beach bars. A great picture and adventure spot to travel to.
• Tsigrado Beach – You must drive to this beach, and it is only accessible by climbing down a ladder through a small opening in the land, but the view is totally worth it once you get down to the water! We also stopped here for a quick swim as the beach is small and secluded, making it easy to get very crowded. 
• Firiplaka Beach – This is another beach to drive to that is perfect for exploring its white sand, snorkeling in the caves, and swimming to the rock pools and lagoons located on the end of the beach.
• Pollonia Beach – My family and I went here on a day trip for our first day in Milos. It is a cute, quiet fishing port with small boats, seaside tavernas, and cafes. You can rent beach umbrellas and chairs for less than in other beach villages on the island. You can also find some shade under the trees or open sand areas to lie out if you don’t want to pay for beach rentals.

Activities

• Day boat tour – My family and I did a boat tour around Milos Island. This was one of our favorite days while visiting Milos as we got to see most of the major beaches and Kleftiko, which is only accessible by boat (we will get into more details on exactly what Kleftiko is later in this post!) I recommend booking with The Thalassitra Boat, which can be reserved right in the port of Adamas. On the boat cruise, we had the most amazing lunch and snacks, and had plenty of time for swimming and relaxing. This boat cruise was one of the best we have ever been on in Greece, aside from a private Catamaran tour in Santorini. If you have only a few days in Milos, I highly recommend you book a day boat excursion! 
• Papafragas Caves – The caves are accessible by car, and we drove here after visiting Sarakiniko beach for a quick dip. You can take pictures at the top of the cave and then head down towards the beach area to take a dip. We went later in the day, and the beach was not packed.  
• Kleftiko – You can only visit here by boat, and the rock formations are breathtaking! If you do not wish to take a full-day boat tour, there is also an option for you to take one just to visit Kleftiko as well. The water was extremely crystal clear and refreshing to swim in. 
• Visit Klima – my family and I drove to Klima to have lunch and walk around as there are some shops along the water of the village. This fishing village is very unique and picturesque, and one of the best spots on the island! 
• Catacombs of Milos
• Venetian Castle of Milos
• Sunset Cruise 
• Wine Tasting in Pollonia
• Ancient Roman Theater

Nightlife

• Plori (Adamas) – This is really the only club on the island, and it has an amazing view of the sea when you are standing outside. We found ourselves here most nights after we had a cocktail at another bar in town. There is limited seating outside, so most people are standing are dancing inside. 
• Akri Bar (Adamas) – This is a great cocktail bar for a view of the port and a serene atmosphere. There is some seating outside for the view, but you can also enjoy a drink indoors. My family and I went here before hopping around to other bars in town.
• Aragosta (Adamas) -This seaside bar/restaurant is walking distance from the center of town and has great food and cocktails to enjoy after dinner. It is a great place to avoid the crowd while enjoying cocktails right by the ocean. 
• Verina Cocktail Bar (Plaka) – the best spot on the island to enjoy delicious cocktails and the incredible view of the sunset. 
• Deep Blue Beach Bar (Paliochori) – This beach bar by day turned nightclub at night is the spot on the island to find house music and dancing. 
• Cactus Café Bar (Pollonia) 
• Kri Kri Cocktail Bar (Plaka) 
• Mangata (Adamas) 

Transportation

Getting To Milos

Airport- Milos has an airport in the center of the island, about eight minutes driving from the port, and can only be accessed if you fly from Athens. The flight is about forty minutes long, and depending on the date that you fly can be as cheap as a ferry ticket. If you are short on time and prefer to fly, you can book a flight ticket through Aegean Airlines or Sky Express. 

Ferry- The ferry is another way to get to Milos from Athens and neighboring islands. Some islands to depart from via ferry include Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, and Sifnos. My family and I traveled to Milos by ferry from Mykonos, and if you want Milos to be your first stop on your tour leaving from Athens, you can get either ferry from Athens’ ports: Piraeus Harbor or Rafina Port. The fast ferry from Athens takes about two and a half hours to arrive in the main port, Adamas, and the regular ferry will take a little over three and a half hours. Depending on when you fly, the price can be about the same amount as the ferry, so if you tend to get seasick, you may want to skip the boat ride and travel in the sky. If you plan to island hop and travel to Milos from a neighboring island, the ferry is the best way to travel. 

All ferry tickets can be booked on seajets.com and are easy to use (Please note: all ferry times are in military time.) Another website I have booked a ferry ticket on is directferries.com, but I suggest booking right from the source if it is your first time. While on the ferry, you may purchase bakery dishes, sandwiches, snacks, coffee, beverages, and alcohol. 

While in Milos

Public Transportation – There are bus stations in the main villages of the island and popular attractions for visitors, making it the easiest and least expensive way to tour around Milos, as well as get to and from the port or the airport. You can buy the bus ticket from the driver, and can find schedules at the bus stop you are departing from or online. Schedules may change per season, but the routes remain the same. See below some of the most popular routes you can take around Milos from the main village, Adamas: 

• Adamas to Trypiti, Plaka and Catacombs: 7:30 to 00:15 (12:15 am) 
• Adamas to Papafragas and Pollonia: 6:45 to 22:12 (10:15 pm) 
• Adamas to Paliochori: 10:20 to 18:20 (6:20 pm) 
• Adamas direct to Sarakiniko: 10:00 to 19:10 (7:10 pm) 
• Adamas to Tsigrado and Firiplaka: 10:15 to 18:20 (4:20 pm) 
• Adamas to Airport: 10:30 to 19:30 (7:30 pm) 

Taxi/Uber/Private Car Service– There are very limited taxis on the island and are usually found in the port, airport, or the main roads of the island. This is the most expensive way to travel the island. The taxis will be able to take you to all the popular spots on the island. If you become friendly with them, definitely take advantage and schedule a pickup and drop off if you plan to spend the day in a popular spot. There are not many private car services on the island, and Uber is not available. 

Renting ATVs / Cars / Scooters – Renting an ATV, scooter, or car is the best way to get around the island, especially if you have a lot of attractions to see in a short amount of time. My family and I rented a car and were able to see ninety percent of the island. The roads are easy and safe to drive compared to the other Greek islands we have been to. The best spot to get a rental car is in the port, Adamas. 

Milos is an island for explorers. The ones who love to travel long distances to see breathtaking views or get high on adrenaline from cliff jumping. It has become one of my favorite islands I have ever visited in Greece due to its uniqueness and authentic Greek charm. Whether you want to swim in caves, climb down a ladder to a secluded beach, or hike up a mountain for an incredible sunset view, Milos has it all. 

Much appreciated,

Milos