The Ultimate Milos Guide to Answer All of Your Questions!
Milos has just about anything and everything you can hope for in a Greek vacationing destination! We’re answering every question you may have about Milos in this Ultimate Milos Guide!
Is Milos Greece worth visiting?
When I tell you Paulie and I reminisced about Milos for the ENTIRE time on our two month long Europe trip, I mean it. We DREAM of going back one day. If there is one Greek island that you HAVE to see, it's Milos. Seriously, skip all the hyped up Islands like Santorini and GO TO MILOS! Everything about this cyclades island was picture perfect and full of summer fun adventures. AND, If you haven't seen our YOUTUBE video yet, go check it out: “Is Milos Greece worth visiting?” Spoiler: as you’ve now read, it is absolutely worth visiting and more of a “when should I go” rather than “should I go”. Of all the places in Europe Paulie and I have been (together or apart) we both agreed, Milos is hands down our favorite. And if that doesn’t convince you, I hope this ultimate Milos guide will help you decide and answer all your questions!
First and Most Importantly: What to eat?
We did not have a bad meal in Milos once. Go to any of the small restaurants on the water in Adamas (the port town) and grab a delicious Gyro (pronounced “here-oh” with a roll of the tongue). Or go to one of the many bakeries for some absolutely incredible feta and spinach pastries! My mouth is watering writing about this! Obviously, trying the local cheese is a MUST DO. The amount of Feta we ate in a 5 day period is astonishing, really, I don't know how we did not gain 10 pounds. A true greek salad is another must try and if you're a seafood lover, the fresh octopus or fish of any kind on the menu on the Cyclades islands is the best i've ever had! Last but not least make sure you try some fresh pita with spicy cheese dip (tirokafteri).
Some important things we noticed about eating in Milos; we went during the shoulder season of May and a lot of places were not open until 11am. A pastry shop or a Gyro is your best bet if you aren't a big breakfast lover (like me). We had a lot of trouble finding places open after sunset and oftentimes ended up in the port town of Adamas to eat a late dinner. (Although, this may change if you go during peak season). We would also suggest making reservations if there’s any restaurants you’re really hoping to eat at. And lastly if you're on a strict budget (like we were) fear not, the restaurants here had very affordable prices. Plus, there are plenty of grocery stores and markets that sell food and if you have a fridge, that helps with budget friendly meals while still allowing yourself to experience the yummy Greek food!
Helpful tip: in Europe you need to plan on buying a case of water otherwise you're stuck paying about 3-4 euros a bottle at restaurants and at convince. Our suggestion: go to the grocery store for a pack of 6 large bottles for less than 2 euros!
Where to stay in Milos?
For now, Milos lacks the overcrowded resort feel and really embodies the charming true greek vibe, something we couldn't get enough of! We highly recommend staying in an airbnb. Paulie and I chose to stay in a budget friendly airbnb and we were REALLY happy with what we chose. We spent almost no time in the room and were out pretty much the entire day and most of the evening. As we drove around the island we can't speak for the interior of places but from what we saw on the outside, you can’t really go wrong no matter what you choose. Just keep your luggage space in mind because with two large suitcases we were a bit cramped when we were trying to move around as the rooms tend to be on the smaller side when traveling to Europe. There are a lot of choices whether you are going budget, mid range or luxury. If we were to go again we would spend more time here and some time in one of the boutique hotels we saw around the island.
How long should you stay in Milos?
Ideally 4-5 days is enough on the island to see everything. And if you are coming for a relaxing vacation you could easily spend a week here. If you’re just trying to see the best of the sights Milos has to offer you could do it all in 3 days but we don’t recommend rushing around here, its just so beautiful to rush through it.
How to reach Milos?
Since we were coming from New York we found a super cheap flight and used our Delta points to fly into London. From London flew to Athens and stayed overnight in an airbnb close to the port (we do not recommend, this area of Athens is pretty dirty) and from Athens we took a ferry.
The Ferries! Three things we wish we knew before we went that I honestly didn’t read on any other blog;
The ferries are RARELY on time. If you are traveling to Milos (or any other greek island) and have a connection ferry, do yourself a favor and make sure they are a few hours apart and expect delays.
DO NOT buy anything but an economy ticket. Anything more is a total waste of money. The seats in economy are super nice and even if your ferry is 8+ hours just don’t do it. These ferries are way more luxurious than you think! And if the seats aren’t completely full they do let you choose your own seat and this includes the nicer class seats.
Seasickness! For those who get seasick, you may want to pack some dramamine, sea-bands (my personal savior) or opt for the quick cheap flights available out of Athens. There were a few people struggling and getting seasick on the boat because of how choppy the water was. There was a massive thunderstorm the night before we left and the wind made the seas rock our boat like crazy. Luckily we didn’t get seasick but plenty around us did!
Is Milos Expensive?
Overall, no. Not at all! There are so many free beaches and things to do that do not cost money to keep you plenty busy everyday. Walking around the towns and swimming are among the most popular to do. BUT it can be expensive, depending on what you’re looking for and what your budget will allow. We were on a strict budget travelling around Europe for two months and were cautious on how much we spent everyday. Due to the high winds we werent able to rent a boat and get to Kleftiko which is the only thing we missed out on and would have cost around $150.
In Milos we spent about $60/day so about $330 per person for two people for 5 days.
Rough breakdown of the daily costs:
$20 each per night at Airbnb ($194 total)
$30 each per day on food & water
$10 each per day on rental car and gas
$0 Excursions and extras
$68 Ferry ticket per person to get to Milos from Athens
TOTAL: About $650 (this price isn't including flights which we paid for with Airline points)
There are tons of ways that the costs can add up quickly in Milos, at some of the beaches there are beach clubs where you can rent a chair and buy drinks. If you drink alcohol it's usually more expensive here unless you go to a grocery store (we don't drink so this is not a part of our budgets). There are alot of boat tours available daily on the island, ATV rentals or tours and much more! But truly we didn't feel that you needed to do much more here other than explore the beautiful beaches and walk around the seaside villages!
What are the best Beaches?
Paliochori Beach
Paliochori beach has some of the clearest most beautiful water on the island of Milos! We spent the entire day here and loved every second of it! The colorful volcanic rock backdrop behind you makes the views from the water and the sand absolutely picture perfect. Although, there isn’t much sand once you reach the water line, this is a pretty rocky beach with tons of shells and some sharp edges so bring water shoes, check ours out here!
There are 2 restaurants adjacent to the beach (they are a bit expensive so we did not indulge here), a beach club with chairs to rent and not far from other restaurants across the street! We did not see any facilities available here but i’m sure if you ask the restaurants they would know more!
The adventure at Tsigrado Beach!
This was our one of our favorite beaches! When you arrive at the beach entrance (across from Fyriplaka beach) there will be a small crack in the cliffside for you to squeeze down and climb down through the first ladder. As you make your way closer to the beach there are ropes to assist you and one last ladder to get onto the beach. This does require some technical skill and includes some heights for those wondering so less is more for beach essentials and flip flops are a no go. We have a full video on this beach in our MILOS VLOG on YouTube if you’d like to see us climb down! Once you arrive, there are tons of beautiful bright blue grottos to swim around in and enjoy. We did see a few colorful fish snorkeling here but it isn’t the best spot to bring your fins and a mask.
No amenities or food available here! Make sure you pack plenty of water for your duration and a snack!
Helpful Tip: Go early this beach fills up quickly during midday! During midday there also is not much shade and you’ll be in direct sunlight so bring some reef safe sunscreen and a nice hat!
The clearest water on the island at Fyriplaka Beach
Across the road from Tsigrado beach is Fyriplaka! Paulie and I could not get over how beautiful the water was and how clear it was! The pictures just don’t do this beach justice! The lounge chairs are 20 Euros for two so it was pretty reasonable but not really necessary (we didn’t buy them) and there is a stand behind them selling food and drinks!
The one of a kind Lunar Landscapes of Sarakaniko Beach!
Of course the best is saved for last. Sarakaniko beach kept us coming back for more almost every single day of our trip! We came back to this one of kind location 6 times during our trip! Between the cliff jumping, unique moon rock formations, and the pristine water we couldn’t stay away!
Helpful tip: Behind the waters entrance and before you climb to the cliff jumping spot there are Catacombs and tunnels all throughout that you can explore and walk through. Definitely super creepy and they are unmarked but a good place to stop if you need some shade from the hot greek sun!
What do the towns have to offer in Milos?
Klima
Klima is the most quaint and colorful fishing village with a restaurant right on the water. You have to park a bit far away as there aren't any places to park your car or ATV anywhere close to here unless youre staying or eating at the restaurant. Walking around here at sunset is perfect and the colorful fishing huts provide the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening in Milos. There are even some cute shops inside the houses as you walk along the shore!
Mandrakia
Mandrakia is an instantly lovable small fishing village with colorful small boat houses with some turned into airbnbs if you’d like to stay the night! Come here in the afternoon to cool off in the crystal clear water and explore the church. In the evening the perfect spot for dinner is the famous restaurant Medusa!
Firopotamos
We ran into SO many cute cats around this village! Its one of our favorite memories walking around here! Firopotamos is a small seaside fishing village with a beautiful church at the bottom and beautiful blue water to swim in. We only stopped by for a few hours but we wish we spent more time here to swim and enjoy the beach!
Plaka
Plaka: The largest town and the capital of Milos with a castle perched at the top. Beautiful small streets that give the greek island feel as soon as you start to get lost in them! There are no cars allowed here and you’ll have to walk along the Cycladic walkways to see it all. There are plenty of places to eat and shop here, plan to spend at least a few hours enjoying Plaka!
Adamas
Adamas: The port town of Milos and the first place you'll see right off the ferry! This town is the perfect place to start off a trip to Milos. Adamas is full of incredible views, churches and cobblestone walkways. The blue and white buildings truly give the greek feel you’re looking for on a greek vacation!
***Planning tip: The towns are scorching hot during the day! Get here before noon or around sunset for better temperatures
Best Spots to Watch The Sunrise & Sunset?
Our favorite spot that we watched the sunset was the village of Klima!
Sarakaniko for sunrise is a MUST DO no one will be there and the sun rising over the white rocks is one of the most incredible things we have ever seen! (sunset is just as amazing!)
What Is The Best Thing To Do?
In our opinion the best thing to do on Milos is beach hop! The water at every beach is uniquely its own and every beach here is worth a visit! Especially our two favorites: Tsigrado and Sarakaniko.
Anything to skip?
YES. Skip the group tours. Complete waste of money, if youre looking to do a tour opt for a boat tour. They’re very affordable here!
Avoid the tap water and buy bottled water. It isn’t always a 100% sure thing to drink tap water in Europe so we recommend avoiding it altogether and buying bottled water at the grocery stores.
Google and apple maps are not accurate here at all you will get lost but thats the whole point of adventuring!
We would say unless it is absolutely necessary, consider skipping the rental car and opt for an ATV or scooter. If you have luggage, ask your airbnb host to pick you up from the ferry or airport (most are more than willing and understanding about how confusing it is to get around) Truthfully we regretted the rental car because of how difficult it was to drive around and often found ourselves wishing we had an ATV or scooter instead to get around in the towns. The streets are SO TINY!
Safety?
We felt completely safe the entire time we were on Milos and we believe you will too. But with that being said, traveling somewhere new and unfamiliar always means your guard should be up a little higher and you should be taking the right safety precautions.
The forceful and unpredictable greek winds are something you should be paying attention to during your time on Milos and swimming safety is SO important to pay attention to. Sometimes the beaches you go to you might be alone during the off season and the waves can get VERY big here and sometimes the surf is very dangerous.
Transportation?
Due to this being a small fisherman's island, there is a lack of public transportation, Ubers, taxis or car services. Your best option is to get some sort of transportation while you're here! We recommend an ATV or scooter. While we were in Milos we rented a car to help us get around the island and we had a little too much luggage since we were gone for two months. The entire Island is not that big and can be driven in a short amount of time, BUT make sure you're a confident driver. Most of the rental cars are standard and because of super small roads and tight turns which makes for some difficult driving. There aren't many street signs to assist you and it feels a lot like a free for all without much direction with the locals driving crazy fast.
When to visit?
When we went in May we felt the water was a bit too cold to be enjoyable. We’d suggest going middle of June to the end of June or anytime after the end of August to the beginning of October. Definitely not recommended during the off season due to the lack of accessibility of the island (significantly less flights or ferries, if any due to weather). Think of this as a summer vacationing island and most stores and restaurants are closed in the winter.
Any Places We Missed?
Kleftiko Bay: we were so bummed that we had to cancel our boat trip to go here because of the high wind warnings but this will be our first stop next time we’re in Milos!
Sykia Cave: another spot we didn’t have time to get to but is on the list for the future!
Papafragas: This was actually closed when we went. There were brand new fences all around so you couldn’t walk down. If we visited again we’d see if this spot is still closed off.
Alogomondra and Kapros Beach: On this side of the island there was A LOT of trash and debris in the water which made it completely unswimmable and really gross.
What should I pack with me to Milos?
Milos is a beach vacationing spot so bring all your typical beach vacationing clothes! But pack lighly, as mentioned before the living areas in Europe are much smaller than we are used to in the US. If its possible a carry on is best! There’s a few things we would highly recommend in addition to your normal beachwear;
watershoes are a must, almost every beach is pretty rocky
Underwater camera like a GoPro! The water is SO clear and and so much fun to take pictures with. Its a great addition to your trip memories!
Underwater casing dome for GoPro! Super easy to use and takes normal pictures up a notch!
Extras: Quick Stuff!
What language do the locals speak on Milos? Greek of course! Rarely will you find English speakers here and sometimes it is a bit hard to communicate but the people are super friendly and will do everything they can to help you!
Currency? The Euro and for our American followers American Express is not accepted, like anywhere so we wouldn't even bother bringing it with you.
We truly hope this Ultimate Milos Guide has answered all of your questions! Make sure you check out our Milos video on Youtube for more!
