Headed to Greece and looking for the best things to do in Milos? In this complete Milos Island travel guide I’m sharing all my favorite beaches in Milos, when to visit, how to get there, where to stay, and more!
Before we really get into it, it’s true — Milos is an absolute dream. Picturesque whitewashed towns. Lunar-like moonscape beaches. Traditional fishing villages like Klima. Mesmerizing blue waters. Catamaran trips around the island. And it actually still feels (kinda) authentic! Keep reading for all our favorite things to do in Milos.
Get to this secret sun-baked Greek island before it gets super popular! I swear it’s got the best beaches in the Aegean (easily way better than other islands in the Cyclades), and there’s so much fresh fish (way cheaper than Santorini!).
We’d been to Santorini and Mykonos almost 10 years ago (on our honeymoon!), but wanted to mix it up a bit this trip to Greece! And after seeing one photo of the lunar moonscapes of Sarakiniko, I was absolutely hooked on adding the stunning Greek island of Milos to our trip!
The verdict? My new favorite place in Europe. After spending just 3 days on the island, I can understand why it’s been claimed as the most stunning Cyclade Island in the chain. It’s now one of my favorite places in Greece, and I have a slight feeling we’ll be back sooner than later 😉 before it gets wildly popular of course (fingers crossed).
It’s definitely up-and-coming and increasingly becoming more and more popular each and every summer — go NOW before everyone finds out about it! I swear, after we visited I don’t understand why it’s so overlooked — everyone goes to Santorini (especially the blue domes of Oia!) and Mykonos instead. But it won’t be underrated for long!
So if you’re thinking of going — GO NOW! We loved it! Here’s everything we learned after visiting, and all our favorite things to do in Milos! Promise you’ll have a few honey puffs for me!
Milos Logistics
Weather and When to Visit Milos
Like other Greek Islands, Milos is best explored from May through September, coinciding with tourist season. The island is blessed with a Mediterranean climate — meaning mild temps, warm water, and relatively calm seas year round.
But in my opinion, late spring and early autumn are the best times to visit, as it’s not as hot and sticky and less crowded. I’ll give you a little run down of the seasons in Milos and you can decide for yourself the best time for you!
Spring (mid-March to May): April and May are a gorgeous time to visit Milos, as the winter rains turn everything green and the wildflowers are in full bloom! It’s also not as exceptionally hot as in summer, so you won’t feel like you’re melting every day. But because of this, the water hasn’t had much chance to warm up yet, so it might still feel kinda chilly.
Summer (June – early September): Welcome to prime tourist season! June, July, and August easily have the hottest days, so if you’re looking for heat, there’s your answer! The air is warm and sunny, and there’s hardly any rain.
But the months of July and August are definitely the most popular, so you’ll wanna make sure you book your flights, hotels, ferries, and activities way in advance. Things do get booked up, even on Greek island time!
Summer also sees the strong northerly winds, usually blowing in July and August. These are called “meltemi” and have been known to spoil a beach day or two (they cause rough waves and there’s usually sand blowing everywhere). But thankfully the southern beaches aren’t very affected by this, so you can always change your plans and head on down to Fyriplaka and/or Tsigrado (two of the best beaches in Milos).
For reference, we visited Milos in mid-July, and had beautiful weather. Yes, it was pretty hot and sticky, but we were at the beach most of the time, so we just cooled off in the water! Plus, the winds actually helped cool down the air so we never felt absolutely gross.
Fall (late-September to November): Ohhh, early fall is such a great time to visit. The island starts to cool off and it’s not as crowded, meaning cheaper flights and accommodations. If we had ultimate flexibility, I would have visited Milos in late September.
Winter (December to mid-March): While winter is overall pretty mild, there are still some rainy and cool days. And you don’t want your few days in Milos to potentially be rained out! What a big bummer that’d be! In my opinion, it’d be too chilly to really enjoy the beaches as well, as the average high in winter is roughly 60°F (14°F) or so (although the sea is usually warmer than the air, but still…)
How Crowded is Milos?
Milos is by far way less crowded than other islands in the Cyclades, like Santorini and Mykonos, but it’s definitely already been discovered. And the fact that some super-popular instagrammers have gone and spilled the beans on this spot recently just means it’s bound to see many more visitors in coming years than in the past.
Let’s just say — if you’re researching things to do in Milos now, come as soon as possible! Before it becomes another Hawaii or Bali!
Where is Milos?
Milos is a small island found in the Aegean sea off the coast of the mainland of Greece (where you’ll find Athens, Delphi, Meteora, etc). It’s part of a group of islands called the Cyclades (the same chain where you’ll find popular Santorini and Mykonos), and between the other tiny islands of Folegandros and Sifnos (other Greek islands I’m dying to get to).
And being just north of the Sea of Crete means you should absolutely add Crete onto your Greek island hopping itinerary as well!
How to Get to Milos
There’s basically two ways to get to Milos — either by ferry or a short flight from Athens! Your pick, but in my opinion, it really depends on where you’re coming from! If your first island on your Greek island hopping itinerary is Milos, fly! If you’re heading to Milos from another island in the Cyclades, definitely take a ferry! 🙂
By Ferry
If you’re doing some Greek island hopping, you’ll wanna book yourself a few ferry tickets to get around. And that includes a ticket to the port of Adamas in Milos!
Note that there are different types of ferries within the Greek Islands, some being “high speed ferries” which obviously get you to your destination quicker (in just 2 ½ hours) than the “slow ferries” (3-5 hours).
Some of the more popular ferry companies include SeaJets (which we took between Santorini, Milos, and Mykonos), Golden Star Ferries, Minoan Lines, and Fast Ferries. The quicker ferries are the most expensive, but they get you to the pristine beaches of Milos faster, sooo….. Worth it in my book!
- From Athens (note the port is called Piraeus): 2 ½ hours via high-speed ferry
- From Santorini (note the port is called Thira): 2 hours via high-speed ferry
- From Mykonos: 3 hours via high-speed ferry
A few ferry tips:
- Heading to another island afterwards? Don’t forget to only book a one way ferry to Milos!
- When you’re booking your ferry tickets, note the travel time. You don’t wanna be sitting on a ferry for 5 or 6 hours, especially if the seas are rocky! Always opt for a direct ferry if at all possible (like I said, the ferries are super chaotic – a connection is the last thing you want).
- Make sure to pay close attention while you’re waiting for a ferry — they don’t wait for anyone (nor really check you in)! Be prepared with your ferry ticket and other documents you may need. It’s kinda hectic so expect some madness. Organized chaos at its best — those ferry staff know what they’re doing.
- In our experience, ferries are usually either slightly delayed and/or take longer than advertised to get to your destination. Why? The weather and seas. Don’t make any specific plans right after you’re due to arrive.
- My #1 ferry tip right here → DO NOT EAT RIGHT BEFORE OR ON A GREEK FERRY. I repeat, don’t eat anything AT ALL if you have a weak stomach or are prone to seasickness, and definitely pop a dramamine beforehand. We unfortunately saw way too many people use the paper bags provided… did not look fun at all. Just do yourself a favor and eat after you get off.
→ We like to use Ferryhopper.com to search and book our ferry tickets in Greece. The site shows all the schedules (direct and those with connections), prices, timing, and more. Those Greek ferry websites can be so confusing and clunky (especially if you don’t know Greek)! Thankfully, Ferry Hopper makes it super easy; it’s what we use each and every time and we’ve never had an issue.
By Plane
If you’re going straight to Milos from Athens (bypassing the other islands or heading to other islands afterwards), there’s direct flights for you to book! Aegean, Sky Express, and Olympic fly to Milos in just around 45 minutes. Sure, it’s way quicker than taking a ferry (even a high-speed one), but they’re typically much more expensive (at around $100 one way).
If you can’t fathom sitting on a rocky ferry for hours and know for sure you’ll get seasick, I’d just suck it up and pay the price for a flight. You’ll be much more comfortable, although do know the plane will likely be pretty tiny.
How to Get Around
Renting a Car/ATV/Scooter
In order to easily get to all the beaches on Milos and the other areas around the island, it’s best to rent your own set of wheels. More specifically, a car, ATV, or scooter!
Do note that driving can be pretty difficult (something we didn’t read about in advance on other Milos guides), as some of the roads are super narrow and are only wide enough for one car (meaning you’ll undoubtedly need to back up to let others pass).
Let’s just say good thing my husband drove, although I was even stressed at points on the ride (particularly around parking). Was the driving worth it? Ask my husband, haha. Those with ATV’s didn’t seem to have much trouble, so we’ll probably rent one of those bad boys next time.
But of course there’s pros and cons to both renting a car vs. an ATV/scooter. Some things to keep in mind when deciding which to rent:
- You’ve got air conditioning in a car, which is NEEDED on a hot, sticky day (although the wind in your hair will feel amazing on an ATV)
- An ATV is smaller and therefore easier to navigate on the narrow roads, as well as fit into tighter parking spaces
- An ATV can drive off the road and ultimately get you a bit closer to your destination (just be extra careful — some of the roads are literally on a cliff with a steep drop)
- You may be more comfortable driving a car rather than an ATV/scooter if you don’t have much experience with them
We rented a car in advance, but from the looks of it, there were plenty of cars and ATVs ready for hire the day of. But we always like to be prepared, and wanted the car available first thing in the morning, so opted to rent ahead of time.
If I remember correctly, our car rental cost roughly 70euros for the day for a standard sedan with manual transmission. If you need an automatic, expect to pay a higher price and 100% reserve in advance. There’s significantly less automatic cars on the island — I’m so thankful my husband has driven stick in Europe quite a bit!
We were a bit worried as we heard (after we boarded our flight of course) that an International Driver’s License was required in order to drive a car and scooter/ATV in Milos. Thankfully, we were given the car and only had to pay an additional fee of 10euros (per day) — phew!
This worked out totally fine for us as we were only renting the car for one day (to drive around the island), but if you’re renting for a longer period of time, definitely get your International Driver’s License back home in advance. It only costs $20 and you can go to any AAA location. You will be required to show your home states driver’s license, so make sure to have that handy along with your passport.
Note that gas is ridiculously expensive on Milos, and it cost us about 35euros to fill up HALF A TANK of gas. That’s way more than back home in San Francisco, where we have some of the highest gas prices in the states (at almost $5/gallon), and even higher than Hawaii (where we always assume the gas will cost us tons).
One last thing I want to point out in regards to car rentals: We booked ahead of time with a common car rental chain in Europe (Europcar), but I’m pretty sure they send their bookings to a local company on the island (Matha Rent I think).
So don’t be alarmed if this happens to you — my guess is that the island is too small to have their own separate franchise/spot of the bigger chains.
Public Transportation
Really don’t wanna worry about renting a car? There’s a main public bus in Milos, but the schedule isn’t terribly frequent and I can’t find an actual schedule that doesn’t say it changes without notice.
Do know that there are bus stops at major tourist attractions/beaches, including Triovasalos, Plaka, Trypiti, Pollonia, Paliochori, Achivadolimni, Sarakiniko, and Provatas, with stops on the way to these destinations. You could figure out how to get to all the things to do in Milos via public transit, but it might literally take all day.
I honestly wouldn’t advise relying on the public bus unless you’ve got loads of time and have nowhere to be. In addition, the bus doesn’t run too much in the winter, and really only runs from May to late September (for high tourist season).
Not renting a car? You’re stuck to the bus schedules and this leaves you no room for flexibility, especially if you’ve got lots you want to see! Find out more about the buses here, but note there’s honestly not much info given!
Where to Stay in Milos
There’s a few different options to choose from when deciding where to base yourself in Milos.
For starters, there’s three main villages — Adamas (the main port area and where we stayed), Pollonia (a cute little seaside village), and Plaka (the capital of the island). And then there’s plenty of little fisherman villages dotting the coastline (like Klima, Mandrakia, etc). If you’re looking for facilities and lively restaurants, I’d choose one of the larger villages.
To be honest, we didn’t put tons of thought into our accommodation in Milos; we knew we’d be out and about every single day and wouldn’t be spending much time at our hotel. Typically, when we have a super packed itinerary, we pick something kinda basic, yet clean and in a convenient location. And that’s exactly what we did in Milos. Although next time I wanna go a bit bougie and stay either here or here.
Adamas (short for Adamantas)
This is the main port area where the ferry will drop you off! It’s a bustling port lined with boutiques and plenty of open-air cafes, and you can easily rent a car or ATV right here. It makes for a great base in Milos, but make sure you venture out past the town!
We loved the fact that it was within walking distance to tons of restaurants (including the ever-so-popular authentic O! Hamas!), was super convenient to the ferry, and had the best gelato spot on the island (pretty important if you ask me…). If you wanna be near all the things to do in Milos, Adamas is your spot.
After splurging big-time in Santorini (check out that hotel — there’s not one but TWO infinity pools overlooking the caldera), we wanted to find something cozy yet affordable in Adamas. And our stay at Aeolis Hotel was just that — it honestly felt more like a guesthouse than a standard hotel.
Granted it was far from chic and there were no seaside views, it was super convenient to just about everything and the owner was super friendly, giving us tons of ideas of things to do. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something simple and homey.
Recommended hotel options in Adamas:
- Aeolis Hotel (where we stayed — cute and simple)
- Alexandros Village
- Orama Milos
Find more accommodation options in Adamas here!
Pollonia
Ohhh, Pollonia is so cute! It’s a seaside village at the northeastern tip of the island; a much more mellow alternative to Adamas. There’s a few luxury boutique hotels over here, and had we not dropped all our cash on that (gorgeous) infinity pool overlooking the caldera in Santorini, I definitely would have stayed here.
We did eat lunch here one day overlooking the sparkling Pollonia Beach, so at least we got to experience the town a bit!
Recommended hotel options in Pollonia:
- Milos Breeze Boutique Hotel (I’m dying to stay here next time!)
- Perla Rooms
- White Pebble Suites (great for a honeymoon, sleek and brand new, $$$)
Find your favorite spot in Pollonia here!
Plaka
Plaka is the capital of Milos, and it honestly reminded me of Mykonos Town quite a bit! Expect a quaint village with narrow white alleyways, cobblestone streets, and beautiful Cycladic houses with colorful doors. While we stayed in Adamas, I kinda wish we stayed in Plaka — next time!
There’s tons of chic seafood restaurants here too which are just perfect for date night!
Do note the town is located up a whole bunch of steps on the top of hill (it’s not too difficult to get to but definitely leave those heels at home!), but this just means great views! Oh — and you can’t bring a car or ATV up here; there’s a huge lot at the bottom of the hill (where we parked for sunset at the Plaka Castle and dinner in town one night).
Recommended hotel options in Plaka:
Find more places to stay in Plaka here!
Fishing Villages
If you truly wanna experience something different, book a few nights in a traditional fishing village! Known as “sirmatas”, they were traditionally used for fishermen to store their boats in the winter. But lucky for us, some have been renovated and are rented out for tourists to stay!
You’ll primarily find these in Klima (one of my favorite areas to check out on the island, although a little further away from the other things to do in Milos).
Here’s a few to choose from which look absolutely wild!
- Fisherman House: Omg this place is the absolute cutest — the authentic decor and the sunset patio views, swoon! I 100% wanna stay here next time we visit Milos. It got only “exceptional” reviews, so book sooner than later! I’m sure it gets scooped up super fast in the prime summer months!
- Nostromo House: Another traditional home that got only 5* exceptional reviews. Take a look at the photos — the little patio set up overlooking the sea looks like a dream come true.
- On the Waves of Klima: This traditional apartment in Klima looks oh so cute — there’s a bedroom, a kitchen with dining area, a bathroom, and an outdoor terrace (overlooking the sea). And yes, it’s even air-conditioned!
Find more places to stay in Klima here!
How Long to Stay
I could spend a lifetime on Milos and it still wouldn’t be enough. And no, I’m not exaggerating — this tiny island really stole our hearts!
We spent just 2 ½ days on Milos and could have easily spent another day or two lounging on the beaches — yes, they were that spectacular! And if time weren’t an issue at all, I think we would have been fine with about 5 days!
While we did get to see an awful lot of the island in such a short time frame, we were seriously go-go-go during our 2 full days in Milos. If you want a more relaxed pace (or want to feel the true Greek spirit), I’d definitely opt for 3-4 full days. I so wish we had more time, but wanted to re-visit Santorini (I’m forever in love with the tiny village of Oia) and Mykonos as well (and had to get home to the pup!).
Best Beaches and Swimming Spots on Milos
While the island isn’t huge, there’s still plenty of things to do in Milos. And the beaches are always a good idea.
When I say Milos has the best beaches in Greece, I truly mean it. Out of all the Greek Islands we’ve been to (Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Hydra, etc), the beaches in Milos are really the most spectacular. Deep blue Aegean water. Pristine sandy beaches. Chalky, moonlike landscapes. Turquoise-tinted sea caves. The list goes on and on and on. And luckily, there’s over 75 beaches to pick from, although you obviously won’t visit them all!
If you’re renting a car and/or taking a boat trip around the island, you’ll be able to see oh so many beaches! Just remember to slather on that SPF and wear a hat, as the sun is strong over here. And whatever you do, don’t miss Sarakiniko Beach and Fyriplaka — our two favorites!
→ read next: The Best Beaches in Milos (plus some stunning swimming spots)
Fyriplaka: This was by far our favorite beach in all of Milos, and we easily could have spent all day here! The water is super calm and shallow, the beach is easily accessible, and there’s enough space for everyone. Plus, those colorful cliffs in the distance sure are something else! If you’re only gonna add one beach to your Milos itinerary, make it this one — wading in the waters is one of the most relaxing things to do in Milos!
Gerakas Beach: Absolutely breathtaking. Absolutely unspoiled. Absolutely perfect. The minute our boat anchored off the coast of Gerakas, I knew we were in for a real treat. I mean, just look at that water! The brightest shade of turquoise I’ve ever seen. And it literally sparkled. Psst — Gerakas is only accessible via boat, so you’ll wanna book yourself on a catamaran sailing tour!
Kleftiko: There’s sea caves and rock formations to explore, clear, turquoise-tinted waters, and volcanic landscapes to admire. Apparently pirates used to hide out in the coves over here. No wonder it’s one of the most popular spots in all of Milos!
Again, you’ll need to plan in advance to get to Kleftiko — but it’s a common stop on full day boat tours around Milos (and even half-day tours!), so as long as you book something early on in your planning, you’re golden!
Sarakiniko: One look at Sarakiniko Beach and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported straight to the moon. Just imagine white, chalky volcanic cliffs as far as the eye can see — the landscape here is absolutely wild. Sarakiniko is one of the most popular places to visit in Milos, so be sure to come early and of course take lots and lots of photos!
Cliff jumping is super popular here, and although I wasn’t brave enough, it was super fun to watch others jump! I wrote a full guide to Sarakiniko to ensure you know everything you need to know!
Papafragas Cave: Imagine a huge natural swimming pool and a tiny beach hiding between towering cliff walls. That’s Papafragas Cave, and it’s absolutely wild. It’s actually an enormous sea cave, and is visually stunning and super unique! Can you believe it was used in the past as a pirate base?! Whoa!
You’ll need to venture down a tiny, steep path in order to get into the water (although we just admired from above since we had lots we wanted to see/do that day!).
Galazira Zera (Poliegos Island): Wanna swim in the bluest waters you’ve literally ever seen. Head on over to Poliegos Island. Large white cliffs, sparkling waters, and pristine sandy beach. There’s no question why it’s simply known as “Blue Bay”.
Such an idyllic landscape — I had never seen waters that bright blue before (well, besides maybe in Bora Bora). Emerald, sapphire, and turquoise swirls; I could go on and on! Swimming here was easily one of our favorite things to do in Milos.
Psst: You’ll need to take a boat tour around Milos and Poliegos Island to visit these blue waters, like we did! Here’s the EXACT full-day catamaran cruise we took, and it was such a blast (probably one of our favorite days in Greece)! All the spots were to die for!
Tsigrado Beach: It’s kinda hard to get to (you gotta climb down some ropes and ladders) and the beach isn’t really all that large, but I mean, c’mon, just look at it! A secluded, picturesque beach tucked away amid high cliffs, rocky passages, and secret caverns? Yes please! It’s a great option on a windy day, especially if the winds make it difficult to visit beaches on the northern side of the island like Sarakiniko.
Firopotamas: Another semi-difficult-to-reach beach in Milos, but hey, it’s another stunner. Firopotamos is the perfect combination of clear, blue Aegean water, traditional fishermen boat houses (called “sirmata”), and the beautiful little Church of Saint Nicholas. It’s tranquil and family friendly, with a little beach bar sometimes open (don’t quote me on that — seems like it depends on the year).
If you want LOADS more info on the beaches above (or just wanna see more pretty pictures 🙂 ), make sure to check out my post on the best beaches in Milos! It’s filled with all the information you’ll need for a few days in the sun!
Other Fun Things to Do in Milos
Of course you could spend all your time in Milos at the beach (and be perfectly satisfied), but there’s a few other things to do in Milos that we just loved! Although to be very honest we did spend most of our time at the beach — they were just too perfect not to enjoy them as much as humanly possible! But alas — here’s our other favorites!
Klima
You can’t visit Milos and not check out Klima — it’s known to be the most colorful fishing village in all of Greece! What makes Klima super photogenic is it’s traditional (and colorful!) fishermen boat houses with apartments above (known as syrmatas) dotting the shoreline.
I loved taking photos here — photographing Klima was one of my favorite things to do in Milos, alongside Sarakiniko and the other Milos beaches of course. We were supposed to see Klima from the sea as well on our catamaran tour, but the seas were rough (it was windy that day) so the boat had to go a different route — a pretty common occurrence.
The syrmatas were once used by fishermen as a place to store their boats and live, but are mostly abandoned now, with just a few residents living there full-time. Some can even be rented out now (check out these syrmatas for rent here), and others have been turned into souvenir-type shops.
Read Next — Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Klima, Milos!
There’s only one restaurant in Klima and it’s pretty popular (Astakas Cafe) — definitely make reservations if you plan on coming for sunset. We unfortunately didn’t know about this spot in advance, or else we probably definitely would have made a reservation for a sunset meal!
We came in late afternoon, and would have stayed until sunset if I wasn’t set on the idea of watching from Plaka Castle (which was STUNNING— don’t miss it).
Psst: Klima is located at the bottom of a winding road (starting from the village of Trypiti), so be extra careful on your drive down! It’s only about a 15 minute drive from Adamas, but it seemed to take us way longer because of the one-way traffic jams!
If you’re having dinner at the restaurant you can park right by the village, but if not, there’s a large parking area up top with a short walk down (what we did).
Mandrakia
Okay, yes, Mandrakia is another fishing village (and it’s typically overlooked by Klima), but I swear it’s got a whole different vibe to it! It’s super cute and tiny and colorful and ohhhh the clear water. It doesn’t take very long to check out the view here, so I say, go to both! Mandrakia is honestly so super quaint with the colorful doors and traditional boats.
It’s only a few minutes away from Sarakiniko, so make a short pit stop! And make sure to have a meal at Medusa, the restaurant in Mandrakia overlooking the sea (it got rave reviews).
Sunset at Plaka Castle
Plaka Castle is probably the #1 spot to watch the sunset in Milos — and get this, it’s hardly crowded (a complete opposite from sunset at Oia Castle in Santorini). You’ll need to walk up a whole bunch of steps (we were dripping with sweat by the time we walked up — no exaggeration or joke), but I promise it’s worth it.
There’s a 360° view of Milos, and the sunset from up here took my breath away (cliche but true)!
Psst: Plaka Castle is not really a castle — it’s a church at the top of the hill (and will probably be locked when you visit). But the views — swooooon.
Wander Plaka
Plaka is the capital of Milos, and it’s far from what you’d expect! It’s a charming and well-preserved village with cobblestone streets, right on the highest hill on the island. Walk around and admire the charming buildings, have a few cocktails, visit the castle, and eat at Archontoula — that’s how you know you’re doing Plaka right.
Although we walked through Plaka before heading to sunset at the castle, and then had some dinner in town afterwards, I really wish we had more time here! It honestly kinda reminded me of a mini-Mykonos town! So, so, so cute! Little kitties everywhere and those colorful doors against the whitewashed buildings!
Like Plaka Castle, you’ll have to walk up to Plaka since cars aren’t allowed to enter the village (the streets just aren’t wide enough). I do think you’re allowed to get dropped off by taxi though.
Take a Boat Tour!
One of the best ways to really see Milos?! By exploring it’s rugged coastline! Taking a catamaran cruise around the island of Milos was one of our favorite days in Greece, so definitely add this to your Greek island hopping itinerary.
There are two main boat routes to choose from:
- ½ day tour: typically sails to Kleftiko and the southern side of the island
- Full day tour: circumnavigates the entire island of Milos and makes a stop at Poliegos Island (honestly, one of the best stops), too!
We chose the second option, and boy was it a long (and tiring!) day out on the water! Obviously the full day tours are more expensive than the shorter, half-day ones, but we just couldn’t get enough — jumping in the turquoise-tinted waters and swimming through the caves. Pure heaven! I swear — the water sparkled like I’ve never seen it before!
But don’t wait too long to book it — boat tours are one of the most popular things to do in Milos, so they get filled up fast.
With that being said, don’t expect to find an empty boat heading out that morning! We had a family come into the office while we were waiting for other members of our tour to arrive inquiring about a boat, and the company told them they were sold out for weeks! WEEKS!
My recommendation? Sign up for a catamaran cruise right after you book your ferry (or plane) tickets to Milos. That way you know for sure you’ll get to see Kleftiko and all the other amazing spots along the coastline.
Where (and what!) to Eat in Milos:
Greeks eat dinner late, and by late, I mean super late! We joined in during our time in Greece, and didn’t eat dinner until 9 or 9:30 some nights — including all our nights in Milos! With that being said, restaurants do fill up, so if there’s a particular spot you have in mind for dinner, be sure to either make a reservation or come a bit earlier than the masses (I’ll say anytime before 7pm is early).
Before we get into the restaurants, here’s a few foods you shouldn’t miss out on while in Milos:
- Honey Puffs: ohhhh these were our favorite finds on Milos! They’re a traditional Greek honey cookie covered in sesame seeds, and we just couldn’t get enough! Kinda dense, kinda chewy, but 100% delicious. Find these at the bakery right at the port in Adamas!
- Watermelon Pie: Urm, what? When I first saw these for sale, I wasn’t really sure what to think. But they’re actually a sweet summer specialty of Milos made of watermelon flesh, sugar, thyme honey, flour, cinnamon, and olive oil. Yum! You can find these at basically any bakery on the island during the summer months.
- Octopus at Medusa: Enough said. It’s pure heaven.
- All the other Greek staples: Gyro (it’s hella cheap here!), spinach pie, Greek salad, and fresh seafood (extravagantly displayed on ice although pretty pricey for dinner)
Restaurants in Milos:
O! Hamos! Tavern: Traditional home-cooked meals with an occasional twist in a charming family-owned restaurant. That’s O! Hamos! in a nutshell. It’s easily one of the most popular restaurants in all of Milos, and I’m kicking myself that we didn’t share a meal here (although we were so close!). I’ll explain…
We arrived around 7:30pm and were told there was a 90 minute wait or so. You can’t make a reservation so definitely come on the earlier side — a bit later people were getting turned away due to a much longer wait time (the restaurant closes at 10pm so they don’t keep adding names to the list if the wait time will end up being too close to closing). We hung out on a lounge chair on the beach and watched the sunset, and then took a peek at the (handwritten — yes, handwritten!) menu (I swear it’s more like a book).
While there were lots of choices, the menu consisted of a lot of goat and lamb — two meats I’m not particularly fond of. We decided to head elsewhere, but I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have gone hungry had we stayed. I kinda wish we just got a few appetizers; the Grandmother’s Cheese Pies and fried menorah (goats milk cheese) sounded especially delicious.
Seaside at Adamas: We ate in Adamas one night, and there was plenty to pick from right by the water! Most of the menus are pretty similar, but there’s enough variety so you don’t get bored. I had a delicious serving of pastitsio (kinda like a Greek lasagna) one night, my husband had some seafood, and of course we shared a huge Greek salad.
You’ll find all the restaurants along the water on the way to O! Hamas!. If you want something super simple and super cheap (literally only a few euro), grab a gyro near the port. Both Gyros of Milos and YANKOS are absolutely delicious!
Medusa: Doesn’t a long, leisurely lunch in Mandrakia with views of brightly colored fishermen’s homes and the Aegean Sea sound absolutely amazing? Sure does! Food is served in a laid-back open-air taverna, and there’s usually freshly caught octopus hanging out to dry. Try some salt water eel drizzled with olive oil and capers, fried zucchini balls, and some vinegar reduced octopus. It all sounds just heavenly. Not having a meal here is one of my biggest regrets on our trip to Milos! Next time!
Aggeliki Ice Cream: Located right in the port of Adamas, you can’t miss this little spot when you get off the ferry. And staying right in Adamas itself, you bet we had some ice cream from Aggeliki each and every night. I mean, why not? It’s easily the best ice cream on the entire island! There’s a huge menu, with sweets like ice cream waffles and even avocado toast or brioche with prosciutto and poached eggs for breakfast.
Seaside in Pollonia: There’s a whole strip of seaside restaurants right along the beach in Pollonia — and some of them are super chic! We had a delicious lunch at Enolian, complete with huge Greek salads, tomato fritters, and baked eggplant.
Plaka: There’s so many great restaurants in Plaka, including Avli-Milos, Mavros Xoiros, and Archontoula. And don’t miss a drink at Utopia Cafe in Plaka for sunset!
Recommended 3-Day Milos Itinerary
If you’ve got 3 nights and just 2 full days like we did, here’s how I’d spend my time! It’s exactly what we did and we honestly saw oh so much! We were pretty go-go-go, so if you wanna see it all and then some at a more relaxed pace (checking off all the things to do in Milos), I highly recommend a third full day!
Day 1: Arrive in Milos via ferry/flight, wander around the port town of Adamas, pick up your rental car/ATV, check into your accommodation, then end the day with a sea-side dinner in Adamas or Pollonia! Get to bed early because tomorrow’s a super super busy day!
Day 2: Today’s a hectic day, so feel free to skip a few things if you want a more relaxed morning/afternoon. I’ve starred the spots I feel are absolute musts! If you didn’t rent a car when you arrived (like us, since we stayed in Adamas), rent a car or ATV early this morning and set off to explore the island! Here’s how we spent the day:
- Quick breakfast of spinach pies from a nearby bakery
- Sarakiniko Beach*
- Papafragas Cave*
- Lunch at Enolian in Pollonia
- Tsigrado Beach
- Fyriplaka Beach*
- Mandrakia
- Firopotamas
- Klima Village*
- Plaka Castle for sunset*
- Dinner in Plaka
Day 3: If today’s your last full day in Milos, make sure it’s a good one! Book a boat trip to Kleftiko!!! We had such a fun day sailing around Milos and Poliegos (an island right off the coast of Milos), swimming in the bluest waters I’ve ever seen, jumping off the boat, and eating delicious Greek specialties.
Here’s the exact full-day catamaran cruise we took around Milos — it was one of our favorite days on our entire Greece itinerary!
Have I convinced you to visit this underrated gem yet!? Which things to do in Milos are you most excited about? You can say the beach!
What a great post. Thanks so much. What time of year were you in Milos? Looks like your weather was perfect
We went in July, and yes– we got blessed with perfect weather!