Amazing things to do in Milos, Greece: Beaches, views and villages

Located in the heart of the Aegean Sea in Greece, Milos is a small volcanic island blessed with impossibly blue waters, stunning landscapes and unique beaches. Over the years, I’ve visited nine Greek islands and can safely say that Milos is one of my favorites. The raw natural beauty of this place is truly something special and will be etched in your memory forever.

In this blog post, I’m covering the best things to do in Milos, including the most scenic swimming spots and beaches, charming villages and my favorite experiences. You’ll also find my tips on where to stay and how to get to Milos as well as a map that gives you an overview of where everything is located.

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Best things to do in Milos, Greece:

1) Explore the beaches in Milos

Out of the nine Greek islands I’ve been to, Milos has by far the most impressive and unusual beaches. Due to its volcanic origin, the island has a very diverse coastline where you can find both sandy beaches and pebble beaches, as well as secluded coves and dramatic cliffs.

We visited a bunch of different beaches during our 5-day stay and while you may think that seeing so many of them can get a little repetitive, the truth is that the beaches on Milos Island are all so different from each other and special in their own way.

Whether you want to take a dip in calm turquoise waters, jump off cliffs, snorkel or simply bask in the Mediterranean sun, there’s a beach for every preference. Make sure to allocate several days for beach-hopping because it’s undeniably one of the best things to do in Milos.

2) Take a boat tour around Milos

Sailing around Milos was the absolute highlight of our trip. By boat, you can visit places that are not accessible by land and see the island from an entirely different perspective.

We took this full-day boat tour that started in Adamantas, the main port town of Milos, and took us all the way around the island in 10 hours. We sailed past the picturesque fishing village Klima, the islets of Glaronisia, Polyaigos Island, Sarakiniko Beach, Gerakas Beach, and Kleftiko, and made several stops to swim and snorkel in the irresistible blue waters. 

I think I’ve never swum so much in my life as I did during that boat trip, but the water just looked too good not to be in it! Taking a boat tour like this is definitely one of the best activities in Milos and I highly recommend it.

There are different boat tours which vary in terms of length, the type of boat and the itinerary. Make sure to choose a tour that includes stops at Polyaigos Island (also written Poliegos), Gerakas Beach and Kleftiko, such as the 10-hour tour on a sailboat that we took or this catamaran cruise. These three places completely blew my mind and you shouldn’t miss them when you’re in Milos.

The tours that stop in all of these three locations are typically a bit more expensive since they need to cover quite a lot of distance, but once you get to those magical places, you’ll see that it was worth the price.

Alternatively, if you feel like exploring independently and want to have more flexibility, you can rent your own small private boat with or without a skipper (no license needed).

3) Stroll the whitewashed streets of Plaka

Perched on top of a hill in the northern part of the island, Plaka is the capital of Milos where you can find gorgeous whitewashed streets typical of Greek islands. 

With blue doors, cute cats and an abundance of bougainvillea trees adding a burst of color to the white streets, Plaka is an Instagram heaven, where every corner looks photo-worthy. You can easily spend a few hours wandering the narrow streets and soaking up the dreamy ambience of this place.

Explore the little boutiques and souvenir shops, have a romantic dinner in a local taverna and finish your day by watching the sun drop behind the horizon. Since Plaka is located on a hill, it’s one of the best places for watching the sunset in Milos as it offers an amazing panorama over the Aegean Sea.

Some of the best sunset spots in the area are the terrace of Panagia Korfiatissa church, Utopia Cafe (open only during the summer season) and the ruins of the Venetian Castle of Plaka. Be sure to show up early because these places can get pretty crowded.

4) Marvel at Kleftiko Bay

On the southwest coast of Milos, you’ll find one of nature’s great masterpieces, Kleftiko Bay. With its towering white rock formations, sea caves and rock arches that you can swim through, this place is nothing short of magical. Because of its sheltered waters, Kleftiko also has a history of being a hideout for pirates.

Floating in the turquoise blue waters of Kleftiko, surrounded by giant volcanic rocks, is easily one of the most unique experiences in Milos. Remember to bring your snorkeling mask because there are plenty of fish to see here.

You can get to Kleftiko Bay either by hiking or by boat, which is the more popular option, and the option we chose as well. We took this full-day Milos boat tour that included stops at several beautiful coves and swimming spots around the island and we can highly recommend it. As I mentioned earlier, you can also hire your own boat that doesn’t require a skipper license if you want a more private experience.

If you prefer to go to Kleftiko by land, you first have to drive up to the mountains in western Milos and then hike for about 40-50 minutes to the coast. However, when we rented a scooter, our rental company informed us that we’re not allowed to drive in that part of the island due to the poor condition of the roads. They emphasized that insurance wouldn’t cover any damage we might cause to the scooter if we drove there.

5) Watch the sunrise at Sarakiniko cliffs

On the north coast of Milos lies the iconic Sarakiniko Beach, the most famous and photographed spot on the entire island. Consisting of smooth chalk-white volcanic cliffs that have been shaped by wind and water, the landscape here looks like something from another planet.

Along the coast, there are unique rock formations, caves, cliff-jumping spots and small pools with clear blue water. If you don’t mind scrambling a bit, you can wander for quite a long time along this surreal coastline to explore its cool nooks and crannies.

While Sarakiniko looks amazing at any time of the day, my advice is to go there for sunrise. Not only will there much fewer people, but you’ll also see the magnificent lunar landscape come to life when the morning sun illuminates the rocks. As the sun rises higher, the cliffs gradually turn whiter and the water around them takes a beautiful shade of turquoise.

The daring ones can jump into the sea from cliffs but there’s also a small sandy beach, where you can relax in shallow calm waters. If you want to jump, have a look at where locals do it first to make sure that it’s safe.

If you don’t feel like waking up early to see the sunrise, head to Sarakiniko for sunset instead. Although there will be a lot more people, it’s still a beautiful experience.

Read also: 7-day Malta itinerary

6) Visit the colorful village of Klima

Klima is an old fishing village near Plaka, the capital of Milos. What makes this place so special, is its charming seafront lined with cute whitewashed houses with colorful doors and windows. 

These two-story houses are called ‘sirmata’ and were originally used by fishermen to store their boats on the ground floor while the top floor was their living quarters. Nowadays, most of these boathouses have been converted into tourist apartments or small souvenir shops.

Klima has some truly amazing boathouses for rent (such as this traditional sirma or Klima Bay), and if I ever go back to Milos, I’d love to spend a night or two there.

With its laid-back vibe, Klima is a great spot for spending a relaxed evening by the sea, taking a lazy stroll along its beach and admiring the picturesque boathouses. The village also has a few restaurants where you can enjoy a traditional meal with a sunset view.

Fun fact: If you paid attention in your history classes, you might recall learning about a statue called Venus de Milo. This iconic piece of art was created in the 2nd century BC and was found near Klima in 1820.

Where to stay in Milos?

The three main areas to stay in Milos are Adamantas, Plaka and Pollonia. They all have a slightly different vibe, which I’ll explain more about below. Since the island is quite small, you can easily stay in one location and take day trips to explore the other parts of the island.

Whether you’re looking for peace and quiet or you prefer to stay in the heart of all the action, you should easily be able to find an area to suit your travel style. Although you won’t find crazy nightlife in Milos, you do find romantic villages and a rather tranquil atmosphere, which in my opinion makes it one of the best Greek islands for couples.

Whichever village you end up staying at, make sure to book your accommodation at least 3 months in advance because Milos is very popular in the summer months and the nicer hotels fill up quickly.

Adamantas

Adamantas (also called Adamas) is the largest town in Milos and also the port where the ferries stop. With lots of restaurants, cafes, shops, tour operators and scooter/quad rentals, it is the most lively place to stay in Milos. There’s a lovely waterfront promenade and also a few beaches, but you’ll find much nicer beaches in the more remote parts of the island.

LUXURY: Arco Solium Suites
This beautiful hotel blends Cycladic style with bohemian decor and offers exceptional service and upscale amenities. The location is also ideal, in the center of Adamas, just steps away from the main port.

Plaka

Another popular place to stay in Milos is Plaka. Although Plaka is the capital of the island, it definitely looks more like a quaint village with its narrow white alleyways and beautiful Cycladic houses. There are plenty of shops, cafes and traditional Greek tavernas to choose from just like in Adamas. Note that there is no beach in Plaka since it’s located on top of a hill.

Pollonia

Pollonia is a lovely seaside village at the northeastern corner of the island. It’s one of the quieter places to stay in Milos and has a beach with golden sand and shallow water ideal for families with kids. There are also a number of beautiful seafood restaurants lining the beach, so even if you don’t plan to stay in Pollonia, make sure to stop there for a meal. 

How to get to Milos

The most common way to get to Milos is by ferry. If you’re coming from Athens, you need to catch a ferry from Piraeus port. The trip takes between 2.5 to 7 hours depending on the type of ferry you take (high-speed or regular). For a one-way journey, the price is between 33 and 79 euros.

You can also get to Milos by ferry from the other Cyclades Islands (Santorini, Ios, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and a few others) and also from Crete, making it a perfect destination to include in your Greek island-hopping trip.

If you’re traveling during the summer, book your tickets at least several days in advance to make sure you get a spot. You can see the ferry schedules and book your tickets on FerryHopper, which is the main website for ferry tickets to all the Greek islands.

It’s also possible to fly to Milos from Athens International Airport with Olympic Air or Sky Express. There are multiple flights per day and the journey takes about 50 minutes.

Map of the top things to do in Milos

On the interactive map below, you can see where all the main attractions of Milos and my recommended hotels are located. Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map for more details.

What to do in Milos: Final thoughts

Our time in Milos was truly magical and I’m still dreaming of swimming in those turquoise waters! I hope this travel guide gave you an idea of what to do in Milos and that it helps you plan your trip to this amazing island. As always, in case you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them in the comments.

If you’re considering exploring other Cyclades Islands as well, be sure to read my blog post about Antiparos, a lovely off-the-beaten-path island next to Paros.