We get a lot of questions asking us what our favorite island in Greece is, and we always answer: Milos. And honestly, Milos is our favorite island in the world! We love how it has such a quiet and remote feel and even though it’s a little island, there is so much to do and explore and see. We’ve actually been four times, because we love it that much! And we’re always planning a trip back, because that’s how special it is to us. Part of what makes Milos so amazing is that you get the true authentic Greek feel, because it isn’t as flooded with tourists. It kind of feels like where Mamma Mia would’ve been filmed, haha. Spoiler alert: It’s not. It’s the perfect place to kick off a European Summer relaxing on the most beautiful beaches, eating delicious gyros, and enjoying those epic Greek sunsets. Here’s our ultimate guide to the island of Milos, Greece.
The Ultimate Travel Guide to Milos, Greece:
Best Time of Year to Visit:
How to Get to Milos:
How to Get Around:
We highly recommend renting an ATV or scooter during your time in Milos. You can also rent a car (especially if you’re traveling with littles), it’s just a little more expensive. ATVs are the best way to get around the island. They’re a lot of fun and that way you get to see the island as you’re driving around and exploring. We rented from Travel Me to Milos, and it cost about 30 Euro per day for 3 days. Since the island isn’t very busy, it’s pretty easy to ride along the roads. Also, having an ATV makes it was easier to explore hidden beaches and go on the dirt roads too. If you want to rent a scooter, you need a motorcycle license.
How Many Days to Visit:
I would suggest at least planning for 2-3 days here. You can absolutely stay for longer, but if you’re island hopping and this is only one of your stops, we would definitely recommend you stay for at least 2 full days to really be able to explore and enjoy the island.
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What to do in milos:
Rent a Boat and Go to Kleftiko:
We rented a boat from Firiplaka Boat Rental and took it out ourselves to visit the stunning area of Kleftiko, and it was one of our favorite things we’ve ever done on the island! A lot of the beaches and iconic spots in Milos are only accessible by boat, so you have to go out on a boat while you’re here. Kleftiko is known for being an old pirates hide out, and there are caves and grottos everywhere you turn. And I’m not kidding when I say there’s the most stunning turquoise blue water we’ve ever seen there.
We absolutely loved our experience renting our own boat with Firiplaka Boat Rentals, because we got to go out and explore all on our own! We didn’t have to worry about being on anyone else’s timeline or rushed by a group and we could hang at the beaches, swim, explore, and take pictures for as long as we wanted! Firiplaka Boat Rental made the whole process so easy by showing us everything we needed to know before we took off, and the boat has a GPS tracker in it so you don’t have to worry about getting stuck at sea. 100% a must do when you’re in Milos!
If you’d rather not have to worry about being your own captain, we have also gone with Milos Sailing Adventures and had the best time! The service was incredible and they were totally accommodating to our schedule and what we wanted to do. Milos Sailing Adventures takes you on a boat small enough that you can go inside the caves, and some go as far as 15 feet deep. It’s kind of scary but also really cool.
The island gets really windy some days, so leave yourself some time to adjust. One of the times we were on the island, we couldn’t get to Kleftiko, because we decided too late that we wanted to go and then on the day we wanted to go, it was too windy for boats to go out. So give ourselves the option to do the boat tour one day or go to the beach and vice versa for the next day. That way if the first day was too windy, you can reschedule for the next day.
Visit the Fishing Villages:
Milos is known for its traditional fishing villages right on the water. They are iconic and so picturesque. Some of our favorites are Klima and Mandrakia.
Sunset at Plaka Castle:
You cannot go to Greece and not watch the sunset. They’re famous for a reason. Our favorite place to waatch sunset on the island is from the town of Plaka. You can either watch it from the town square or do a short little hike to the old castle for even better sunset views! Both spots are absolutely beautiful. The town square is usually a little more crowded, so if you want some more space, we suggest hiking up to the castle. Plaka is also full of charming restaurants and shops, so it’s the perfect place to grab dinner and pick up a souvenir. There are the cutest streets and alleyways lined with boutique shops that offer everything from handmade jewelry to pottery and clothing. It’s the perfect place to wander after a day at the beach.
Explore the Beaches:
One of the best parts of Milos is how absolutely stunning and yet diverse all of the beaches are. Be sure to make some time during your stay to explore at least a few of the different beaches around the island, because there are so many beautiful ones and that’s what makes Milos so special.
the best beaches in milos:
Sarakiniko:
Sarakiniko Beach is the most iconic and popular beach in Milos and for good reason. It’s AH. MAZ. ING, and honestly our favorite spot on the island. We could spend hours walking around and exploring Sarakiniko. The whole “beach” is made up of white volcanic ash (so bring shoes, because it’s not comfortable to walk on), which gives it this amazing moonscape look and feel to it. It’s like an adult playground, because there is so much to explore and you could wander there all day. You can swim in the water, cliff jump, get insane views, and play in the sun. It’s basically our dream land. There’s really no other place on earth quite like it, and that’s what makes it so unique and magical. Go at different times of day to see how it changes in the light. And be sure to watch the sunset there at least one night, because the sun hits the white rocks and lights up the sky with the most amazing shades of purple and pink.
Tsigrado:
Firiplaka:
Firiplaka Beach is right next to Tsigrado and is one of the more “traditional” beaches on the island, while still being breathtakingly gorgeous. There are beach chairs and umbrellas available for rent or you can just lay your towel down in the sand. You don’t have to climb down a ladder to get here, so it’s much more family friendly.
Paleochori:
where to eat:
Archontoula:
While you’re in Plaka, be sure to get dinner at Archontoula. It’s one of the higher-end restaurants on the island, but it’s worth it because the food is high-quality. Ask for their famous appetizer (it’s the first thing on the menu). They’re fried balls and I can’t even tell you what was in them, but they were so good that I wish I had the recipe to make them on my own! There were lots of herbs and some sort of watermelon sauce. It sounds random, but it was so good. We make sure to go back every time we’re in Milos!
Gyros of Milos:
Artemis Bakery:
Head next door to Gyros of Milos and grab baklava and delicious baked goods from Artemis Bakery.
Hanabi Seaside Sushi:
Pollonia is a quaint town on the water front and has a couple different restaurants on the water, making it a great place to go for a nightly stroll and choose where you want to eat. Hanabi Seaside Sushi is a trendy sushi restaurant that’s perfect for if you’re craving sushi and fresh fish options.
Oh! Hamos! Tavern
Oh! Hamos! Tavern is a local favorite on the island. It’s right on the waterfront in Adamantas and offers lots of traditional Greek food options.
Medusa:
Medusa is another local favorite! It’s located right next to Mandrakia Beach and offers traditional Mediterranean dishes and fresh seafood from local small farmers and fishermen.
where to stay:
Milos Breeze Boutique Hotel:
We stayed at Milos Breeze Boutique and absolutely loved it. Milos Breeze Boutique is one of the only hotels on the island with a pool, and it’s the only hotel on the island with a wellness pool, which means the pool has essential oils and salts that make you feel more relaxed and rejuvenated. A lot of the rooms have terraces, and there’s even one room with a private plunge pool. The entire place has a very clean, simple Greek feel to it, making it a great and relaxing getaway spot. The breakfast is amazing and most of the pastries and jams are homemade by the owner’s mother. We ate so many of their chocolate croissants for breakfast, so I’m here to attest that she’s an amazing pastry chef. The staff is absolutely incredible and will do anything to make your stay more enjoyable. They even came in and opened breakfast for us early on our last day, because we had an early flight off the island.
We love staying in Pollonia, because it’s a quieter spot on the island, and it’s in between the harbor and the airport making them both easy to get to. Plus it’s on the same side of the island as all of our favorite beaches, so it’s a great spot to be in, in our opinion.
Book your stay with Milos Breeze Boutique Here
Another option is to stay in Adamantas, because it’s close to the port, so it’s easy to get to from a Ferry and then it’s easy to get around to all the other places on the islands, because almost all roads lead to here. We also have a full review of our stay at Salt Suites here, which we absolutely loved too!
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All of these spots look incredible!! Is an ATV the only mode of transportation you need to get everywhere on the island? Or is it large enough that you would need to taxi to get to some of the beaches or towns? Hoping to spend 2 nights there in late April – would this still be considered low season there?
Late April would definitely still be considered low season! That’s our favorite time of year to go! The water will still be a bit chilly that time of year, but the beaches will be way less crowded and hotel prices will be cheaper! We’ve been 3 times and we’ve been able to get all around the island on ATV without any problems! You might want to get a taxi from the airport or port to your hotel, but taxis in Greece are pretty expensive, so it’s definitely cheaper to rent ATVs and explore at your own pace! Have so much fun!
I am so excited to go now! My husband and I planned a trip for early November do you think it would be too cold to travel then? Would the beaches still be warm enough to swim?
Yay! That’s so fun. We have only been to Milos in either May or September. I’ve heard the island gets pretty empty after October, but that might be nice! I’d check exact weather forecasts, but I’d imagine yes it would be relatively cold. The water is generally cold (similar to California water temps) in all months except for July. In May and September it’s very "refreshing".
Hi! Thank you for the awesome guide. It looks like you have stayed at both Salt and Milos Breeze. Which do you recommend or prefer? Thank you in advance! Cheers!
Hi! Yes we have! Honestly we loved both for different reasons. The pool at Milos Breeze Boutique is really nice. Salt is very quiet and right on a beautiful bay. You really can’t go wrong at either! Have the best time!
Hi Samantha! Firstly, thank you for sharing your experiences in Milos and some travel tips. I was wondering if you could share a few more of your favourite places to dine at in Milos and if you have the location for Spiros Gelato – I tried Googling but wasn’t able to find any results… Also, I don’t suppose the beaches have any facilities for washing up after a swim at the beaches; would you be able to dry off quickly (e.g. in the time taken to reach the nearest restaurant via ATV) or would you recommend heading back to the accoms to freshen up?
Hi Christina! Honestly there aren’t a ton of restaurants on the island. We’ve eaten at some of the restaurants around the harbor a few times and enjoyed most of those restaurants. There’s also a great little gyro place called O Belivanis. Spiros Gelato is in the town of Plaka. If you wander around, you’ll find it. We didn’t wash up after any of the beaches, so I’m not sure if there are any with facilities. It’s definitely a beach town, so most places don’t require anything too fancy, but if you wanted to freshen up before going out, I’d suggest planning time to go back to the hotel. Hope you have the best time!
Hi guys! I ADORE you both and your blog. My fiancé and I are planning our honeymoon, and doing 6 nights in Santorini and 4 nights in Milos. We already booked Santorini and splurged on a room with a private pool overlooking the caldera. After browsing around and seeing your experience in Milos, it seems like we’d rather put the money towards adventuring (renting an ATV, day trips on a boat, etc.). Any other hotels you recommend staying at that is a little less expensive than Milos Breeze Boutique Hotel? Do you definitely recommend staying in Pollonia? Thank you 🙂
Hi Cristen! You’re so sweet! Ah that’s amazing! A honeymoon in Greece will be a dream come true! We’ve also stayed at Salt Suites in Milos and loved it as well! For cheaper options, you might be able to find something on Airbnb. And we’ve loved staying in Pollonia, but you could also stay in Plaka as that’s a beautiful town as well (and a great place to watch the sunset)!
I went with a friend to the Cyclades in May of 2006. We started in Athens, then took a ferry to Paros for a few days. Next we ferried to Folegandros, for three days, so lovely! After a few days we ferried to our quietest island…Sikonos, population then, 238! Our last island was Milos, and our favorite! Four days…I would go back in an instant! Then back to Athens for the flight home! I miss Greece so much!
That’s amazing! Sounds like you had an incredible trip! And yes, we’re always dreaming of going back to Greece too!
This guide has been so helpful! Would you recommend booking an ATV ahead of time or doing it once we’re there? We are staying in Pollonia but figured we should get picked up first and then sort out the ATV. My second question is how to choose a boat tour! Do you recommend a full/half day? Which stops did you do other than Kleftiko? Thanks again!
There was only one ATV shop in Pollonia when we were there, so they could be out of stock so reaching out ahead of time never hurts. It also depends on what part of the season you’re going. If you’re going late September, you may have a better chance of getting one if you don’t connect with them ahead of time than you would if you’re going in August.
We’ve only done a full day tour to Kleftiko. Personally there is never enough time on a boat for us!