Until recently, Milos was a relatively unknown island in Greece compared to it’s famous Cyclades sisters – Santorini and Mykonos. However, in 2017, Milos was thrown into the limelight. Vogue named the island one of their top five places to visit in 2017, and Conde Nast wrote an article explaining why Milos is the untouched Greek island that travellers have been looking for.
After reading about this island, I was determined to visit before it became the next Santorini. I was so excited about Milos, and let me tell you, it lived up to the hype and exceeded my expectations. Let me let you in on my little secret … I truly believe Milos is the best island in the Cyclades.
So, without further delay, I present you all the information you need you have an absolutely perfect trip to Milos with my ‘4 Days in Milos’ island guide.
WHERE TO STAY IN MILOS
Hotel Eleni: You need to stay here. It is seriously the best hotel in Milos.
I could go on an on about what makes Hotel Eleni so special, but you can’t truly understand how great this accomodation is unless you stay here yourself.
Located steps away from the the Adamas town centre [and the ferry port] Hotel Eleni is clean, offers huge rooms, and it incredibly affordable. But what makes this place so special is the host and hotel namesake herself, Eleni.
Eleni is the most gracious host and a modern day superwomen – a small business owner, mom, and caregiver to everyone she meets. She loves her home island of Milos and will do anything to make your time there so special. She gave us the best recommendations for food, arranged our rental car, and was always around to tell stories and ask about our day. I could go on and on about why I love Hotel Eleni so much – and I’m not the only one [just check out the hotel reviews on TripAdvisor].
HOW TO GET TO MILOS GREECE
The best way to get to Milos is by ferry. We took a ferry to Milos from Santorini with SeaJet and also used this same ferry to travel from Milos to Athens. I will be fully transparent in saying the Milos to Athens ferry ride was a bit bumpy (on the day we took it at least), so if you’re prone to seasickness, I would highly recommend bringing along some medication and taking it beforehand.
HOW TO GET AROUND MILOS
The best way to get around rent a car in Milos, or alternatively an ATV. Renting a car in Milos was our preferred option, but we rented both a car and ATV on different days. It really was the most convenient way to see this large island. We didn’t schedule me anything before we arrived, and arranged all transportation with Hotel Eleni upon arrival who called the car rental agency for us.
The roads in Milos are mostly accessible and well-paved. There were a few dirt roads that made us a bit uneasy, but the lack of traffic made it much easier to navigate than the other Greek islands we visited.
Please be aware of Milos driver’s license restrictions. If you do not live in the EU, Milos driving laws require you to have an international driver’s license. Make sure you look into this before you leave to avoid disappointment.
There is also public transportation in Milos, including a Milos bus system, however I heard it does not run regularly and is quite unreliable. But, we never tried it. If you don’t feel comfortable renting a car, you may want to look into hiring a tour company or driver to help you see the most of the island. We saw a lot of groups doing this!
THINGS TO DO IN MILOS
DAY 1: THE BEACHES OF MILOS
For our first day on Milos, we rented an ATV in Adamas and took off to starting seeing some beaches. Did you know that there are over 70 beaches on Milos? This was easily one of my favourite things to do in Milos.
First, we headed to arguably the most famous beach: Sarakiniko Beach Milos [otherwise known as the ‘moon beach,’ for obvious reasons]. Adamas to Sarakiniko was about 30 minutes away by ATV.
Here, we swam in lagoons, went cliff jumping, and took way too many pictures of the moon-like landscape. Although the water was a bit chilly in May, we were quick to adjust to the temperature and ended up spending the better part of our day wading in the turquoise water. There is no other place like this in the world, and it was easily one of my favourite experiences while travelling in the Greek Islands.
Next, we ventured to a few of the best Milos villages: Mandrakia, Firopotamos, and Klima.
For the most part, these fishing villages were easy to get find and access. What made them extra special was that there was virtually no tourists there! We were able to walk around the villages where we witnessed locals sitting on their balconies above the colourful garage doors. It felt like paradise and in that moment, I knew exactly where I wanted to retire someday.
Finally, we headed to explore the Tripiti and Plaka area before heading back to our hotel to get ready for one of our many amazing dinners on the island!
DAY 2: SAILING AROUND MILOS
This day was my BEST day in Greece. And I owe it all to the best Milos boat tour: Milos Oneiro.
Everyone that visits Milos must spend a day at sea. The reason being is that many parts of the island are not accessible by car, so in order to see these natural wonders, you must travel by boat. There are a TON of of tour companies offering sailing trips around Milos, but after reading so many reviews, I knew I had to book a trip on the Oneiro with Elias and Vassilis.
The day at sea starts early with breakfast on the sailboat. Elias shares entertaining stories of Milos while you begin to sail out to sea with a small group of 10-15 other visitors. Along the way, we stopped a couple different swimming locations, where we were able to swim through caves take in the most beautiful sights. The tour company provided snorkelling gear to make the most of the experience.
We made our way to Kleftiko Milos, a famous location comprised of the most incredible volcanic rock formations. Here, we docked the boat, spent time snorkelling in more caves and eating a homemade lunch prepared by chef Vassilis, which included lots of homemade wine and olives from the captain’s own backyard – the true definition of ‘farm to table.’
The day continued on the water, the drinks kept flowing and the afternoon transitioned into a boat party. Elias even taught us a traditional Greek dance on the bow of the boat.
At the end of the trip, we all gathered around a table to share an assortment of traditional Greek appetizers, including freshly caught octopus that Vassilis grilled right on the boat! And of course, lots of ouzo. Elias told more stories while we shared lots of laughs with fellow travellers from all over the world.
I remember sitting there in that moment and recognizing that its experiences just like that one – those organic, raw cultural experiences – that continue to fuel my desire to experience all this world has to offer.
It is because of moments like this, that I will never get tired of travelling.
DAY 3: ISLAND ADVENTURES
On day three we rented a car and took off on an adventure to see more of the island. We started our morning as an incredible local bakery that was recommended to us called Kivotos ton Gefseon near Pollonia, a picturesque fishing village across the island. We walked around Pollonia and explored the town a bit before heading out to see more of the island.
Next, we stopped at another one of Milos’ 70+ beaches called Milos Papafragas Beach. You don’t need to spend much time here, but it is a really cool cave beach and definitely worth stopping at if you’re near Pollonia.
We then headed to the old abandoned Milos Sulphur Mines. One of the reasons Milos is so late to the tourism game is because it used to be a heavily mined island, which deterred visitors from coming. Now, these previously active mines are no longer in operation and serve as a really unique tourist hot spot.
Tip: Getting to the Milos sulphur mines is a bit tricky, with a narrow winding road leading down to the bottom of a steep cliff. I would recommend parking up top and walking down. We saw a few other groups drive down, but it honestly seemed a bit dangerous. I think it is better to stay safe and enjoy the slow hike down.
Finally, we spent the end of our day at the last beach destination of our trip, Milos Paliochori Beach. Here, we spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach, grabbing some drinks at the beach side restaurant, and floating in the sea.
See also: Hike to the top of the Cyclades in Naxos.
DAY 4: ADAMAS, MILOS
On our final day, we had planned to spend a bit more time in Plaka, which is an absolutely beautiful town in Greece. However, we were ending our two week trip and were feeling tired, so we decided to listen to our bodies, stay local and explore Adamas before leaving to go back to Athens. Despite this choice, I would highly recommend spending more time than we did in Plaka if you visit Milos.
On our last day, we did some shopping at boutiques in Adamas, had the most delicious ice cream at Aggeliki one last time, and cuddled with my favourite local cat [a blind/tailless cat who I met on my first day in Milos and named Pelle after a tailless cat featured in Swedish children’s books].
[Shameless cat-related plug] This little kitty is clean and friendly, and is taken care of by the locals in town. She is always hanging out in the gardens by Aggeliki so if you happen to be in Milos and see her, make sure to give her a snuggle for me!
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK IN MILOS
Ice Cream: Aggeliki, which is located in the town centre of Adamas, has the best ice cream. I may or may not have stopped in daily.
Dinner: If you’re near Adamas, you need to visit O Hamos for dinner. This was one of the best meals we had in Greece. In fact, it was so good that we went there twice! Not to mention, it offers the most beautiful atmosphere and fantastic service.
Breakfast/Brunch: There is a bakery near Pollonia that is a must-visit called Kivotos ton Gefseon. They offer the amazing baked goods and a truly delicious breakfast on the cutest outdoor patio.
Traditional Greek Street Food: There are two locations that we went to along the main strip in Adamas that offer affordable Greek food: YANKOS and Flisvos. If you’re looking for a quick and tasty meal, these are both great options.
See also: Everything you need to know about where to eat the legendary Naxos potatoes.
This island is so incredibly special and I urge you to seriously consider paying it a visit. With very few tourists, the best food we had on the islands, extremely affordable prices, and some of the most beautiful landscapes and beaches I have ever seen, I personally cannot wait to go back! I am convinced that, for now at least, Milos is one of Greece’s best kept secrets [just try not to tell too many people about it!].
HEADED TO MILOS? PIN THIS FOR LATER!
And if you’re island-hopping around the Cyclades, make sure you check out my itineraries for Santorini and Naxos.
