Islands near Milos: where to go island hopping

Already fallen for Milos and its kaleidoscopic beaches? You're not alone. But here's the thing most visitors overlook: Milos sits at a crossroads of the western Cyclades, making it one of the best jumping-off points for island hopping in the Aegean.

From Adamantas port, ferries fan out in every direction, connecting you to quiet hideaways and iconic destinations alike.

Whether you're after a 25-minute day trip to a sleepy neighbor, a foodie pilgrimage to Greece's culinary capital, or a sunset-soaked evening on a volcanic caldera, there's an island within easy reach. Here are 9 islands near Milos worth adding to your itinerary.

1. Kimolos

Kimolos is what the Cyclades looked like before the crowds arrived. Sitting just across the strait from Milos, this tiny chalk-white island moves at its own unhurried pace. It's perfect for travelers who want the raw beauty of Milos without the tourist traffic.

The star beach is Prassa, a stretch of white sand and turquoise water that rivals any in the Cyclades. Inland, a 30-minute hike across volcanic terrain leads to Skiadi, a surreal mushroom-shaped rock sculpted by thousands of years of wind erosion.

Don't skip Chorio, the island's only village, where the remains of a 16th-century Venetian castle frame narrow streets filled with bougainvillea. For a quiet swim, head to Goupa, a photogenic fishing hamlet with colorful syrmata (traditional boathouses carved into the rock).

The Milos - Kimolos ferry routes run year-round, with more frequent sailings during the high-season months, and the crossing takes about 25 min.

Milos - Kimolos from €4.50

Port of Psathi, Kimolos

2. Sifnos

If you love food as much as you love beaches, Sifnos is calling. Known as the gastronomic capital of the Cyclades, this is the birthplace of Nikolaos Tselementes, the father of modern Greek cooking. The island balances refined culture with a laid-back village rhythm that makes it hard to leave.

Order mastelo (lamb slow-cooked in wine inside a clay pot) at a taverna in Artemonas, then walk it off on the network of over 100 km of marked hiking trails connecting whitewashed villages, monasteries, and hidden coves.

The clifftop village of Kastro is one of the most atmospheric in the Aegean, while Chryssopigi, the island's iconic monastery perched on a rocky promontory, is the most photographed spot.

For beaches, try Vathy, a sheltered bay with shallow water and excellent seafood tavernas right on the sand. Sifnos also has a living pottery tradition spanning 4,000 years, and you can visit working workshops throughout the island.

The ferry from Milos to Sifnos takes between 40 min and 1 hour, with 3 to 7 weekly crossings available year-round.

Milos - Sifnos from €6.50

Panoramic view of Sifnos island

3. Serifos

Serifos is wild, windswept, and unapologetically raw. Its hilltop Chora, cascading down a volcanic cone in a tumble of white cubes, is one of the most dramatic villages in Greece. This is an island for those who want the Cyclades without the polish.

The coastline is extraordinary: 72 beaches tucked into coves along a rugged shoreline of iron and granite. Psili Ammos, accessible only by foot or boat, has been named one of the best beaches in Europe for its golden sand and crystalline water.

Ganema and Vagia are easier to reach and equally stunning. History buffs will enjoy the abandoned iron mines along the southeastern coast, where rusted piers and tunnels offer post-industrial beauty against the blue Aegean. For food, try revithada (chickpeas slow-baked overnight in a wood-fired oven), a Sunday tradition on the island.

Ferries from Milos to Serifos take around 1 h 10 min, running 3 to 7 days per week, year-round.

Milos - Serifos from €7.00

Village of Serifos island

4. Folegandros

Romantic, intimate, and perched on cliffs that plunge straight into the Aegean, Folegandros is the Cyclades at their most poetic. With no airport, no chain hotels, and a permanent population of under 800, it's the antidote to overcrowded island tourism.

Chora is the undeniable highlight: a medieval Kastro (fortified settlement) balanced on a 200-meter cliff edge, surrounded by car-free squares draped in bougainvillea. At sunset, follow the zigzag path up to the church of Panagia for a panorama that'll stay with you long after you leave.

For swimming, take the path down to Angali, the island's most popular beach, or hop on a small boat to the more secluded Agios Nikolaos and Livadaki nearby. Evenings in Folegandros unfold slowly: late dinners, local wine, and the sound of the wind.

The crossing from Milos to Folegandros takes around 1 hour, with ferries running 2 to 7 days per week throughout the year.

Milos - Folegandros from €7.00

Panoramic view of the main port of Folegrandos 

5. Sikinos

If Folegandros is the Cyclades' romantic escape, Sikinos is its quieter, even more reclusive sibling. One of the least-visited islands in the archipelago, Sikinos rewards the curious traveler with total serenity and a genuine sense of discovery.

The island has two main settlements: Chora, a pristine hilltop village with sweeping Aegean views, and Alopronia, the tiny port. Between them, you'll find the mysterious Episkopi, a Roman-era mausoleum later converted into a Byzantine church, one of the most unusual monuments in the Cyclades.

Beaches are small, quiet, and uncrowded. Agios Georgios and Dialiskari are the standouts, both with clear water and zero fuss. Local life revolves around a handful of family-run tavernas serving straightforward Greek food.

Ferries from Milos reach Sikinos in about 2 h 40 min, with 2 to 3 weekly crossings year-round.

Note: keep in mind that direct ferries don't run daily. Depending on the schedule, you might need to make a stopover in Serifos, Ios, or other neighboring islands.

Milos - Sikinos from €11.50

Beautiful view of Sikinos island

6. Ios

Don't let the party reputation fool you: Ios has grown up. Yes, the nightlife in Chora is still legendary, but beyond the bars you'll find golden beaches, ancient ruins, and a quietly sophisticated food scene that surprises first-time visitors.

Mylopotas is the island's flagship beach: a long curve of sand with watersports, beach clubs, and impossibly blue water. For something wilder, rent an ATV and find Manganari on the southern tip, or hike to Plakes, a remote cove framed by dramatic rock formations.

Culture seekers should visit Skarkos, a prehistoric hilltop settlement and UNESCO-recognized archaeological site. Legend also places Homer's tomb on Ios, tucked away on the island's northern coast. After dark, the narrow lanes of Chora transform into an open-air party that spills from bar to bar.

Ferries connecting the islands of Milos and Ios are available year-round, with 2 to 7 weekly crossings. The ferry journey normally ranges from 2 hr 45 min to 4 hr 5 min, with 2 to 7 weekly crossings available year-round.

Tris Klisies Bay, Ios island

7. Paros

Paros is the island that does everything well. It's lively without being overwhelming, beautiful without being pretentious, and connected to practically everywhere in the Cyclades. If you want a taste of everything the Greek islands offer in one place, this is it.

Start in Naoussa, a former fishing village turned cosmopolitan harbor lined with seafood restaurants, cocktail bars, and boutiques. For beaches, Kolymbithres is famous for its sculpted granite boulders, while Santa Maria draws windsurfers and kitesurfers from around the world.

The old town of Parikia holds the Panagia Ekatontapiliani (Church of 100 Doors), one of the oldest and best-preserved early Christian churches in Greece. If you're into local flavors, try gouna (sun-dried mackerel grilled over coals), a Parian specialty.

Ferries from the port of Adamantas reach Paros run all year, with 3 to 7 days per week. The journey takes between 1 hr 45 min and 8 hr, depending on the type of ferry and weather conditions.

Milos - Paros from €12.00

Naoussa village, Paros

8. Naxos

The largest island in the Cyclades, Naxos is a world unto itself. It's greener, more mountainous, and more self-sufficient than its neighbors, with long sandy beaches, Byzantine towers, and a fertile interior where villages feel untouched by tourism.

The Portara, the massive marble gate of an unfinished 6th-century BC Temple of Apollo, is the island's icon, framing one of the Aegean's most famous sunsets. For beaches, Agios Prokopios and Plaka stretch endlessly along the western coast, all soft sand and shallow water. Inland, drive up to the village of Halki for kitron (a citrus liqueur unique to Naxos), local cheeses, and neoclassical mansions. The mountainous interior, crowned by Mount Zas (the highest peak in the Cyclades at 1,004 m), offers serious hiking with panoramic rewards.

The crossing from Milos to Naxos runs all year and the journey ranges from 3 hr 45 min to 6 hr 20 min., with 1 to 7 weekly departures depending on the season.

Milos - Naxos from €16.00

The Portara village, Naxos

9. Santorini

No island-hopping list from Milos would be complete withoutSantorini. The volcanic caldera, the clifftop villages, the sunsets: it's all as breathtaking in person as you've imagined. Arriving by ferry adds to the drama, as the island's layered cliffs rise from the sea in front of you.

Walk the caldera path from Fira to Oia for the classic postcard views, then escape the crowds at Red Beach, a striking cove framed by rust-colored volcanic cliffs. For something more low-key, the black-sand beach of Perissa stretches for kilometers along the southeastern coast. Wine lovers should seek out the island's indigenous Assyrtiko grape at one of Santorini's many wineries, where vines grow in low baskets called kouloura (a traditional training method to protect grapes from the wind).

Don't miss Akrotiri, a Minoan-era settlement preserved under volcanic ash, often called the "Pompeii of the Aegean."

Ferries from Milos to Santorini serve the connection all year round with up to 8, depending on the season. The journey takes from 2 hr 30 min to 4 hr 45 min, depending on the company and the vessel.

Milos - Santorini from €15.99

Oia town, Santorini

Island-hopping around Milos: book your ferry tickets

With nine islands reachable by direct ferry from Adamantas, Milos is one of the best-connected bases in the Cyclades for island hopping. On Ferryhopper, you can compare all available routes, schedules, and operators in one place, then book your tickets online with no hidden fees and the best available prices.

Check our Map of ferries to plan your route and set sail. Plan a quick escape to Kimolos or connect the dots across the whole archipelago.

Your island-hopping itinerary starts here!