Milos

Milos is one of the top destinations for romantic holidays in Greece. It is a beautiful island in the Cyclades with impressive beaches and landscapes. Discover information about the island: what to do and how to get there, the best beaches, local food, and attractions, as well as ferry routes.

Book ferry tickets to Milos online on Ferryhopper with no hidden fees!

A beautiful contrast of white rocks and turquoise waters in Milos

Holidays in Milos

Milos is located at the southwestern tip of the Cyclades and is an ideal destination for a relaxing vacation. The island is volcanic, with impressive lunar landscapes and heavenly beaches. Its romantic scenery makes Milos ideal for couples’ holidays and a popular honeymoon destination.

Summer in Milos means swimming in beautiful beaches, as well as endless strolls around picturesque villages. The island has a long history and attractions to explore. It is also where the famous ancient Greek statue of Venus of Milos was discovered.

How to get to Milos

Traveling by ferry from Athens to Milos is the easiest way to get to the island. There are daily ferries to Milos all year round from the port of Piraeus, and you can get there in around 2.5 hours with a high-speed ferry. You can also get a ferry to Milos from nearby islands, such as Sifnos or Kimolos.

Find out more about ferry schedules and tickets to Milos below.

Sunset from the village of Plaka, the main town of Milos

What to do in Milos

Milos is an island with a peaceful vibe that is perfect for relaxation and time away from the city. Although it is a popular romantic getaway, Milos is also great for groups of friends or families that want quiet beach holidays.

The island’s volcanic landscape merges beautifully with the Cycladic architecture creating a scenery that you can’t stop admiring. Milos is a destination for sea activities, such as swimming, diving, snorkeling, or sailing. It also has about 10 hiking trails that lead you to some of the best spots on the island.

Spending time at the sea or at the beach, sunbathing, is one of the best things to do in Milos. We also recommend exploring the history of the island and visiting its numerous attractions. You can see, for example, impressive sea caves (that used to be hideouts for pirates), catacombs, ancient sites, Venetian castles, sulfur mines, or museums.

Read our travel guide to Milos to get ideas about your holidays on the beautiful island. 

Beaches in Milos

Milos has over 70 beaches, considered among the best in the Aegean! The island coast is impressive with lots of variations, from long sandy beaches to rocky shores and sea caves. Some of the best beaches in Milos are:

• Kleftiko: one of the most famous swimming spots on the island, accessible only by boat. It has soaring limestone cliffs, natural sea caves and crystal blue waters that make it ideal for diving and snorkeling. 
• Paleochori: a beach with red rocks, fine pebbles and crystal clear waters, surrounded by an impressive landscape. One part of the beach has umbrellas and sun loungers.
• Papafragas: a small sandy beach that emerges between large rocks. Access is difficult as it requires going down a cliff, but the sea and view are worth the hike. 
• Provatas: large beach with red, golden, sand, and refreshing crystal waters. It has umbrellas and sunbeds.
• Sarakiniko: the enchanting lunar landscape of Sarakiniko makes it one of the most renowned beaches on the island. It has white rocks and turquoise waters. It is better to go early in the day as it can get crowded. 
• Tsigrado: some consider it the best beach in Milos. A cove with fine white sand, clear blue waters and caves. There’s natural shade from 17:00 onwards. Keep in mind that access is difficult as you have to go down a cliff via a wooden ladder and a rope. 
• Paliorema (Theiorichia): a beautiful beach with white-yellow sand, colored pebbles and clear blue waters. It is located next to the ruins of the sulfur mines of the island. 
• Firiplaka: one of the most popular beaches of Milos. It has white sand, crystal blue waters, umbrellas, and a beach bar.

The amazing lunar landscape of Sarakiniko beach

Sightseeing in Milos

Milos has been inhabited since prehistoric times and has many sights of historical and archaeological interest. In the Archeological Museum of the island, you can find an exact copy of the famous statue of Venus of Milos.

We recommend visiting the following attractions in Milos:

• The Archaeological Museum of Milos
• The archaeological site of Phylakopi
• The Ancient Roman Theater of Milos
• The catacombs in Tripiti
• The Venetian Castle in Plaka
• The Mining Museum in Adamas

The impressive ancient Roman theater of Milos in the village of Tripiti

Nightlife in Milos

You should not expect endless party nights in Milos island, but you will enjoy relaxing evenings, nice drinks and local food in its beautiful scenery.

Milos’ nightlife is concentrated in the port town of Adamas, where you can find some of the most popular bars in Milos, such as Aragosta, Vipera Lebetina or En Plo. Plaka, the island’s main town, on the other hand, is great for afternoon strolls, coffee, food, or early drinks. We suggest Utopia Cafe and Verina.

The low-profile village of Pollonia is also a perfect spot to eat and have a drink at one of the seaside tavernas. Finally, in the beach bar Deep Blue in Paleochori you can enjoy a cocktail with a great view. The bar’s terrace is a popular spot for couples.

Food in Milos

Milos has many restaurants, tavernas and fish taverns across its villages and beaches. The traditional cuisine of the island is full of delicious flavors and local recipes! Our top food recommendations for Milos are:

• flaounes (savory pastries with greens)
• pitarakia (hand pies with local cheese)
• goat in the oven
• homemade tomato purée or paste
• skordolazana (tagliatelle with garlic)
• xynomizithra (cheese with a sour taste)
• tomato balls
• Mileiko cheese (tastes a bit like parmesan) 
• koufeto (spoon sweet with white pumpkin, honey and almonds)
• karpouzopita (watermelon pie)

Tip: for the best karpouzopita, head to Palaios Coffee & Pastry in Plaka. But if you're on the lookout for more sweets, it's worth going to Aggeliki ice cream shop. You won't regret it!

Delicious grilled vegetables and local cheese at a restaurant in Milos

Villages in Milos

The villages of the island are built in a traditional Cycladic style and strolling around their stone-paved alleys is one of the best things to do in Milos. In a few coastal villages (such as Klima, Skinopi, or Mandrakia), you can admire the traditional fishermen's houses, called sirmata. The colorful buildings are traditionally used to park fishing boats and are usually constructed inside volcanic rocks.

Here are our favorite villages in Milos: 

• Plaka (the Chora of Milos)
• Trypiti
• Plakes
• Adamas 
• Triovasalos
• Pollonia or Apollonia
• Skinopi
• Klima
• Mandrakia
• Emporios
• Zefyria

Traditional fishermen's houses (“sirmata”) in the coastal village of Mandrakia

Tips for Milos

• Take a tour of Milos by boat to visit many different beaches and coves that are inaccessible on foot, such as Kleftiko. You can also see some of the natural caves that are said to be used by pirates such as Sykia. The boat tours usually depart from the harbor of Pollonia. 
• Organize a day trip to the neighboring island of Kimolos and a boat ride to the impressive islet of Polyaigos. 
• From the church of Panagia Korfiatissa in Plaka or the Venetian castle of Plaka, you can enjoy the most romantic sunset in Milos.
• Similar to other islands in Greece, Milos has a few panigiria during the summer, on key religious days. So, if you travel to Milos in the summer and a panigiri festival takes place, don't miss the opportunity to taste the delicious food and dance to traditional tunes.
• If you have a jeep or an off-road car, we would recommend exploring Milos’ wild west, which falls under the protection of the EU’s Natura 2000 network. The road on that side of the island is rougher, however the landscape and the beaches are amazing.  
• Milos can be windy during the summer. So in order to take advantage of your day at the beach, we recommend checking the wind and waves forecast in advance.
• Milos can get very busy in the high season. This is why we recommend visiting and exploring the island in September or June. Discover why June is the best month to visit Milos.

Useful information about Milos

Milos has developed tourist infrastructures and you can find everything you need for a comfortable stay. There are supermarkets in Adamas and on the road that connects Adamas with Plaka, while gas stations can be found in various parts of the island. There are also ATMs and a pharmacy in the port. Milos also has a public health center, located just outside Plaka.

The island has an airport (Milos Island National Airport), located about 5 km from the port of Milos.

In terms of accommodation in Milos, you can make your choice depending on the style of vacation that you want and your budget. There are apartments and rooms to let, boutique hotels, as well as a camping site near the beach Achivadolimni.

Important phone numbers for your stay in Milos

Here are some useful contact numbers  for your Milos vacation: 

• Milos Health Center: +302287360000
• Milos Port Authority: +302287023360
• Milos Police: +302287021204
• Citizen services Milos: +302287022894
• Tourist information: +302287022445
• Municipality of Milos: +302287360100
• Milos Airport: +302287028410

Transportation in Milos

Milos is quite large and it would be good to have your own vehicle if you want to explore the most secluded beaches. Alternatively, you can rent a car or motorbike on the island.

If you do not have a car or motorbike, the bus services of Milos have frequent daily routes from the port and Plaka to the villages and beaches of the island.

Ports in Milos

The port of Milos, called Adamas or Adamantas, is located on the north side of the island, on the edge of a large bay. Milos’ ferry port has all basic amenities for travelers, such as a tourist information office, parking space, WCs, and free Wi-Fi connection.

In the high season there are daily ferries to Milos from Athens and nearby islands so you should expect some traffic at the port area.

The village of Adamas has many stores, restaurants, cafes and bars, and is only a 2-minute walk from the port. The local bus stop is only 4 minutes away from the port on foot.

    The village of Adamas, right on the top of Milos' port

Island hopping from Milos

Milos is located in the southwestern Aegean and is an ideal destination for island hopping in the Cyclades! It is connected with regular ferry crossings to many nearby ports, as well as to Crete.

From Milos, you can find direct ferry connections to:

• Kimolos
• Santorini
• Folegandros
• Serifos
• Sifnos
• Sikinos
• Ios
• Mykonos
• Naxos
• Paros
• Syros
• Tinos
• Amorgos
• Andros
• Kythnos
• Koufonisia
• Crete (Heraklion)

If you feel overwhelmed with all the destinations you can visit by ferry from Milos, don’t worry! On our Map of ferries, you can find all available ferry routes from Milos, as well as indicative ticket prices for every route. Planning your island hopping in the Greek islands has never been easier! 

Milos ferry: schedules and tickets

There are regular ferry connections to Milos from mainland Greece throughout the year. The ferry to Milos usually travels directly from the port of Piraeus and Lavrion, as well as indirectly from Rafina. 

• The ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Milos runs all year round, with at least 4 daily crossings in the high season. The route is served by standard and high-speed ferries and the journey usually lasts from around 2.5 to 7 hours. Tickets start at around €48.
• The ferry route Lavrion - Milos usually operates once a week and the journey lasts about 15.5 hours, since the ferry to Milos makes several stops at the islands of the Northern and Western Cyclades.
• At the moment there is no direct ferry from Rafina to Milos but you can travel indirectly via Mykonos or Santorini. 

Milos is a popular summer holiday destination, so ticket availability can be limited during the high season. This is why we recommend booking in advance, especially if you want to transfer your vehicle by ferry or to travel in a cabin. Alternatively, you can also book a numbered seat.

Impressive volcanic rocks and sea caves at Kleftiko beach

Book ferry tickets to Milos online

Dreaming of laying on the volcanic rocks of Milos and enjoying the sun? On Ferryhopper, you can book ferry tickets to Milos online, with no hidden fees. Check all ferry schedules, compare companies and ticket prices, and organize your holidays in the magical Milos in just a few clicks!