Milos is the perfect Greek Island for 2024

Milos is the perfect Greek Island to visit in 2024! Is is full of adventure, beautiful beaches and cute towns. When you are planning your Greek Island holiday you have to add it to your itinerary! This is everything you need to know to plan your stay there.

Where is Milos?

Milos is the southwestern most island in the Cyclades chain and 188km from Athens. It was formed by volcanic action and has some dramatic landscapes to match its dramatic origin.

How many days is enough for Milos?

Milos is quite a big island and three days would be the minimum amount to spend there. Most people will spend about five days, even locals on other islands told us that we needed at least 5 days for Milos. It’s funny, when you mention Milos to locals on other Greek Islands their eyes light up and they get very excited! In reality I could have spent two weeks there easily, taking it slow and enjoying the days exploring more of the island.

Do I need a car for Milos?

Yes, you need a car or scooter for Milos! The island is big and if you want to see as much as possible you need to be able to get around. There are buses which run across the island but we love being able to move around and also reach the off the beaten path locations.

We used the scooter to not only visit locations but also to change hotels throughout our stay. We ran to the grocery store with it. Want to zip out for sunset, jump on the scooter. It was so easy to find a park as well. We booked with Apollonas Sunshine Rent a Moto. Would I hire a car? Yes it would be really lovely to have air-conditioning, a comfortable seat, bring everything with you, the power of the vehicle to get up the hills easily and shade while you are driving – some trips on the island are pretty long on the back of a scooter! The only downside to a car is they are larger so harder to get parking at some places and they cost more.

TIP- The law has become stricter in Greece and you will need an International drivers licence to hire scooters and cars in Greece. To hire a scooter or bike over 50cc you need an actual motor bike licence. 50cc bikes do not have a lot of power and the Greek Islands are more mountainous than you imagine so a higher powered bike would be best and for that you need a motorbike licence. This is why renting a car can be easier as long as you have an International Drivers Licence.

Alternatively you can take a tour around Milos, this one will show you all the best places and is well run: Best of Milos Private Land Tour

What to do in Milos? spend a day on the beautiful Milos beaches

Best part of Milos to stay?

There are tons of areas you can stay in Milos and each has excellent accommodation options, this really makes Milos the perfect Greek Island to visit in 2024. The main places will be the port town Adamas, the little fishing villages Pollonia, Mandrakia, Klima, the capital Plaka Milou, Pachaina and Firopotamos. We moved between two of the villages and honestly I would love to go back and stay in each of these areas. These are my picks of where to stay in each village.

Peran Triovasalos – On our first few nights we stayed at Sea Sun Sand Studios Milos. It is located in Peran Triovasalos which is a tiny village area almost in the centre of Milos. You can easily get to most places from here. It was nice and a good price. We just used it as a base and rode our scooter to where we wanted to go.

Adamas – The port town has alot of accommodation options! Our picks are The White House, Hotel Meltemi, Semiramis Guesthouse, or go luxe at Boho Sapiens, Cinnamon Era.

Pollonia – Captain Stavros! We planned to stay here before changing to stay at Pachaina.

Mandrakia – This is not the cheapest place to stay but there are some lovely options and its a beautiful area. It is expensive but our pick is Aerides Mandrakia Milos.

Klima – The fisherman’s huts are a must stay! I will be doing this on my next visit. Choose from these beautiful options:

On the Waves of Klima, Fisherman House, Blue Horizon Syrma, The Yellow Boat House, Turquoise Boathouse in Klima II, White Coral.

Plaka Milou – This area is not the cheapest but there are some reasonable options. We like Στην Ωραία Πλάκα, Piazza Castello or Archondoula Studios.

Pachaina – We stayed at Agnanti View Hotel, it was great. The owners are lovely and the vibe is so relaxed.

Firopotamos – I can’t wait to return to Milos and when I do I am staying at Salty Kisses and Sandy Toes! This little beach area can get expensive but it is so idyllic. I could spend many days here!

Klima fishing village has the cutest accommodation options on Milos

Firapotomus has cutest accommodation options on Milos

What to do in Milos?

Milos is the perfect Greek Island for 2024 because there is so much to do on Milos you could spend two weeks there and not see it all. The island is big so when you go our for a day you really want to get as much in as possible.

Explore the Villages:

Adamas

The port area and is great for your first time in Milos. It has loads of food options, different accommodation price ranges and is easy to access with your luggage. From there you can discover the rest of the island easily. It is the biggest area with the most choice. It is where you will find all the funky cafes, souvenir shops and clothing stores, it has a cool vibe with a lot to offer.

Pollonia

Pollonia is a quiet fishing village. It is the far north-eastern point of the island and is very sweet. There is a ferry there to hop over to Kimolos which is another very quiet Greek Island (we spent a couple of days there and loved it) and also worth visiting. Pollinia has a lovely sandy beach and is popular with families who are looking for a quiet peaceful stay.

Klima

One of the most charming places to stay is Klima. Klima is down on the water and has the cutest fisherman’s cabins turned accommodation you will ever see. The water laps up over the edge of the walkway between buildings, you will see a magic sunset here. it is such an experience. This is somewhere I hope to come back to stay!

Mandrakia

Mandrakia is such a great spot! There is a stunning view point there, a fabulous local restaurant and lots of cute accommodation. It is quiet and calm, the perfect place to relax. There are swimming areas and pretty places to sit and watch the views.

Plaka Milou

The capital of Milos and the little town sitting on top of the hill overlooking the island. Towering above Plaka you find the beautiful crumbling Venetian Kastro of Milos. This is a very charming town with loads of the old white washed crumbling buildings and laneways to get lost in.

Pachaina

We stayed in the quiet village of Pachaina for the last few days of our stay. It was very calm and peaceful with easy driving access to the beaches in the area. In this area you can visit Papafragas Caves, Sarakiniko, Pollinia and day trip to Kimolos.

Swim in the best beaches on Milos

We love to go beaching! Maybe because we are Australian, but we really love to beach. There is nothing better than a day planned specifically to lie on a beach and do nothing but eat and swim. We went to as many as possible in the time we had and honestly I could have spent two weeks there just going from beach to beach, there are so many!

Firopotamos

This is my favourite place on Milos. It is the prettiest cove with some cute little beach houses and a church nearby. It really isn’t much of a village so I have put it here in the beach section. You will drive into this gorgeous cove and the water sparkles out in front of you. The little rocky beach is a place where people sit to relax in the sun and enjoy the atmosphere. Get there earlyish if you want to snag a good spot by the water or take what is left by lunchtime when it is usually full.

There is a little beach bar/shack that sells drinks and snacks. Walk around the cove to the beautiful church, the Church of Agios Nikolaos. There are also some ruins behind it which have stunning views out to the sea. The little beach houses are perfect to stay in and enjoy the area before and after people have come for the day.

Firapotomus is one of the best beaches on Milos

Papafragas Caves

We stayed at Pachaina just nearby Papafragas Caves so it was quite easy to visit. There is a big patch of dirt for parking next to the area so it is quite easy to visit. You will walk down to the beach area to the left. To the right there is a cave area where you can swim through the caves and out the other side. We saw a few people there going through but sadly when we visited it was low tide and there was a bit of rubbish in the water. It just didn’t look that inviting. We had the snacks we brought and decided to keep moving.

Tsigrado Beach

Is a beach that has no organisation in terms of food or sunbeds. To reach Tsigrado from the land you follow a rough, rocky passage, followed by two huge ladders that end up on the beach, while you can also help yourself down and up the ladders with the use of a large rope! It is quite the experience getting there. When you are there it is a small beach that is shaded in the morning and afternoon and direct sun with no shade during the main part of the day.

Firiplaka Beach

Firiplaka Beach is divided in two halves, an organised part with sunbeds and beach bar and the unorganised part where you can lie your towel out for free. We drove our little 50CC scooter all the 15km out there which was a long hot ride on a tiny scooter! Once you park the views from the top are beautiful so soak them in before heading down the cliff to the beach. The first beach is the free one and it is quite nice, shallow water for swimming and peaceful. If you want to access the organised part just keep walking around to the right and you will get there.

Provatas Beach

Provatas Beach is big and sandy. It is easy to access with parking and wheelchair accessible. This is a pretty calm beach, perfect for families. There is a beach restaurant nearby and sunbeds/umbrellas available for rent.

Sarakiniko Beach

4km east of Plaka is Sarakiniko, also super easy to visit from Pachaina. This is such a unique beach and it is very popular. We visited at sunrise, sunset and during midday. The light is gorgeous at most times of day to be honest. The epic rock formations that glisten in the sun are so white against the bright blue of the water.

There is the entry area where you will find the river coming through to the tiny beach. People will be laid out on the rocks everywhere. Then follow the rocks through to the next area you will find people cliff jumping in to the water below. Mike had to do this but I couldn’t bring myself to! Once you jump in you will swim over to a hole where you can climb out. Sarakiniko is stunning and one of the best places to visit on Milos, definitely a must visit.

Kleftiko

Kleftiko is amazing! It is in the remote western side of Milos and the only way to get there is by boat tour. There are tons to choose from, we love to use Get Your Guide. The pricing is always great and they have so many tours to choose from with reviews so you can see what people thought of them. The tours below are really well reviewed and booked most often!

The bays around Kleftiko were once pirate lairs, where they would hide and attack hostile boats, and the caves were used to shelter from bad weather. They have a long and interesting history but today are incredibly beautiful places for tourists to visit. You will explore the caves and swim it is a great day trip not to be missed!

Plathiena

Plathiena is my little hidden gem of a beach. Not because no one goes there but because no one talks about it and yet it may the nicest beach in Milos! Plathiena is crystal clear and sparkling blue. The sand is soft, there is wheelchair access to the water and a beach bar where you can buy reasonably priced food and drinks. It is a little haven and one that really provides the perfect all round beach day out.

Site of the statue of Venus

This famous statue of Venus of Milos (Aphrodite of Milos) is one of the most famous ancient Greek statues. It was found in 1820 by a peasant named Georgios Kentrotas who decided to keep it on his farm unaware of its significance. Later it was discovered by a French sailor who understood its importance and negotiated for France to buy it. It remains in the Lourve museum today. There is a sign marking where it was found, stating that this is the Venus of Milos Discovery Site near the theatre and catacombs.

Milos Ancient Theatre

This open air marble theatre is really well preserved. It is located on a hillside above Klima and near the village of Tripiti. Built in the Hellenistic period and in recent years has been restored to now open for concerts. It is free to visit, you can walk around the site

Catacombs of Milos

The Catacombs of Milos date from the 1st – 5th century and are thought to be one of the most important catacombs in the world. It is possible that the Catacombs of Milos are older than the catacombs of Rome and the Holy Land, in Rome. Entry costs 4€.

Final Thoughts

These are my favourite things to do on Milos, I hope you add it to your itinerary. It really is an incredible island and one that deserves the time to see as much as possible. As always if you have any questions that I may have not covered feel free to leave a comment, I am happy to help! Check out my blogs on Top 5 things to do in Milos and what you need to know to go to Sarakiniko Beach! I also have blogs on all the other Greek Islands we have visited if you need help with any other planning!