Is 3 nights enough in Milos?

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What do pirates, Venus, Aphrodite, volcanoes, and lunar surfaces all have in common?  They're all connected to the island of Milos in the Western Cyclades and it's this wild melding of dramatic beaches, coves, Roman history, unique volcanic rock formations, traditional settlements, and nature preserves that make this island an adventure seeker's haven.  Follow this Milos 3 day itinerary to learn about how to plan your vacation to see the best of its beaches, restaurants, fishing villages, hotels, and secret gems.

Table of Contents

Looking for something specific in this itinerary and travel guide?  Jump to what you want to read.

Here's what we're covering:

• Table of Contents
• The Milos 3 Day Itinerary
  • Day 1 – Milos – Catacombs & Castles
  • Day 2 – Milos – Surface of the Moon
  • Day 3 – Milos – Tsigrado Beach
  • Next: Head back to Athens
• Where to Stay in Milos
• What We Missed
• Tours To Consider
• The Milos Travel Guide
• Top 5 Tips For Milos
• How I Feel About Milos

Having decided to forego Mykonos when planning the 14 day Greek island hopping trip, I was seeking out an island that was popular but perhaps not quite as busy.  Milos popped up on my radar when I saw a photo of Kleftiko Beach and the bizarrely smooth rock of Sarakiniko.  I added it to the itinerary and it worked out really well.

Milos is an island that has a bit more pace to it compared to Folegandros and coming from there, we were recharged and ready to explore.  What you'll find with this island is that there are so many unique pockets of areas to discover that are all so diverse and not at all what you'd expect in Greece.

The goals of this Greek Island itinerary is to supplement the high level breakdown of how we did our trip Greek island hopping across 14 days.  Use the full itinerary as the larger guide for how we went about going from island to island.  Also, don't miss the comprehensive Greek Island travel guide which will have an incredible amount of detail on everything you won't find in a guide book or “top things to do” type of blog post.

Let's jump into how to do Milos in 3 day including what to do in Milos, where to stay, where to eat, and more.

Day 1 – Milos – Catacombs & Castles

From your previous island, you'll catch a ferry.  If like us where you're coming from Folegandros, the ride will only take an hour.  Before you know it, you'll be disembarking on Milos, an island blessed with astonishingly diverse beaches, otherworldly geology, wealth of good food, historical castles, and colourful fishing villages.

The first step is to get settled into your hotel and for that I highly recommend staying in the harbour town of Adamas for convenience and proximity to restaurants and groceries.  Check into Giannoulis Hotel in what has to be one of our favourite properties of the entire trip.  As a heads up, this property is managed by a travel agency called Milos Accommodations so they'll ask you to check-in there first.  I've marked this on the map as their instructions were extremely confusing.

I mention Milos Accommodations because they can also book anything else you need.  Since we didn't have a specific car rental in mind, we asked about cars vs ATV's.  Ultimately, ATV's were the cheapest option and recommended by the local.  We also felt pretty comfortable at this point with all of the experience we gained in Folegandros.  The 170CC quad cost $75 EUR over 3 days (25 EUR a day).  We later learned that this was actually through Moto Christos if you'd like to work with them directly.  They offered drop off at Milos Accommodations and pick up from the hotel on our last day which is super convenient.

Your first day in Milos is all about the old city and its surrounding attractions.

You'll no doubt be hungry so drive down to Klima.  On this road where Waze seemed to take us through a ton of narrow streets of Trypiti, I remember so glad we had an ATV because navigating those tight turns and side mirror to mirror alleyways were quite harrowing.

When you arrive at the seaside fishing village of Klima, have lunch at Astakas which has one of the most picturesque views where the other side of Milos can be seen across the water and the pastel paint of the boat garage doors can be seen as well.

Take some time to walk over to the houses where fishermen keep their boats and some have even been converted to B&B's and souvenir shops.  This is one of many villages where colours of the rainbow are splashed on these boathouse doors.  Klima is by far the easiest to explore, largest in terms of number of houses, and most approachable so definitely go nuts with the photos.

Up the hill are two attractions of archeological significance – the Catacombs and the Ancient Theatre.  Getting there is a bit tricky from Klima because there isn't a direct road so you'll have to drive back up to Trypiti and cut through local alleys before descending down the other side of the valley.

The Catacombs date back to the 1st and 5th century and are a well-preserved example of a communal burial site and Christian place of worship that is possibly larger than the one in Rome.  Currently Gallery Chamber A and B are available for visitors through periodic guided tours.  This is truly one of the most unique catacombs and has been ranked as one of the top three in the world.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Address: Trypiti, Milos 84800

Hours: Mon to Sun: 9AM — 6:45PM.  Closed on Tuesdays.

Price: 4 EUR for adults, 2 EUR for seniors, and free for EU students.

Do they accept credit card?: Yes

Tips:  

• The tour is actually conducted by the staff that man the ticket booth who double as “security guards” and so when you're guided into the burial chambers, you don't get any official commentary.  That said, they are quite knowledgable and are willing to answer questions in English.

From the parking lot for the Catacombs, you can walk up to the entrance of the trail that takes you down to the Ancient Theatre.  Along your walk, you'll pass by ruins of what's speculated to be the gates to the city that used to be here.  Eventually you'll arrive at the theatre which is open access but you may see a set up for a local production.  This is a miniature version of the large Roman theatres you'll see later in Athens.

Best of Milos Island Tour

If you're looking for a guided tour of the island that includes a visit to Papafragas, Plaka, Klima, the catacombs, and more, take a look at this affordable full day (8 hour) experience.

BOOK THE TOUR

Ride around the villages of Trypiti, Pera Triovassalos, and Triovasalos to get a glimpse of where locals live and the practicality of the tightly woven neighbourhoods.

Eventually make your way to Plaka, the current capital of Milos.  Founded in 1800, this village spreads on all sides of the conical hill and is beautifully covered with traditional Cycladic whitewashed houses, coloured doors, balconies, narrow and winding stone streets, and lush flowers.

Plaka village is a bit of a tale of two sides as there are parts of the town that's gentrified and made to be tourist friendly with shops, restaurants, lots of lighting, and that welcoming atmosphere but you'll also find other areas that aren't on the typical path and this is where you have real locals, abandoned homes, and structures that are in disrepair.  In that way, I love the collision of authentic living with the glossy finishes.

PARKING:  When coming to Plaka, look for the big lot labelled with the “P” sign.  This is your best bet for stress-free parking.  From here, you'll be walking upwards.

Start making your way up to the Kastro or “Venetian Castle”.  There are signs in place to guide you up there.  Eventually you'll see the church standing above and it's at this juncture that you'll make a right towards the church.  Keep heading up and in no time you'll be at the very top of Plaka.

There are very few ruins up here except a few stone walls.  It gets the name Venetian Castle from the 1204 to 1566 period when the Venetian Dukes of Naxos ruled the island.  While the ruins aren't necessarily impressive, it's the view from the top of this lava done that everyone comes for.

From here, you get magnificent views of the Gulf of Milos and all the land below.  Sunset is a particular magical time here as you get a great shot of the white-domed church and Antimilos in the distance.

If you're feeling the vibes here, you can certainly have in Plaka and I'd recommend Avli-Milos or Phatses.

Alternatively, for us since it was the off-season I made the call to actually head out of Plaka and make a beeline to Oh Hamos.

Now Oh Hamos is something special.  Locals in Folegandros told us we had to come here and practically every review of Milos mentions it as well.  Located by the seaside and only 5 minutes from Adamas, this is a Greek taverna in the very traditional sense that is incredibly inviting, the setting warm and homely, the energy abuzz, the staff super friendly, and above all else, the food is created from homemade recipe and that extra ounce of love.

Coined Aegean cuisine, all of their menus are facsimiles of the original hand-written menu that was further hand-translated into many languages.  Their must-order items include their baked cheese and zucchini appetizer, Greek salads, and Melitzana “Boulouka” (stuffed aubergine), and especially their Gourounopoulo Petimezato (baked piglet).

Another thing to know is that their meats, cheeses, and vegetables are source from either their own farm or other locals.  They also local beers.

Lastly, if there is anything in the menu that really stands out, they also have recipes printed out to take home!

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Day 2 – Milos – Surface of the Moon

When I think about Milos, I think about how the landscape of the island is a rocky garden oasis.  As you move from corner to corner of Milos, you never see the same thing twice.

On the north-east corner of the island is the seaside village of Pollonia and another prominent area for visitors because of its calm waters, community built around the pretty inlet from the sea, an active fishing industry, tons of hotels, and excellent harbour-side restaurants.

Once you park in the community lot, take a stroll along the beach and over to the pedestrian street which is flanked by restaurants on both sides.  You almost can't go wrong with any of them but one to check out is called Enalion which has fresh local fish and seafood, vegetables from the family garden, an extensive wine list, and great service.

One thing you will notice here though is that it's not quite like Naoussa in Paros.  It doesn't have build up of a town with grids of shops and restaurants.  Instead, it's much more chilled out and beyond that beach and the restaurants that surround it, there is not that much more to see since I'd say there are better and more dramatic beaches elsewhere.

Before you go though, you have to visit Kivotos ton Gefseon.  You would have passed by it on your drive in but this is actually a bakery and restaurant.  You'll be full from lunch but I urge you to head inside and check out their shop that's a pantry full of goodies such as thyme honey, special olive oil, cheeses, spreads, and other herbs.  You also can't leave without trying their homemade ice cream and Galaktoboureko (pastry with custard cream and vanilla).

Starting with Pollonia, you can now start to make your way back and hit some of the stellar highlights of Milos, some of which you won't even believe.

One is a place called Papafragas.  From what I understand, this refers to a general area of rocky coastline but what makes it incredibly unique are the two narrow inlets that exist here that make for a very different beaching experience.  Again, I've marked the two clearly on the trip planning map so you know where to find them.

The first is a very narrow channel of water that comes in.  The path to get down to the beach is a bit harrowing and is marked with all sorts of warning signs but we saw many make the attempt.  It's walk hugs the cliff walls and then you have to take a spiral staircase carved out of rock down.  It's not ridiculously dangerous but erosion and lack of handrails is something you have to be hyper-aware of.  Most of the water is shoulder high.  I wouldn't say it's a beach you'd want to spend all day in but it's a fun to play in for 30 minutes.  If you walk around, you'll also find a few caves carved out of the rock and also an awesome view of the Aegean.

The second Papafragas also has a narrow channel of water that comes in but is a bit larger and isn't walled in like the first one.  There are considerably more people beaching out here since there's more space and there's no dangerous hike to get down.

Follow the north coast and you'll start seeing a startling shift in the natural geology.  Jagged piercing rock give way to smoothed bone-white rock that undulate in mysterious ways.  Many have likened Sarakiniko Beach to the surface of the moon and in a very 70's James Bond kind of way, I can see that.

Sarakiniko Beach is unlike any one you've ever been to because of some of the obvious and not-obvious reasons.  Very apparent is the rocks' smooth surface that takes over the landscape and sticks out like a sore thumb.  Some of it is very much like chalk.  Walk further in to where the beach is and you have similar features of Papafragas with the narrow channel of water coming in but the beach part seems to be more of an accessory because most beach-goers end up setting up on the rock and jumping off different platforms.  Lastly, you walk further inland on the sand and you find a full network of pirates' chambers land tunnel systems cut out of stone.

On a calm and sunny day, the beach is a great spot to be and many locals' and visitors' favourite on the island but if it gets windy like how it did for us, it's really hard to enjoy because the sand kicks up and gets all over the place.  Still, it's worth it to take photos from here with so many different angles to play with.

Before heading for sunset and dinner, there's one more thing you can squeeze in.  Hop on your ATV or car and head over to the seaside fishing village of Firopatamos.  It's a very small village but what you come here for are the colourful boathouses, its beach, picture perfect church, and ancient ruins that has a doorway that looks out to the water.

DRIVING TO FOURKOVOUNI:  After Firapatamos, we thought we could drive to Fourkovouni to see another fishing village and according to Google Maps it looked like there was a road but in reality, once you're out there, the route takes you through roads that eventually disappear or are reshaped in a different path that made things really confusing.  Passing through large do-not-enter open-pit mines also made us a bit nervous so we ended up turning back.

As the sun starts to set, ride over to the village of Mandrakia which I argue is the most beautiful of the rainbow coloured fishing villages.  The mini-harbour is protected the larger currents of the sea and surrounding it are the the docks of fishermen and their equally small watercraft to match the scene.  At sunset, this spot was one of my favourites.

For dinner, eat at the highly rated Medusa, a seaside restaurant touted for its seafood and views of the turquoise waters and volcanic coastline.  Every visit here is a culinary adventure with crisp salads, classics like fried zucchini, freshly caught swordfish, and blackened calamari.  During low-season it is easy to walk in but during high season expect a crowded scene so come here early for dinner.

Day 3 – Milos – Tsigrado Beach

One of the things that you might notice is missing is the standard boat tour around Milos that most have on their itinerary.  This is a popular way to see the island because the left half of Milos is mostly protected lands and not driveable.  As a result, many of the nicer beaches and the Kleftiko Caves can only be reached by water.

The reason for this is that in the month of June, there's a high chance of wind and choppy waters and so many boat cruises were either cancelled or on standby.  Instead of risking seasickness, we opted for a more chill route where we could still see an interesting beach.

To start off your day, spend some time in the town that you're living in which in our case was Adamas.  This thriving port city is the centre of commerce and where you'll find souvenir shops, boutiques, tons of restaurants and a great harbour view.  Walk around and use the morning to explore.  Along the way, grab yummy bread and pastries at Artemis Bakery.

For the afternoon, drive down to a new part of the island you haven't seen yet, the south.

Tsigrado Beach is a small sandy cove surrounded by rocky cliffs that really makes you work for it.  When you get to the entrance, you'll see rope tied to a metal pole, a wooden ladder, and a long and narrow red rock canyon that heads downwards.  This one is more challenging than others because there are no instructions and just figuring out how to get down is a bit of a puzzle.

I recommend that you watch a few folks head down first.  To go down, the key is to leverage the right slot to head down without using the rope.  When coming back up, you'll want to use the rope to pull yourself up and you'll come up from the left slot if you're referencing the photo above.

Even once you're down the first ladder, there's a passage way you have to squeeze through before there's the final big ladder to make it down to the beach.

WARNING:  This is not recommended for anyone that isn't physically fit.  Good footwear is recommended and be careful of scraping against the rock.  Also, you'll be peppered with sand throughout the passageway so be prepared.

Once you get down, you'll realize why it's so popular and what makes it so awesome.  First, the setting that Tsigrado is in is just something you can't make up.  The challenge of getting down plus the beautiful exposed rock cliffs that you're flanked with set the scene.  From there you have the caves that you can swim to and through on both sides.  There's a small rock that sticks out of the super clear water that you can swim to and jump off of if you want. Then you have the sand which is surprisingly clean for a beach that isn't maintained.

Periodically yachts and catamarans will anchor just out of reach in the water but generally they don't really swim all the way to the beach.  One thing to note is that the beach does fill up so it's not like Folegandros where you'll have this all to yourself but this is really the case for most beaches in Milos.

When you've had your fill of Tsigrado and want to move on or just had enough of the sand that does fall down from above, make your way back up which is much easier than on the way down.  The final step will take a bit of strength though as you'll be using the rope to pull yourself up while pushing off on the rock face on either side to you.

Drive a short distance to the neighbouring Firiplaka Beach, the family-version of beaches in this area.  It's easy to walk down to, quite expansive, and even has a toilet in the carpark area.  It's a super relaxed beach where there's plenty of space to go around for everyone that comes here.  At the same time, it's not as boring as you might think it is.

What makes it unique are the rocks that you'll find there.  Let me explain.  First are the two rocks that lean on each other in water about halfway through which can be lots of fun for kids to play here because the water is so shallow at this beach.  If you go all the way to the back end of the beach, you'll see pastel pink, yellow, and orange rock on the cliff which makes great for an impromptu photoshoot.  Lastly, if you're into looking for interesting rocks of all colours, the beach is littered with them.

To close out your last day in Milos and the Greek Islands, head back home to get cleaned up and have an enjoyable evening having dinner at a local restaurant such as O Zygos and one final stroll through of town.

Next: Head back to Athens

You've had 12 incredible days on the Western Cyclades of the Greek Islands and alas its finally time to head back to the mainland.

With your bags packed, walk down to the port and if you're hungry, grab something to eat at one of the restaurants across to the waiting area.  Otherwise, you can find something to eat on the boat.

From here, I hand it over to the final guide which is a 2 day itinerary of Athens which we kick started once we arrived back in Athens from Milos.

Read the full Athens 2 day itinerary

This is the perfect itinerary for those that want to plan some time in the capital either before or after their island hopping and might not necessarily have too many days to work with.

2 Day Athens Itinerary

Where to Stay in Milos

Milos has quite a number of accommodations that are spaced out on all corners of the island.  There are the beach areas to the south, fishing villages and small towns, the old town of Plaka, the chill area of Pollonia, and of course the port village of Adamas.

For us, the line of thinking was that we wanted to be central and since Adamas looked like a pretty decent place that would put us close to all of the stores and supplies, popular restaurants, and walking distance to our ferry, it just seemed to logistically make more sense

Review of Giannoulis Hotel

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  Living space
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  Mini kitchen
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  View below from the balcony
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  Our suite's balcony
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  Desk and bed
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Ultimately we landed on Giannoulis Hotel.  What was unique about this property is that it's not really a hotel.  Yes they kind of have a reception desk on the main floor but it's really more of an apartment rental than anything.  The other unique thing here is that they're run by a property management company called Milos Accommodations.

As a result, the check-in process is a little confusing where you still have to go to their offices first, wait for the word that the room is ready, and then walk your way up to the property which is located near the end of the primary development along the main street that runs up and down through Adamas.

It was a bit of a jarring experience but we learned that in this particular case, many Greek owners just aren't digitally savvy nor do they speak English so they act as an intermediary.

The Room

Throughout our entire trip to Greece, this was the largest and most spacious room we had.  With wood beams running above and traditional Cycladic white painted concrete, we loved how this was one open concept with a wall that separated the living space from the bed.

Inside is a mini-kitchen with fridge.  While we didn't cook, it was nice to have cups, utensils, kettle, and plates for our breakfasts.

The living space was outfitted with a large couch, coffee table and desk for my laptop.  Again, the TV was a tiny one on the desk but we never turned it on.

The bathroom was large and clean, and it was nice that we didn't have to worry about a hot water tank.

Wifi was ok but I did notice random drop-offs in the evening.  Each suite has its own router and so I often mitigated this by changing to other access points.

Lastly, there's also a balcony here that overlooks the street so that was a great place to dry our clothes or have an impromptu meal.

The Location

Giannoulis Hotel is located in a super convenient place.  It's in Adamas and walking distance to the village without being in the middle of it.

Being in Adamas means that you're minutes away from good restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and services so you never really have to plan around going to Adamas during the day to restock because you know that you'll always start and end your day there.

The property has its own parking spaces which is great if you plan on renting a car or ATV.

The Service

Being more of an apartment than a hotel, there's no cleaning during your stay but I am sure that you can request it if you need it.

In terms of checking in, everything was done through the Milos Accommodations office which is also in Adamas.  When we arrived, we actually had to wait a little because our room wasn't ready but they allowed us to leave our bags at the office and walk around.

Milos Accommodations also helped us book our ATV as well.  They called a few places to find out prices for us and we eventually landed on Moto Christos which had the cheapest price.

When we had a question for the front desk at Giannoulis Hotel, they couldn't really understand our English and so they ended up calling Milos Accommodations where we spoke to their staff instead.

Book Giannoulis Hotel

See Giannoulis on Airbnb

Hotels to Consider

I've selected 4 accommodations including the one we stayed at to give you a few options to choose from when selecting a Milos hotel depending on your budget and where you want to be.

I STAYED HERE

GIANNOULIS HOTEL

An unexpectedly awesome hotel in Adamas that was super spacious with its living space with kitchenette and couch plus separated bedroom.  Wifi is available throughout and there is parking available for cars and ATVs.  Airbnb listing is available.

TripAdvisor

Booking.com

BUDGET

KORINA'S ROOM

You can't beat the price for this property in Pollonia.  These are Cycladic-style rooms just 50m from the beach and tavernas.  Wifi is free throughout and all units have air condition with balcony or patio.  No frills and great location.

TripAdvisor

Booking.com

UNIQUE WINDMILL

DROUGAS' WINDMILL

A full two bedroom house at an affordable price in Plaka that is truly a unique experience.  The garden, patio, and terrace overlooking the sea and mountain is truly a highlight.  Fridge is stocked with breakfast foods too.

TripAdvisor

Booking.com

LUXURY

MILOS BREEZE BOUTIQUE HOTEL

Located in Pollonia, this hotel is perched on a cliff offering panoramic views.  Features an infinity swimming pool, modern Cycladic-style rooms, and included breakfast will spoil you every day.

TripAdvisor

Booking.com

What We Missed

As you go through the itinerary, there's a huge piece missing from it and that would be the sailing trip out to Kleftiko and the other beaches on the western side of the island.  That wasn't our intention but because the days we were there were quite windy, many of the boat trips were cancelled or rescheduled.

I definitely would have loved to have seen the pirate cove that at certain angles almost looks like there's a circular opening to the sky.  It's a trip that would've exposed us to what the landscape is like on the protected side of Milos.

If we could, we would've done one of these sailing excursions:

• Kleftiko Full Day Sailing Cruise with Snorkeling & Lunch – Perfect yacht sailing trip for those that want to leave from the Adamantas Port.  You'll visit several beaches along the way and the hideout of Kleftiko.
• Milos Sailing Tour with Snorkeling and Lunch – One of the most popular tours and a great way to see the coastline from a luxury catamaran.  Includes a snorkel safari, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and snacks.  Ideal for families and leaves from Pollonia.
• Poliegos, Firligos and Kleftiko Caves Full Day Cruise – This is a full day catamaran cruise that takes you two 3 beaches that are not easy to get to.  This leaves from Pollonia.

Tours To Consider

The Milos Travel Guide

The below is a mini travel-guide for the island as a companion to this Milos 3 day itinerary.  It may not have all the details about travel through the Greek Islands so to make sure you don't miss anything, read the comprehensive travel guide.

READ THE FULL GUIDE

Money – In Milos and Greece in general, I always recommend carrying Euros in your pocket.  While there are many places that do take credit card (most restaurants, hotels, and larger stores), there are still many situations where it's advantageous or necessary to have cash.  For us, we found that we were always trying to break change as well because you just never knew when you had to tip.  Even if you're using a credit card machine at a restaurant, many don't have the tip option enabled so you'll still have to leave coins on the table.

Tipping – The general rule of thumb for tipping in Greece is 10%.  In the case of taxis, don't feel the need to tip extra because they're handling your luggage, this is usually already added to your rate.  For hotels, 1 to 2 EUR per day is the norm.

Ferry – Milos is part of a cluster of islands in the Western Cyclades that falls under a very specific ferry route.  If you end up following my itinerary, your best bet would be with SeaJets and the NaxosJet which covers a majority of the islands you'd want to go to.  The easiest way to find out what's possible is to use FerriesinGreece to do a search and you'll see exactly what works for your dates.

When it comes to making ferry reservations, I always recommend doing it as soon as possible even if you're going during low-season.  This is one of those things you'd rather not let go to chance.

Car vs ATV:  When we arrived at Milos, we thought we'd go for a car rental but when we were comparing prices, the ATV was cheaper and since we had gained the confidence of driving in Milos, we felt pretty comfortable and the guy at Milos Accommodations said that the ATV would be more convenient.  That said, we did find that the roads were much busier here than in Folegandros so the extra experience definitely helped especially in a couple instances we had to drive at night.  When we were driving through the tiny streets of Trypiti and navigating really sharp turns, we understood why Milos Accommodations recommended having an ATV instead of a car.

Zones of no insurance coverage for cars:  A unique thing about Milos is that half of the island is protected and off-limits cars despite having dirt roads.  This is strictly enforced by car rental companies because there are drawn lines of where the car is covered by insurance and where it isn't and effectively “drive at your own risk”.  Most rental companies will warn you against driving to the west where there's no insurance coverage if your car breaks down.  Some also have areas of the far east covered off as “no service” which means going to the Old Sulfur Mines at Paliorema are also considered to be off-limits.  If you plan on doing any of these areas, a 4×4 is almost mandatory because of the off-road and presence of large rocks.

Taxi:  If you need to take a taxi when you arrive in Milos, there is a small fleet of them on the island.  To give you an idea of the fare, it costs 15 EUR from Adamas to Pollonia.

Bus:  Come to think of it, we didn't see any buses during our time in Milos but I am sure they were around.  With how expansive Milos is, I am not sure I would recommend this mode of transportation but if you are looking to take the bus, you can find out more information about them here.

When is the best time? – This applies to all of the Greek Islands.  The best time to go is in the summer season since a lot of things closed in the off-season and the weather isn't the best.  Best months are May – June and September – October.

Beaches:  Milos has over 75 beaches, some of which are difficult to access on the west and others that you can drive to.  They vary from golden sandy to rocky and raw.  What makes Milos a great place is that you can have a completely different beach experience day to day.  One thing to note is the wind direction for the day because that can have an impact on where you want to be.

Getting here – Milos has an airport with code MLO and is located 5KM southeast of Adamas and is primarily serviced by the region carriers Olympia Air and Sky Express.  The tried and true way to get here is by ferry.  Again, use FerriesinGreece to check which ferries fit your schedule.

Where should I stay? – We did almost all of our hotel reservations through Booking.com and it's because they have such a good inventory of properties that range from hotels, hostels, guesthouses, and resorts.  I love that cancellation is easy for most properties and the booking management is seamless.  Plus, if you get up to Genius Level 2, you can save up to 15% off on top.  As an alternative, there's also Agoda and Airbnb.

Do I need travel insurance? – As always, travel insurance is highly recommended.  My philosophy is that you want to make sure you're covered in case the unknown happens.  Make sure to read our guide on choosing the right travel insurance for you. Overall, World Nomads has the best balance of price and coverage.

Top 5 Tips For Milos

#1 Watch the wind conditions

Depending on the time of year you go, this may impact you or more or less.  What we learned is that high winds can very well change whether boat excursions will leave from certain harbours and ports.  In addition, high wind conditions can affect your beach experience as well.  This was the case for us when we were at Sarakiniko where the fine powder of the rock became very disruptive.

If you're strategic, find out the direction of the wind and go to the side of the island that will be affected the least.

#2 You have to eat at Medusa

If you want to have amazing seafood and have a view while doing it, plan to have lunch or dinner at Medusa in Mandrakia.  They don't take reservations here so come here during off-hours or expect to wait in line during high-season.

#3 There's a lot of mining here

There are quite a few active open-pit mining sites on the island and as a result you have to be careful driving here because you'll pass through zones where there could be large construction trucks carrying equipment or mining products back and forth.

Since it can get pretty windy on Milos and with the open pits, sand gets kicked up.  I was thankful to have my buff when a lot of sand was blasting at our faces while driving the ATV.

#4 Buy honey

While this isn't exclusive to Milos, we discovered the thyme homemade honey at Kivotos ton Gefseon in Pollonia which has made a great souvenir and for us to use at home.

#5 Consider staying in a quiet part of the island

Okay I know this totally contradicts my recommendation to stay near Adamas but if you're looking for more of a getaway property, we met a lovely couple in Mandrakia that raved about their stay at Seadscape Mandrakia.  I can totally see the appeal of a property like this where there aren't many neighbours in the area, you're walking distance to the restaurant, Medusa, and the beach is right in front of you.

How I Feel About Milos

Third to Santorini and Mykonos is Milos in terms of being the most well-known of the Western Cyclades but you wouldn't know it from how you can find your own pockets of paradise on the island.

As the birthplace to Aphrodite and coined “island of Venus” for being the place where the Venus de Milo statue was rediscovered, there's a sense of mystery and wonder that I could connect with.

With a vast area to explore from small settlements, crazy-looking beaches, active and ruins of mining operations, sparkling waters, and amazing Greek food, it's the kind of place where I felt like I needed at least another 3 days to see it all.

Milos to me was the perfect in-between island that wasn't overwhelmingly busy like Santorini but not as quiet as a Folegandros.  The main port of Adamas was a hive of activity and you were never alone in any of the beaches but it was nice that you didn't have to fight for a spot to catch the sunset or walk through large crowds.

There's more than enough of Milos for everyone to enjoy.  More than that, I loved that Milos was just a little different from the others.

I would love to hear from you.  Are you having trouble planning your Greek Island itinerary like I was?  Drop a line here if you have any specific questions or just want to share your favourite spots in Milos.

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