Milos island guide

Adamas is the most convenient base on Milos, with the ferry port, the departure point for boat trips, restaurants, bars and shops all within a short walk. It sits in the great natural harbour of the island, one of the largest in the Mediterranean. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Ferry port
• Boat-trip departures
• Restaurants and bars

Plaka is a lovely village of whitewashed lanes and little squares on the hill above Adamas. Climb up to the Kastro at its summit for a sunset over the bay that rivals any in the Cyclades, then come back down for dinner in its tavernas. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Kastro sunsets
• White lanes
• Boutique stays

Pollonia is the most charming harbour on Milos, with fishing boats, a tamarisk-shaded beach and some of the best seafood tavernas on the island. Small ferries cross from here to the neighbouring island of Kimolos. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Seafood tavernas
• Calm beach
• Boats to Kimolos

Klima is the most photographed place on Milos: a row of white boathouses with doors and balconies painted in blue, red and green, where fishermen keep their boats below their homes. Some have been turned into lovely places to stay. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner.

• Painted boathouses
• Right on the water
• Below Plaka

Mandrakia is a little cove of syrmata and fishing boats on the north coast, a peaceful place for a swim and a seafood lunch. Wander without a plan: the joy of the Cyclades is in the lanes, the little squares and the views that open up around every corner. Early morning and the golden hour before sunset are the most beautiful times to explore Milos’s villages.

• Fishing boathouses
• Medusa taverna
• Peaceful cove

Sarakiniko looks like the surface of the moon: smooth, white volcanic rock sculpted into waves and ridges, with a narrow inlet of turquoise water. There is no shade, so come early or late in the day. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot.

• Lunar white rocks
• Turquoise inlet
• No shade

Firiplaka is one of the most beautiful beaches on Milos, with soft sand, shallow turquoise water and towering cliffs in colours from white to rust red, and a rock pinnacle rising from the water. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot.

• Coloured cliffs
• Turquoise water
• Sheltered from the north wind

Tsigrado is a small, beautiful cove of clear water, reached by climbing down a ladder and rope through a gap in the cliff. It is an adventure, so wear good shoes and skip it with small children. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot.

• Ladder access
• Crystal-clear water
• Next to Firiplaka

Paliochori is one of the best-organised beaches on Milos, with coloured volcanic rocks, sunbeds, beach bars and tavernas. The ground is so warm from volcanic activity that food is cooked in the sand. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot.

• Volcanic cliffs
• Beach bars
• Food cooked in the sand

Kleftiko is the most spectacular sight on the Milos coast: white cliffs, arches and caves rising from turquoise water, once used as a hideout by pirates. Most visitors come on a boat trip from Adamas. Bring water and sun protection, as shade can be scarce, and arrive early in July and August for the best spot.

• Sea caves and arches
• Reached by boat
• Swimming stops

Deep Blue is an easy-going beach bar on Paliochori, with sunbeds, cold drinks and cocktails between swims below the colourful cliffs. Sunbeds usually cost extra, and the most popular clubs are worth booking at weekends in July and August. Arrive by late morning for the best sunbeds, and check whether there is a minimum spend.

• Sunbeds
• Cocktails and coffee
• On Paliochori

Sirocco is the most unusual restaurant on Milos: dishes are buried in pots in the naturally hot sand of the beach and slow-cooked by the heat of the volcano. The slow-cooked lamb is famous. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view.

• Cooked by the volcano
• Slow-cooked lamb
• On the beach

Medusa sits on the rocks above the little cove of Mandrakia, and its grilled octopus, fresh fish and meze with ouzo make one of the best lunches on Milos. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Milos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Grilled octopus
• Ouzo and meze
• Sea views

O! Hamos! is a joyful, rustic taverna where everything comes from the family farm, served in a garden near the sea. It does not take bookings, so arrive around 6pm. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Milos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Farm produce
• No bookings
• Arrive early

Gialos has tables on the waterfront of Pollonia, looking over the fishing boats, with fresh fish and traditional Greek dishes. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Milos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Waterfront tables
• Fresh fish
• Pollonia harbour

Astakas is the place to eat in Klima, among the painted boathouses, with seafood and pasta and views across the bay. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Milos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Among the syrmata
• Seafood and pasta
• Bay views

Hanabi serves sushi and Japanese dishes on the seafront at Pollonia, a refreshing change after days of Greek tavernas. In high season it is wise to book a table, especially for sunset or for a terrace with a view. Ask about the dish of the day and the local wine: kitchens on Milos cook with what the island produces each season.

• Sushi
• Seafront
• In Pollonia

Akri is a lovely spot for an evening drink in Adamas, with cocktails on a terrace overlooking the port and the bay. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year.

• Harbour views
• Cocktails
• Above the port

Aragosta has a relaxed terrace on the coast of Adamas, with cocktails and food looking over the port and the sea. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year.

• Port views
• Cocktails
• Relaxed terrace

Utopia is one of the best places on Milos to watch the sunset, with a terrace in Plaka looking out over the great bay. Island evenings start late: most bars fill up after dinner and stay lively well past midnight in summer. Opening times change with the season, so check before you go early or late in the year.

• Sunset views
• In Plaka
• Relaxed terrace

Hotel Rigas is a well-recommended, good-value base in Adamas, with everything you need for exploring the island within walking distance. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Milos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Good value
• Near the port
• Walk to restaurants

Heliotropio offers stylish studios and apartments by the sea in Pollonia, steps from its tavernas and beach. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Milos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Sea views
• Quiet harbour
• Near tavernas

Machi’s House is a charming place to stay in Plaka, where you can walk up to the Kastro for sunset and dine in the village lanes. Book early for July and August, when the best rooms on the islands sell out months ahead. Many hotels on Milos open from spring to autumn only, so check the season dates if you travel early or late in the year.

• Village atmosphere
• Walk to the Kastro
• Sunsets

Airbnb lists hundreds of places to stay on Milos, from whitewashed village houses to modern villas with private pools, and many are run by local families. It suits families and groups who want a kitchen and more space than a hotel room. Read the reviews and check how far the property is from the beaches and the main town.

• Villas with pools
• Village houses
• Good for families and groups

Vrbo specialises in renting whole properties rather than rooms, so it is a good place to find a house or villa on Milos for a family or a group of friends. Compare the total price, including cleaning and service fees, with the same property on other sites. Check the exact location on a map before you book, as island roads can be steep and villages are spread out.

• Whole houses and villas
• Good for longer stays
• Compare total prices

Many of the friendliest places to stay on Milos are small, family-run studios and rooms, and most of them can be booked on Booking.com, often with free cancellation if your plans change. Filter by village and read recent reviews for cleanliness and the welcome. Check the exact location on a map before you book, as island roads can be steep and villages are spread out.

• Family-run studios
• Free cancellation on many rooms
• Easy to compare

Milos has more than 70 beaches, and many are reached by dirt roads, so a car or an ATV is the best way to explore. Rental offices line the port of Adamas, and some deliver to the airport. Book ahead in July and August, check the insurance carefully, and photograph the car when you collect it; a valid licence is needed and non-EU drivers may also need an International Driving Permit.

• Offices in Adamas
• ATVs for dirt roads
• Airport delivery

A boat trip around Milos is a must: boats and catamarans from Adamas sail along the coast to Kleftiko’s caves, Gerakas and other bays, with swimming stops in turquoise water and often lunch on board. Trips depend on the weather and the wind, so keep a spare day in your plans in case of cancellations.

• Kleftiko caves
• Swimming stops
• Lunch on board

Kimolos is a peaceful little island just across the strait from Pollonia, with a lovely white village and quiet beaches, perfect for a slow day out. Trips depend on the weather and the wind, so keep a spare day in your plans in case of cancellations. Book ahead in July and August, when the best trips on Milos fill up quickly.

• Short ferry
• Quiet island
• Clear beaches

The path to the Kastro winds up past chapels to the summit of Plaka, where the whole bay of Milos spreads out below. Go early to find a spot on the walls. The climb takes about fifteen minutes from the village, with steps all the way, so wear comfortable shoes. Afterwards, come back down to the lanes of Plaka, where tavernas and cafés fill up for dinner as the lights of Adamas come on across the bay.

• Panoramic view
• Go early
• Steps to the top

The catacombs of Milos are a rare and moving sight, a network of underground passages used by the early Christians, close to the place where the Venus de Milo was found. Visits are short and guided along a lit walkway, and the site is close to the spot where the Venus de Milo was found and to the ancient theatre. Combine it with a walk down to the boathouses of Klima, just below.

• Early Christian site
• Near Trypiti
• Short visit

Ferries arrive at Adamas from Piraeus and the islands of the western Cyclades, such as Sifnos, Serifos and Kimolos. Taxis and rental offices are by the quay. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Milos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable.

• Ferries to Piraeus
• Western Cyclades
• Rentals by the quay

Milos airport has short flights from Athens, a quick alternative to the ferry. Arrange a taxi or car hire in advance. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Milos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable. Pharmacies take turns to open in the evenings and on Sundays; the rota is posted on every pharmacy door.

• Flights from Athens
• Near Adamas
• Pre-book transfers

In summer, buses link Adamas with Plaka, Pollonia, Paliochori and other main beaches. Many beaches are on dirt roads, so a car or ATV gives more freedom. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Milos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable.

• From Adamas
• Main beaches
• Summer service

For emergencies call 112, or 166 for an ambulance. Serious cases are transferred to larger hospitals, so travel insurance is strongly recommended. For any emergency in Greece call 112. Ferry and flight times on Milos change with the season, so always check the latest timetable. Pharmacies take turns to open in the evenings and on Sundays; the rota is posted on every pharmacy door.

• Emergency 112, ambulance 166
• Pharmacies in Adamas
• Travel insurance advised