the ultimate guide to milos

by kat & joe

milos

Milos will undoubtedly be one of our favourite places forever. This tiny island tucked away in the Aegean Sea is starting to have its moment and there’s no wondering why! Have you ever been somewhere that you just knew you would love and it meets (or even exceeds) every single expectation?! To put it simply, we fell in love with Milos. If you’re a fan of rugged landscapes, endless amounts of beaches and sunshine, then this place is a must visit! Here, we will give you the ultimate guide to Milos.

where and how?

Milos is quite a remote island when it comes to the Greek Islands and it wouldn’t surprise us if that is why it has flown under the radar for so many years. Forming part of the Cyclades Islands, Milos is known for its volcanic geology and 80+ beaches! If you’re coming from Athens, we recommend flying to Milos as the ferry ride will take a decent chunk out of your day (about 3.5 hours if they run on time) and if you’re lucky like us, your flights may even work out to be cheaper than the ferry! However, even if the flights cost more, sometimes we think it’s worth paying a little extra just to get somewhere quicker as you’re already on holiday…and time is money!

 

We always use Skyscanner when looking for our flights, however we recommend you book directly through the airline once selecting your flight. Ferryhopper is the place to go for your ferry options in Greece. It can be quite common for these small flights to get cancelled due to high winds over the Aegean Sea so we recommend booking an earlier flight to give yourself time to sort alternative plans if things go wrong.

 

All things going well, you should arrive at Milos Airport in about 40 minutes from Athens. If you’re travelling to Milos via ferry from any of the other Greek Islands, you’ll be arriving in the main port town of Adamas (also called Adamantas). It’s important to note that due to Milos’ location, ferries aren’t as frequent so make sure when you’re island hopping that you can actually get to Milos in an efficient way!

Sarakiniko beach

transport

It’s very easy to get around the island if you have your own private transport. There are plenty of options ranging from cars, ATVs and scooters. We opted for an ATV from Apollonas Sunshine because we knew we’d be doing lots of exploring and it’s a lot more powerful than a scooter and cheaper than a car. As long as you drive safely, we think the ATV is the best option. It is easy to learn (safe), gives you enough storage for a full day’s outing (practical), it cools you down when you’re speeding through the wind (comfort) and it just fully adds to the experience (winning!). Alternatively, there are a handful of bus services which take you to the hotspots (we have a travel guide coming soon on the Best things to do in Milos which outline these hotspots – so stay tuned!), but we would really recommend hiring an ATV – even if it’s just for a few days.

 

Some transport tips:

  • Make sure to pre-book your mode of transport, especially in the high season. The ATVs and scooters are in hot demand and are fully worth it!
  • We bought International Drivers Licences which you will need when picking your vehicle up. These are super easy to order and take about 2 weeks to receive. Buy these from home as they’re much cheaper!

where to stay?

Milos is still a rugged, authentic Greek Island. It is so quaint which is one of our favourite things about it! Think of the island as a thick, but short, “U” shape. The right side of the “U” is where you’ll want to be staying. That’s where you’ll find all the main towns and best beaches so is where you’ll likely be spending most of your time.

 

We stayed in Adamas and think it is the perfect base for Milos first timers. It has everything you need from a supermarket, plenty of food options, the main bus stop and is likely to be where you’ll pick your mode of transport from. It’s also super accessible to the main hotspots of Sarakiniko, Mandrakia and Fyropotamos beaches (all on the right side of our thick, short “U”). We stayed about 300m away from the supermarket which was so useful being able to pop into town and get food at the end of the day. There is also a bakery with an amazing selection of goodies to pack into your ATV to fuel your excursions, along with the BEST (and cheap) gyros place called Yankos. We talk about Yankos more in our upcoming guide Best Things to do in Milos guide, as it was just that good!

 

Other main accommodation options include Plaka, Pollonia and Mandrakia. Plaka is the capital of the island and is pretty unique in itself. We definitely recommend visiting there and having a cheap sunset dinner. Pollonia is another village but it is a lot more isolated, being on the north-eastern coast, making it a lot further away from the parts of the island where you’ll be wanting to spend more time at. However, it’s still a decent area with its own beach and town. Mandrakia is another great option to stay. It’s nestled in a remote area amongst popular beaches and has modern accommodation options. Having a dinner by the fishing houses is a MUST or dining in at Medusa. It doesn’t have its own town, however there’s a nearby supermarket and Adamas is just a short drive away if you need more rations. We might look to stay in this area when we go back to Milos next time, and it would be a great place to stay if you’re with a larger group as you’ll have a lot more space!

Did you know you can stay in those fisherman houses pictured above?

final review

So, if you’re looking for an unforgettable Greek beach holiday and having wind-swept hair from endless ATV rides, then Milos is definitely the place for you. It’s such a unique island with crazy landscapes and beautiful beaches, but if you’re looking to party and have some late nights, then Milos doesn’t quite compare to its Greek Island counterparts. 

 

We stayed for 5 nights in early July and in all honesty, it was a lot less busy than we thought it would be for peak summer, but we doubt this will last for much longer! If you love to beach hop and slow down, then we recommend 4-5 nights. We know of a few people who stayed for 2-3 nights and wish they could’ve stayed longer as it just doesn’t give you enough time to fully immerse yourself into the island. 4 nights (5 days) will give you ample time to beach hop at your own pace and actually enjoy the immaculate vibe that Milos has to offer!

 

If you’re continuing your Greek Island adventure, then stay tuned for our other guides coming soon!

See you there!

Kat & Joe