The Magic of Milos
- Takeabreak
- Jun 13
- 8 min read
A 4 day itinerary for Milos, Greece. Plus general information about the island and travel tips.
Day 1: Experience Plaka, Firopotamos, and Mandrakia
*Tip - if this is the first day of your Greece tour, ease into the jet lag and don’t over schedule yourself. We chose not to book any scheduled tours on the first day to allow ourselves to sleep in and move at our own pace.
Start your day in Plaka, the capital of Milos, and the biggest town on the island. Plaka can get fairly crowded for this reason, so if you would like to get unobstructed photos or not deal with crowds, try to get there earlier in the day.
If you are here in the morning, grab some breakfast or coffee at Kokkino. It is a great little cafe nestled in the winding roads of Plaka. You may even be joined by a neighborhood cat. Kokkino has a good selection of breakfast and lunch options. They also have a number of delicious crepe options.
A great vantage point to check out is the Prophet Elias Holy Chapel. The view overlooking the water is incredible.
Take your time winding around the streets and exploring the different shops and museums in the area. We walked through the ancient theater on the cliff sides near Plaka. We didn’t end up stopping in any of the other museums, but some to mention that are popular are the War Museum, the Archaeological Museum, the Folk and Historic Milos Museum, and the Milos Mining Museum.
If you are interested in seeing Catacombs, you may consider stopping at the Catacombs of Milos. We did not make the stop, but online they appeared to be a very cool attraction. There are three catacombs interconnected underground that date back to the 1st century. You will need to buy a tour ticket in order to enter the catacombs. The tickets cost 10 Euros per person for a 5-10 minute tour.
*Tip - If you are visiting the catacombs or the ancient theater, park your car in the parking lot next to the catacombs. If you try to walk from Plaka (above) or Klima (below on the water) you will need to climb A LOT of stairs.
After Plaka take a 10 minute drive over to Firopotamos. There is a beautiful little sandy beach that you can park along the street to access. There are no amenities here, so if you plan to stay for awhile, make sure to pack snacks, water, and something to sit on (the sand gets hot!). Enjoy the views and take some time to lounge. If you get hungry while in this area, drive 10 more minutes up the road to Mandrakia. Mandrakia is a tiny little fishing village but boasts a great lunch spot called Medusa. You can enjoy fresh seafood while overlooking the water.
Drive back to Plaka to enjoy the gorgeous Milos sunset views. One of the best places to watch the sunset is up at the venetian castle. There’s plenty of room to sit along the stone walls and take it all in. Plan to walk up to the castle at least 30 minutes before sunset, as it can get crowded on the narrow stairway and you will want to stop and see all the viewpoints along the way.
Before or after the sunset, check out Avli-Milos for dinner. This restaurant has delicious authentic Greek dishes that you can enjoy dining under a beautiful canopy of bougainvillea vines.
If instead you would like to have dinner with a view, head down to Klima. Astakas Cafe Restaurant has tables right along the water where you can enjoy the sunset while dining.
Day 2: Full Day Sailboat Tour with Snorkeling
A great way to see the island of Milos is from a boat. Many of the remote beaches and bodies of water are hard to access from land. It's also such a relaxing way to get some sun and enjoy the views.
We chose to take a full day catamaran cruise. There are also options to take a shorter tour, or to rent a boat and captain it yourself. We booked our tour through Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g494953-d25324911-Milos_and_Polyaigos_Full_Day_Cruise_with_Meals_and_Snorkelling-Milos_Cyclades_Sout.html
The full tour took about 9-10 hours and included lunch, snacks, and beverages (including wine). The itinerary was as follows:
Start at Adamantas
Pass by: Klima, Sarakiniko Beach, Glaronissia
1hr stop at Polyaigos - GOAT ISLAND!
1hr stop at Gerakas Beach
Pass by Tsigrado Beach
2hr stop at Kleftiko Beach
Pass by Cape Vani
Return to Adamantas
After a full day at sea, have a relaxing evening strolling around Adamantas. A popular dinner spot in town is O! Hamos! Tavern. Enjoy fresh Greek dishes under a canopy of grape vines with views of the harbor.
Another great dinner option in Adamantos is Nostos Seafood Experience. Nostos boasts some of the best seafood on the island, and I believe it! The food was very fresh, and you can't beat the beautiful views of the harbor.
Day 3: Explore Sarakoniko Beach, Papafragas and Paparodi, and Pollonia
First stop of the day is the incredible Sarakoniko Beach. The area is not much of a "beach", but is made up of white volcanic ash, making it look like the surface of the moon! The ground here can get hot, so try to come earlier in the day. As there isn't actual sand here, you will want to wear comfortable shoes and bring something to lay down on if you plan to lounge. There are no amenities here, so be sure to pack plenty of water and snacks.
Take some time to explore the different areas of the beach and relax in the sun. Check out the cool caves beneath the rock as well. If you're feeling bold, try out the cliff jump to cool off.
Jump in the car again and head out to Pollonia. On the way to Pollonia, if you have the time, stop off at Papafragas and Paparodi. This is a beautiful beach with an iconic sea arch over the water. The walk down to the water is steep and involves a lot of stairs and some climbing. If you are not comfortable with this, or the weather isn't ideal, just skip this stop.
Continue on to Pollonia, a beautiful seaside town on the Northeast tip of Milos. Spend the afternoon relaxing at Pollonia beach and checking out the little shops around town. Visit Agios Nikolaos Church to get a great vantage point of the harbor. Enjoy lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants in town. We went to Yialos Restaurant, and the seafood was as fresh as it gets! They also had an amazing chocolate cake for dessert.
After Pollonia, check out the nearby Kostantakis Winery. The winery is a beautiful family owned operation since 2013. The wine is kept in volcanic caves, that you can explore when you visit. We did a wine tasting, which included a snack platter and plenty of delicious wine options. After a day filled with sun and beaches, it was nice to unwind with a glass of wine in this picturesque vineyard.
Day 4: Morning Kayak Tour and Paralia Paleochori
Get your arm muscles ready for a beautiful kayak tour along the coast of Milos. We booked the tour through Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g494953-d19802852-Kayaking_Tour_to_the_secrets_of_Milos-Milos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html
The tour lasts about 3.5 hours, and the itinerary is as follows:
Start at Paralia Firiplaka
Paddle to Tsigrado Beach
Paddle to Gerakas Beach
Return to Paralia Firiplaka
If you are worried about your upper body strength, have no fear. The tour goes at a relaxing pace and has plenty of stops along the way. We took couple kayaks, and there were some parents sharing a kayak with their child and they had no issues. The tour includes go-pro cameras to capture all of your views, so no need to risk getting your phone wet.
After the tour, take some time to relax on Paralia Firiplaka Beach. This beach boasts beautiful white sand with clear waters.
In the afternoon, continue on to Paralia Paleochori. Pay a little extra to rent a beach chair or cabana. It is worth it, as there are volcanic streams running under the sand so it gets very hot underfoot! They even have some wooden boardwalks to get around because it is so hot to the touch. The beach chairs and cabanas also come with drink service from the nearby restaurant.
Once you've worked up an appetite, enjoy the beachside restaurant Sirocco. This was our favorite restaurant on the island. We actually ended up eating here twice within our stay on Milos. The food is fresh, and local, and has a fun twist of offering some "volcanic" dishes. These dishes are actually cooked in the sand at the beach! We ordered the volcanic cooked fish, and were able to expereince the entire cooking process. Aside from the volcanic dishes, Sirocco also serves up delicious fresh salads, traditional Greek dishes, and has a wide selection of drinks.
Day 5: Travel Day
If you are leaving Milos by ferry, and need to grab a quick meal before you leave, check out Gyros of Milos right across from the ferry port. Gyros are a classic Greek favorite. These handheld meals are perfect to fill you up before hopping on the ferry to your next stop.
Milos, Greece - General Information:
How do I get to Milos?
Milos is accessible from ferry or plane. The main ferry port is the Adamantas Port. The airport is the Milos Airport.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the Armony Suites in Paliochori on Milos. It is on the secluded Southeast side of the island, but still only a 20 minute drive to Adamantas. We enjoyed staying in this area, as it was quiet and peaceful, but still had some amenities due to the number a small resorts in the area. We paid about $310/night (including taxes and fees) through Expedia, for a king sized bed suite with hot tub. The room did not disappoint. It was clean, quiet, beautifully decorated, and had a great view of the ocean. The hotel also offered complimentary breakfast room service which was delicious and we took advantage of almost every day we stayed.
Do I need a rental car in Milos?
Yes, I would recommend booking a rental car. The top sites on Milos are far apart on the island, and all are worth a visit if you have the time. You can book a boat tour that brings you to some of the sites, but I prefer to have the freedom to drive around myself as I like.
We booked our rental car through Expedia using Avis Car Rental. It ran us about $60 per day including the fees and taxes. Most of the rental cars are compact, which is good for the tight roads of the island. Gas in Milos ran about 2.10 Euro per liter. We never had an issue being able to locate a gas station when needed.
There are rental car locations all over the island, but we picked ours up at. theMilos Airport.
What currency is used on Milos?
The Euro is the currency of Milos. I would recommend having some currency on hand, though many of the restuarants take credit cards.
What language is spoken in Milos?
The local language is Greek, though many of the larger towns are familiar with English. I would recommend learning a few short phrases. The locals will appreciate your effort.
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