Greek island of dreams: Milos

Milos

When you think of Greece, do you think of turquoise water, white sand, fresh seafood, and beautiful sunsets? Well, then you simply have to go to the island of Milos, situated in the Aegean Sea, south of Athens. Here are my tips on how to enjoy all the goodies Milos has to offer, on a budget.

How to get there

There are 2 ways to get to Milos – by air or by boat. Both options will require you to first reach mainland Greece (Athens) or one of the more popular Islands like Santorini. The airport in Milos is very small and takes regular domestic flights from other places in Greece. The downside of this is you are limited with luggage size & weight.

I took the other option, a ferry from Athens. The journey time can take anywhere from 2.5hrs up to 7+hrs depending on the route & ferry company. I paid $75 per person for a 3.5hr journey with Champion Jet in the month of June, to give you an idea of costs and this ferry stopped off at 1 or 2 islands on the way to Milos to drop off other travelers. It’s definitely one of those things that are cheaper the sooner you book it so bear that in mind when you’re planning your trip. The beauty of traveling by ferry is you have more flexibility with luggage limits and the views are to die for.

Where to stay

There are 3 main towns in Milos which I would take into consideration for accommodation:

Adamantas, the biggest town and the one where the ferry loads and offloads, is probably my favorite option and the one I stayed in during my visit to Milos. It’s a hub for restaurants, local craft shops, and bars, everything within walking distance. I stayed at the Soulis Studios which are apartment-style digs with their own kitchen and great views. It was a 10-15 minute walk from the main streets in Amamantas. It was budget friendly and basic which suited my needs but if you are going there on your honeymoon, maybe consider somewhere more luxurious.

Plaka, a small town 15 minutes north of Adamantas, is another really great option. The town is perched up on a height, resulting in amazing views and it is closed off to cars which makes it more endearing. The winding streets are full of gorgeous bars & eateries and feel slightly more upscale than the other towns. It’s near to some great beaches too which I will get more into below.

Pollonia, 20 minutes northeast of Adamantas is a great beach-vibe town. Definitely quieter than the other 2 towns and seemed to have more boutique-style accommodations. This would be perfect for a relaxing retreat but you would definitely need wheels to get around and see the rest of the island. The restaurants here are super expensive too.

How to get around

Milos is still a relatively untouched island, compared to its siblings Santorini & Mykonos and I would definitely recommend hiring some wheels to get around during your stay. You have the main options of Scooter, ATV and, car. I wouldn’t recommend bicycles due to the weather being so hot and there are a lot of hills! We rented a scooter from Smile Car & Scooter Rentals in Adamantas for 20euro per day including 2 helmets and it was great but we did concur that an ATV might have felt a bit safer due to the steep hills and lack of experience handling scooters, especially when carrying a passenger.

Tip The part of the island crossed off in Red on my map is a no-go zone with rentals. Our scooter rental company told us we would not be insured if we entered that portion of the island. Apparently, it’s not very developed and there are a lot of snakes but you can see this part of the island by boat tour as there are nice beaches & caves.

The fun part – What to do in Milos

Firopotamos Beach

Get in losers, we’re going to the beach. This hidden gem is tucked away at the bottom of a big hill and contains a gorgeous sandy beach, bopping beach bar, white-washed church, and the bluest water you’ve ever seen. You could spend the day here or as part of a full-day trip, en route to Plaka.

Plaka Town

This boujee little town comes with the quintessential Greek winding streets, cobalt blue shutters, local craft stores, and yummy restaurants. There are parking lots at the bottom of the town where you can ditch your scooter and enjoy the car-free streets and views.

You can’t go to Plaka without taking in the sunset at Plaka Castle. It’s a short, steep hike only a few minutes from the main streets and you can NOT miss sunset up here. Pack a few beers or a bottle of wine and soak up the beauty, I’ll let the photos do the talking. Word of warning, this is not a hidden gem and the hills will be packed with other tourists trying to capture the shot but there’s plenty of space for everyone!

Sarakiniko Beach

If you know, you know. This beach is famous and deservingly so. Imagine walking on the moon with ashen-white volcanic rocks and sand and then coming to a body of the bluest, most enticing water you’ve ever seen. That is this. You can come here and sit out, enjoy the views, test your limits with multi-level diving spots and put your camera to good use. There is plenty of parking here but it doest get very busy so if you want some privacy, come first thing in the morning!

Achivadolimni Beach

This long strip of sandy beach is located towards the south of the Island and is a great spot to park up, enjoy a swim or even visit Karma Beach club, located right on the sand. Pop a cold beer and work on the tan. Heads up, a portion of this beach is a nudist zone so by all means, live your best nudie life.

Fyriplaka Beach

The south-most beach in Milos and home to the nicest beach clubs I saw during my trip. It’s about a 25-minute scooter ride from Adamantas. We had a great time at Aqua Loco Beach Club, chairs were around 30euro to rent for the day and you could order food & drinks to be delivered. It has the Tulum vibes and the beautiful beach to back it up. Highly recommend.

Pollonia Town

On the northeastern side of the island lies the town of Pollonia, complete with its own beach, restaurants, and some really cool caves (don’t skip the Papafragas Caves). The vibe here is relaxed and low-key but for some reason, the restaurants are really expensive and not great so maybe don’t come for the food, come for the caves! This town has a lot of construction happening and in a few years will be a very well-established destination for luxury vacationing.

What to Eat

I was on a budget during my trip to Milos but that didn’t stop me trying as much local food as I could. Here are a few places I tried and enjoyed:

1. Yankos Souvlaki – Expect to pay 3 or 4euro for a delicious, filled Gyro here. You literally can’t go wrong, delicious. It’s located in the middle of Adamantas and you can’t miss it, it’s always busy.

2. Let’s Meat Souvlaki – Another great Gyro location. Don’t forget to wash it down with my favorite Greek beer Mamos. This place is located near the ferry port and ideal for a quick meal before boarding.

3. Mikros Apoplous – Also located in Adamantas, this is a lovely, family-run restaurant serving fresh seafood, overlooking the ocean. 10/10 for vibes.

4. Archontoula – This is a traditional Greek restaurant located in the gorgeous streets of Plaka. I highly recommend the whipped local cheese (pictured below) with some fresh bread, washed down with a cold beer.

I hope my experiences inspire you to plan your trip to Milos, maybe as part of a bigger trip to the Greek Islands. We spent 4 nights here and it was more than enough to take in all the sights and to unwind and enjoy the surroundings. We followed it up with a few nights in Santorini which was just a ferry-ride away. More to come on Santorini but I will say this, it’s popular for a reason. It’s stunning!

Ciao for now,

Olivia