The Only Itinerary You Need for 3 Magical Days in Milos

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There are few islands left in Greece that offer such a breadth of amazing things to do, stunning beaches and incredibly tasty food but without the huge number of tourists that you expect to see in the Greek Islands. Milos is one of those islands, and if you’re considering whether it’s worth visiting Milos or not, the answer is a resounding yes, and we’ll show you why if you give us three days in Milos.

Milos boasts everything from stunning lunar landscapes to world-class beaches that are still as yet barely touched. But Milos offers so much more than just beaches (and the fact that this is the island where the famous ancient Greek statue of Venus of Milos was discovered). If you carve out some time to find out what to do in Milos that’s really worth doing, you’ll leave with much fuller and fonder memories.

Where to stay in Milos

For a small island, there are quite a few options for where you can stay in Milos. In fact, we’ve written a guide simply to help you decide where to stay in Milos. The short answer is, there’s a lot to choose from, but it all comes down to the type of experience you want to have.

How to get to Milos

There are two ways to get to Milos: by sea and by air.

By sea

There is a year-round ferry service between Athens (Piraeus) and Milos. During the summer months, the ferry service is up to four times per day, but make sure you check schedules in advance because ferry service providers will add and remove services depending on demand.

In the summer (beginning late June), there are many more ferries out on the Aegean. You can find direct services to many of the Greek Islands including Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Tinos, Sifnos and Crete.

By air

The best way of getting to Milos (including from places where there is a direct ferry service) is to fly directly to Milos Airport (MLO) from Athens (ATH). There is only one flight route to Milos (being the ATH-MLO route) but it is a delightfully short 45-minute flight. In short, book your flight to Athens and then take the Olympic Air or Sky Express service to Milos.

You also won’t need to grit through the horrific seasickness that Greek Island ferries all too often dish up.

How to get around Milos

As the Greek islands go, Milos is the fifth biggest island in the Cyclades cluster (which includes Mykonos and Naxos), which is to say that it’s a fairly large island. All of the best things to do in Milos aren’t super close to each other, so you’ll need to be prepared to drive in Milos.

Should I hire a car in Milos?

Yes, you should hire a car in Milos. There are certainly bus services between Adamas and Plaka to the villages and the beaches of the island, but these bus services are infrequent and definitely do not show up as per the “schedule”. There is quite a lot to do in Milos, and the only way you can give yourself a fighting chance to see the best of Milos in three days is to hire a car.

As you’d expect, it’s best to hire a car at Milos Airport (or the port, if you arrived by ferry) so you don’t need to pay the extortionate taxi fare from Milos Airport to Plaka or wherever you choose to stay in Milos.

Hiring an ATV in Milos

Milos is the perfect place to rent an ATV. The island isn’t busy, traffic is light, and Milos probably has the best conditions for nervous or first-time ATV drivers. Don’t worry about renting an ATV in advance because there are quite a few rental companies around the island including in Plaka and by the port. The truth is that an ATV rental will be more expensive than a car rental (and you can’t split the cost beyond two persons), but the experience is what you’re here for.

If you’re traveling with a partner and would rather be enjoying the wind running through your hair on an ATV than just open windows in a car, hire an ATV instead to get the most out of your Milos trip. In our opinion, you’ll see the island the way it should be seen.

The Ultimate 3-Day Milos Travel Guide

Day 1

Morning: Arrival

We assume you’ve arrived at Milos Airport or the port at Adamantas. Either way, take the morning to rest and soak up the area immediately around your accommodation.

There is always a temptation to go straight to the beach when one arrives in Milos. You absolutely will get to the beach (that’s where you’re heading after you settle in), but a word of warning on preparing for your beach time in Milos:

Travel tip: Keep your eye on the UV index. It’s not uncommon for UV to enter the extreme range during summer.

Usually, UV is strongest between 10 am and 5 pm in the summer. You’ll need to be extra cautious during those times – the usual sun protection applies (make sure to “slip, slop, slap” your sunscreen as we used to say in Australia).

Afternoon: Beach club

Milos is famous for a lot of things, but its beaches rise above the rest for their white sand, crystal blue water and interesting cave systems. The best way to get yourself into the spirit of the Greek Islands is to head to spend an afternoon at a beach club.

Unlike the busy beach clubs in Santorini or party beach clubs in Mykonos, Milos’s beach clubs are a much more relaxed affair. They’re the perfect place to relax with a book while enjoying the service of a beach club.

One of the best beach clubs in Milos is Aqua Loco at Paleochori Beach. We recommend you reserve a day bed (and make sure to watch your time under Milos’s hurt, burning sun). If you’re looking for a beach club which optimizes for relaxation and tranquillity, Hitana at Pollonia is where Greek Island dreams are made of.

Evening: Sunset and dinner (and drinks) in Plaka

Plaka is the main town in Milos. The architecture won’t be unfamiliar to anyone who has spent time on other islands in the Cyclades cluster like Mykonos and Santorini with their famous blue-and-white stucco towns. There really is nothing quite like the serenity of walking through the stone-paved alleyways of the Greek Islands soaking in the vibe – and in Milos, the best place and time to do that is in Plaka at sunset.

There are a number of excellent places for enjoying the sunset in Plaka, one of the best of which is Mosaic Bar which is probably the manifestation of the definition of serenity. You’ll need to make sure to get there early for a prime seat. Otherwise, head to the Church of Panagia Korfiatissa with a drink in hand and enjoy the stunning sunset over the water.

We’ve put together a list of the best restaurants in Milos which will keep you well and truly occupied during your three days in Milos. Archountoula is our pick for Plaka. They offer so many of the local recipes like pitarakia (small pies with cheese), tomato balls, and karpouzopita which is a watermelon pie that you absoutely must try.

No matter where you choose to go, it’s always a vibe in Plaka, and there is plenty to keep you entertained – even into the early hours.

Day 2

Morning to Late Afternoon: Boat day

Can you really say you visited Milos without allocating one day of your Milos itinerary to a full day out on the water? This isn’t just a suggestion for your time in Milos; it’s a requirement. Forget ‘no trip to [insert destination] is complete without visiting [insert place]’; you can’t even say you visited Milos unless you take a boat trip around the island.

Chartering a boat for the day really is the perfect way to see the best of Milos. There are several absolutely incredible beaches that are only accessible by boat, including the rightly famous Kleftiko Beach which sits on the southwestern tip of the island. The limestone cliffs, winding network of caves and blue water is simply perfect – and you can dive and snorkel.

We recommend a full day trip on a catamaran which will circumnavigate the entire island. A lot of the best tours even include sunset on the water – and don’t be afraid to let your captain know if there is anywhere in particular you want to see (like, say, Tsigrado Beach).

Evening: Sunset at the Prophet Elias Holy Chapel and dinner in Adamantas

So you thought you saw the best sunset Milos has to offer in Plaka last night? You absolutely did see an amazing sunset, but the sunset from Prophet Elias Holy Chapel is something you won’t quickly forget. This is an experience that has not made it on to the radar of most visitors to Milos yet. We guarantee you’ll find a more solemn and intimate experience for sunset here than elsewhere on the island.

But it’s not just the fact that it is harder to get to and fewer people frequent the chapel for sunset. The chapel itself faces west which means it’s the perfect place to watch the sun go down. Admittedly, there’s a small hike to get to the chapel – but the chapel is still in use so it’s at least a maintained and safe path.

Day 3

Morning: Visit the Catacombs

You might find it strange that we’re suggesting visiting an archaeological site on your three day itinerary for Milos, an island that is known for its beaches and relaxation, but hear us out on this one. The Catacombs of Milos were discovered less than two hundred years ago but what makes them so special is that they have been around for approximately 2,000 years, making them one of the earliest Christian sites.

The Catacombs are a labyrinth, the background being that the Romans (who were persecuting Christians at the time) would get lost in them and therefore not find the bodies that are buried within it. You will need about an hour at the Catacombs – it’s a great way to start your island tour.

Afternoon: Island tour (by ATV, ideally)

There is more on Milos than you might expect, so the best way to cover ground so you can see and experience the best of the island is to take yourself on a tour of the island. This is also the only way you can experience the rugged terrain of the west of Milos (which, incidentally, is listed by an EU agency as a “Special Zone Reservation”).

A bit of Milos’s background is important here: Milos is of volcanic origin and boasts quite a few minerals which are mined on the island. It’s this which gives rise to the seemingly manmade cave formations, unreal colors and strange shapes of cliffs. Get on an ATV or a car (which, if you’re going to the west, must be an off-road car) and explore all of the beauty of the island.

The truth of the matter is that you can’t expect to cover Milos by car in one day (it’s more spread out than you think) – especially if you intend to visit the west of the island. You’ll have to pick a part of the island and work within that. One of the best routes passes through Sarakiniko Beach (one of the best beaches on the island) and up to Pollonia.

Thiorichia Beach

One place you should add to your itinerary is Thiorichia Beach which is more than just its unique green-yellow water. There are old mines in the area so the beach has sulfur extraction points and dormitories where miners used to sleep which nowadays are great beach shade.

Unless you have an ATV or an off-road car, make sure to leave your car further up the road at the first car park as the last stretch before you get to the beach can be quite a difficult drive. There is quite an interesting feel to the place. If I had to describe, I would say it feels romantically post-apocalyptic.

Evening: Sunset and dinner in Klima

The adorable fishing village of Klima is characterized by the iconic sirmata along the shoreline. The best way to end your three days in Milos is to enjoy dinner at the only restaurant in Klima which is our pick for the best restaurant in Milos, Astakas. The meal here will be one of your best, and you’ll leave Milos the next day feeling exactly as you should: calm, refreshed and ready for your next adventure.

We’ll admit that there isn’t much to do in Klima aside from enjoy the spectacular sunset from your table at Astakas (which will be quite literally on the water). If you’re looking for something more after your meal, head to Adamantas where Milos’s nightlife is concentrated.

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