Discover Milos, a volcanic Greek island in the southernmost part of the Cycladic archipelagos. Milos has the most spectacular moonlike landscape and exotic beaches all because of its volcanic origin. Go sea kayaking, diving, and hiking among unreal shapes of rocks! Milos island is a unique Cycladic gem and it will steal your heart with its unpretentious charm.
Visit the fishing villages of Firopotamos and Klima
Boat tour around the island to see the Caves at Kleftiko
Visit the Hot Springs of Lakkos
Windsurfing and kitesurfing in Milos Bay
Go fishing – underwater with harpoon or from the shore, the Melian fauna is extremely rich
Visit the Catacombs of Milos – an underground Roman complex
Milos beach – Photo by David T.
Why to visit Milos Greece?
Milos is one of the most laid-back and exotic Greek islands. This is where you will hang out around a beach fire in the evening with total strangers, sharing a bottle of wine, talking about holiday adventures. Milos is standing out for its rich history, its majestic ambiance, indigo-coloured bays and picturesque villages and great little taverns. Milos is home to the stunning beach of Sarakiniko and is also the place where the statue of Aphrodite was found. The famous statue of Venus de Milo (Venus of Milos) was discovered in Milos in 1820. It is now on display in the Louvre Museum in Paris, where thousands of visitors every year admire her stunning beauty.
Milos Beach Guide
Sarakiniko Beach – Photo by Diana Macesanu
The Milos beaches are stunning, and the most spectacular is the “out-of-this-world” Sarakiniko Beach. It boasts a lunar landscape with crystal clear turquoise-coloured waters and gleaming white volcanic rock formations. Spend your days exploring sea caves diving or in your sea kayak, jump into the amazing sea from cliffs or relax under the sun on your beach towel. Kleftiko beach, a former pirate hideaway, is popular with its towering rock formations and emerald waters, quite a trademark of Milos today. Apart from the most popular beaches Milos has around 70 altogether of which 40 beaches are exotic beauties worthwhile visiting.
Sarakiniko Beach, Milos
In Milos, most beaches are non-organized, a few are partly organized and some only reachable by boat. Find them listed below:
Secluded beach on MilosMilos – Photo by K. Kouzouni
Firiplaka Beach – Pebbled, 15 km southeast of Plaka
Plathiena Beach – Sandy, secluded – located 4 km north of Plaka
Firopotamos Beach – Pebbled, family friendly – located 3 km north of Plaka
Paleochori Beach – Sandy, family friendly, party, water sports – located 13 km east of Plaka
Agia Kiriaki Beach – Pebbled, water sports – located 14 km southeast of Plaka
Provatas Beach – Sandy, family friendly – located 13 km southeast of Plaka
Achivadolimni Beach – Sandy, windsurfing – located 11 km south of Plaka
Pollonia Beach – Sandy, family friendly, diving club – located 12 km east of Plaka
Papakino Beach – Sandy, family friendly, windsurfing – located 5 km southeast of Plaka
Adamas Beach – Pebbled, habour – located 4 km southeast of Plaka, within walking distance from Adamas port
Mytakas Beach – Sandy – located 5 km west of Plaka
Lagada Beach – Pebbled, family friendly – located 4 km south of Plaka
Non-organized beaches
Sarakiniko – Photo by D. Iliadi
Sarakiniko Beach – Pebbled – located 4 km east of Plaka. The most famous beach on Milos
Tsigrado Beach – Sandy, secluded – located 14 km southeast of Plaka
Papafragas Beach – Pebbled – located 10 km east of Plaka
Alogomandras Beach – Sandy – 7 km east of Plaka
Paliorema Beach – Sandy, secluded – located 13 km southeast of Plaka
Ammoudaraki Beach – Sandy, secluded, nudism friendly – located 16 km west of Plaka
Agios Ioannis Beach – Pebbled, secluded, nudism friendly – located 28 km west of Plaka
Kastanas Beach – Pebbled, secluded, nudism friendly – located 14 km east of Plaka
Pahena Beach – Sandy – located 9 km east of Plaka
Agali Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 15 km west of Plaka
Agathia Beach – Sandy, secluded – located 25 km west of Plaka
Agia Marina Beach – Sandy, secluded – located 13 km south of Plaka
Fatourena Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 15 km southwest of Plaka
Kapros Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 8 km east of Plaka
Kipos Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 15 km southeast of Plaka
Kolibisionas Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 15 km southeast of Plaka
Psarovolada Beach – Sandy, secluded, nudism friendly – located 15 km southeast of Plaka
Psathi Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 20 km south of Plaka
Rivari Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 15 km south of Plaka
Tria Pigadia Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located 15 km east of Plaka
Triades Beach – Sandy, secluded, nudism friendly – 35 km west of Plaka
Voudia Beach – Pebbled, secluded, nudism friendly – located 13 km east of Plaka
Reachable or viewable by boat
Polyaigos – Photo by D. Iliadi
Kleftiko – on the south western part of Milos, can be reached only by excursion boats from Adamas
Gerakas Beach – On the southern part of Milos, can only be reached by boat
Arkoudes – Opposite the beach of Plathiena – is not a beach but some strange rocks standing in the sea
Glaronisia – on the north-eastern side of Milos – Glaronisia is a complex of rocky islets which can be seen on a boat tour around the island
Kalogeros – on the north eastern side of Milos – Kalogeros is a complex of rocky islets which can be seen on a boat tour around the island
Vani Beach – Pebbled, secluded – located on the north western coast of Milos, can be reached by boat on a tour around the island
Gerontas Beach – beautiful secluded beach – located 18 km south east of Plaka – difficult to reach by car, most visitors go by boat.
What to see in Milos Greece?
One of the most charming characteristics of Milos are the tiny, colourful fishing villages hiding in little bays around the island. These picturesque villages have whitewashed houses with shutters in green, blue, and red and boat garages where the fishermen keep their colourful little boats. Go for a trip to the villages of Firopotamos and Klima to enjoy a day with sun and sea food!
How to reach Milos Greece?
You can easily reach Milos from Athens by the regular ferry connection from Piraeus port. The travel duration is 4-8 hours, depending on whether you are traveling a regular or a high-speed ferry. The island of Milos is also interconnected with some of the other Cyclades islands, such as Paros, Sifnos, Serifos, Santorini, Ios, and Folegandros. In the summer months you will find some extra ferry routes from Heraklion, Crete.
Does Milos Greece have an airport?
Yes, Milos Island National Airport receives flights from Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos” several times per week. The flight duration is around 45 minutes.
Sunset aperitif with view to Antimilos – Photo by Victor Janin
The climate in Milos is typical Mediterranean with hot, sunny summers and mild winters with just a few rainfalls. Like the rest of the Cycladic islands, Milos has the seasonal north wind Meltemi during the summer from medio July until medio August. We suggest you try visiting Milos during spring and Easter time and September, where the island is quieter but still warm.
What is Milos Greece known for?
Venus of Milos Greece
Milos is where they found the famous statue of Aphrodite (the “Venus de Milo”, now in the Louvre), and also statues of the Greek god Asclepius (now in the British Museum) and of Poseidon and an archaic statue of Apollo in Athens. The Municipality of Milos also includes the uninhabited offshore islands of Antimilos and Akradies. In 2011 the population was almost 5.000 inhabitants.
History of Milos
The position of Milos, that is between mainland Greece and Crete, and its possession of obsidian, made it an important centre of early Aegean civilization. Obsidian from Milos has been traded from the island in the past 13,000 years. Obsidian is volcanic glass, and a material which has been used for the manufacturing of weapons and tools. Milos lost its arms-making importance when bronze became the preferred material for weapons.
At the site of Phylakopi (from the Bronze Age) which was the chief settlement of Milos, on the north-east coast, excavations by the British School of Archaeology revealed a town wall and a Minoan palace with some interesting wall paintings. “The famous fresco of the flying fish found in the ruins of the principal house or palace at Phylakopi, with its delicate colouring and graphic observation of nature in the graceful movement of the fish, seems to be the work of a Cretan artist, who probably was summoned to Milos for the purpose.” Part of the site has been washed away by the sea.
The founds made on Milos island were of three main periods, all preceding the Mycenaean age of Greece. Much pottery was found, including examples of an unusual style, with decorative designs, mostly floral, and considerable deposits of obsidian. There are some traditions of a Phoenician occupation of Milos.
In historical times, the island was occupied by Dorians from Laconia. In the 6th century BC, the island, again, produced a remarkable series of vases, of large size, with mythological subjects and orientalising ornamentation, and a series of terra-cotta reliefs (Melian Reliefs).
Where is Milos Greece?
Click to enlarge the map
Milos is the south westernmost of the Cyclades islands, 120 km east from the coast of Laconia. From east to west it measures about 23 km and from north to south 13 km. The biggest part of the island is rugged and hilly, with its peak in Mount Profitis Elias, 748 m, in the west.
Antimilos lies 21 km north-west of Milos and is an uninhabited islet consisting mainly of trachyte, often called Erimomilos (Desert Milos). Kimolos, 1.6 km to the north-east contained a considerable city, the remains of which cover the cliff of St. Andrew’s. Polyaigos lies 2 km south-east of Kimolos. It was the subject of dispute between the Milians and Kimolians. It is now uninhabited.
Geology of Milos
Aerial view of Sarakiniko – Photo Cyprien Delaporte
Like the rest of the of the islands in this area, it is of volcanic origin, with tuff, trachyte, and obsidian among its ordinary rocks. The natural harbour is the hollow of the principal crater, which, with a depth diminishing from 130–55 m, strikes in from the northwest so as to separate the island into two fairly equal portions with an isthmus not more than 18 km broad. In one of the caves on the south coast, the heat from the volcano is still great, and on the eastern shore of the harbour, there are hot sulphurous springs.
Adamas – the harbour of Milos
Adamas port, Milos
The harbour on Milos is Adamas; from this arrival point there is an ascent to the plateau above the harbour, where the chief town, Plaka and Kastro, are situated, as well as other villages. The ancient town of Milos was nearer to the entrance of the harbour than Adamas and occupied the slope between the village of Trypiti and the landing-place at Klima. Here you will find a Roman theatre and some remains of town walls and other buildings, one with a fine mosaic excavated in 1896. This is also the spot where Aphrodite (now in Paris) along with numerous other fine works of art have been found. Other villages on Milos include Triovasalos, Peran Triovasalos, Pollonia and Zefyria (Kampos).
What to do in Milos Greece?
Pollonia – Photo by K. Kouzouni
Sea excursions around Milos
Boating around Milos
With the organized sea trips you have the chance to visit beaches inaccessible from land, like for example the famous “Meteora Rocks of the Sea” or Kleftiko, the emerald-coloured Sykia cave, Glaronisia and many more, to swim into the crystal clear waters of otherwise inaccessible beaches of spectacular beauty, to admire the island’s mineral wealth, to explore the secrete caves or to visit the neighbouring islands.
There are plenty of boats, kayaks, and yachts suitable for sea trips and you can choose the one you prefer according to your needs and mood. Most of the vessels depart daily from the jetty of Adamantas port. Moreover, besides Adamantas, kayaks depart from the beach of Kipos to Kleftiko, and from Pollonia to Kimolos, the cave of Papafragas and Glaronisia.
The volcanic composition of Milos island has created the impressive coastlines, the sea caves and tunnels that are worth visiting. Simultaneously, the waters are crystal clear, the beaches amazing and the deserted islands nearby are perfect for exploration. You can combine rowing exercise with relaxation on the beautiful deserted beaches and go hiking on the nearby uninhabited islands.
From April to October daily guided trips with canoe-kayak are offered as well as visits to the nearby islands that last several days combined with camping for the more adventurous travellers. www.seakayakgreece.com
Hiking and exploring Milos geologic park
Sarakiniko, Milos
The volcanic grounds and the magic geographic bas-relief make Milos a natural geologic park waiting to be explored. For those of you interested in such an extraordinary tour, the Mining Museum of Milos organizes geologic walks to the most important locations of geological and mining interest on the island. Besides this opportunity there are several footpaths that present a geologic and mining interest.
Rock climbing in Milos
There are two climbing fields in Milos: in Tourla, Vanio and in Glaronisia. At “Cape Vani” climbing is possible on a huge conic-shaped rock. The name of the climbing ground is “Tourla tou Vaniou /Tourla of Vanio” and it considered to be one of the best climbing fields in Greece. In Pollonia, there is the possibility for climbing in “Glaronisia”. Glaronisia are some of the best climbing fields in Greece and these are the only islands made of basalt and in the shape of six-sided wands.
Windsurfing and kitesurfing
Photo by Brett Jordan
Milos is providing the perfect weather conditions for windsurfing and kitesurfing and the unique waters around the island make it the perfect destination for amateurs and experts. The natural bay of the island provides maximum safety. In order to enjoy the sense of freedom in your windsurfing, or to simply ‘’fly’’ on the green-blue waters we recommend the beaches of Axivadolimni and Papikinos. The Naval Group of Milos is open during the summertime teaching windsurfing. There, the participants are taught windsurfing in Optimist and Laser type boats. (Naval Group of Milos- Kavalieros Iakovos, Contact info: tel: (+30) 22870 23787, (+30) 22870 28139, e-mail: nomilos@otenet.gr).
The underwater world of Milos island is of a rare, wild beauty. The numerous underwater caves, the wreckages from the Second World War and even prior to it, the shoals ending in waters with a great gathering of fish, the hot springs with the distinctive micro-societies they create and the rare species living on the island’s seabed (seals, blackfish, lobsters etc.) are some of the reasons that make scuba diving in the waters around Milos a unique experience. The two diving schools of the island have modern equipment and await you to help you explore the spectacular places. www.milosdiving.gr
Sailing / yachting around Milos
Cave at Kleftiko – Photo by George Korovessis
Yachting is the perfect way to discover the hidden beautiful bays and secret beaches of Milos, enjoying your holiday freely and autonomously. Moreover, because Milos is within a short distance from the rest of the Cyclades, you can combine your holiday in Milos with a visit to the rest of the nearby islands.
In Adamantas harbor a modern jetty has been created to supply yachts and sailboats with water, fuel, and free internet connection. It gives you the opportunity to go shopping, etc. There are also restaurants, taverns, cafeterias, busses, taxis for tours on the island and there is access to health services (community clinic).
Fishing underwater or from shore
Milos is, just like the rest of the Cycladic islands, the perfect place for fishing. You can either go underwater fishing with the harpun or fishing with nets, trawl-lines, fishing with trolling, angling, or fishing with fishing-rods. The fishes vary depending on the season and the place, whereas the rest of the Melian fauna is extremely rich including many fish species (red mullets, pandoras, dorados, sargos, saddled breams, black breams, tunnies) and even octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, lobsters.
Hot springs of Lakkos Adamantas
The volcanic activity and the meta-volcanic hydrothermal action has given a lot of hot springs on the island of Milos, well-known in antiquity for their therapeutic benefits. Characteristically, Hippocrates refers to the therapy from skin diseases (in his book E’ “On epidemics”) at the Hot Springs of Lakkos in Milos. The island is full of hot springs of different temperature and water composition. Below you can be informed of the most important one:
Lakkos Adamantas Hot Springs (located in the left side of Adamantas harbor, in a cave of 15m) Temperature: 33-41C, depending on the sea level and the weather. Composition: Thermal mineral sulphide, ferrous, chlorinated Their therapeutic indications are:
Chronic rheumatism
Arthritis
Myalgias
Neuralgias and in general peripheral nerves diseases
Skin diseases
Gynaecological diseases
The hot springs of Lakkos are open for treatments from July 15 to October 15, 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. For more information
At the beaches of Alikes, Provatas, Skinopi, Paliohori, Tria Pigadia, Kanava, in the places where hot springs exist, you will see fumaroles gushing within the sea water and you can enjoy your swim completely for free all year round. However, out of all the hot springs, the only exploitable and recognized as a therapeutic spa-spring of a healing importance, is that of “Lakkos” in Adamantas, which is mentioned in Hippocrates’ works.
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