Milos beaches are as good as they get in Greece. This stunning Aegean island is still flying (miraculously) under the radar, considering it has the most beaches of any of the Cyclades islands. With about 70 beaches dotting the shore of Milos, most of them sandy, Milos is the undefeated crown jewel for beach lovers visiting Greece.
But Milos is more than just beaches. Milos island has picturesque whitewashed villages, excellent restaurants and a slow and laid-back atmosphere. In many ways, it is the quintessential Greek island. It won’t be long before little-known Milos becomes one of the hottest vacay spots in Greece. Those looking for the simple life paired with dazzling Aegean beaches will fall hard for Milos.
We spent three nights in Milos before catching a ferry to Santorini, and we think the beaches of Milos are a great addition to glitzy Santorini.
In this travel guide to Milos, we’ll show you the top Milos beaches and other things to see and do when visiting this stunning Greek island.
Please note: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link (at no extra cost to you). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Quick Guide to Milos, Greece
Visited: August
Suggested time: 3 days minimum
Where we stayed: Hotel Dionysis
Famous for: Best beaches in Greece (The moon-like beach of Sarakiniko is unreal!), the Venus de Milo statue was found on Milos
Transportation:
Getting to Milos: Three daily ferries run between Piraeus in Athens and Milos. You’ll briefly stop at Serifos and Sifnos islands before arriving at Adamas port in Milos. The voyage takes about 3.5 hours. Find Piraeus-Milos ferry tickets here.
Two ferries a day run between Milos and Santorini, taking about 5 hours. Find your Milos-Santorini ferry tickets here.
Getting around Milos: The best way to explore the island and get to the stunning Milos beaches is with your own wheels. Rent a car from Discover Cars, or get a scooter or ATV from one of the places in Adamas.
Top tip: Wear sunscreen 🙂
Unique experience: Go on a full-day guided cruise to Kleftiko and other stunning Milos beaches on a yacht.
Where to Stay in Milos
Adamas (or Adamantas in Greek), where the ferry docks, is a beautiful whitewashed town with boats in the harbour and rustic tavernas lining the waterfront. It is the perfect base from where you can explore Milos island and its beaches.
Hotel Dionysis, a few hundred metres from the waterfront, is where we stayed for our three nights on Milos.
We were surprised to be welcomed by Petros, owner of Hotel Dionysis, as soon as we got off the ferry – we didn’t tell him which ferry we were arriving on. He even drove us the few hundred metres to his hotel.
The comfortable, unpretentious room is spacious and spotless. Romantic old Petros also prepared a plate of fresh fruit to welcome us, and we found a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge.
Breakfast, served under a grapevine trellis in the garden, comes included, and it’s a typical Greek affair of thick yoghurt, fried eggs, bread and strong coffee.
Must-Visit Milos Beaches
To make the most of your time, you must really have your own wheels to get around Milos. We decided to rent a scooter in Adamas, and we had a great time beach hopping and driving around wherever we felt like. Several places in Adamas rent scooters from €18 per day for a 125CC (license needed).
Milos is a great place to explore with a scooter. Distances are short, you are outside in the sun and fresh air, and you can smell the aromatic landscape as you drive around the island. It truly is a great day out driving from one spectacular beach to the next while making unplanned discoveries and seeing the quaint villages of Milos.
Dry and rocky, Milos is dotted with small whitewashed villages, olive trees and pale-coloured landscapes gently dipping into that dreamlike cerulean blue water. It is unmistakably Greece.
Petros told us about the most famous (and hidden) beaches of Milos and circled his recommendations on a photocopied map, and we were off.
While there are about 70 beaches on Milos, don’t be foolish to try and see them all. A beach is not a place you see – it’s a place you feel. So pick maybe two beaches a day and go live there. It is a vacation, after all.
All the Milos beaches we visited were free to enter, with free parking too.
Agios Konstantinos Beach
Tiny Agios Konstantinos is a beautiful and quiet beach in northern Milos, near the village of Pollonia. It is a small fishing port with only a few houses and boat garages.
Being in a small port, the water here is calm-just the place to float around for a while. There are also some trees providing good shade. It was deserted when we were there, and we had the entire beach and village to ourselves.
Alogomandra, a few hundred metres from Agios Konstantinos, is another small, secluded stretch of sandy beach backed by an arched cliff, almost forming a cave on the beach. There are no facilities besides a small shack selling snacks and drinks at Alogomandra Beach.
Sarakiniko Beach
The most famous beach and trademark of Milos is the surreal Sarakiniko beach. The beach looks like it belongs on the moon rather than here on earth. If they ever find water on the moon, I suspect it will look something like Sarakiniko. Some people even refer to Sarakiniko as Milos Moon Beach.
Sarakiniko is not only a great place for swimming, but the alien landscape and stark contrast between the sugar-white rock formations and the blue Aegean water make it one of the best places to take pictures in Milos.
The narrow beach wedged between the bare, white rocks is the best place for swimming. There are also a few rock arches from which you can jump into the sea.
Sarakiniko beach is barren, with absolutely no shade. You might be lucky to find a shady spot in the shadows of the formations later in the day. There are no facilities at Sarakiniko, so bring everything you need, especially water.
Firopotamos Beach
Beautiful Firapotamos beach is our favourite beach in Milos for swimming. The beach here slopes down gently but gets deep eventually, and the deep, clear water makes for a refreshing dip in what feels like a gigantic swimming pool. Several cypress trees provide lovely shade right on the beach.
A steep little road leads down to the beach, offering fantastic views of Firapotamos beach and its idyllic little village with its white and blue houses and church.
During the summer, a little canteen pops up near the beach, selling snacks and drinks. Other than that, there are no other tourist facilities (including restrooms) at Firapotamos Beach.
If you get hungry, it’s best to head to Plaka, about 15 minutes drive away by scooter.
Kleftiko
Kleftiko means Bandit’s Lair since it was a hideout for pirates back in the day and is one of the most beautiful natural attractions on Milos. While not a beach in the traditional sense, this beautiful group of coves on the southwestern tip of Milos is drop-dead gorgeous and a fantastic swimming spot.
Kleftiko can only be reached by boat. These coves are famous for their crystal-clear cerulean water between towering white rock formations and cliffs riddled with caves.
Yacht cruises leaving from Adamas port stop at Kleftiko for a few hours, allowing you to dive right from your yacht into that glassy water to swim and snorkel. Kleftiko has no beach or sand; instead, you swim straight from your boat.
Our yacht also had a rubber dinghy, which the captain used to take us into the caves. The darkness inside the caves, in contrast with the bright, clear water, was just beautiful.
The yacht cruise we went on passed colourful Klima port after leaving Adamas, went around the southwestern tip of Milos, and stopped at Kleftiko for a few hours followed by a delicious Greek lunch on board. After lunch, we sailed to beautiful Tsigrado Beach, where our tour concluded.
Tsigrado & Fyriplaka Beaches
Yet another ruggedly beautiful beach awaits on the island’s southern side, about 11km from Adamas. Tsigrado Beach was the last beach we visited on our yacht cruise around Milos.
The water at Tsigrado is spectacular and great for swimming, just like the other beaches in Milos. Calm and crystal clear, this is yet another gigantic swimming pool of a beach. I dived in even before the anchor hit the water!
There are no facilities at all, so bring everything with you. Tsigrado remains blissfully unspoilt and serene.
The sandy beach is backed by a rugged cliff and can only be accessed by a rope that descends a crack in the cliff. The rope is connected to a ladder that leads down to Tsigrado Beach.
If you’re scared of heights or travelling with children, you can visit Fyriplaka Beach right next door instead. Fyriplaka Beach has the same glassy water and sand, without the cliff and the ladder.
Things to Do in Milos (Not Beaches)
Besides the incredible beaches Milos is renowned for, the island has villages steeped in time and tradition to explore. The capital of the island, Plaka village, set on the highest point of Milos, is a beautiful place to wander through.
As with many other villages in the Greek islands, Plaka was built in a maze full of nooks and crannies. The reason for this was to confuse pirates. Today, the whitewashed alleys, with their splashes of colourful doorways and flowerpots, are home to rustic restaurants, cafes, small museums, and a few shops.
You will undoubtedly spot many different replicas of the famous Venus de Milo statue for sale. This Hellenistic statue is considered by many as the most beautiful and famous classical statue. The Venus de Milo was discovered here on Milos island, but she has since relocated to the Louvre in Paris.
Have Lunch at To Diporto in Plaka
To Dioporto, meaning two doors, is a charming taverna for lunch or dinner in Plaka. Sitting between lanes with a door leading out to each, To Diporto has indoor and outdoor seating. We had lunch in the narrow lane under the shade of bougainvillaea vines, and it was a beautiful and relaxing meal.
Our waiter recommended goat with lemon, and it was falling off the bone, fragrant and delicious.
Climb to the Kastro for the Best View in Plaka Milos
The Kastro (Venetian Castle) perched above Plaka dates back to the 13th century when Milos was under Venetian rule. Set on the highest point of Milos, the Kastro grants you a panoramic view of the villages, landscapes and beaches of Milos.
The best time to come to the Kastro is a few hours before sunset when everything is basking in the last golden glows of the day.
To get to the Kastro, look for signs saying Kastro when walking around Plaka. Entrance to the Kastro is free.
Catch the Sunset at Panagia Thalassitra Church
Before sunset, go to the tiny Mesa Panagia church in the Kastro for one of the best sunset spots in the Aegean. The small and non-descript church overlooks another church, Panagia Thalassitra, with the Milos Gulf in the background. At sunset, everything turns golden, and it is the perfect spot to end your day on Milos Island.
How I Shot This Guide
Every photograph in this article was taken with the exact same gear I carry on every journey. It is a setup refined over years on the road to keep travel light without compromising the final image.
- Camera: Sony A7 V
- Lens: Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art.
- Storage: SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD
- Software: Adobe Lightroom Classic
- My Greece travel essential (trust me): Ray-Ban Wayfarer
Enjoy Milos, its beaches and its beautiful villages. It’s a very special place
✌️