Milos is a stunning island in the Cyclades that, despite its small size, has a lot to offer and plenty of unique landscapes and landmarks that are nothing short of stunning. This was the first island I visited in my 10-day trip to the Greek islands, where I discovered two Cyclades: Milos and Paros.
We sadly didn’t have much time in Milos, but we managed to see and do so many things, mainly by using the taxi system – quite cheap since the island is small – and renting a quad for a full day. Giving an extensive list of what to do in Milos would be impossible, but here are 6 things that would fit in a tightly packed two-day itinerary.
Relax by the beaches
I know this is pretty obvious, but of course one of the main attractions in Milos – and in all the Greek islands in general – is the crystal-clear water of the Mediterranean sea. What I loved about the beaches in Milos was their variety: they all looked different and had a whole different vibe.
Before I do a more in-depth post about them, here are the ones that I saw:
- the moon-like Sarakiniko and its stunning rock formations (check the cover image of this post) – probably very crowded during the day but gorgeous at sunset
- the small and secluded Tsigrado that you can only reach through climbing down a long ladder – the water is truly turquoise but it was very busy and windy
- the large Fyriplaka next to Tsigrado – the water is just as transparent but it is much easier to find a quiet spot to relax
- the quiet Plathiena – surrounded by cliffs and with several trees for shade, it is not as famous as the others so way less busy!
- Adamas beach – it is basically attached to the town of Adamas and stretches for a long distance, making it the largest one in Milos. It is quite crowded during the day due to its location but it is quieter in the evenings.
These are all sandy beaches and, if you are like me and don’t particularly love them, I sadly didn’t find other ones, but most of them had some rockier parts that made it easier to avoid having sand everywhere!
Discover the fishermen’s villages and harbours
This was probably my favourite thing about Milos as there are many fishing villages and teeny tiny harbours to discover. Sometimes there are only a few houses directly by the sea – the waves reaching their first steps – and other times it really feels more like a small village.
Here, I have to mention the gorgeous and colourful Klima, with houses painted in many different colours, and my personal favourite, Mandrakia, which was a bit bigger but felt a bit more authentic. Usually there are also nearby beaches or places to swim there because the water is incredibly clear – and you will probably find spots without sand too! To visit these villages I highly suggest renting a scooter, quad or even car because I’m not sure public transport will take you to all of them!
Wander around the cute streets of the bigger towns
I would say there are three main towns/villages in Milos, and they all are worth visiting. The first one is of course Adamas, the city you arrive to if you come with a ferry boat. It is mainly a seaside town so it stretches along the sea for a long time, and there are many restaurants directly over the turquoise water. Its streets are cute and there are also many nice shops that are not just selling touristic and cheap products.
Another bigger town is Plaka, the chief town of Milos. Located on top of a hill inland, it looks like a typical Greek town in all its aspects with its white houses and blue doors. There, you can stroll about its many streets, check out some shops and obviously stop by for a coffee or a nice meal in some restaurant or café.
Next to the two towns above, Trypiti seems a bit forgotten and underrated, but it also has plenty to offer with its iconic windmills and a beautiful church. It is also really close to two other attractions of Milos: the Ancient theatre and the catacombs!
Walk up to the Venetian Castle of Plaka
When you have extensively walked around the tiny streets of Plaka (see point above), the next thing to do is to walk up a steep hill and many steps to visit the “Kastro”, the Venetian Castle. Testimony of the Venetian rule in Milos, this castle was built in the 13th Century and is the second highest peak in Milos. It is now a bit of a ruin so the visit doesn’t take a very long time, but the views from there are nothing short of splendid. Many people go there to see the sun set behind the nearby hills and I can assure you it is well worth the sweaty hike!
Visit the Ancient theatre
Another remnant of Milos’ old past is the Ancient theatre, located on a slope overlooking the sea just behind the town Trypiti. Built around the 1st century, it was later destroyed by the Athenians but later rebuilt in the same spot with white marble. Its location allows for perfect acoustics and – obviously – a stunning view, which reminded me a lot of Cornwall’s Minnack Theatre. There are still some shows there, so if you have the opportunity, I’m pretty sure this would be a fantastic experience!
On the way to the Theatre, you will also pass by the place where the “Venus of Milo” statue was found by a peasant in the early 19th century. Apparently, not knowing the value of this discovery, he just kept it in his farm, until a French sailor convinced the French government to purchase it. The statue is now in the Louvre museum in Paris, and to be honest, the spot where it was found is not particularly impressive – until you know its historic relevance!
Explore the Catacombs
The catacombs in Milos are one of the most important archaeological findings of the island and they were used as cemeteries and churches during the Roman times. Even though they are very close to the Ancient Theatre and Trypiti, we didn’t visit them because we were in a bit of a rush and had other priorities in our tightly packed daily schedule, so I can’t say more about them!
To fit all of this in two days obviously means shortening the time spent in certain locations, but also keeping in mind that not all of these things require a lot of time! For instance, I am not really the type to stay at the beach for several hours, so a quick dip followed by some sun-bathing is perfect for me – though it might not be for you!
There are a lot of other things you can do in Milos of course, and one of the things I wish I had had the time to do was hopping on a boat tour to discover some parts of the island that can’t be accessed by land, like secluded beaches and caves! However, I still feel like I managed to see so much in just a few days, and that gave me a good idea of what the island is like!
