Located in the southern part of the Cyclades group of islands in Greece, Milos is a beautiful volcanic island, with truly unique landscapes, turquoise water and a stunning coastline, dotted with idyllic beaches and colourful fishing villages.
I went there in summer 2022, as part of a 10-day Cyclades itinerary and loved every part of it. There are dozens of things to do in this small island, but one of my favourite things was visiting and walking around the fishermen’s villages and ports, that showcase a more traditional and authentic side of the island, with their white-washed houses and colourful doors.
Traditional fishing villages in Milos
Milos has many beautiful towns and villages, but I’ll focus here specifically on the fishermen’s villages and small fishing ports. We explored them on a day-trip with a quad bike and it was one of the best days in our Cyclades itinerary, though quite an adventurous and fast-paced one.
These villages are all different but they have in common a similar architecture, with white-washed houses located right in front of the sea and brightly coloured wooden doors and details. These traditional fishers’ huts are called syrmata in Greek, and they usually have a garage-like room to store the fishing boats downstairs, and an upstairs part for living. They were traditionally used by fishermen, but are now more and more converted into holiday homes.
Klima
Klima is the first fishing village we saw and probably the most famous one. This picturesque little village is located next to other famous attractions in Milos, like a very typical Greek town called Tripiti, the Catacombs, the Roman amphitheatre and the location where they found the famous statue “Venus of Milo”. I would say that it is absolutely a must-see.
In Klima, you’ll see beautiful and colourful fishermen’s houses right by the turquoise water. You can walk past them (barefoot or with flip-flops) and admire the contrasting colours of the buildings. There is also a nice restaurant where you can eat fresh and local food.
Areti
Areti is a very secluded and quite hidden fishing village – if you can actually call it a village. It is basically a small fishing port with a few little houses in a sheltered little bay. Those pretty houses are mostly vacation rentals so they are perfect for a peaceful stay, but it was really hard to get there as it required driving on gravel, unkept little roads and steep hills. For this reason, I’d say that it is not really worth it.
Firopotamos
Located in the northern part of Milos, Firopotamos is both a small beach resort and a charming fishermen’s village. The water there was stunningly turquoise, and what really distinguishes it from the others is the typical Greek church that overlooks the syrmata. Many people were swimming there – by the beach but also around the port – and the beautiful church and stunning cliffs nearby created the perfect idyllic scenery for a Greek holiday.
Mandrakia
This fishing village (first picture of this post) is probably my favourite because of its quiet and peaceful atmosphere, the stunning view you get from the road on the fishing port with brightly painted boats and houses, and the crystal-clear water all around it. There is also a beautiful Greek church with some benches and trees, and a cute café/restaurant – though it was very busy – and also some cats. The only thing that saddened me is that it seemed a bit deserted and while it still had a very authentic feel to it, you could see that a lot of the houses there were empty and abandoned.
Useful information
How to get to the fishing villages?
There are many ways to reach the traditional fishermen’s villages in Milos, and while many may say that renting a car is the best solution, I found it to be quite untrue as many of these little towns have very narrow streets and very little parking options. If you’re comfortable with it, I think renting a scooter or a quad bike/ATV is the way to go as they allow for much more freedom.
Some buses can also take you to some of the most famous spots of the island, but not directly to some of those villages, so a private means of transportation is probably the way to go. Alternatively, you can also rent a taxi but it is more burdensome and will probably cost you more if you want to go village-hopping.
Can you swim there?
Yes, swimming there is not prohibited and many of these places also have a beach nearby. However, it can be dangerous and has to be done at your own risks, since there are no life guards.
How long does it take to see the fishing villages?
The fishermen’s villages in Milos are really small and you don’t need more than 15-30 minutes to see one. Of course, I’d recommend taking a bit more time, possibly going for a dip in the sea, taking in the scenery, having a drink or a bite, just to enjoy the present moment.
You can also see all the ones I mentioned in one day, which is what we did, while also visiting some other beautiful landmarks and sights in Milos. Check out my 10-day Cyclades itinerary for this, as well as other must-see stops in Milos to add to your bucket-list.
Milos is a beautiful island, with plenty of stunning things to see. Among those things, I’d say the fishing villages, with their traditional houses, beautiful bright colours and clear water are a must-see, even if you only see some of them. They create a unique postcard-worthy and typically Greek scenery, that gives off instantly a relaxing and peaceful holiday atmosphere.
