Two Days in Milos, Cyclades, Greece

After researching the many, many islands of the Cyclades in Greece, Milos was the island I was most excited to visit. The otherworldly beaches and historic sites were a big draw, as was the fact that it’s not yet quite as popular a destination as Santorini or Mykonos. After reading a few blog posts about Milos, it was decided that we’d make Milos the first and longest stop on our Grecian Cyclades tour.

We flew into Athens, then took a prop plane from there to Milos. It was amazing to see the other islands as we approached, volcanic, grey rock rising here and there from the sea. The flight was quick, and soon we found ourselves walking toward the tiny airport in the afternoon sunshine. We had arrived!

Having grown up in the northeastern USA, my idea of an island vacation is based on the lush, tropical islands of the Caribbean. Landing on Milos, I was surprised to find that it is not all that green at all. It’s rocky and the colors are very earthy (the same goes for all of the islands in the Cyclades). In that way, it was not the island paradise I was envisioning, but after three days exploring this remarkable place, I came to appreciate a new sort of natural island beauty.

We originally planned to have three full days exploring Milos and we certainly would not have run out of things to do if we had had another day. Unfortunately, an impending wind storm forced us to travel on early to the next stop on our Cyclades tour, Naxos.

We came to Milos for the beautiful beaches and laid back vibe and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend visiting this beautiful place!

Two Days in Milos

Stay | Do | Eat

Where to Stay in Milos

Though Adamantas is the island’s most bustling town with plenty of restaurants, cafes and shopping, it is also a port town and frankly not that scenic. Instead, we chose to stay in the smaller town of Pollonia, at the northern tip of Milos.

This little town is perfect for visitors, with its gorgeous harbor lined with restaurants and the white and blue B&Bs that line streets leading off the main drag.

We booked the wonderful Villa Tania as our home base while on Milos and we loved every moment of it. Set right on the water at the northernmost tip of the island, the property is stunning. From the Tania, it was an easy walk down to the harbor for dinner.

The breakfast was out of this world. Ah, to be back in this idyllic spot eating this delicious food.

The beautiful rooms, the friendly staff and luxurious bath products made our stay super comfortable. Getting a room with a little patio with a perfect view of the amazing Milos sunset was truly such a treat. It was a wonderfully peaceful place to stay.

Villa Tania is small, so if there is availability – book quickly! You won’t regret it!

What to do in Milos

The beaches of Milos differ dramatically from one another thanks to the incredible rocky landscapes that make up the island. From other worldly white rock formations to caves and turquoise waters, there was simply not enough time for us to enjoy all of the remarkable beaches the island has to offer.

We had a blast exploring the island. Here are some of the best things we did on Milos.

Sarakíniko

Our first morning, we drove over to Sarakíniko to explore, soak up the sun and swim. This stunning public beach has incredible white rock formations that make you feel like you’re on another planet!

We were easily able to find parking, but I imagine this place gets crowded in peak season. After walking along the rocks, we enjoyed some time bathing in the sun.

We took a dip in the water and swam around, climbing the rocks and jumping into the sea. It was tons of fun!

Mandrakia

We made the scenic ride over to Mandrakia for lunch at Medousa (see below for more on the delicious food we enjoyed on Milos!). This little seaside port was just picture perfect. It’s well worth the short drive for a tasty lunch and a lovely view.

Catacombs of Milos

That evening, we drove over to Trypiti to see the catacombs. They are small, but it was amazing to discover this early piece of Catholic history. Built into the foothills, these ancient tombs date back to the 1st-5th century. So cool!

Ancient Roman Theater

Just a short walk further down the hill from the catacombs is Milos’ famous ancient Roman theater. It is well-preserved and best known as the spot where the Venus de Milo was discovered. We were lucky enough to have seen it during our trip to Paris at the Louvre and it was truly beautiful. We didn’t walk all the way down, but did admire the theater from above – what a view.

Watch the sunset in Plaka

After some light ancient sight seeing, we drove over to the beautiful village of Plaka to watch the sunset.

Up the hill and through the winding stone streets we climbed, hoping to snag a seat at Utopia Cafe, which we had read was the best place to watch the sunset on Milos. Though we arrived about an hour early, every seat in the house was already taken!

Discouraged, we set off through the streets and found our way to the church, Panagia Korphiatissa. At the corner, an adorable little artsy bar, Verina Cafe & Cocktail Bar, was displaying its cocktails. It seemed like the perfect alternative to Utopia, which doesn’t have the greatest reviews.

Unlike Utopia, it didn’t get crowded here until much closer to the main event, so we got great seats to enjoy a drink in the golden light and then a spot overlooking the water closer to sunset. It was a fabulous way to end our first day on the island!

Kleftiko Sailing Tour

Our second and final day on the island was spent on a full day sailing adventure to the Kleftiko Caves with Polco Sailing. This is absolutely, hands down a must-do on Milos. It was the perfect day out on the water in the gorgeous sunshine, taking in the magnificent sights of Milos. We swam in turquoise waters and ate delicious Greek food prepared by the lovely couple who manned our boat.

If you do one thing while on Milos, a sailing tour to Kleftiko should be it. We set sail from Adamantas in the morning, passing by the beautiful pastel fishing huts of Trypiti.

Then we passed the bears, stone formations rising out of the sea that look, well, like bears.

We stopped at several points to swim and explore. The beautiful turquoise water was refreshing and clear (and appreciated after being out in the hot sun!).

The main event was Kleftiko. We got to swim around, even through the caves. We enjoyed a meal before heading back to town just before sunset. It was a fabulous day.

Where to Eat in Milos

Before our trip, I was pretty sure I loved Greek food. By the time we left Milos, I was completely sure. We ate so well on Milos! Pollonia’s harborside restaurants served up delicious food and beautiful views.

Armenaki

One of the first spots you come upon in Pollonia’s harbor from Tania is Armenaki. There was a sign out front advertising happy hour, so with it being on the earlier side, we figured why not! We each got a Greek wine tasting sample, Andrew went for red and I went for white, and we split a cheese plate. Both tastings included wines from Milos itself! This was the perfect start to our Milos adventure.

Rifaki

After our wine tasting, we walked further down along the harbor and chose Rifaki for our dinner. It was delicious!

Medousa

Our first lunch in Milos served up beautiful views and delicious Greek salads. After exploring Sarakíniko, definitely stop by Medousa in Mandrakia.

Enalion

Enalion was the only restaurant we planned to dine at ahead of time and it was wonderful. The octopus was just delicious.

The seaside view was the perfect backdrop for a lovely meal.

Gialos

Our final night, we wandered to the end of the strip and decided on the immensely popular Gialos. Luckily, we somehow didn’t have to wait for a table, despite the restaurant feeling quite full.

Milos was a wonderful start to our Greek adventure and we only wish we could have stayed longer. However, the weather had other plans for us! Stay tuned for more on our Cyclades tour!