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    Milos

    Greece

    Milos

    City

    Milos is a volcanic island in the western Cyclades: A large, deeply indented bay forms its natural harbor, and the coast changes within a few kilometers from white tuff to red and black rock.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Greece
    7. Cyclades
    9. Milos
    Milos is a volcanic island in the western Cyclades: A large, deeply indented bay forms its natural harbor, and the coast changes within a few kilometers from white tuff to red and black rock.Along this coast lie dozens of beaches and rocky coves, many of them accessible only by boat. In addition, there are fishing villages with colorful boathouses and the site of the Venus de Milo. Plan to spend some time on the water.

    Sights in Milos

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Sarakiniko

    1Sarakiniko

    On the north coast, the north wind has polished white volcanic rock into a smooth, ridged surface devoid of any vegetation. A narrow bay cuts deep into the rock, serving as a swimming spot, where visitors jump into the water from the rock edges. There's no shade or infrastructure; water and sun protection should be packed. The parking lot is on the road from Adamas to Pollonia; it's significantly less crowded in the mornings.
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    Syrmata of Klima

    2Syrmata of Klima

    The fishing village Klima on the west coast consists almost entirely of Syrmata: two-story boathouses whose ground floor served as a garage for the Kaiki and whose upper floor was inhabited. The doors are painted in vibrant colors so the fishermen could recognize their house from the sea. Many Syrmata are now holiday rentals, but the shore remains freely accessible. The access road from Trypiti is steep and narrow; large vehicles are better parked at the top.
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    Catacombs of Milos

    3Catacombs of Milos

    Below Trypiti lie Greece's only preserved catacombs, the burial site of the island's early Christian community. They were constructed from the 2nd century onwards and used until the 5th century. Tunnels with arched wall tombs were carved into the soft tuff, where several thousand people were interred. Today, a short, illuminated section is accessible; it is cool and damp.
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    Ancient Theater of Milos

    4Ancient Theater of Milos

    The theater on the slope between Trypiti and Klima dates to the Hellenistic era, its preserved marble rows stemming from Roman times. From the seating rows, you look over the Gulf of Milos. Nearby, the Venus de Milo was found in 1820, and a plaque marks the spot. The route from the car park is via steps.
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    Plaka and the Venetian Kastro

    5Plaka and the Venetian Kastro

    Main town Plaka lies on a ridge high above Adamas port, with car-free alleys. Remains of the Venetian Kastro walls are preserved, with Panagia Thalassitra chapel on its summit. The 15-minute ascent ends at a popular sunset viewpoint. The town itself houses the Archaeological and Folklore Museums.
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    Papafragas

    6Papafragas

    On the northeast coast, the sea has carved a narrow canyon into the tuff, at the end of which lies a tiny beach. From above, you gaze into the turquoise glowing chasm, next to which stand the remains of the prehistoric settlement Phylakopi. The descent is via an unsecured rock path and is tricky when wet. If you only want to look, stay on the platform at the parking lot.
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    City walks in Milos

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Adamantas: Maritime History and Harbor Flair

    Discover the pulsing heart of Milos, the harbor town of Adamantas. This walk takes you through its maritime history, shows the importance of mining for the island and lets you experience the lively harbor flair up close.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (6)

    Food and Drink

    1

    O! Hamos! Tavern

    The taverna is located on Papikinou beach, just east of Adamas port, in a shady courtyard with flowers and trees. They serve traditional Greek cuisine; meat and cheese are sourced from the owners' farm. The menu is handwritten in notebooks, and printed recipes are available to take home.
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    2

    Το Στερνάκι

    The café-restaurant in the square of Triovasalos is one of the island's oldest and has been modernized. The menu features grilled meats, Gyros, Moussaka, and Pitarakia, Milos's small cheese pastries. Seating is available indoors and outdoors on the village square.
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    3

    EGOIST

    The café-restaurant is situated on the harbor of Adamas, open from breakfast to evening. It serves brunch, pasta, pizza, burgers, salads, and desserts, and in the evenings, cocktails with harbor views.
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    Eating and Drinking on Milos

    Milos' cuisine comes from the sea and the barren land: fish, goat, cheese, and what grows in the volcanic soil. Several specialties are found only here.

    Pitarakia

    Small fried dough pockets, filled with the local fresh cheese Xynomyzithra, mint and onion. They are served as an appetizer and originated in Easter cuisine. In the tavernas of Plaka and Trypiti, they are almost always on the menu.

    Koufeto

    A pumpkin dessert, cooked in honey and mixed with almonds. Traditionally served at weddings, today you can find it in bakeries and as a dessert in a glass. The taste is very sweet; a small portion is enough.

    Ladenia

    A flat bread made from yeast dough with tomato, onion, and oregano, without cheese. It originally comes from the neighboring island Kimolos and is sold on Milos in many bakeries. It's good as a cold lunch on the beach.
    Fish from the fishing villages

    Fish from the fishing villages

    In Mandrakia, Pollonia, and Klima, fishing is still active, and local taverns buy directly from the quay. Fish is sold by weight, with the kilo price on the menu. Cheaper than sea bream are anchovies, sardines, and grilled octopus.

    Cheese and Wine

    Milos produces Xynomyzithra, a sour fresh cheese, and the semi-hard Manoura, which is aged in wine pomace. Additionally, there are some small wineries in the island's interior, cultivating mainly Assyrtiko and Mandilaria. You'll find both in the Pantopoleia of Plaka and Adamas.

    Culture, Art and History on Milos

    Obsidian and AntiquityAs early as the Neolithic period, Milos was a trading hub of supra-regional importance, possessing obsidian, a volcanic glass from which very sharp blades could be fashioned. Artifacts from Milos appear throughout the Aegean and as far as Crete. The Bronze Age settlement of Phylakopi on the northeast coast shows both Minoan and later Mycenaean influence, and is renowned for its fresco of the flying fish.Trypiti and the VenusDuring Roman times, the city was located near Trypiti, where the theater and catacombs are preserved. In 1820, a farmer there discovered the statue of Aphrodite, which became known as the Venus de Milo and moved to the Louvre. On Milos itself, only a copy stands in the Archaeological Museum in Plaka.Building with Tuff, Life from MiningThe soft volcanic tuff shapes the building culture. Into it are built the Syrmata, the boathouses in Klima, Mandrakia, and Firopotamos, whose colorful doors are typical of the fishing villages. Mining continues to shape the island today: Bentonite and Perlite are extracted by open-pit mining; sulfur was also mined previously. The Mining Museum in Adamas showcases equipment and working conditions. In the villages, the church year is marked by Panigiria, the festivals celebrating the day of each patron saint.

    Local Adventures

    Getting ThereFerries and high-speed ferries from Piraeus arrive at Adamas, with additional connections to the neighbouring islands of the western Cyclades like Sifnos, Serifos and Folegandros. The small airport south of Adamas is served by flights from Athens. From Pollonia, small ferries cross to Kimolos several times a day.Around the IslandKTEL Milos buses connect Adamas with Plaka, Trypiti, Pollonia, and several beaches, running several times daily during high season. For remote coves, especially in the west, you'll need a rental car or scooter; some access roads are unpaved tracks. In August, you should book early.By Boat and On FootKleftiko and many coves on the south and west coasts are only accessible by excursion boats from Adamas or Pollonia; trips are cancelled in case of north winds. Plaka's alleys are closed to cars; parking is on the village outskirts.

    Accommodations in Milos

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    Campgrounds in Milos

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    Nearby

    Paros

    Paros

    Paros is located in the center of the Cyclades and is an important hub in the ferry network, bringing the island significant transit traffic and excellent connectivity. From its quarries came Parian marble, which ancient sculptors like Praxiteles used.Those who stay will find two very different port towns, a quiet mountainous interior with old paved paths in between, and on the east coast, windy bays popular with wind- and kitesurfers.
    Lefkes

    Lefkes

    Lefkes is located at about 250 meters, almost in the center of Paros, eleven kilometers from Parikia, and was once the island's main village. The village sprawls amphitheatrically up the slope beneath a pine-covered hill, with Cycladic houses standing alongside neoclassical buildings. Cars are left at the car park on the outskirts; the labyrinth of alleys is only accessible on foot.The main street, Ramnos, leads past the House of Literature, a residence for writers and translators since 2004, up to the Agia Triada church of Parian marble. On the village's edge begins the Byzantine path to Prodromos. A small folklore museum exhibits tools, embroideries, and household items from past village life, and after August 15, Lefkes celebrates its major village festival.
    Poseidonia and Agathopes

    Poseidonia and Agathopes

    Poseidonia, in the southwest of Syros, is named after the sea god Poseidon, but is often still called Della Grazia, after the Catholic Church Madonna della Grazia. In the 19th century, the place was the summer retreat for wealthy families from Ermoupoli. From this period, neoclassical villas stand here in large gardens with pine trees, along with the light blue painted church of Agios Ioannis Prodromos from 1876 with a freestanding bell tower.A few minutes' walk away lies Agathopes, one of the island's most popular beaches, with fine sand and shallow, clear water. Further south follows the small, wilder bay of Komito, north, the village of Finikas with a beach and marina.
    Naoussa

    Naoussa

    Naoussa, located on the large northern bay, is Paros' second-largest town and boasts one of the biggest fishing fleets in the Cyclades. Around its small old harbour, fishing boats, tavernas, and bars cluster, some housed in former boathouses. Behind this begins a car-free labyrinth of whitewashed alleyways, small churches, and courtyards brimming with bougainvillea, originally designed to protect against pirates.At the harbour entrance stand the partially submerged remains of Kastelli, a 15th-century Venetian fortification, next to the Chapel of Agios Nikolaos, patron saint of fishermen. Around the bay lie beaches like Kolymbithres, Agios Ioannis, and Monastiri; many can be reached by small boats from the harbour in summer. On August 23rd, the town re-enacts a pirate raid with fireworks and dancing.
    Galissas

    Galissas

    Galissas is located on the west coast, about eight kilometers from Ermoupoli, and is considered the island's first seaside resort. The village stretches around a bay with one of Syros' longest sandy beaches; the water is shallow and clear, and tamarisks provide shade. The beach holds the Blue Flag award and is well-suited for families.The area was already settled in antiquity; the geographer Strabon names Galissas as one of the main cities of ancient Syros. On the hill at the edge of the bay stands the chapel of Agia Pakou, offering views over both beaches, and behind it, a short path leads to the quiet bay of Armeos. A little further on, in a sea cave above the sea, lies the chapel of Agios Stefanos, accessible via a path or by boat.

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