Nicknamed the island of colors because of its beautiful beaches, its breathtaking sunsets and its crystal clear azure waters, Milos is a destination with so much to offer its visitors. This horseshoe-shaped volcanic city located in the southwest of the Cyclades archipelago offers an exceptional setting for practicing a plethora of activities on land and at sea. Here is our list of the best things to do to Milos, which we hope will create your own holiday itinerary in this part of Greece.
Spend the day on the beach
The island of Milos is famous for its beaches. It has more than 75 small and large ones, some accessible by land and others by water. No list of must-do things to do in Milos will be incomplete without visiting the magnificent beaches that this heavenly destination has to offer. Find some of the best places to go for a swim:
Firiplaka beach
Long white sand beach, Firiplaka is a swimming spot on the island of Milos which stands out for the imposing rocks that surround it and its clear waters. It also has the particularity of being organized with a small bar where visitors can have some refreshments.
Tsigrado beach
Tsigrado is a beautiful little cove with crystal clear waters located near Firiplaka. Although it is a beautiful place, the descent to this beach remains one of the most strenuous on the island of Milos. It must be carried out with caution and by non-sensitive souls.
Provatas beach
With its ancient sands and shallow waters, Provatas is the ideal beach for families. If you are with children, walking along the beach and swimming is one of the best things to do on Milos Island in Greece. The beach is lined with small hotels and restaurants and is easily accessible by paved roads.
Discover the lunar landscape of Sarakiniko
If you want to discover this little paradise and its unique landscape, we recommend that you go to Sarakiniko. The village is located in the north of the island and it has its own lunar landscape. The site is notable for its caldera, which was created by an ancient volcanic eruption. It seems that this volcanic eruption was violent because there are rocks everywhere and they are covered with beautiful green vegetation. If you decide to go, take your camera because you will have an amazing view!
Boat trip around Milos island
A visit to the island of Milos will feel unfinished if you don’t tour the island by boat. You will have the opportunity to swim in places accessible only by boat and to see the island from a different perspective.
Milos boat tours depart from Adamas village and take you along the coast of Milos, with stops along the way. The highlight of this exploration being Sarakiniko and Kleftiko.
Among the best things to do on this boat trip are swimming around the small caves and seeing the strange rock formations. This excursion will introduce you to many points of interest around Milos.
Admire the cliffs of Kleftiko
Kleftiko (Kleftes) is one of the most famous places in Milos. The Kleftiko cliffs, located in the western part of the island, are decorated with frescoes dating from the Byzantine era. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and is open to visitors every day.
In fact, these cliffs were populated by ancient Greeks who lived there until they were abandoned at the end of World War II. Today they are protected by law and are only visited by those who have a special permit to do so.
Visit the beautiful villages of Milos island
The island of Milos in Greece is full of magnificent villages that you will enjoy discovering during your stay in this part of the Cyclades archipelago. Here are some suggestions of places to visit around this volcanic island:
Stroll through the streets of Pláka in the evening
The capital of the island of Milos in Greece, Plaka is notable for being built on top of a hill, which makes for a breathtaking sight to behold upon your arrival. As you stroll through the cobbled streets of this town, you can enjoy magnificent views of the Gulf of Milos. It is particularly beautiful at sunset. The village is filled with traditional whitewashed houses with colorful windows.
Here you will find many restaurants, bars and small shops along the narrow roads. You can also visit the archaeological museum which has a replica of the Venus de Milos.
Walking through the streets of Pláka in the evening, you will be surprised by the beauty of this city, which has developed since ancient times. In fact, it is believed that on this island there was a temple dedicated to Dionysus (the god of wine) located on Mount Vronda where every year there was a festival related to this deity.
Pláka has around 15 km² of streets lined with whitewashed buildings with blue tile roofs; this style is found throughout the island and makes it one of its most characteristic features. The capital is a great place to spend an evening strolling the streets admiring the beautiful architecture and watching the sunset on the sea. There are also many restaurants and bars on the main street of Pláka which offer live music on certain evenings of the week.
Eat at the fishing village in Mandrakia
Mandrakia is another charming traditional fishing village that you can visit during your stay in Milos like Klima. It is also home to houses dug into the rocks. Furthermore, it is possible to find a room to rent there.
Take photos in the beautiful village of Klima
One of the best things to do in Milos is to visit its beautiful villages like Klima. This beautiful and small traditional village is distinguished by its colorful houses wonderfully carved into the rock and are known as Syrmata. They have two floors, with on the ground floor the fishermen who use means which only they have the secret to protect their boats in winter in the event of bad weather. On the first floor, the family lives.
Take a tour of the Milos Mining Museum
If you want to learn some history of the island of Milos in Greece, one of the things to do is to visit its Milos Mining Museum. Located in the main port of the island, Adamas, the Milos Mining Museum is a great way to spend an afternoon.
The collection traces the island’s 10,000-year mining history, dating back to 8,000 BC. Today, Milos is the largest producer and processor of bentonite and perlite in the European Union . Enjoy the museum’s Miloterranean Geo Experience. The tour takes you across the island to discover for yourself the island’s unique geology, mineral content and mining history. A moment of extraordinary discovery that you should not deprive yourself of under any circumstances.
Discover the ancient city of Milos and the site of the Venus of Milos
Considered one of the most famous statues of Antiquity, the Venus of Milos, was created on the island of Milos. Although the original is now kept at the Louvre Museum in Paris, it is still possible to see the discovery site on the island of Milos. This is located near the village of Tripiti.
Not far from where the Venus of Milos was discovered are the remains of the ancient Roman theater. The theater offers fantastic sea views and the village of Klima below. Originally built during the Hellenistic period, the theater was rebuilt during the time of the Romans.
Sports activities in Milos and other curiosities
- Make scuba diving
- Water sport: Kayaking and windsurfing
- Explore the island: go for a hike
- Admire the seals from the caves
- Cycling tour to Sarakiniko