Milos in Greece

Milos belongs to the Cyclades, and is fairly large in area (160 km2) and has about 4,980 inhabitants. Milos feels like a small island even if it is quite large in terms of area, western Milos is mountainous and difficult to access and is visited by few tourists. Geographically, Milos is located in the western Cyclades, the nearest neighbouring islands are Kimolos, Folegandros and Sifnos. Adamas has most inhabitants (1,350) followed by Plaka (750 inhabitants). The highest mountain, Profitis Elias, is measuring 748 meters above sea level. The main sources of income are tourism and cement production.

Kleftiko is one of Milos many unique beaches.

Milos is a mystery to me. Why do not more tourists go to Milos? Why is it so hard to convince people that Milos is a stunning island? I have missionized for Milos for many years, it has helped to some extent, but there are still many who have not yet found their way to Milos. Everyone should discover Milos, that is what I think, especially all beach lovers. Now I hope that you, who read this text, becomes convinced of the island's qualities and travel to Milos. You will not regret it.

If I should mention something negative about Milos, it's the ugly gravel pits. Milos is an island rich in minerals and mining industry gives the island a great income, but it also affects the landscape. But you should not be intimidated, the open pits generally lies out of the way and you do not notice them so much.

The unique village of Klima is not to be missed.

Paleochori beach is another of my favorites on Milos.

Milos is, just like Santorini, a volcanic island, which of course has left its mark. The landscape is like nothing else in Greece and sometimes you get the feeling of being on another planet. You can clearly see that Milos is an island with a peculiar landscape if you are approaching Milos from sea. Here are weird rock formations in all sorts of colour, almost as if the island would be artificial.

Don't miss the awesome Papafragas cave beach on Milos.

The coastline belongs to one of the most interesting one could imagine and a boat trip around the island is an absolute must. Milos is also very interesting historically: there are old settlements that have not yet been fully explored, there are mysterious catacombs, a Roman theatre with lovely views, and last but not least, it was on Milos that the world-famous statue of Venus de Milo was found, the statue is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The cozy village of Pollonia suits families with children very well.

The characteristic coastline is the explanation why Milos has such sensational beaches. Milos is a beach paradise and I can promise you that the beaches are among the best in Greece and sometimes unique. There are fine sandy beaches with pure white sand, beaches where it bubbles in the water, beaches where the sand changes from white to orange, beaches with caves and bathing-places with rocks that is reminiscent of the moon. There is even a beach where you can take a sauna in a small cave in the cliff. You can eat food cooked buried in hot volcanic sand on the same beach.

You can read more about Milos via the links at the end of this page.

A short summary of the information comes here:

It is possible to go on a package tour from some countries, check with a travel agency in your country. If you are going to travel independently it is easiest to fly to Athens and continue by domestic flight to Milos. You can also go by ferry from Athens' port at Piraeus. Another option is to go by air to Santorini from where there are decent boat connections to Milos.

Plaka is the capital of Milos and is famous for its beautiful sunsets.

It is not because of the villages one travel to Milos, it is the beaches that draws people. But there are no lack of nice villages. The island capital of Plaka is one of them. Milos' port town, and the largest tourist resort, is Adamas (see picture at the end)and it is a pretty cosy village. Pollonia is the second largest tourist resort and Milos' second port. Pollonia is a tranquil village and suitable for families with children. Other villages are Klima, Mandrakia, Tripiti, Firopotamos and Zefiria.

Milos' beaches belongs to the best in Greece. My favourites are Paleochori, Sarakiniko and Tsigrado. Other very nice beaches are Provatas, Papikinou, Firiplaka, Kleftiko (see picture at the top), Papafragas, Achivadolimni, Mitakas and Agia Kyriaki.

Adamas is Milos largest tourist resort and the island's largest port.

As I mentioned above, the coastline of Milos is an attraction in itself. But there are other attractions, like the catacombs, the ancient theatre, the place where they found the Venus de Milo and the unique village of Klima.

There are plenty of hotels and pensions. Most are in Adamas and Pollonia. Personally, I prefer to stay in Adamas because it is a good starting point to see the rest of the island. The advantage of staying in Pollonia is that it is a tranquil village and the boats to Kimolos starts out from there. Accommodations are also available in Plaka, Tripiti and Mandrakia.

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