The Island With 70 Beaches
Milos is a photographer's dream. This volcanic Cycladic island has a coastline so varied and dramatic that it's said to have more beach types than any other Greek island — white pumice moonscapes, deep-red cliffs, sea caves accessible only by boat, coloured rock formations, and turquoise bays of extraordinary clarity. The island is famous worldwide as the place where the Venus de Milo statue was discovered in 1820.
Despite growing in popularity, Milos retains a raw, unpolished beauty. Much of its coastline is only reachable by boat, which naturally limits crowds and preserves the sense of discovery.
Top Spots
- Sarakiniko: The island's most extraordinary landscape — smooth white volcanic rock worn into curves and hollows by the sea, forming a lunar landscape right at the water's edge. Sunrise and sunset produce otherworldly light on the white rock. The most photographed spot on Milos.
- Klima: A tiny fishing village where the boathouses (syrmata) are painted in vivid reds, yellows, and blues at water level — one of the most charming and photogenic spots in the Cyclades.
- Kleftiko: A network of sea caves, sea arches, and white rock formations on the southwest coast, only reachable by boat. Snorkelling in the crystal-clear water beneath the caves is exceptional.
- Plaka: The hilltop capital, with a Venetian kastro commanding views across the entire western caldera of the island. Best at sunset.
- Tsigrado: A tiny hidden beach accessed via a rope ladder through a narrow cliff crevice — the effort is completely worth it.
Boat Trips
A full-day boat trip circumnavigating the island is the single best way to experience Milos. You'll access beaches and sea caves that are impossible to reach overland, swim in turquoise bays with no one else around, and get the full scale of the island's volcanic geology from the water. Book early in summer — the best operators fill up fast.
Practical Tips
- Milos is compact enough to drive around in a day with a hire car; an ATV works for most roads.
- Adamas (the port) and Pollonia are the main accommodation centres; Plaka is charming but quieter.
- Ferry from Piraeus takes ~3.5 hrs on the fast boat; also direct flights from Athens (MLO).
- The island's volcanic soil produces excellent capers — try them in local dishes.