Milos is quickly becoming one of the more popular of the Cyclades islands in Greece, and for good reason – there is an amazing variety of interesting geology to see at the beaches around the island, there are several great towns to use as a base or to explore, and the blue water and sunset views are as perfect as anywhere in the Cyclades. Two nights or a weekend on Milos will give you time to see some of the main sights, although you could certainly find plenty to do with more time to spend!
Day 1 – Plaka
4pm – From the port town where ferries arrive, you can take a bus up to the hillside town of Plaka, which would be a great place to stay for at least the first night. Buses are fairly frequent (about every hour in high season), or it’s a very short taxi ride.
5pm – Grab a drink and enjoy the view from En Plo, then walk towards the western edge of town to find a spot for sunset. The plaza around the Church of Panagia Korfiatissa is a popular spot, or you can hike up the hill to the Plaka Castle.
7pm – There are plenty of restaurants in Plaka to choose from – look for outdoor tables if you like but watch out for cats looking for a snack!
Day 2 – Western Beaches on Milos
9am – If you stayed in Plaka the first night, you’re well situated to visit the picturesque fishing village of Klima first thing. There are buses that head in that direction, or it’s not a bad walk downhill. There may be a cafe open seasonally, but you might be best off finding breakfast up the hill either before or after.
10am – On the way back up the hill from Kilma, don’t miss the ruins and the site where the Venus di Milo statue was found! (Look for “Ancient Theater of Milos” on the map, and there are signs as you walk.)
11am – Back in Plaka, or in Adamantas if you’re moving to stay there the second night, grab some groceries for a picnic and head to Firopatamos beach. It’s about a half hour walk (downhill) from Plaka.
2pm – If you have a car or other transportation, you could also visit some nearby spots this afternoon: the picturesque fishing village of Mandrakia (also maybe a good spot for lunch) and the famous Sarakiniko “Moon Beach.” Or, just relax and enjoy the afternoon at Firopatamos!
5pm – Consider catching another Plaka sunset, regardless of where you’re staying that night – it’s the best spot on the island (sunset can be hard to see from Adamantas).
7pm – Try the O! Hamos! Tavern for dinner – it’s very popular so there may be a wait during high season, but you’ll probably find it’s worth the wait!
Day 3 – Exploring more beaches
8am – If you didn’t rent a car or other transportation earlier, today is the day! Pick it up as early as possible so you can make the most of your time to explore, and stop at Mouratos Bakery on your way out of Adamas. You might want to try to catch first light at Sarakiniko and make a quick loop back to Mandrakia, if you didn’t visit one or both yesterday.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to rent anything, you can use the bus to explore the Papafragas Caves and Pollonia – or, today could be a great day for a boat tour!
10am – Head east and check out the Papafragas Caves on your way to the village of Pollonia, a great stop for lunch.
1pm – Continue on the main highway to Voudia beach if you like, then back towards the center of the island where you’ll make a turn in Zefiria to head back southeast to Paleochori beach (famous for many-colored cliffs).
3pm – Next stop is Tsigerado beach, if you want to brave the single rickety ladder that gets you down from the cliffs – or maybe just look at it and then carry on towards Fyriplaka.
(From here it’s a bit of a stretch on the 48 hours but maybe you have an evening ferry to catch? Or finish up your weekend on Milos with dinner in Adamantas, and maybe even one last Plaka sunset.)
Essentials for a Weekend on Milos Island
Where to stay on Milos
- The port town of Adamantas is the most convenient for a weekend on Milos – both for ferries and for any car/scooter/ATV rentals. If you’re taking the bus, most bus routes to other parts of the island go through Adamantas. I stayed at an Airbnb/hotel somewhat on the outside of town and found the whole town to be very walkable (and felt safe walking alone at night).
- Plaka has the best sunsets, so could be worth staying a night for convenience. There are frequent bus connections between Plaka and Adamantas. I actually stayed a little outside of Plaka in Trypiti and found it to be great value due to a slightly less convenient location. I walked there from a bus stop on the Adamantas to Plaka route, from there into Plaka (about 30 minutes, and fun to see the neighborhoods on the way), and from there to Klima and back.
Getting around on Milos
- Taking the bus on Milos – Milos has a pretty great bus system, and their website has schedules and routes. I was happy using the buses for most of my time and just doing a rental for one day. That said, if you really want to see a lot of the island in a short time, having your own vehicle will give you the most flexibility, and the buses don’t cover much of the southern part of the island (although there is a route from Adamantas to Paleochori.)
- Renting a vehicle on Milos – There are plenty of options for renting scooters, ATVs, and even cars in Adamantas. You’ll need an international driver’s license to rent a scooter as well as a car, but not for an ATV! I found the ATVs easy to drive and felt safe on the main roads, where ATVs and scooters are a common sight, as well as on some dirt/gravel roads I might not have wanted to take a scooter or a car on. I had no trouble making a reservation in person the day before when I visited in May 2023, but during high season more advance reservations might be a good idea.
What to do about money on Milos: I mostly used my credit card during my weekend on Milos, but it was helpful to have some cash as well. Note tipping is not particularly common but if you do want to tip you may want cash as you’ll have to make a point of asking to add a tip on a credit card payment.
Best photo spots on Milos: There are so many picturesque villages and beaches, it’s hard to recommend just a few! Sarakiniko is a classic for the moonlike rock formations, and I found the Papafragas Caves to be similarly beautiful especially in combination with the perfectly blue water. Plaka sunsets are incredible, and the old church on the way up to the castle is particularly picturesque. Mandrakia has lovely painted doors and boats in the harbor but if you have to choose one or the other, I’d say Klima village is particularly unique.
