The island of Milos in the Cyclades of Greece is known for its wonderful colors and plethora of unique beaches to satisfy anyone’s tastes. We had the pleasure of visiting quite a few of the beaches on Milos in May and they did not disappoint! My only regret is not having more time on the island to see as many as possible and also not being able to spend as much time as I would have liked on each one! That being said I tried my best to see quite a few of them, one to experience them of course and also to help my readers out on their future travels there! This guide will have a combination of beaches that can be accessed by land as well as swimming spots that can be accessed by boat.
As mentioned in my 1st post of this Greece series, having a quad or scooter/motorcycle to get around the island is highly recommended and will save you a lot of time and money as well. I also highly recommend doing a boat tour if you have the time and funds to do so! We booked ours with Volcano Boat and I would not hesitate to recommend them. Volcano Boat is not a fancy catamaran which some people may want for the pictures and the experience but it is a nice and comfortable speedboat and it is also the only boat that can fit into Sykia Cave without having to offload passengers into smaller inflatable boats which is very convenient and also saves time. Also because of the speed it is usually the first boat to get to all the swimming spots so you’ll only have to share the area with your group rather than your group plus multiple boatloads of people! It made the experience that much more enjoyable and we only had a group of approximately 14-16 plus the 3 crew members which sounds like a lot but actually felt pretty small, especially when you are in the water (the boat fits 22 passengers). A half day tour from 9-2 will take you to all the major spots in half the time it would take the slower boats which is nice because spending your whole day on a boat can be very tiring and also you can spend your free time doing other things around the island! They also have multiple tours (west coast, south coast, both, etc.) We went to Sykia Cave, two spots in Kleftiko, Cape Vani, Kalogries Beach, Arkoudes, and past fishing villages like Klima and other geological formations and villages. We almost passed on this tour as we aren’t fond of being around too many people but it turned out to be such a great time and we saw spots on the island that I personally feel you just can’t miss out on. The crew was incredibly friendly and fun and you could tell they love their job. Snacks and beverages are served on the half day tours and the price was 60 euros per person when we went in May of 2018. Here is a link to the company https://volcanoboat.eu/en/. I will be writing in-depth about each of these swimming spots we visited in this guide as well.
Keep reading to learn more about some of the wonderful beaches of Milos Island! I have added some page jumps below as well for your viewing convenience. As for directions, Google Maps will direct you anywhere you need to go. It was even pretty accurate for the west coast of the island which isn’t highly trafficked by tourists. There is plenty of signage on the road as well to help guide you on your way.
North Coast
A few options I did not get to check out…
South Coast
East Coast
West Coast
Basic information on west coast and beach options
Swimming Spots by Boat
North Coast
Firopotamos Beach
This is hands down my favorite beach that we visited on the island! This is the beach you want to go to if you’re seeking the picture perfect Greek beach that you’ve probably pinned onto your Pinterest Board or saved to your Instagram tabs. This place has it all…soft white sand, beautiful crystal clear blue waters, and an incredibly unique backdrop from the volcanic rocks and cliffs surrounding the bay and jutting out of the waters. There is also a cute small fishermen village with the traditional syrmata (fishermen houses), a beautiful little church, and some ancient ruins that make for a great photo backdrop. When you step into the water it is deceiving because at first it is very rocky and I’ll admit I was a little disappointed because I wanted to swim freely without hurting my feet. I am glad I continued walking on because just a little further out you will drop down into the softest finest sand! I actually saw a tourist standing on the rocks for awhile because he didn’t realize it eventually transitioned to soft sand for days. It was fun to see the reaction on his face when he finally hit the soft sand and was pleasantly surprised. This beach is great for swimming as there are no waves making it very family friendly. I have read that in the summer there is one canteen on the beach and some loungers but when we went in mid-May none of that had been setup yet which didn’t bother me one bit as that would probably attract more crowds. I enjoy laying out on soft sand and we always bring plenty of water with us. We enjoyed the beach with only one other person for awhile while we explored the ruins and climbed around the rocky tip on the east end, admiring a different view of the beach and the blue waters from above. Once we decided to lay out on the sand and go for a swim a few more people showed up but it was still less than 10 people on the entire beach and of course the residents that live in the fishermen houses who were watching us from their balconies. It was so quiet and peaceful, I really didn’t want to leave at all but we had a full day ahead of us still hopping around the north coast beaches. The only con really is that the beach is small so during the peak tourist season I can see this place getting packed and not being very comfortable since you can’t spread out. This is a must-see on the island though and a highly recommended choice if you’re limited on beach days and want a beach to be able to swim freely and safely at and tan in soft sand.
Sarakiniko
Sarakiniko is one of the main attractions of Milos known for its bright white and moon-like landscape. Its unique shapes and hollows is formed by the erosion of the volcanic rocks from the winds and waves of the Aegean Sea. It is definitely one of the most visited sites on the island and for good reason. It truly is such a sight to see and the bright white contrasted against the blue waters is simply stunning. The white rocks are very smooth and easy to walk on. Many people lay out on them as the small bit of sand near the waters isn’t enough space for many people, especially during tourist season. Depending on time of year though there is plenty of rocky area to lay out on and I think that contributes to the unique experience. You can wade in from the shore for a dip or jump from high rocks into the water. There are some man-made caves and a shipwreck near the shore but unfortunately we didn’t get to explore either while there. You can snorkel around the shipwreck and walk through the caves. When we arrived on the beach it was around 11:00/11:30 AM. We started at Firopotamos and hopped our way through the north coast to Pollonia for lunch. Luckily during mid-May it wasn’t busy at all. Yes there were some people (probably 20 or less) and most of the sandy area had been staked but there was plenty of area along the rocks to walk around and explore at. We didn’t stay long because it was SO HOT! We didn’t feel like getting wet again since we had other places to see still and since the rocky landscape is so exposed it was really unbearable at times if you aren’t going to jump into the water to cool off. Make sure to bring plenty of water with you since there really isn’t any shade. There is a large parking lot area before the entrance of the beach and you walk from the lot to the beach.
Kind of off topic but I actually ended up meeting a friend here. She was with her boyfriend and we both wanted to take a picture on this arch that I will post in the photos below so we took turns. We actually hadn’t run into a lot of nice tourists, especially couples for some odd reason and we didn’t expect to talk really because they were speaking French. The boyfriend randomly turns to Joe and asks if we would want a picture together and that he could take any picture we would like. Joe was kind of taken aback from someone being so nice since most people we have run into are really just concerned with their own pictures and selfies and so he said that we were okay but thank you. We ended up leaving without talking to them again but I’m not sure why they left such an impression on me. Well the girlfriend ended up finding my Instagram from the location tag and started watching my stories. I was wondering who this random person was looking at my stories and I went to her page and immediately recognized her. Eventually I decided to message her and initiate a conversation. Apparently the day after our initial meeting when we went to explore the south coast beaches they ended up eating at the same restaurant with us on Paliochori Beach. I remember the restaurant too because it was completely dead and halfway through eating another couple walked in but I didn’t look up or pay any attention to who it was. Well, it was them! Her boyfriend pointed us out to her and was like “Hey, look it’s the couple from yesterday” but I didn’t even notice! What a small world, or I should say island! We were kind of bummed at a missed opportunity to actually have a couple friend to hang out with while we were there. We have been wanting to meet more friends on our travels, especially some fun couples. It has been a challenge since we are both introverted people but we are both determined to work on this. Anyways, her and I talk non-stop on WhatsApp now and keep in touch with each others lives pretty much weekly. I hope to be able to meet again on our travels one day soon and actually get to hang out this time!
Papafragas
Papafragas is another popular beach on Milos and is probably the 2nd most photographed after Sarakiniko (in my opinion). It is a beautiful sea cave with glistening blue-green water surrounded by large and impressive rocks. You have to follow a path that is carved from the rocks down to the sandy area below. It is a short climb down and doable but can be dangerous if you are not wearing sturdy shoes or are not very good with balance and heights so please be cautious when visiting this beach. The sand strip below is very small so I would arrive early if you want to try to have the place to yourself or with only a couple others. Even if you don’t come to stay and swim it is still very much worth the drive to just come see it from above. There is a small parking lot for easy access for a quick photo. We decided not to stay and swim as it was a little shaded and there was already another couple there but the view was gorgeous and it would definitely be fun to spend a morning here by yourself. There are multiple caves and passages to explore and there is also the archaeological site of the Ancient City of Phylakopi. According to my research, Phylakopi used to be one of the most important settlements in the Aegean. Overall, at least make the drive-by because the views are stunning.
Alogomandra
We just happened to stumble across this one while making our way up the northern coast towards Pollonia for lunch. As I mentioned before the signage on Milos is pretty good at letting you know where a point of interest is that you should probably make a stopover for. I am really glad we stopped to check it out as it was very unique and there were hardly any tourists around. One one side is a normal little sandy beach that for some reason wasn’t very populated at all (maybe 4 people at most). It isn’t the most visually spectacular beach but for a nice big area with soft sand and decent looking waters I was surprised it wasn’t a little more populated. On the other side of the beach is a beautiful little cove carved into the rocks, almost like a semi-cave with beautiful blue waters lapping in. This side appears to be more popular and there were several people lounging along the small sandy strip under the cove as well as a few kayakers in the water. This would be another great one to have to yourself as the cove provides shade and it is easy to wade in and out of the water. This wouldn’t be fun with the peak of tourist season crowds however but still a cool sight to see if you happen to drive by.
Klima
While not necessarily a beach I would recommend swimming at, it still has a beach area where you can walk along the shore so I’m including it briefly. I will also be adding Klima to my next blog post in this Greece series all about villages and historical sites on Milos. This place is beautiful and another popular destination on Milos Island. It is a must-see in my opinion as it is the largest traditional fishermen village on the island and also the most colorful! While on our boat tour our guide gave us a little background on the syrmata’s. He said the ground floor is where the fishermen stored their boats and the 2nd level is where they would reside. He said that they would paint them the bright colors so they could spot the house easily from the sea and also sometimes to match their boat colors. It’s pretty cool because when we visited the village we saw people painting them so it’s well preserved and looks bright and fresh. A lot of people just rent them out now but learning about the history of these colorful fishing villages was definitely interesting. Walk along the beach and be greeted by many cats in the area. They have a little donation box for food, water, spaying/neutering, and medical expenses for the kitties. There is a small church here as well. You can get to Klima by taking a foot trail near the catacombs and ancient roman theater area or you can drive up and park your car along the road about 100 meters away and walk the rest of the way. If you eat at the restaurant there you can use their parking lot I believe.
If you work your way up the north coast I would stop at Pollonia for lunch by the sea. It’s a cute little village and has really great restaurants with delicious fresh seafood! I unfortunately can’t remember the name of the restaurant we randomly chose but our server was so friendly and talkative. She asked us about our time on Milos so far and where we were headed to after Milos (Crete). She told us that Crete is beautiful and warned us that the Cretans love to drink and to be prepared for a lot of shots of raki! She then proceeded to give us a free shot of mastika which is seasoned with mastic and has a pine-like semi-sweet flavor. It went down smoothly and I preferred it over both ouzo and raki. There is a little beach in Pollonia as well although not the most spectacular. It is decent enough for swimming/wading and laying out in the sand. It is a popular one for families. Be sure to stop at the St. Nicholas Church as well!
Some other beaches in the northern area that we didn’t get to stop at and/or spend a lot of time at include: Mandrakia (traditional fishermen houses are here as well, better swimming than Klima), Pachena Beach, Mytakas Beach, Achivadolimni (one of the longest beaches on Milos. Very sandy and near the only lake on Milos Island), Papikinou and Lagada Beach of Adamas, and Plathiena Beach near Plaka. I know there is more so be sure to pull up a map of the island and really scope it out!
South Coast
Tsigrado
Tsigrado is a popular south coast beach which I’m sure used to be very secretive but now due to social media it is pretty well known. Nonetheless it is still very beautiful and if you get there early enough you may just get the whole place to yourselves like we did! It is a little dangerous to get down there as it is tucked away in a little cove where you will have to climb down some sketchy rocks, ropes, and finally a ladder at your own risk. It is a steep descent and slippery from the dusty dirt and sand. It isn’t for the faint of heart, especially if you are afraid of heights. Please be very careful if you decide to access the beach and also the less you carry with you, the better. Even if you don’t decide to access the beach, the view from above is still absolutely gorgeous. The blue tones of the water is simply stunning and I would recommend that you still stop by to take in the views. The cove itself is pretty cool although I don’t think I would spend my whole day there. The water is nice and shallow for wading and a mixture of sand and rocky patches. The cove is very small so if you don’t get there early and you are going during tourist season it’ll likely get very crowded, packed in like sardines! I would say the dangerous access keeps the crowds down, which may be true, but I’ve seen pictures here of a very full beach indicating that there are many brave people out there that will make the descent down to the cove. Since we came in May and went bright and early we were very fortunate to enjoy this place in solitude. It was a cloudy day but still very beautiful and warm out. We didn’t swim but walked around some of the little caves and sat in the sand just enjoying each other’s company in the peace and quiet. Make sure to bring plenty of water with you, especially since going back up to the car/quad/scooter multiple times is not a simple task with the climb. You can also reach Tsigrado by boat and I believe some boat tours will offer this as one of their destinations.
Fyriplaka
This beach was also one of my favorites on the island and I really wish we had come back on a sunny day to swim here! It was still gorgeous even on a cloudy day though! When you drive up to the parking lot area of the beach, you’re instantly treated to the most wonderful view from above. The water is a bright vivid blue and stands out against the incredibly colorful volcanic rocks and cliffs that surround the beach. The colors are so striking and it is definitely a beach you have to put on your list to spend a day at. The beach is a mixture of sand and gravel/pebbles and it is very long so although it gets very popular from June-September you should still be able to find plenty of room to lay out at. In the summertime there are also loungers and a beach bar but when we went in May there were no loungers set up yet and the beach bar was not open. Even if you don’t end up spending a lot of time here I would at least come walk the beach and check out the impressive rock formations.
Agia Kyriaki
The beauty of this beach sneaks up on you. While it isn’t the most beautiful beach I’ve been to by any means it is unique and very peaceful. What makes it really unique is the color of the water near the shoreline. As you can see in my pictures below, the water is a very vivid fluorescent bright white/blue and almost has a glass-like effect. This is due to all the beautiful and super smooth very bright white rocks lining the shore and in the water. It’s actually incredibly gorgeous & even more-so in person. I can only imagine how it looks on a bright sunny day with the sun shining on the water with its endless tones of blue (we came on a cloudy day). The beach is sandy and big and doesn’t seem to be very popular and crowded even in peak season based on my research. When we went there were only 2 other families on the opposite end of the beach and it was so quiet and relaxing. There are a few restaurants in the area as well so this would be a nice spot to set up at if you’re looking for a less crowded and quiet beach day with amenities nearby. This beach would be good for families as the water seemed to stay very calm.
Paliochori Beach
This is another extremely colorful and unique beach that I wish we could have spent more time at. The colorful volcanic rock formations, striking blue waters, and mixture of golden sand and pebbles makes for a very pretty setting. I really enjoyed the red and yellow multi-colored rocks, it almost looked like someone took a bunch of chalk and colored over the rocks. I just loved the different textures. The water is warm in some spots due to the underwater mineral springs. You can sometimes smell the sulfur on this beach although I can’t recall getting a strong whiff of it. This beach seems to be one of the more popular south coast beaches and also one of the most organized in terms of restaurants, loungers and umbrellas, and water sport rentals. We did end up having lunch here at a restaurant that had a wonderful view of the beach.
Provatas Beach
It was sprinkling and very cloudy when we visited this beach so we only briefly stopped by to take a quick peek. The taverna nearby was also burning something as well and there was a lot of smoke and debris in the air so we definitely didn’t want to stay very long. I think this beach would have looked a lot prettier on a bright sunny day. I wasn’t very impressed with it but it is one of the more popular beaches for families with its soft golden sand, calm waters, and hotels and restaurants nearby. I don’t think we gave it a fair chance and my pictures don’t do it any justice but based on my research I believe it is worth having a long beach day at.
East Coast
Thiorychia/Paliorema Beach
Another one of my favorite places that we visited on the island and easily one of the most unique places I have ever been to! The road to get here is a little rough and I would be very careful accessing this location and would recommend a 4WD or quad. We are used to driving scooters/quads and had driven on sketchier roads and in very bad weather conditions so we felt confident exploring the east and west coast of the island, however be warned that a lot of rental companies will not cover you if you venture to these parts of the island, especially quad rentals. The west coast and Thiorychia on the east coast are considered “out of service” zones and any damages or accidents you get into while in these areas will be covered out of your own pocket. In the case of our rental company, she told us she would help of course but she will charge for damages as well as a huge hourly fee for having to go out there and rescue us. Luckily none of that happened. Proceed with caution. That being said this place was definitely worth braving the roads for or even parking up top and walking down (but the walk up will be very brutal in the heat). Thiorichia means sulfur mines in Greek and this abandoned sulfur mine and factory is situated on the beautiful Paliorema Beach. Paliorema Beach is beautiful with golden sand that almost has a reddish tint to it as well as stunning blue waters and red volcanic rocks. The sulfur mine and beach combined make for a very unique landscape and experience. It is interesting to walk around and explore the abandoned mine and buildings. There are a variety of unused rusty materials laying around as well as old mining wagons on rails and an old mine entrance (I would stay out of it for safety sake). If you can make it down here safely I would highly recommend putting this spot at the top of your list. The history here is fascinating and it is a strange but beautiful site.
West Coast
As I mentioned a couple times in this post, proceed with extreme caution if you decide to explore the west coast. The roads and terrain are very rough and conditions can be extreme with the heat. The endangered viper is also located here so be very careful if you are doing any hiking in the area and watch where you step. In terms of beaches there are a few that I saw on the map and have researched about. You can actually reach Kleftiko, Sykia Cave, and Gerontas by foot here but it isn’t the safest or easiest way by any means and I would strongly recommend just booking a boat tour and staying safe for your holiday. When we explored the west coast of the island we tried to stay on the “main road” versus venturing off side roads to beaches. We were very tempted to but as soon as we started getting deep into the west coast and seeing how long it was taking driving carefully we decided not to risk anything. We didn’t want to venture off the side roads and break down or get lost. If we ever go back though I would love to explore some of the beaches over here. It was still worth checking out the very different terrain here and driving past random small villages and homes, old mining areas, tons of goats, the Monastery of St. John, and being treated to some incredible views. Some beaches on this side according to the map include Ammoudaraki Beach, Triades Beach, Agathia Beach, Agios Ioannis Beach, and more.
Swimming Spots by Boat
Kleftiko
Kleftiko is one of the main attractions on Milos island and for good reason. The huge rock formations jutting out of the water are incredibly unique & such a gorgeous sight to see. A stunning bright white contrasted against the sparkling clear blue waters of the Aegean Sea. Kleftiko is also known as the Pirates Cove or Bandit’s Lair where it’s said pirates hid out in the past. Snorkeling through these magnificent caves was a ton of fun, although sometimes a little scary when it gets pitch dark in some spots. The safest way to access Kleftiko is by boat although in my research I have learned that it can be accessed by foot via very rough roads requiring a quad or higher clearance 4WD. You drive just past the tiny town of Xilokeratia and there is supposed to be a pathway to Kleftiko to hike down. I believe the walk is about an hour or less depending on fitness level. As I’ve stated a couple times though I would only explore the west coast if you are comfortable driving on rough terrain, well prepared as villages are few and far between and not much seems to be going on in them, understand that most rental companies will not cover you on this side of the island, and also it would be best to start as early as possible. Also be careful and cautious of your surroundings due to the extremely venomous and endangered viper.
Sykia Cave
This cave was so incredibly cool and though everyone books the boat tours mostly for Kleftiko (which also was amazing!) stopping at this cave really sold me on the idea of booking one. Our guide said that the roof to the cave collapsed in an earthquake leaving a huge round hole up top. Because of that the sun beams in and it’s seriously so pretty to look at the sky from above while swimming! Our guide says that Sykia means Fig Tree and it’s named that because of the tree that existed on the ceiling before the roof collapsed. Of course they served us delicious bread with a homemade fig marmalade while here. It was also cool because as mentioned at the beginning of this post, the speed boat we booked was the only one that can enter the cave without having to offload into little small boats and we beat every tour group to all the spots so we just got to enjoy it with our small group! This was especially enjoyable at Sykia Cave which isn’t a very huge swimming area. I couldn’t imagine sharing it with a couple boat loads of people! I couldn’t find as much information as the Kleftiko hike but I believe you can hike to Sykia Cave as well but it is a hard hike with difficult roads to access.
Kalogries
I had only recently heard about this swimming spot when we were researching what tour to book and this place was actually my favorite on the trip. It looks like a giant sparkling blue swimming pool with bright clear turquoise waters and super soft sand underneath. The large rocks surrounding the beach are a great contrast against the waters and such a pretty landscape. The water was a comfortable temperature and not too deep. It was so much fun being able to swim freely and safely and feeling the soft sand squish between your toes. If I lived on Milos and had my own boat I could definitely spend a whole day here just sunbathing and swimming. I believe Kalogries can be reached by foot as well although couldn’t find a lot of information on where to find a trail. I did find a Youtube video of someone walking to it so it’s definitely possible!
There are other beaches and swimming spots that boats stop at depending on the route you choose. I know the south coast route stops at Gerakas instead of Kalogries and the roundtrip tours include a lot more places. It all depends on what you want to see and how long you want to spend on the boat. We didn’t want to be on the boat all day and had a clear idea of the spots we really wanted to see so we did a west coast tour from 9:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
Here are a few other spots the boat will pass by if you’re on a west coast tour:
Cape Vani
An abandoned manganese mine situated on a beach. You can’t see the mine from the boat and this location can be accessed by car but is rather difficult and rough. I loved the color of the red rocks and from my research it seems there is a lot to explore here if you do head out that way!
Arkoudes
This rock resembles a bear or a rabbit depending on the angle. A very cool and unique sight to see!
Klima (again)
Klima should definitely be visited in person but it is really cool to see a different point of view from the boat as well. The colors definitely stick out from far away and I can see how this was helpful for fishermen.
And here are some more pictures from the boat ride:
Well I hope this little beach and swimming spots guide has helped you plan out your beach days on Milos or has inspired you to visit the colorful island one day soon! I fell in love with Milos and I’m confident that you will as well. It’s a must-visit destination! Let me know in the comments if you have been or if you are planning to go!
Until next time,
Kelsie