Ultimate Beach Guide for the Greek Island of Milos

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 01:31 pm

Milos is a Greek island which is part of the Cyclades group of islands. It may not be as popular as its sister islands of Santorini or Mykonos, but it has some of the most beautiful and unique beaches I have seen to date. If you are looking to swim in some of the most beautiful water on earth, this post can serve as your ultimate beach guide for your visit to Milos Island.

Pro Tip: Many of the beaches require a little bit of effort to get to them. I recommend wearing closed toe shoes and bringing your flip flops or other beach shoes in your beach bag (a backpack is recommended). You should also be sure to have drinking water and some snacks in your bag. Most of the beaches are not near restaurants or other facilities.

***Disclaimer: always check the covid restrictions for Greece as well as any activity you plan to do before booking any part of your trip!

How to Get to the Beaches on Milos

Bus

The cheapest way to get around Milos is by bus. In my opinion this is also the best way to get around the island during the high season because parking is limited at certain beaches. If you plan to use the bus system, it would be best for you to stay in Adamantas. This is where most of the bus connections can be caught at the Adamas Bus Stop.

***Please note that only some of the buses run during the off-season and there are only a couple of options each day. You can see the full timetable for different times of the year at the Milosbuses website.

Car/ATV Rental

You can rent a vehicle on Milos, but just remember you will also have to park it. This is probably more ideal if you plan to visit in the low season.

***Please note that many of the roads around the island are not in the greatest of condition. If you are planning to try to drive to some of the more remote areas of the island, make sure you rent an appropriate vehicle.

Taxi

This is probably the most expensive way to get around Milos. However, it is certainly more convenient if you 1) don’t feel like driving/fighting for parking or 2) don’t want to be bound by a bus schedule.

Boat

Some of Milos’ beaches, including the famous Kleftiko Cove, can only be reached by boat. There are many companies to choose from and I have included information about this below in the section labeled “Boat Tours to More Beaches“.

Our Experience Getting Around

Since our visit to Milos was during the off season, I can say that it was quite a challenge for us to get around. We relied heavily on our taxi driver to get to all of the locations because the public transport options just weren’t available. The good news is, we ended up with an amazing driver and over the course of two days, he also shared about life on Milos with us. It really added a personal touch to our experience.

1. Visit Another World on Sarakiniko Beach

Sarakiniko beach is the first beach I want to present to you in this Milos beach guide. Known by locals as the “Lunar beach”, it is probably the most famous beach on Milos Island. It’s secluded nature and alien-like landscape makes you feel like you have been transported across the galaxy to another planet. Its beauty is magnified by the stark contrast of the teal-blue water to the grey-white volcanic rock. If you are planning to visit Milos, you absolutely must explore this magical place.

Planning Your Visit to Sarakiniko Beach

If you are planning to swim at Sarakiniko Beach, you will want to arrive early. As I mentioned, this has become one of the most popular (and Instagram-able) beaches on Milos. It can certainly be a challenge to find parking as well as a good spot to lay out. I personally went in the off season because I was hoping for photos without having to fight the crowds. As you can see from my photos, it wasn’t too difficult.

Sarakiniko Beach is located on the northern side of the island. It is about 10 minutes away from Mandrakia Fishing Village and also 10 minutes away from Papafragas Beach. Depending on how you plan your trip, it is possible to visit all three of these places in the same day.

Pro Tip: It is important to note that this is not a sandy beach. The weather and water beaten rocks are very smooth and can be quite slick. Be careful when you’re walking around, especially if you have just taken a dip in the water!

How to Get to Sarakiniko Beach

Should you plan to arrive via car, ATV, or other mode of vehicle transportation, there is a nearby parking lot. Once again, I would like to stress the importance of arriving early to claim a spot!

If you are planning to arrive by bus, be sure to check the bus schedule to plan appropriately for your return trip. Buses only run to Sarakiniko Beach for a few short months, so be sure to plan your trip accordingly if you plan to use public transportation.

Taking a taxi give you a bit more flexibility comparatively speaking. You don’t need to worry about parking or keeping to a schedule.

2. Relax on Fyriplaka Beach

The second beach of this ultimate Milos beach guide is located on the southern side of the island. This beach was my favorite of the beaches we visited on Milos. The stunning rock outcrops provide a dramatic backdrop to this larger, sandier beach. Even though it is a large beach, we were told that it can also be quite crowded in the summer months. If you want to claim your spot, I recommend that you arrive before noon. I definitely recommend that you bring drinks and some snacks (or even a picnic lunch) with you since this beach is pretty secluded.

How to Get to Fyriplaka Beach

If you are planning to arrive by car or ATV, you should note that there’s not really a parking lot from this beach. Mostly, people park along the road leading up to the beach, which can create a difficult one-way situation. If you see a spot to park, you should take it.

When planning to arrive by bus, be sure to check the bus schedule to plan appropriately for your return trip.

Should you decide to take a taxi, you won’t need to worry about parking or keeping to a schedule.

Pro Tip: On arrival, it might not be immediately obvious where the beach is. You will have to first climb down some rocks at the end of the walk from the parking lot. From there, the beach will be on your right hand side.

3. Visit the Caves at Papafragas Beach

The third destination in my Milos beach guide is another unique place, tucked away in the coastline. The bright waters here seem to dance about and change colors based on the time of day and the weather. This beach seems to be comprised of two areas: a small, narrow cave area which is harder to get to and a larger, more pebbly beach. But, I wouldn’t really recommend that area for swimming. Most pictures that you will find from this beach are taken from people who climbed down into the cave area.

Planning Your Visit to Papafragas Beach

If you decide you would like to visit Papafragas, it is important to note that the cave area is small. That means that there is less room for the lines of tourists wanting to visit this unique destination. Early morning is best for your visit and you will probably want to leave the beach area by mid-morning. The best plan would be to visit this beach first, snap some photos and then head off to nearby Sarakiniko Beach.

Pro Tip: Swimming in the caves is possible, but it involves a steep and somewhat (dangerous) climb down. You will definitely want to be wearing closed toe shoes. Know your own limits and be very careful if you decide to climb down and back up again!

How to get to Papafragas Beach

Should you plan to arrive via car, ATV, or other mode of vehicle transportation, there is a nearby parking area. Once again, I would like to stress the importance of arriving early to claim a spot!

If you are planning to arrive by bus, be sure to check the bus schedule to plan appropriately for your return trip. Buses only run to Sarakiniko Beach for a few short months, so be sure to plan your trip accordingly if you plan to use public transportation.

Taking a taxi give you a bit more flexibility comparatively speaking. You don’t need to worry about parking or keeping to a schedule.

4. Boat Tour to More Beaches

This is one of the biggest regrets of my time in Milos. It was late March/early April and the weather was not very good, so none of the boat tours were taking tourists out. To be honest, I don’t think many of the boat tours were even running because we were there just a week or two before the tourist season began. Honestly, I think this was one of the biggest down-sides of visiting Milos in the off-season.

But, if you visit Milos in the high season, between May-September, you should not have any problems finding a boat tour to take you out to the special beaches which cannot be easily reached by car. There are many highly rated companies to choose from and you can see where they depart from on this map.

5. Stop By Mandrakia Fishing Village

While Mandrakia Fishing Village might not be an actual beach, I decided to include it in my Milos ultimate beach guide. It’s so incredibly cute and located only a 9 minute drive from the Sarakiniko Beach. There is also a well rated restaurant in the village, Medusa. It is a fabulous place to eat and enjoy the views on a warm, sunny day.

In Conclusion

I hope that this ultimate beach guide for Milos helps you better plan your trip! Let me know what you think about a visit to Milos in the comments below!

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine