Browsing Tag

Milos

Greece, Travel

Best Things to do in Milos

October 14, 2019
Things to do In Milos

Milos is the southwesternmost island in the Cyclades island group in Greece. Milo is also a volcanic island and you can see the shape of it when looking at the map. If you arrive by ferry, you will arrive in the ancient caldera that has created a natural harbor. Despite the island’s small size, there are plenty of things to do in Milos.

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Visit the Fishing Village of Klima

The village of Klima clings to the cliffsides of Milos and it one of the first villages you might see when entering the harbor. It is a fishing village. The little houses with boat storage underneath line the beach. All of the houses are brightly colored making for a colorful photograph. It is a great way to see how fishermen lived. Nowadays, many of the houses are not used or are used as vacation rentals.

Klima Milos

The only direct way to get to Klima is to rent a car and drive. During the high season, you could get the bus to the Catacombs and walk down from there. Please note, there is limited parking at Klima and the road it narrow to get down. There is a restaurant as well if you want to eat and watch the boats go by. It may be closed during the off-season though.

See the moon beach of Sarakiniko Beach

Many people have seen pictures of the stunning white beach of Sarakiniko. Some people liken it to the moon. It is unlike anything I have seen before. The turquoise and blue water next to it make for a striking combination. I probably could have walked around this beach for hours taking photos. However, the white makes it really hot to walk around for long without getting in the water.

Sarakiniko

Sarakiniko

There are two ways to get in the water, jump in from the cliffside. Most of them were not too high, just make sure there are no rocks below you. The other way is to walk around to the inlet where there is a small beach. You can see how in this video.

If you go in the high season, I recommend getting there early as it will be crowded if you wait till the afternoon. During the high season, the bus goes there regularly. If not, you will need to rent a car or arrange for a taxi. It is only about a 15-minute drive from Adamas.

Walk the Quaint Streets of Plaka

Plaka is the capital of Milos. It is located up on a hill overlooking the harbor near the entrance. I can only imagine this was done on purpose to be on the lookout for any invaders. Plaka is one of those Greek villages you see in photos stuck in another time. The views from Plaka are stunning. Be sure to see the view from the Catholic Church in Plaka, Milos.

Plaka Milos

Due to its location and age, you cannot drive very far into Plaka. There is also limited parking so taking the bus is a good option.

Eat at Marianna in Adamas

Unlike many of the Greek Islands I have been to, the port area of Milos is on the small side and only offers a few restaurants. The best one we ate at was Marianna. It serves traditional Greek food. The restaurant faces the water and offers a nice view.

We ate there twice it was so good. I love eggplant and they make the best imam I have ever had. Imam is a roasted eggplant dish that has onions, tomato sauce and feta cheese on it. At Marianna’s, it was fire-roasted and you could taste it in the flavors. I ordered it both times I went to eat there. Panos was our waiter both times and he was great!

Visit the Village of Pollonia

Another great village to visit is Pollonia. It is quiet and has a small beach in town. Many people opt to stay here instead of Adamas. You can catch the ferry to the island of Kimolos from here. I would say this is a good place to stay if you want quiet and a calm beach.

The bus goes to Pollonia and there are plenty of restaurants so you could just walk everywhere in town.

Enjoy the Waters at Achivadolimni Beach

The waters are so clear at Achivadolimni beach, you would think you were in the Caribbean. The sand is deep and soft even into the water. The water was even warm by my standards. It would be a good beach for kids as well as you can walk out a way before it gets really deep. The beach is opposite of Adamas and offers good views of the port.

Explore the Milos Catacombs

How the ancient citizens of Milos dug these catacombs into the side of the hill in Milos is beyond me. However, they are amazing. you can’t go through them all because they have not all be excavated and it is a safety issue. The guide takes you down with a flashlight. There is some lighting down there so don’t be concerned. It was interesting to see how these catacombs are similar to other ones I have seen, although without bones. There were very few bones when the catacombs were discovered and they have been removed for their preservation.

Milos catacombs

Swim at Platheina Beach

This secluded Milos beach was visible from the Catholic church in Plaka and we knew we needed to visit it. Again we found a beach with Caribbean colored waters. The best thing was that there was almost no one there! I think there were ten people total on the beach. The bus does not go to this beach though so rent a car, trust me it is worth it!

Platheina Beach

We were only in Milos for two days but there are over 70 beaches on Milos so you could stay for a long time just exploring beaches. Milos was different than many Greek islands and at first, I was disappointed but once I saw the amazing views and waters, I was in love. Maybe one day, I will go back and explore them all!

Where to Stay in Milos

Looking for a Milos hotel? Here are three I recommend in Adamas, Santa Maria Village, Arco Solium Suites and Milos Bay Suites. If you are looking for something outside of Adamas, click here to check rates and locations.

How to Get to Milos

Milos is accessible by ferry or by airplane. The ferries run from Athens and many other islands. If you arrive by ferry you will arrive in the Adamas port, which is the main town. If you arrive by airplane you will be a short drive away from Adamas. Depending on the time of year you go to Milos island, there may be several flights and ferries a day. Please check the schedules in advance.

If you have any questions, please ask me in the comments. Also, have you been to Milos? Let me know what else you recommend.

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Greece, Hotel/Accommodation, Travel

Santa Maria Village Milos, Greece

October 7, 2019

Finding a place to stay on a Greek Island is pretty easy especially during the off-season but finding a place that is comfortable, has an incredible view with amazing staff is more difficult to find. This is what I found when I stay at Santa Maria Village in Milos, Greece. Please note that this stay was complimentary but all views are my own.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

The Location

Normally in one of these hotel review posts, I don’t cover the location first, but the location made this hotel. Not because it was close to anything but because of the views from the hotel. From the pool, the hotel faces west and you can see the port town of Adamas, Milos. It also means the sunsets from here are stunning. Watch the sunset till it gets dark as it changes as the sun dips further down.

Sunset from the Santa Maria Village Hotel

Milos is a narrow island at some points and because of Santa Maria’s location, you can also see the sunrise. The best place to see the sunrise is from right in front of the door to reception.

The hotel is a short drive away from the port and you can walk it if you don’t mind a small hill. One night, after we had dropped off our rental car we walked back and it was pretty easy and most of the path was lit.

View of Adamas from Santa Maria Village Hotel

The Room

The room size was good. My friend and I shared a room and they had set it up with two twin beds. It even had a twin bed that acted as a sofa. I ended up sleeping on the sofa as it was a bit softer than the regular bed. While the room wasn’t updated, it was comfortable and there was a new air conditioning unit. There was plenty of space for two people.

Santa Maria Village

Our room overlooked a garden area and had a patio to sit on. It was very quiet, which I loved. Our room was across from the pool so we had easy access to it without the pool noise.

The Facilities

All of the Santa Maria Village hotel was beautiful and the pool was outstanding. It was large and very clean. There was plenty of poolside seating. Even though the hotel did not have a restaurant, the poolside bar offered sandwiches and pizza.

Pool at Santa Maria Village Hotel

Breakfast was served in the lobby area with seating outside under the pergola. It was a lovely setting. The breakfast itself was great. Lots of options including eggs, pastries, deli meat and cakes. We had to leave before breakfast was served but it was ready and they welcomed us to take some things with us.

There is also a spa, which we did not have the chance to use the spa but we spoke to someone who used it and they said it was great. They mostly only offer massages but you could also get your nails done.

You need a car to properly explore Milos and you would need one to get to and from this hotel. However, the quiet location and views made it worth it to me and I would definitely return.

Want to book the Santa Maria Village hotel, click here for rates.

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Sunset over the pool