🩴 MILOS, GREECE
If you only read one thing for your first trip to Milos, this will have you covered.
I traveled to Milos for the first time in late August 2025. It was an island I’d heard about from the circles who avoid the mainstream but still have a very high bar for beauty. They had all whispered about Milos being special. As much as I love to share detailed itineraries from my travels, when I plan for myself, I prefer to do just enough research to know I’m in the right place, but not so much that I know exactly what to expect. The joy of being pleasantly surprised! Milos is filled with it.
The island sits in the southwestern Cyclades. You can get there via a short airplane ride, or by ferry (4h) from Athens. Other ferry options, and good islands to pair Milos with, include: Sifnos (1h 25 min), Santorini (1h 55 min) and Paros (1h 45 min).
Like many islands in the Cyclades, Milos was born from volcanic activity, though it feels more raw and untouched than almost anywhere I’ve been. The surface is all white cliffs, lunar rock, and deep curves carved by wind and waves. Certain parts, like the famous Sarakiniko Beach, look like something out of a sci-fi movie. The most striking part of Milos is the bright blue color of the water, owing much to the reflection of its stark white surroundings.
The vibe?
It’s not polished and luxurious like the Amalfi or wild and glitzy like Mykonos. You come here to roll your towel out on sun-warmed rock in front of impossible blue water. You rent a car and drive narrow, mostly unpaved roads that feel too small for one vehicle, yet somehow accommodate two passing in opposite directions. There’s no nightlife, no beach clubs, no pressure to be anywhere. Milos is a place to fully and properly disconnect.
Who’s it for?
This island is ideal for anyone looking for the kind of mesmerizing natural beauty and true disconnect that’s hard to find anywhere else. A perfect trip for young couples who like a bit of adventure or a group of girlfriends who prefer dancing with locals at a bar over sparklers at a nightclub. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone expecting resort-style pampering or families with young kids (though we did see one impossibly beautiful Scandinavian family staying at our hotel with a five year old daughter and reallly making it look good).
Don’t miss.
Rent a boat! It is the best way to take in the unique beauty of the island. And it comes to no surprise that the perimeter of Milos is lined of superyachts.
