Milos island: does it really have the best beaches in Greece?

Ready to dive into the 22 best beaches of Milos island? Milos quickly became one of the most popular Greek islands over the past few years through social media. One of the things visitors say about the island is that it has the most beautiful beaches of Greece. As a person who has been all over Greece for the past 30 years, I am not sure it is a clear winner for me. Some islands are hardly comparable to each other and all have their own style of unique and amazing beaches. For instance: the baby blue waters of Zakynthos, Lefkada and Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea are different but equally amazing. But I have to agree that for such a small island, it has a huge density of unique beaches (in the Aegean Sea at least) and beautiful blue waters. This mainly due to the fact that Milos is a volcanic island and there is lots of volcanic activity to be found. The volcanic landscape gives lots of beaches a spectacular backdrop of white cliffs and volcanic rock. They either look like the moon or Mars. Some beaches even function as ‘hot springs’, with fumaroles on the sea bottom spitting out ‘volcanic bubbles’.

There are over a 100 beaches on the island of Milos. And little of them are underwhelming. Although it is not possible to discuss all 100 of them here, I will discuss the (according to me) 22 best beaches in Milos island in this blog. And, to make it easy for you to find them, I included the Google Maps locations!

Now, let’s dive into the list of the 22 best beaches in Milos island:

1. Sarakiniko beach

Sarakiniko is considered the crown jewel of Milos and for many the highlight of their visit, since it is truly unique. It definitely is the most famous beach of Milos. Seafront rock formations that look like a moon landscape. They have their origin in the volcanic nature of the island. It gained tremendous popularity on social media during the past few years.

The beach is named after the Saraceen pirates. Although, they are not the ones that made the caves apparently, even though people will tell you this story. Some locals say they were early Christian tunnels, other say they were made and used for mining. Apart from the caves and spots to dive off from (rocks/cliffs), there is a tiny stroke of sand where you can sit and access the shallow from easily. It is protected from the wind as well. So you could either make a photo stop or spend your whole day here.

The best time to is to visit early morning. I advise you to before 9 AM, as at 9.30 there is a possibility of cruise ship bus tours coming in, while at 8.30 AM there were only 3 cars. Or late afternoon and during the amazing sunset. All to avoid it being super overcrowded.

After parking, you walk down a path to the beach. Keep following the path up and down to discover all the sides of Sarakiniko, as you only see a tiny part of it when you arrive. Walking around is the best way to explore Sarakiniko. You can also visit by bus from Adamantas.

Because of the popularity of the beach there is mostly a small canteen present on-site where you can buy refreshments. Near the canteen there is a large parking lot, but in high season you might find that vehicles are parked everywhere alongside the road leading up to this parking lot as well due to a limited amount of space.

Gerakas beach is one of the most impressive beaches of Milos, with white sand and a backdrop of white rock formations, and then crystal clear water of a turquoise, almost baby blue color. However, this is one of the few beaches that can only be reached by boat. There is no road and no hiking path. It, thus, makes sense that this is a swimming stop on most of the tours from one of the organized beaches in the south to Kleftiko. If you want to have the beach and waters to yourself during high season, rent a boat early morning and sail there directly.

3. Paliochori beach

At Paliochori beach, everything that reminds us Milos is a volcanic island, comes together. First, the long beach has a backdrop with colorful red and pink cliffs. Secondly, you can spot fumaroles in the water while snorkeling. Hot thermal water is coming out of the surface here, warming up mainly the sand. This makes it a great spot for snorkeling. Do not miss out on this: Sirocco restaurant, located right on the beach, is famous for cooking your food in a hole inside the hot (volcanic) sand. This is very unique and definitely a must-do when visiting Milos. I don’t know if it is one of the best restaurants in terms of food, but definitely a once in a lifetime experience and a good reason to order a bit more expensive food for once. This beach bar has a shower as well. Volcanic beach. In 2022, lots of illegally placed sunbeds were removed from the beach. So it looks as if you can only still rent a sunbed on the premises of on some of the luxurious beach bars such as Aqua Loca (very limited availability).

At PITS water sports you can rent a SUP, canoe and even a jet ski. You can also book a jet ski safari, do water skiing or hang behind a speed boat on an inflatable yellow couch.

On the far far right part of the beach you can get to another beach by climbing over some rocks. Or you stop earlier on the main road and descend a set of stairs.  There is a nice beach bar here on the rocks during high season that still has beach chairs on the beach: Deepblue beach bar. You can reach Paleochori by bus and by car. It is a 20-minute drive from Adamantas and parking is available on a parking lot or on the side of the road next to the beach.

4. Firopotamos beach

Firopotamos is one of the 3 popular, charming and picturesque fishing ‘villages’ that Milos is known for. The blue-white old boathouse of this small settlement are situated next to a small but gorgeous beach with a mix of sand and tiny pebbles. This makes it stand out from the other fishing villages, that do not have such a large piece of actual beach. In summer (high season) there used to be a limited amount of beach loungers, food and drinks are on offer by a canteen on the beach. But it seems as if in 2023 this was not the case anymore. Who knows what 2024 will bring. Get there early in the high season if you want to have parking space. There is a designated parking lot close to the beach, in the same spot you would park for Firopotamos. There is not too much parking space available, way less than in other places on Milos. Then you walk down to the beach. There is also a road that leads down to the beach and you’ll find that a limited amount of cars are actually parking on the beach. There IS another large, natural parking lot just before the end of the road to the church, but the entrance is very steep and uneven so I only recommend going in there with an ATV or 4×4. Unfortunately, there is no bus connection, but since it is just 6 km and a 15-minute drive from Adamantas, you could take a taxi.

5. Kleftiko beach

After Sarakiniko beach, Kleftiko beach and its caves are probably the second most famous beach and visited sight in Milos. The white rocks, cliffs and turquoise waters are spectacular and amongst the most beautiful in all of Greece. There is in fact a small bay where you can dock and swim into many small coves. Most people take a (half) day boat tour here, on which I have included more information in the section on ‘boat rental and boat tours’ in my Milos Travel Guide. A boat trip in Milos surely is one of the best things you can do on the island. Not a lot of people know that you can also hike to Kleftiko. But you need a 4×4 or ATV vehicle to get to the starting point. More information on this hike is included in the section about ‘hikes’ in my Milos Travel Guide.

6. Pollonia beach

Pollonia is a tranquil but very developed coastal village on the North-Eastern tip of Milos with a small harbor that has a boat connection to Kimolos. It is also the embarkation point for trips with Milos Fishing Experience. It has several areas where you can swim at. The main beach (nice sandy beach) is a great spot for swimming and sunbathing. It is organized in summer with a few beach bars and lots of proper restaurants nearby. This beach (and the sea) are accessible for wheelchairs, which is why it should be in this list for sure. You find Milos Diving Center there as well. Another swimming spot (access to the sea from several flat rocks) is on the northern tip of the little peninsula.

7. Papafragas beach

Papafragkas is actually not a swimming place anymore. There are sea ‘caves’ here. One of which has a small beach 9a tiny stroke of sand completely sandwiched between rocky cliffs). They are high and stretch so far out into the sea that the place looks like an encaved, natural swimming pool. It is definitely a must-go-to photo spot, but access to the little beach is closed off because it is dangerous. So, you can only see it from above if you walk around on the rocky surface. Though many people still climb down and go swim.

8. Achivadolimni beach

Achivadolimni beach is a long, sandy beach in the center of the island, left from the airport. It has fine, golden sands. When it is not windy, it has very calm shallow (crystal clear) waters and is the ideal spot to go swimming with children. There is one small canteen on the left side of the beach in operation during summer, that is also renting out beach chairs.

9. Fyriplaka beach  / Firiplaka beach

Fyriplaka is one of the most popular beaches of Milos, because of the combination of its stunning backdrop with volcanic red and pink colors with clear, turquoise waters. It makes the list of favorite beaches on Milos for many tourists. You can reach it by public transportation (bus) from Adamantas and easily by rental vehicle, as it is just a 20-minute drive from Adamantas and there is a designated parking lot next to the beach. However, in summer months during peak season, this parking lot will be full and cars will be parked everywhere alongside the last part of the road to the beach (which is a sandy dirt road). In the summer the beach is organized with a small canteen renting out beach chairs. You can rent a boat at Summer Stories with a discount of € 20 if you are in possession of the code in my Milos Travel Guide. You can also do a guided canoe tour to the stunning beaches of Tsigrado and Gerakas (€ 55) and rent a pedalo or SUP at Milos Watersports. If you do the Kayak tour, you will also get a € 5 discount using the code in my Milos Travel Guide.

10. Tsigrado beach

Tsigrado beach is the most popular ‘hidden beach’ of Milos. A cute, formerly hidden gem that has been discovered by many in the past years. It is in fact a very small sandy bay next door to Fyriplaka beach, squeezed in between some cliffs and with extremely turquoise waters. Maybe the most beautiful watercolor of Milos! After parking here (or walking from the bus stop, yes there is public transportation available), you can only reach it on foot by climbing down two very steep ladders. Therefore, it is not suitable for small children or people with physical limitations. The beach is unorganized as well. Also, it is a small beach and the path to it is too. So in peak season it gets busy during the day. The best time to visit is either very early or late afternoon

11. Agia Kyriaki beach

Agia Kyriaki is a sandy, organized beach on a 15-minute drive from Adamantas. It doesn’t get overcrowded during peak season although I think it is an underrated and great beach. It is a very great option for those who are driving around with their own car or scooter and are looking for a less crowded beach with easy access for vehicles. There is a taverna that rents out sunbeds. There are also different options for renting a boat, and for an organized half-day boat trip to Kleftiko with Armi Sea Excursions.

12. Provatas beach

Provatas might be the best place to go to if you’re looking for a small children-friendly, easy to get to, non-windy, organized beach with fine sand and with all the ‘tourist facilities’ needed. It has very shallow waters that are crystal clear. There is also a bus line in summer connecting it to Adamantas. The beach is organized, with a restaurant that rents out sunbeds and umbrellas.

13. Kalogries beach

Kalogria / Kalogries is  like a small lagoon that looks like a swimming pool. It has one of the prettiest colored waters in Milos. It is a secluded beach with shallow waters and protected from the wind. The only way to reach it is by boat. If you take a boat trip of the west coast, the whole island (basically every such tour includes it) or rent a boat in Adamantas, you can or will make a swim stop here.

14. Thiorichia beach

Thiorichia is nice, not for a swim per se, but to check out the old sulfur mines. Of course, you can also take a swim and enjoy the unique backdrop. The beach is unorganized and to reach it you have to leave your vehicle above the beach and walk down the last part. When using Google Maps, please use Thiorichia as your pinpoint and approach via the new asphalt road that starts after Zephyria village. On the map, it appears as if the nearby Thiafes is the same beach with a road that leads closer to the beach. However, this is not the case. The pictures showing up for Thiafes on Google Maps are actually those of Thiorichia and the road to Thiafes leads nowhere. The last few kilometers are a rocky dirt road; if you drive up with a normal rental car, you’ll have to park at some point and walk down the last 1.5 kilometers.

15. Voudia beach

Voudia is a pebbly beach with easy access, on a 5-minute drive from Pollonia and a 20-minute drive from Adamantas. From Pollonia, which has a bus stop, you could even walk here. But, be aware, you’d have to walk on the big road where cars and lorries are driving as well. This beach is unorganized and deserted even though it is so accessible. That’s because the contemporary mine factory of Milos is situated on the side of the beach. This means it has an industrial view, which is a shame because it really is one of the most stunning beaches in Milos. Exactly like Fyriplaka, but then pebbly instead of sandy. Also, it has some nice rock arches on the beach (if you cross over to the far right side), and the watercolor goes all the way from light to deep dark blue. If you are unable to reach Kastanas, you could make some pictures without the crowds on this beach as well! You could definitely spend a few hours here in peace on the far right side and not be bothered by the factory. Just park your car somewhere near the entrance of the factory and take the little path down to the beach.

16. Agolomandra beach

Agolomandra is a quiet, sandy beach with a stunning white cliff backdrop and crystal-clear waters. It is unorganized, however, the spectacular thing about this beach is that on the side of the beach there is another pebble beach which is half a cave. This makes for a great place to take pictures and ensures you can always sit in the shade. The beach is unorganized, but if you walk up for 5 minutes you can eat at taverna Galini. You can park behind the beach. To get down all the way with a normal car, take the first road down when coming from Adamantas, or the last one if coming from Pollonia. The other roads are only good for ATVs or 4×4 vehicles. Unfortunately, the bus doesn’t go all the way down to this beach. But, you could potentially walk down there from one of the bus stops on the main road (bus from Adamantas to Pollonia). Just ask the bus driver to let you out where the road down to Agolomandra starts.

17. Plathiena beach

Plathiena is a gorgeous sandy beach in the North-West of Milos with stunning turquoise water that resembles a Caribbean beach on a non-windy day. This place is overlooked by a lot of tourists. I don’t know why, so do use it to your advantage. There is a beach canteen that rents out sunbeds and umbrellas during high season. During these months, the facilities such as toilets are also open. There are even toilets and changing spaces for people in a wheelchair. They are however closed off during the other months. It is only a 20-minute drive from Adamantas, but using Google Maps to get here can be very confusing! Especially when coming in from Firopotamos, Google Maps tries to send you through roads that apparently do not exist (at least we couldn’t find them). It is best to approach from this church. Then you’ll be on an asphalt road the whole time. You can park right behind the beach. Unfortunately there is no bus connection. If you can, stay for sunset, because this beach is facing the West

18. Papikinou beach

Papikinou is a great option to go to if you’re staying in Milos’ port town Adamantas and want a relaxed afternoon swim close to ‘home’. It is located on a 15-minute walk from the center. There is plenty of space to sit with your own gear, but the famous taverna O! Hamos! also rents out sunbeds on the beach. An alternative closer to the port of Adamantas is Lagada beach.

19. Sykia Cave

Sykia cave is one of the most impressive rock formations on the island, located in west Milos. It is a large, roofless cave with a tiny beach inside. You can visit it by boat (rental boat or boat tour) as most people do. Or do a 1-hour hike to reach it. While the path to Kleftiko is easy to find, the trail to Sykia cave is poorly marked. I added the starting point and some directions to my full Milos Travel Guide.

20. Mytakas beach

Mytakas is situated between Agolomandra and Sarakiniko and consists of two beaches: a small enclosed one and a larger strip of sand. The small sandy beach is comparable to Kapros and the larger one to Pachena. The larger strip of sand used to have a small bar that rents out a couple of sets of comfortable sunbeds and umbrellas. But, this is only during high season and to me at the moment it is unclear if it is still operating. You can get here by bus but you have to walk down to the beach. Exit the main road on the route to Pollonia and start your walk. If you are driving up here by car, you can park next to the beach. It is a 10- to 15-minute drive from Adamantas. Be aware that this beach gets very windy at times of north wind.

21. Fourkovouni

Fourkovouni is a less well-known but also very picturesque fishing village, which can be reached via Plathiena Beach. It is definitely worth checking it out if you’re at Plathiena. The small fishing village has a tiny beach. Outside of the busiest weeks of the year it is the perfect place to you can enjoy a peaceful swim in a picturesque environment. Or just admire the tiny village from above. It is protected from wind and has the clearest ever water. The road from Plathiena to Fourkovouni is not the best, very bumpy and part dirt road. And on a plateau above the village, there are only a few parking places. I was told in summer people park around Plathiena and walk to Fourkovouni.

22. Gerontas beach

Gerontas is a wild and completely unorganized beach on a 40-minute drive from Adamantas. After driving down a dirt road with an ATV or 4×4 car, you have to walk the last part (for about 10-15 minutes) on a steep path. The beach stands out because the volcanic sand isn’t light but has a darker color. The water is as blue and stunning as all the other beaches around. There also is a stone arch sticking out of the cliffs, making it unique. That is why many boat tours to Kleftiko make a short swimming stop here.

Thank you for reading this blog ”The 22 best beaches in Milos island, Greece – guide”. If you want to know more about Milos, read my other blogs or get my Milos Travel Guide. Enjoy my personal favorites and enjoy your stay on Milos! Happy Travels! 🌊🌞🇬🇷.