Greece Island Hop: Milos (Sarakiniko, Kleftiko)

If you are looking for crystal clear waters and volcanic cliff formations, Milos, Greece is the place for you!

Milos was possibly our favorite stop on our island hop through Greece. We chose to spend two nights in Milos, after our one night stay in Paros and boy to we wish we had more time on this island. As the 5th largest Cycladic islands, you could spend an entire week here and still want more time.

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How to get there

We arrived to Milos after our stop in Paros. Our journey was only about two hours via the Seajets Super Jet 2. This is a much smaller catamaran in comparison to the large mega ferries that run through the Greek islands (and much preferred for myself). Make sure you check out Ferryhopper to see the best route and to book your tickets in advance.

Trip time from popular islands via fast ferries:

• Athens: 3 hours 25 mins
• Mykonos: 3 hours 5 mins
• Santorini: 2 hours 10 mins

Where to Stay

We arrived to the ferry port in Milos late in the evening and the shuttle from the hotel was waiting for us. When we were planning our trip, the Santa Maria Village seemed like the perfect fit for us…and we were correct! I would highly recommend this hotel to anyone looking to stay near Adamantas. We loved staying at this hotel for two nights of our trip. The hotel included a fantastic breakfast, they had a great pool and pool bar, and it was only about a 10-15 minute walk to the main area of town.

Boat tour – Kleftiko

If you are going to book a tour while on Milos I would highly recommend a boat trip. After our free breakfast, we walked into town to board our catamaran for our boat tour. We booked Milos Adventures half day tour which was about a 6 hour trip that we purchased through Viator. The trip was run by the Milos Adventures company and they hosted a fantastic day trip! This trip took us around the south west side of the island. On this trip we saw some of the most crystal clear blue water that we have ever seen. The boat sailed by a few Sirmata villages and the crew pointed out a few interesting features of the island. We stopped at multiple beaches for swimming and snorkeling before anchoring at Kleftiko for a fantastic Greek lunch. Kleftiko is a site to be seen – incredible water, fun snorkeling and great views galore!

Sarakiniko Beach

After our catamaran morning cruise, we took a cab to Sarakiniko Beach which is just north of Adamantas. During my trip research, I kept seeing this beach described as “moonlike” which didn’t really make sense but after visiting, I understand why as it is almost crater-like. As the entire area is covered in white volcanic rocks and sand, it is also described as the “white beach” of Milos. Its a hike to get down to the water but well worth it as there are cliffs and ocean caves to explore. We even hiked over to a cliff jump area where my husband and I enjoyed jumping into the beautiful water. This beach is extraordinarily different from anything that I have seen and definitely worth a stop…and a jump.

Restaurants

If you are planning a vacation to Greece, you already know that you will be trying some traditional Greek dishes. Milos is a great place to have them!

Dinner time rolled around and we found ourselves eating seaside near Adamantas. For restaurants with the best sea views, take a stroll along the main road (Adama-Zephyria) to the west of the main pedestrian area of Adamantas. After a quick walk, you will find a strip with around 7 restaurants to choose from. We enjoyed some fantastic Greek cuisine at Mikros Apoplous right on the water. I would highly recommend this restaurant as their food was fantastic and their staff was amazing. Make sure you try out one of their fresh seafood dishes – I recommend one of their shrimp entrees as the shrimp are huge! After dinner, we walked down into the town and enjoying some gelato. Leaving Milos, Greece the next day was rough as we could definitely have stayed on island for another night or two.

What to pack

When it comes to packing, I would say to pack the usual for a beach / warm weather vacation.

• Something nicer for dinner: flowy dresses and skirts for the ladies / linen button ups for the guys
• Swimsuits and cover ups
• Athletic clothes and sneakers for hiking
• Jean jacket or other light jacket option (if you are traveling in shoulder season, it can get cool in the evening)
• Sunscreen

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What we would have done differently

• Stayed one to two more nights
• Rented a 4-wheeler
• Visited a Sirmata village
• Beach hop to Firiplaka, Provatas, and Tsigrado.
• Hiked the Trypiti – Catacombs – Ancient theatre – Profitis Ilias – Venus of Milos Route.

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