Where to stay in Milos?

Accommodation in the Adamantas port area

Adamantas is a must on any visit to Milos. It's the main port , so it's here that all visitors taking the ferry arrive. It's also a good place to stay if you don't have much time to visit Milos, or if you don't have a rental car.

It's a pretty village that has developed thanks to tourism. It's pleasant to stroll through its charming, lively lanes, where you'll find seafood restaurants.

Adamantas offers many places of interest, including the church of Agia Triada and Agios Haralambos. On the cultural front, there are museums such as the Ecclesiastical Museum and the Milos Mining Museum, which recounts the history of ore mining. This activity is still very much alive today.

From the port, it's well worth taking advantage of the various excursions. From the open sea, you can discover the island from a different point of view, and some of them even take visitors to more remote coves.

If you're looking for easy access, Adamantas is also a convenient place to stay. Its central location means that it's only a ten-minute drive to :

• the northern beaches, especially Sarakiniko, a photogenic cove formed by geological formations
• Plaka, the capital of Milos, known for its lively cultural scene, as well as Klima, a small fishing village nearby
• the airport, to the south of town

It also takes around 20 minutes to reach the tranquility of Pollonia. The south can be reached in the same amount of time, with a possible visit to the magnificent Paliochori Beach.

In terms of accommodation, although the island's supply is limited and it's best to book in advance, Adamantas offers a wide range of accommodation options. The variety of accommodation on offer will appeal to the needs and desires of every visitor.

Accommodation around Plaka and Klima

These two villages are a must on any stay in Milos. They're practically next-door neighbors, and easily reached from Adamantas, since they're about 5 km northwest of the port. Here, entertainment and tourist attractions make the area a pleasant place to stay. However, there are different interests here.

Plaka is the administrative capital of Milos. It sits on the island's highest point, and you can wander through the narrow streets of its old town, past the pretty white buildings that make up its typical, authentic setting. At the top of the hill, the rocky peak of the Kastro offers exceptional panoramic views and sunsets. Staying in Plaka means staying close to its lively nightlife. Locals and visitors alike meet in the bars and restaurants: theatmosphere hereis lively. For museum-lovers, there's the Archaeological Museum, where you'll find a copy of the famous Venus de Milo, as well as many finds from the Phylakopi site.

Klima is a must-see. It's a fishing village best known for its small, brightly painted houses on the seafront. It's an ideal location for photographers, who can take pictures of the houses and their "syrmata", or seaside garages for boats. The atmosphere is calm.

Between these two places of interest, Trypiti is a charming authentic hamlet, both cultural and touristic. Here you can discover the remains of the ancient Romanesque theater and the catacombs that have made it one of Milos' most famous sites. Hiking trails link the various points of interest in the surrounding area, as well as the various hamlets. There are also a number of bars and restaurants serving local culinary specialities, such as "Glyko Koufeto" and "Pitarakia".

The surrounding area is as attractive as it is convenient, being located between Adamantas and the northern beaches. It takes less than a quarter of an hour by car to reach Adamantas or Sarakiniko Beach, two must-sees when staying in Milos.

The accommodation on offer is authentic and charming, but limited in number. It's best to book your accommodation before arriving on the island.

Stay close to northern beaches

Around 6 km north of Adamantas and its port, you'll find some of the most beautiful and peaceful beaches and fishing villages where it's pleasant to stay.

Such is the case of Firopotamos, a picturesque village that was once a small fishing port. You'll discover colorful fishermen's cottages on the seafront, where you can even stay overnight. It's one of the most photographed spots on Milos, with its calm, family atmosphere. To the east is the charming white church of Agios Nikolaos.

About 3km east of Firopotamos lies Mandrakia. Photogenic, this authentic fishing village is a quiet place to stay. You'll discover its seaside "syrmata", boat garages that are very common on the island. Relax in the sun or at the waterside tavern serving local specialities. There's no beach here, but you can dip your feet in from the small strip of pebbles adjacent to the harbour.

A little further east, about ten minutes away, we come across a Milos must: Sarakiniko Beach! Often compared to a lunar landscape, the volcanic rock here has been shaped by waves and time. The contrast between the azure-blue water and the white rock makes this an ideal spot for photo enthusiasts: you're bound to come!

Finally, Mytakas is another fishing village. This time, there are two quiet stretches of sand further away from the tourists, with a small bar that opens between July and August.

As far as accommodation is concerned, the north offers a variety of hotels, as well as vacation homes, often very small but whoseauthenticity appeals to many travellers. But therearen't that many to choose from. To stay in the north, you need to book well in advance.

On the practical side, the entire north coast can be reached in less than a quarter of an hour. It's very easy to reach by car:

• the port ofAdamantas or Plaka and the surrounding area in 10 min
• Pollonia to the northeast in less than 20 min

Pollonia: a peaceful place to stay

Heading north-east of Milos, we come across Pollonia, a pretty seaside resort where it's pleasant to stay. To the north, there's a pleasant harbour where boats come to anchor offshore. To the south, you'll find the beach, with its relaxed, family-friendly entertainment day and night.

Its seafront bars and restaurants welcome visitors to relax. For diving enthusiasts, a diving center offers outings to a variety of sites. The nearby marina offers excursions as far as Kimolos for surfers.

Pachena beach and the archaeological site of Phylakopi are about 3 km west of Pollonia. The former is actually formed by two adjacent stretches of sand. Although undeveloped, it's an attractive place to relax in the sun. Nearby, the remains of Phylakopi remain an unavoidable attraction on Milos.

The main reason for coming to Pollonia is to find a quiet place to stay, where time no longer matters. It feels a little more removed from the rest of the island, even if the other points of interest on Milos are within easy reach. Adamantas, the north coast and Plaka and the surrounding area can all be reached in no more than 20 minutes.

The south, in particular Paleochori beach, can be reached in around 30 minutes. So it's easy to get to these attractions, spend half a day there and then come back to Pollonia to stay.

Here, accommodation is plentiful for this popular seaside resort on a human scale. Particularly during the two summer months, it's not uncommon for hotels to be fully booked.

South of Milos

About ten kilometers south of Adamantas, we come upon one of the most beautiful beaches on Milos. Arriving at Paliochori, you're immediately struck by the colors of the sea. There are red, yellow and green rocks. Combine this with the turquoise blue of the water and you have an atypical place to relax.

Despite this, there are a number of tavernas where you can dine. They also provide deckchairs and umbrellas. The water is clear and shallow, so it's pleasant to snorkel by the sea. You can also swim further out to discover air bubbling from the seabed.

The southern part of Milos is particularly popular with tourists, as it offers a peaceful retreat. If you're looking for a break, it's a great place to stay. The surrounding area is quiet, and as a result there is little in the way of accommodation.

It is, however, a little far from the rest of the island, although this is acceptable. If you want to visit, you'll need to hire a car to get to the other points of interest on Milos, all of which are within a 20-30 minute drive.