Milos Island Week

Ferry in from Athens — your first glimpse of the sweeping volcanic bay as you sail into port.

Booked through Booking.com, the week-long rental came to around €400 fully insured. Service was reassuring too — when the battery died on day four they arrived quickly and swapped in a better car.

The famous syrmata boathouses of Klima are painted in vivid reds and blues, their doors opening straight onto the water — one of the most distinctive sights on the island.

Reliable free parking a five-minute walk from the Plaka apartment — a handy base for the first four days.

The short hike up to the Venetian castle rewards you with the best sunset panorama on Milos — the whole bay turns gold below you.

Highly recommended for the views alone. The balcony room is perfect for breakfast and evening coffee overlooking Plaka's whitewashed rooftops.

Worth every early alarm. At 6 am the white pumice formations glow pink and the crowds haven't arrived — it really does look like a moonscape.

After cliff jumping, head to this tiny, colourful fishing hamlet where brightly painted syrmata are tucked right into the rock face above the sea.

A deservedly well-known spot. The Greek salad, grilled octopus, and swordfish souvlaki were all excellent — book ahead if you can.

A favourite chill-out beach: sandy, uncrowded, and sheltered — a good contrast to the dramatic rock formations elsewhere on the island.

An evening wander through Plaka's narrow lanes is a must — the whitewashed walls, blue-domed churches, and bougainvillea are quintessential Cyclades.

A very satisfying dinner — simple, honest Greek cooking in a warm neighbourhood setting.

Back to the Piazza Castello balcony for a nightcap and a quiet end to a full day.

Returning a little later lets you make the most of the morning light for cliff jumping — the white rock ledges offer jumps at various heights.

A peaceful south-coast beach to wind down after the morning's adrenaline — noticeably quieter than the north-coast spots.

A step up for a special evening — the owner's hospitality matched the quality of the food, making it one of the best meals of the trip.

A short detour en route to Pollonia that is absolutely worth it — you swim through a collapsed sea cave into a turquoise chamber open to the sky.

Free parking next to apartment in pollonia

A short hike around Pollonia leads to this hilltop church, a quiet spot with lovely views out over the water as the sun goes down.

The only gyros in Pollonia — and a very good one at that. Simple, satisfying, and exactly what you want after a day of swimming.

A picturesque north-coast fishing village with colourful boat garages carved into the cliff — well worth the short detour.

Getting down requires squeezing through a narrow crevice and climbing a rope ladder, but the secluded cove at the bottom is the reward. Not suitable for everyone, but unforgettable if you make it.

A long, sandy south-coast beach ideal for a proper lazy beach day — calmer waters and more space than the busier northern spots.

Dinner right on the beach as the sun sets over the water — a perfect way to spend a Milos evening.

No licence needed — Bloomarine gives you a full briefing and a list of the best stops. At around €270 for the day it's exceptional value and the most memorable way to see Milos's coastline.

Dramatic sea caves accessible only by boat — the turquoise water inside is unlike anything you'll see from land.

A sheltered lunch stop surrounded by towering white cliffs — one of the most iconic anchorages in the Aegean.

A secluded cove discovered on the way back to port — the kind of private beach you only find from the water.

A unique finishing touch: Sirocco cooks its fish buried in the island's volcanic sand — a local technique that is as delicious as it sounds.

Last look at the bay before boarding the ferry back to Athens and the flight home.