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Where to Stay in Milos

Updated: January 24, 2026
Greece › Best Towns in Milos
By Santorini Dave • dave@santorinidave.com

My Favorite Milos Hotels

View of Pollonia village from the pool of Milos Breeze Boutique Hotel

View of Pollonia village and the island Kimolos from the infinity pool at Milos Breeze, one of our favorite luxury hotels in Milos.

See Also

• Best Hotels in Milos
• Best Family Hotels in Milos

The Best Areas to Stay in Milos

Milos is the most dramatically beautiful island in the Cyclades. Known as the “Island of Colors,” it offers a stunning mix of volcanic landscapes, moon-like beaches (Sarakiniko), and turquoise waters. Unlike Santorini or Mykonos, Milos feels less like a singular resort destination and more like a collection of distinct, authentic villages.

Sarakiniko Beach in Milos, the island's most popular beach

The unusual, white bedrock beach of Sarakiniko, the most photographed spot on Milos.

Where you stay depends entirely on your travel style. The island has three main hubs:

  • Adamas (The Logistics Hub): The main port and the most convenient base. It is the hub for the island’s bus system and the departure point for the best boat tours (Kleftiko). It is lively, practical, and filled with restaurants and shops. The most convenient base if you don’t plan to rent a car.
  • Pollonia (Upscale & Relaxed): Located on the northeast tip, this is a chic, seaside village ideal for families and couples. It features a sandy, tree-lined beach (shallow water, great for kids) bordered by excellent seafood tavernas and luxury hotels. It is also the gateway to the neighboring island of Kimolos via a short ferry ride.
  • Plaka (Views & Romance): Perched high on a hill, this car-free traditional village offers the best sunset views on the island. It is a maze of whitewashed alleys, boutique shops, and cocktail bars. While unbeatable for atmosphere, it does require navigating slopes and stairs, so it can be challenging for travelers with mobility issues.
View from the inside of a sea cave at Kleftiko in Milos

Inside one of Kleftiko’s sea caves. The caves, tunnels, and hidden coves of this historic pirate hideout, only accessible by boat, make this one of the most memorable places to visit in Milos.

Unique & Remote Areas
Beyond the main three, Milos offers some incredible unique stays:

  • Klima: Famous for its colorful syrmata (traditional boat garages) built right on the water’s edge. Renting a converted boathouse here is a bucket-list experience, but be aware that the water literally laps at your door (it can be loud) and you will need a car as it is isolated at night.
  • Paliochori: The best spot for a beach-focused holiday on the south coast. It has a long stretch of colorful volcanic sand and organized beach bars. It is perfect for day trips, but staying here means you are far from the main towns and evening dining.

The Best Places to Stay in Milos

View of the beach from the bedroom of Elephant Beach House in Kimolos near Milos.

View of the beach from the bedroom of Elephant Beach House, the best syrma to stay in. Syrmata are the local fishermen’s boat garages, many of which have been converted into chic, simple lodgings.

Best Areas in Milos for…

    Fishing boats at the pier with Pollonia Beach in the background

  • Best Places in Milos to Stay for First-Timers: Adamas & Pollonia First-time visitors should base themselves in one of the two main villages. Adamas is the logistics hub – home to the main port and central bus terminal – making it the best choice for travelers who prefer not to rent a car. It is lively and walkable, with two sandy beaches (Lagada and Papakinou), the Mining Museum, and endless dining options. Pollonia offers a more refined, resort-style atmosphere on the northeast tip of the island. It is quieter than Adamas and centered around a lovely sandy beach lined with seafood tavernas and cafes. It is also the gateway for easy day trips to neighboring Kimolos.
  • Best Places in Milos to Stay for Families: Pollonia, Adamas, Kimolos Pollonia is the premier choice for families with young children. Its protected bay offers shallow, calm water and natural shade from tamarisk trees, plus a seaside playground right on the sand. Parents can easily dine at the waterfront tavernas while keeping an eye on kids playing nearby. Adamas is the practical choice for active families and those with teens. It serves as the launchpad for the island’s famous boat tours and the central bus hub, offering easy access to Sarakiniko and adventure beaches like Tsigrado without needing a car. For a peaceful, safe, and “free-range” experience, the neighboring island of Kimolos is excellent. Its main village, Chorio, is walkable and virtually traffic-free in the evenings, and the beaches are pristine and sandy.
  • Best Places in Milos for Couples: Pollonia, Plaka, Klima, Kimolos For a romantic getaway, Pollonia is the most popular choice. It offers a refined resort atmosphere with the island’s best selection of luxury boutique hotels, many with private pools and sunrise views, along with excellent waterfront dining. Plaka offers a quintessential Cycladic vibe: a hilltop maze of car-free, whitewashed alleys filled with intimate cocktail bars, boutiques, and stunning sunset views from the castle ruins. For a truly unique experience, stay in Klima, where you can rent a renovated syrma (boathouse) right on the water’s edge for unmatched privacy and evening swims. Couples seeking seclusion and an off-the-beaten-path vibe should consider Kimolos, a quiet neighboring island with pristine beaches and a charming, authentic village.
Beach in Milos.

Provatas beach.

  • Best Places in Milos to Stay for the Beach: Adamas, Pollonia, Kimolos Because Milos’ best beaches (Sarakiniko, Firiplaka, Tsigrado) are wild, unorganized, and spread out, the “best” place to stay depends on whether you want to travel to dramatic landscapes or relax on the sand in front of your hotel. Adamas is the best strategic base for exploring. It is the central bus hub and the departure point for boat tours to Kleftiko and Sikia Cave. Staying here gives you the easiest access to the famous south-coast beaches (Firiplaka, Paliochori) and the moonscapes of Sarakiniko on the north coast. It also has two decent sandy beaches of its own (Lagada and Papakinou) for quick swims. Pollonia is the best choice for a traditional beach vacation. Unlike the rest of the island, it has a long, protected, sandy bay with shallow water lined with hotels and tavernas. You can wake up and walk straight into the sea. Kimolos (a short ferry ride from Pollonia) is ideal for travelers seeking pristine, uncrowded sands. Beaches like Prassa (white sand, turquoise water) and Bonatsa are among the best in the Cyclades and feel far more secluded than anything on the main island.
  • Best Places in Milos to Stay for Nightlife and Restaurants: Adamas, Plaka, and Pollonia While Milos is quieter than islands like Mykonos or Ios, the summer months bring a lively energy to the main villages. Adamas is the busiest hub, offering the highest concentration of bars and restaurants right along the port. For harborfront drinks, head to Fiki Cocktail Bar, Akri, or Mikro Cafe Bar. For dining, the island’s best traditional food is at O! Hamos! (on Papakinou Beach), while Nostos offers excellent seafood at the port. The hilltop capital, Plaka, offers a more romantic, atmospheric vibe with pedestrian-only lanes and stunning views. It is the top spot for sunset cocktails; reserve a table well in advance at Utopia Caffe or grab a drink to go from Verina Cocktail Bar to enjoy on the church terrace. Follow it up with dinner at Mavros Xoiro or Avli-Milos, then end the night with live music in the courtyard of Kri Kri. Pollonia is more relaxed, focusing on upscale seaside dining rather than late-night bars. The best waterfront restaurants here include De Milos and Enalion, with drinks available at Deck Milos or Cactus Cafe Bar. Pollonia is also the top destination for wine lovers, home to the Kostantakis Winery (tastings available) and the wine-centric seafood restaurant Armenaki.
  • Best Places in Milos to Stay for a Local Vibe: Plaka, Trypiti, Klima, and Kimolos To experience the island like a local, leave the port and beach resorts behind and head inland to the hilltop villages of Plaka and Trypiti. These neighboring settlements offer traditional Cycladic architecture and sweeping sunset views away from the commercial bustle. Plaka is the atmospheric capital, featuring Venetian castle ruins and a lively, pedestrian-only center filled with cafes and boutiques. Trypiti is quieter but punches above its weight with excellent boutique hotels and restaurants, including the standout Methismeni Politia. It is also the site of the ancient Catacombs and Roman Theater. For a truly unique maritime vibe, Klima offers the chance to sleep in a traditional syrma (boathouse) right on the water. While picturesque, it is isolated at night with limited amenities (just one restaurant and shop), so be prepared to head uphill to Plaka for more options. Finally, the neighboring island of Kimolos remains largely off the mass-tourism radar. It offers a genuinely authentic Greek island experience with pristine beaches, a charming main village (Chorio), and hospitality that caters more to locals than international tourists.
Lagada Beach in Adamas, Milos

Sandy, tree-lined Lagada is the closest beach to the port and the center of Adamas village.

The 6 Best Places in Milos for Tourists

Pollonia

Busy Pollonia Beach with sunbeds and umbrellas in Milos
A map of Pollonia on Milos island, Greece.

Located on the northeast tip of the island, Pollonia is the best upscale beach resort in Milos. It offers exactly what most travelers are looking for: a relaxed, chic atmosphere centered around a protected, sandy bay. The village is compact and walkable, with a long stretch of golden sand lined with tamarisk trees and excellent waterfront restaurants.

While it retains its charm as a fishing village (fresh catch is supplied daily to the seaside tavernas), Pollonia is now home to the island’s best concentration of luxury hotels. Many of the newer, top-tier accommodations are located on the Pelekouda Peninsula just north of the main beach. This area offers stunning sunset views and rocky swimming spots that are a nice alternative to the sandy main beach. Pollonia is my top choice for families. The main beach has calm, shallow water and natural shade, and there is a seaside playground right on the sand. The vibe is quiet and sophisticated, lacking the noisy nightlife found in Adamas. It is also a convenient base for exploring: the Kostantakis Winery is within walking distance, the moonscapes of Sarakiniko and Papafragas are a short drive away, and the ferry to Kimolos departs daily from the village pier (a 20 to 30-minute trip).

Adamas

The port at Adamas, the largest village on Milos
A map of Adamas on Milos island, Greece.

Set deep in a vast natural harbor, Adamas (or Adamantas) is the island’s main port and bustling commercial hub. It is the most practical base for travelers, offering a lively mix of nightlife, shopping, and waterfront dining. The village is flanked by two organized sandy beaches with shallow, calm water: Lagada to the north and Papakinou to the south.

Adamas is the ideal choice for travelers without a car. It serves as the island’s central bus terminal, providing easy connections to Sarakiniko, Plaka, Pollonia, and the famous south coast beaches like Firiplaka and Tsigrado. It is also the primary departure point for the daily boat tours to Kleftiko and Sikia Cave, which leave from the main dock. Its central location makes exploring easy; you are just a 10-minute drive from the capital Plaka and the moonscapes of Sarakiniko, and about 15 minutes from Pollonia. For those seeking convenience, active days, and plenty of evening entertainment, Adamas is the best spot to make your home.

Plaka and Trypiti

The square in Plaka village at the Archeological Museum
A map of Plaka and Trypiti on Milos island, Greece.

Perched on a high plateau northwest of Adamas, neighboring Plaka and Trypiti offer the island’s most authentic Cycladic atmosphere and spectacular sunset views over the Gulf of Milos.

Plaka is the island’s capital, a picturesque labyrinth of whitewashed, pedestrian-only lanes built around the ruins of a 13th-century Venetian castle (Kastro). Cars are largely banned from the center, creating a relaxed environment for strolling among boutique shops, sidewalk cafes, and lively tavernas. Key attractions include the Archaeological Museum, the Folklore & History Museum, and the courtyard of the Church of Panagia Korfiatissa – the island’s premier spot for sunset views.

Just a kilometer south lies Trypiti, a quieter village that punches above its weight with a distinct culinary scene and excellent boutique hotels. It is the center of the island’s ancient history; the Venus de Milo was discovered here. Visitors can explore the 1st-century Catacombs (among the oldest in the world) and the well-preserved Ancient Roman Theater.

Staying in these hilltop villages offers a perfect contrast to the beach towns. You can spend the day at nearby beaches like Sarakiniko, Firopotamos, or Plathiena, then return to the heights for romantic sunset cocktails and traditional Greek dining. Be aware, however, that both villages are hilly, with inclines, stairs, and cobblestone paths that are not ideal for those with limited mobility.

Klima

Klima fishing village with colorful syrmata on the sea.
A map of Klima on Milos island, Greece.

Picture-perfect Klima sits on the coast just below Plaka and Trypiti, though it feels worlds away from the bustle of the villages. Perhaps the most photographed spot on the island, Klima is instantly recognizable by its long row of whitewashed buildings with cheerfully painted boat garages called syrmata. Traditionally, these were used by fishermen to store their boats in winter (each painted a distinct color to be spotting from a distance). Today, many have been converted into stylish, waterfront suites that offer a truly unique stay, though a few fishermen still make the village their home base.

Ideal for a quiet, romantic getaway, Klima has very limited amenities: there is just one restaurant (the excellent, seaside Astakas), one traditional hotel (Panorama), and a small strip of beach. Because of its isolation and lack of shops, a rental car is essential if you stay here; you will likely want to drive up to Trypiti or Plaka for more dining options and supplies.

Kimolos

Bonatsa Beach sunbeds on Kimolos Island near Milos
A map of Kimolos island near Milos island, Greece.

The small island of Kimolos sits directly across the channel from Pollonia. Though just a 20-minute ferry ride away, it feels completely different from Milos – quieter, more traditional, and relatively unknown to international travelers. It is the perfect escape for those seeking secluded, pristine beaches. The coast is dotted with wide swathes of white sand and crystalline water; while many are wild and unorganized, the popular beaches near the port (Psathi) and village offer sunbeds and casual tavernas.

The capital, Chorio, is the island’s only real village. It is a charming maze of traditional Cycladic architecture built around the ruins of a 16th-century Venetian castle. The narrow streets are filled with lively cafes, centuries-old churches, and two small but interesting museums: the Archaeological Museum, and the Folk and Maritime Museum.

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About Santorini Dave

Santorini Dave in Athens, Greece Santorini Dave was started in 2011 when I posted a short guide to visiting Santorini with kids. Now, my site publishes regularly updated guides to Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Mykonos, Crete, Athens, and all of Greece.

Questions? Email me at dave@santorinidave.com.