Beautiful Villages to Visit in Milos, Greece

If you’re visiting Milos, chances are you’ve arrived at the port in Adamas – but there’s so much to see besides that. Hire a car and have a quick whizz around the island, before checking out the cool, if slightly eerie, art museum that’s housed in a former bomb shelter. Then walk around the port, past Lagada Beach and up towards the Adamas lighthouse, and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Milos Bay.

Sarakiniko’s bone-white volcanic rock formations give its beaches an otherworldly beauty. It’s a popular place for cliff-diving, if you’re brave enough, with ledges up to 3m (10ft) high. Watching the sunset should be on every visitor’s agenda, as the cliffs take on an orange tinge. Then, make the steep climb up to Taverna Agali, where the fresh fish is legendary.

Instantly recognisable for its row of multi-coloured, traditional fishermans’ houses, or syrmatas, Kilma is one of the most picturesque fishing villages in Greece. Many of the syrmatas are now holiday homes, so you can rent one if you’re craving an authentic experience, while others are quirky shops selling unique, handmade products and gifts. Sit on the terrace of restaurant Astakas and admire the view, which overlooks the buildings, and enjoy the delicious grilled squid.

The capital of Milos, Plaka sits atop the island’s highest hill. Deliberately designed like a maze to confuse pirates, those same alleyways are now the ideal place to get wonderfully lost. Wander around and treat yourself to an artisan souvenir. Four of Milos’ museums are in Plaka – all are fairly small, so you can learn about the island’s culture in an afternoon. Kri Kri Snack Bar is a great place for cocktails and live music in the summer.

Another hillside village, Tripiti is best known for its row of carefully renovated windmills. If you’re looking for more unusual digs, some of these can be hired out as holiday accommodation. Take a walk around the underground catacombs, which were first built in 1844 and used as Christian cemeteries in Roman times. Next, stroll through the nearby ruins of the ancient theatre of Milos, which is still used by locals for cultural events.

Loved by families and travellers alike, Pollonia is a beautiful fishing village where peace and tranquility is definitely the vibe. Despite its compact size, it’s jam-packed with bustling cafes, restaurants and tavernas which line the seaside road, plus a long, sandy beach. If you’re a wine lover, be sure to check out Kostantakis Cave. It might be the only winery on Milos, but it’s a good one – book a short tour and tasting session.

The huge church of Panagia Portiani dominates the landscape of Zefiria, the former capital of Milos. The restaurant Grocery Zikos offers great views of it, so grab a souvlaki and one of their notoriously strong coffees and soak it all in. The village itself was built by the Venetians, but was left abandoned after a huge earthquake in 1767. Now it’s a small agricultural village known for its yearly festival in mid-August.