Fisherman’s houses sit along the water, their doors and shutters painted cheerful blues, reds and greens. Sleepy tavernas serve up slowly-braised goat or whole aubergines roasted in buried clay pots, while snorkellers kick through turquoise-lapped caves near sandy beaches. The island of Milos in the Cyclades is foodie, farmy and seemingly trapped in the past – and you’ll only be sharing it with a few in-the-know travellers, exploring beyond Greece’s main tourist trail. Here’s our guide for where to stay in Milos.
On the rocks near one of the island’s best beaches, sandy Pollonia, Tania is a family affair – its owner and namesake rejuvenated her grandfather’s beach house to create a pretty, personal B&B. A breakfast of fresh fruit and Greek pastries is taken in the stone-clad dining room, and books can be borrowed and activities arranged in the informal reception. Whitewashed rooms are personalised with painted vases and driftwood art. Here to laze? The beach is just eight minutes’ walk away.
A honeymooner’s favourite for its hushed waterfront setting, private terrace hot tubs and candlelit spa, Melian does romance the relaxed, Greek way. On the protruding area around Pollonia, its spa uses the best of nature in its exotic treatments – think lava shell massages, Polynesian monoi oil and Ayurvedic techniques. Greek mojitos on the sea-view terrace soon become a ritual, with views of luminous sunsets.
The interiors are fiercely stylish at this nautically themed five-room hotel. Decorative rope, fisherman’s baskets and striped furnishings all lead back to the sea, while large suites and terraces with loungers give you A-list privacy. Don’t miss the even glammer shared areas – a jutting pier hosts suntrap sunbeds, the squishy beanbags are just made for kicking back with a cocktail, and an ice-blue plunge pool gives great views over the bay.
A larger hotel than some of its rivals, though still in traditional whitewashed Cycladic style, Milos Breeze sits on a pretty headland. Lovely blue-and-white rooms with basket-woven accents chime with pretty blue-tiled bathrooms. Sea-view balconies – and for some, private plunge pools – feel luxurious. No children under 14 are allowed, so chances of getting dive-bombed in the pool are minimal – and the local town’s shops and restaurants are a relaxing short walk away.
Stucco benches, chic dressing tables and bed frames give a fluid, bright-white feel to this Pollonia guesthouse. Host Katherine can help with everything from sharing restaurant tips to booking taxis, and the whole outfit is spick and span, in generously-sized apartments with kitchenettes and balconies. Bathrooms are basic, but little seating nooks and dining tables mean you can spread out comfortably.
The sea is just over your balcony at this right-on-the-waves rental. Firopotamos’s shallow bay is a luminous powder blue beside what was formerly a fisherman’s house, sitting shoulder to shoulder with a handful of others. Within are homey rooms sleeping five, including a shared one with a double and bunk beds. Your idyllic bay is encircled by dramatic rock – but if you do manage to drag yourself away, Milos’s catacombs and ancient Roman theatre are both within a 15-minute drive.
There’s something delightful about staying in a windmill – and this cylindrical, stone-clad apartment is a little piece of Cycladic history. Stylishly decked out with embroidered throws, antique chests and copper pots, it has a split-level layout with a bedroom under its conical roof, a cushioned living area and kitchen downstairs, and even a small patio with outdoor seating. Adamas is a short walk away, with cheery tavernas and pealing church bells, plus a small pine-shaded beach.
Slightly inland, in quaint Triovasalos, Dream Life is a down-to-earth guesthouse with apartment-sized rooms. One major perk is its proximity to the picturesque town of Plaka, where you can wander bougainvillea-shaded alleys between whitewashed houses, nipping into tiny tavernas. Owners Vassilis and Rose have a personal eye on service, and rooms feel traditional, with exposed stone walls and vintage chinaware.
In east-coast Komia, away from the tourist trail, this suave stay has cutting-edge design – think sinks caved from hunks of raw stone, light-beaming French windows and sharp-edged plunge pools. There’s a cliff-top fine-dining restaurant serving dainty salads and grilled seafood, or book a private dining balcony at Pathos restaurant for a special evening. Obsidian Spa makes use of the Mediterranean’s minerals and herbs, in passageways modelled on the island’s catacombs.
Single rooms as well as doubles attract solo island-hoppers at this family-run B&B, with its pots of geraniums and cerulean window frames. Rooms are basic but smart, with walnut furniture and prices to match. You’re a short stroll to the sandy beach of Lagada, as well as the island’s entry point, Adamas – ask owner Eleni about days out on her sailing boat, to explore the little coves and fisherman’s houses around the island.
These recommendations were updated on December 30, 2020 to keep your travel plans fresh.
We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK"
