While popular islands such as Santorini and Mykonos face continually growing pressures from overtourism, one Greek island, just 52 nautical miles from the former, is a tranquil haven with unusual landscapes and dramatic natural beauty.
A volcanic island in the Aegean Sea, Milos is regarded as one of the country’s hidden gems and boasts 70 beaches for its visitors to enjoy. It is home to some 5,000 people.
Santorini, just 29 square miles and over half the size of Milos, has become a go-to destination for scores of British tourists, drawing over 3.4 million every year.
Milos is still welcoming significantly fewer people every summer than its most famous neighbour, which has allowed it to avoid the pressure of mass tourism and left it relatively underdeveloped, with natural hot springs and breathtaking rock formations.
Milos is also rich in cultural heritage. The iconic “Venus de Milo” statue, now on display in the Louvre in Paris, was discovered on the island.
The island still maintains its traditional industries and culture and hasn’t given in to the pressure of changing to cater to its foreign visitors. On Milos, you can enjoy fresh local cuisine including the traditional cave-aged wine produced by Kostas Mallis’s family-run winery.
For a long time, Greeks avoided visiting Milos because of the island’s reputation as “too industrial”. Since the Neolithic era, Milos’ main industry has been mining.
With over 70 beaches, it is hard to narrow it down to the best. The Alogomandra beach is a favourite among locals, while the Gerontas beach, about a 40-minute drive southwest of the town of Adamas, offers even more peace and quiet.
Sarakiniko, also known as the ‘moon beach’ is another must-see, offering pristine white sands and iconic turquoise waters that have made Greece so renowned. Milos is, after all, often referred to as the “island of colours” due to its crystalline waters as well as the curious colour of its soil to which past volcanic activity contributed.
Plaka, Milos’s capital, offers a charming village atmosphere with Santorini-style white houses and narrow streets, but here you can enjoy the area without being packed together like sardines fighting over the best Instagram photo spots. Klima, a picturesque settlement right by the sea is home to local fishermen and boasts traditional houses, “syrmata”, some of which are even available for rent.
Kleftiko Bay is also a major attraction for visitors, with hidden secret caves once used by pirates and only accessible via small boats.
There are direct flights to the horseshoe-shaped island from Athens, which can be reached from all major UK airports with airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and British Airways. The flight from London to Athens takes just over an hour and a half, while the flight to the island takes just 40 minutes.
Year-round ferries also run between Athens (Piraeus) and Milos, with at least four daily crossings in the high season. The route is served by standard and high-speed ferries, with journeys lasting from around two and a half to seven hours. Ferries also connect the Cyclades Islands with Crete and other islands including Naxos, Andros and Santorini.
One visitor to Alogomandra beach on Tripadvisor said: “This is a wonderful small beach just off the main road. Parking is about 200m from the beach and the approach is easy. To the left is a flat sandy beach like many in the islands, more silt than sand. To the right over the rocks is an amazing small cove carved into the stone with a shady stone overhand.
“The cove is well protected and provides a unique swimming experience. There are some rocks to jump off and the rock overhand provides some decent protection! Go, it’s beautiful!”