Milos, one of the Cyclades islands, is located between mainland Greece and Crete. Lauded for the sheer diversity and beauty of its beaches, Milos is also home of the world-renowned statue of Aphrodite, on display at the Louvre in Paris. Like most of the Cyclades, it is dry, dotted with olive trees, with small hills and a natural harbour – Adamantas.

Milos, Greece - The 2017 Travel Guide

View of Milos Capital, Plaka

Milos, Greece - The 2017 Travel Guide

Plaka alley

Its  capital, Plaka, stands on a plateau overlooking the harbour, and Kastro, a bit further up, offers spectacular views of the sunset. The island’s villages are in traditional Cyclades style with tiny white-washed houses along meandering stone walkways and surrounding welcoming squares.   

Milos was an important producer of obsidian in the Neolithic ages and played a central role in early Aegean civilisation.

Things to do on Milos

Swim and snorkel – Milos’ beaches are simply amazing. Despite its relatively small size, the island boasts more than 70 unique beaches masterfully ‘’designed” by rugged winds, volcanic eruptions and crashing waves. The three must-see beaches are Sarakiniko, which is more like a lunar landscape complete with greyish-white wave-like formations and captivating caves.

Firiplaka – for the seeker of both comfort and splendor, the island’s most popular beach. Extra fine ice-white sand, shallow blue-green waters, complete with sun-beds, umbrellas and bars.

Kleftiko – once a pirate hideout this exotic location is accessible only by boat. The massive rock formations and intriguing caves in emerald waters offer a glimpse of paradise.

Milos, Greece - The 2017 Travel Guide

Amazing Kleftiko in Milos

Sailing – Milos is a top destination for sailing lovers as most of its spectacular beaches are accessible only by sea. Rent a sailboat from the port of Lavrio. For those who don’t sail, make sure to take a boat tour of the island on offer daily from Adamantas or Pollonia.

Milos, Greece - The 2017 Travel Guide

Klima village in Milos

Visit Klima – known as the ‘little Venice of Milos’, this tiny fishing village wins you over on first sight with its bright colored ‘’syrmata’’ – waterfront dwellings. Here you can also visit the Roman theater where the statues of Aphrodite, Asclepius (now on show at London’s British Museum), and Poseidon were found. Near the Trypiti settlement you can explore the Catacombs of Milos. The area around Trypiti is brimming with caves which emerged from the volcanic eruptions and were used as storerooms by the islanders. It is considered one of the oldest Early-Christian monuments in the world.

Sample local cuisine: Like all the Cyclades islands, Milos too has its own variety of local fare including the ‘’pitarakia’’ creamy cheese pies, the ‘’koufeto” of sweet pumpkin and almonds, and of course its famed watermelon-based ‘’karpouzopita” sweet.

How to get to Milos?

From Piraeus port, there are high-speed ferries which take about three hours and regular car ferries that take about 6-7 hours.

Milos is also accessible by air via 30-minute small aircraft flights from Athens airport to Milos airport, some 5km southeast of Adamantas.

What’s near Milos?

Kimolos is a tiny isle some 1.6km northeast of Milos and definitely worth a visit. Regular ferry services or sea taxis departing from Pollonia take about 30 minutes.

Milos ports

Milos, Greece - The 2017 Travel Guide

Milos Adamantas port

Incoming ferries dock at Adamantas on the north side of the island. Sailboats and yachts can also use the marina facilities which include fuel, water, repairs and Wi-Fi.

Pollonia is the island’s second port with services to Kimolos.

Ferries to Milos / Athens to Milos / Milos ferry tickets

There are daily morning and afternoon ferries, from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos. The ferry routes to Patmos are operated by both large, conventional ferries and high speed ones.

There are also some ferries from Lavrio port, a secondary port of Athens on the East coast of Attica near Cape Sounion.

All ferries to Milos can be booked online via danae.travel

Below is a detailed list of all 2017 ferry schedules from Athens to Milos:

Ferry schedules from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos:

Aegean Speed Lines from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos

  • From 07/07 until 03/09 daily except Wednesdays at 07:05 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 06/06 until 06/07 & from 04/09 until 16/09 daily except Fridays & Sundays at 07:30 with the Speedrunner 3.
  • From 17/04 until 20/04 every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 13:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 24/09 until 01/10 every Sunday at 11:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 09/04 until 12/04 every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 12:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 18/09 until 27/09 every Monday and Friday at 11:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 08/10 until 29/10 every Sunday at 11:00 with the Speedrunner 3 *This schedule is not yet approved
  • From 23/04 until 02/07 every Sunday at 12:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 03/05 until 17/05 every Wednesday at 12:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 29/05 until 05/06 every Monday and Wednesday at 12:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 10/09 until 17/09 every Sunday at 12:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 06/10 until 27/10 every Friday at 16:00 with the Speedrunner 3 *This schedule is not yet approved
  • From 21/04 until 30/06 & from 08/09 until 29/09 every Friday at 16:30 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 07/07 until 10/07 every Monday and Friday at 17:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 09/07 until 20/08 every Sunday at 17:00 with the Speedrunner 3
  • From 13/07 until 25/08 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 17:00 with the Speedrunner 3.
  • From 26/08 until 03/09 daily except Wednesdays at 17:00 with the Speedrunner 3.

Seajets from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos

  • From 28/04 until 06/06 daily at 07:00 with the Seajet 2
  • From 08/06 until 11/09 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 07:00 with the Seajet 2
  • From 12/09 until 30/09 daily at 07:00 with the Seajet 2
  • From 07/06 until 10/09 every Wednesday and Sunday at 07:00 with the Seajet 2
  • From 01/06 until 18/09 daily at 15:30 with the Superjet
  • From 19/09 until 23/09 daily with the Superjet

Zante Ferries from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos

  • From 02/07 until 03/09 every Friday And Sunday at 07:10 with the Adamantios Korais
  • From 08/04 until 14/04 every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 07:15 with the Adamantios Korais.
  • On 23/04, Sunday at 07:15 with the Adamantios Korais
  • From 29/04 until 24/06 every Saturday at 07:15 with the Adamantios Korais
  • From 09/09 until 30/09 & from 07/10 until 28/10 every Saturday at 07:15 with the Adamantios Korais  * These itineraries are not yet officially approved.
  • From 03/04 until 07/04 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 14:00 with Adamantios Korais
  • From 03/07 until 04/09 every Monday and Wednesday at 14:00 with the Adamantios Korais
  • From 19/04 until 28/06 every Wednesday at 14:00 with the Adamantios Korais
  • From 08/05 until 29/05 & from 12/06 until 26/06 every Monday at 14:00 with the Adamantios Korais
  • From 06/09 until 27/09 every Monday and Wednesday at 14:00 with the Adamantios Korais  * These itineraries are not yet officially approved.
  • From 02/10 until 30/10 every Monday at 14:00 with the Adamantios Korais  * These itineraries are not yet officially approved.
  • From 28/04 until 30/06 every Friday at 14:30 with the Adamantios Korais
  • From 06/10 until 27/10 every Friday at 14:30 with the Adamantios Korais  * These itineraries are not yet officially approved.

Aegeon Pelagos from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos

  • Until 07/04 & from 21/04 until 09/06 every Friday at 18:00 with the Prevelis
  • Until 04/04 & from 18/04 until 06/06 every Tuesday at 20:30 with the Prevelis
Ferry schedules from Athens, Lavrio port to Milos:

Hellenic Seaways from Athens, Lavrio to Milos

  • Until 24/10 every Tuesday at 05:00 with the Artemis
  • Until 27/10 every Friday at 06:00 with the Artemis

How much does it cost to travel from Athens to Milos / Milos ferry prices

Prices for 2017 ferries connecting Athens’ main port of Piraeus to Milos start at 40.00 euros per person in economy.

Indicative ferry prices from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos per adult in economy:

  • Aegean Speed Lines: 56,00 euros per person
  • Zante Ferries: 39.50 euros per person
  • SeaJets: 57.70 euros per person
  • Aegeon Pelagos:38.00 euros per person

Aegean Speed Lines and Seajets operate high speed ferries.

Indicative ferry prices from Athens, Lavrio port to Milos per adult in economy:

  • Hellenic Seaways: 22,00 euros per person

How long is the ferry ride to Milos?

Travel times always depend on the vessel type, the number of stops and the weather conditions. Large conventional ferries are not affected by the weather too much.

Indicative travel times from Athens, Piraeus port to Milos:

  • The Zante ferries Adamantios Korais takes about 7 hours  from Athens, Piraeus to Milos. On its way to Milos, it stops in Kythnos, Serifos and Sifnos.
  • The Aegean Speed Lines, Speedrunner 3, takes about 4 hours  from Athens, Piraeus to Milos. On its way to Milos, it stops in Serifos and Sifnos.
  • The Seajets vessels take about 3 hours 30 minutes and on their way to Milos they stop in Serifos and Sifnos.
  • The Aegeon Pelagos vessel takes about 5 hours  with no stops on its way.

Indicative travel times from Athens, Lavrio port to Milos:

  • The Hellenic Seaways, Artemis takes about 15 hours making stops in a large number of islands.

Which other Greek island is Milos connected to?

From Milos, you can catch a ferry to the following islands (next to each island, you will find a price indication):

  • Amorgos: 69.60 euro per person
  • Anafi: 21.00 euro per person
  • Chalki: 34.00 euro per person
  • Folegandros: 8.00 euro per person
  • Heraklio: 23.00 euro per person
  • Ios: 16.00 euro per person
  • Karpathos: 38.00 euro per person
  • Kassos: 35.00 euro per person
  • Kea: 13.50 euro per person
  • Kimolos: 5.00 euro per person
  • Koufonissi: 69.80 euro per person
  • Kythnos: 12.00 euro per person
  • Sitia: 26.00 euro per person
  • Mykonos: 20.00 euro per person
  • Naxos: 18.00 euro per person
  • Paros: 13.00 euro per person
  • Rhodes: 39.00 euro per person
  • Santorini: 30.00 euro per person
  • Serifos: 17.00 euro per person
  • Sifnos: 16.00 euro per person
  • Sikinos: 13.00 euro per person
  • Syros: 14.00 euro per person.

Athens ports with ferry departures to Milos

Ferries connecting Athens to Milos depart from the main port of Athens, Piraeus.

Information about Piraeus Port – Athens
How to reach the port of Piraeus:

Piraeus port is near Athens and can be reached by metro, train, bus and taxis both from the Athens city center and from Athens International Airport (AIA):

  • From Athens International Airport: Take the express bus X96. It takes you directly to the port, its frequent, cheap and quite fast. It usually takes about 60-90 minutes. The cost is 5 euros / adult. Check the timetables on screens inside the airport. The X96 bus stop is just outside the arrivals level at the airport (check the signs). At the port, the bus stop is near Gate E6 (also close to the metro station). If you choose to take a taxi, it will cost you 50-60 euros and it will take you around 60 minutes.
  • From the center of Athens: The best way to reach Piraeus port from the center of Athens is by metro / train. You can catch it from the Monastiraki or Omonia stations. It costs 1.40 euros and takes under 30 minutes. If you choose to take a taxi, it will cost you just under 30 euros and it will take you about 30 to 40 minutes. With heavy traffic it might take you up to an hour. If you prefer traveling by bus, there are two options:
    • From Syntagma Square to Piraeus: Bus 040, Piraeus bus stop: Korai Square (close to the Municipal Theater) and then a 10-minute walk to Gate E9.
    • From Omonia Square to Piraeus: Bus 049, Piraeus bus stop: Korai square (close to the Municipal Theater) and then a 10-minute walk to Gate E9.

We can arrange a private transfer for you from your hotel in Athens to Piraeus port or from the Athens International Airport to the port. You can also book online via danae.travel together with your ferry tickets.

Where or which gates do the ferries to Patmos depart from at Piraeus port?

  • Aegean Speed Lines, Speedrunner 3 to Milos departs from the Gate E7
  • Zante Ferries, Adamantios Korais to Milos departs from the Gate E9
  • SeaJets vessels to Milos depart from the Gate E9
  • Aegeon Pelagos, Prevelis, to Milos departs from the Gate E3

Note: There is a running port bus which connects departure gates.

Map of Piraeus port:

Piraeus port map

Athens, Piraeus Port map