Looking for where to stay on Milos, Greece? This guide will help you narrow down the best locations, accommodations and amenities on the Greek island.

The stunning island of Milos, Greece, is full of colorful fishing villages, hilltop towns with stone streets and panoramic vistas, and a bustling port lined with boutiques and open-air cafes.

When you’re looking for places to stay in Milos, locating the perfect accommodations can be a little tricky. You won’t find familiar chains and big resorts in this seaside community. Instead, Milos hotels come in the form of small guest houses in storied buildings, windmills converted into apartments, and serene luxury villas steps from turquoise waves.

We’ve narrowed down the most popular and convenient hubs to help you pinpoint the best place to stay in Milos, as well as some of the best things to do in Milos near each town. Keep in mind that more remote options exist, too, if you’re willing to rent a car to get around.

Where to Stay on Milos Greece

This list has some of the best villages in Milos and ideas for things to do and where to stay in each one.

Adamas Milos

Come evening around the town square in Adamas, you’ll spot local children running and riding their bikes, young moms pushing strollers and gabbing, and older gentlemen sipping drinks and smoking cigars at sidewalk tables or on the deck of nearby boats. It’s a refreshingly nostalgic scene, especially given that Adamas is one of Milos’ most popular and touristed towns — yet still so quiet compared to nearby islands.

The harbor town of Adamas (or Adamantas) serves as a hub for retail, restaurants and rentals, since most visitors to the island pass through the area even if they stay elsewhere. Ferries dock here, as well as local boats and the occasional cruise ship.

Along the waterfront of the bay and the few blocks behind, you’ll find open-air cafes, grocery markets, a few souvenir and retail shops, car and ATV lenders, and small hotels, many operating more like guesthouses.

If you’re looking for where to stay in Milos for convenience, it makes a great base, as the majority of bus routes link the town to the island’s top beaches, historic sites and villages. 

Adamas Hotels 

As one of the most popular places to stay in Milos, there’s a wide selection of accommodation choices here, so you’re likely to find a good deal if you’re on a tight budget.

Things to do in Adamas

The Milos Mining Museum is about half a mile from the port and has displays of the island’s minerals, historic tools and topographical maps. It’s a great spot to learn more about Milos’ natural features and formations before heading off and seeing them for yourself.

Boat tours to Kleftiko are one of the most popular excursions from Adamas. The stunning rock features of the Kleftiko bay are on the remote southwest end of the island, so many excursions depart from more popular Adamas. You can join a full or half-day sailing trip that includes swimming and snorkeling stops.  

Attractions like Sarakiniko Beach, Klima village, Plaka town and the Ancient Theater of Milos are also just 15 minutes or so away.

Pollonia Milos

Wondering where to stay in Milos on the northern end of the island? Another waterfront town, Pollonia is an even more mellow alternative to Adamas.

The town centers around a sandy beachfront and small boat dock, with open-air restaurants facing the sea, along with a handful of boutiques and shops. Given the laid-back atmosphere and wide swath of sand with lots of shade, it’s a great place to stay on Milos with family in tow.

Buses stop here as well, and the town is only about a 15-minute drive from Adamas, with some of the island’s top sightseeing spots even closer.

Pollonia Hotels 

Things to do in Pollonia

Popular Sarakiniko beach with it’s smooth, grayish-white rocks is on the north coast, about 5 miles away from Pollonia. Often called Moon Beach for its lunar look, the shoreline here ranges from dramatic, sheer cliffs to smoothed down slopes and a small sandy patch that allows snorkelers and swimmers to slip in and out of the clear sea. The intriguing landscape is also fun to explore on foot.

The ruins of Phylakopi are about a mile from Pollonia. The Bronze Age settlement is now mostly rubble, but you can stroll the archeological site and read signage to learn more about ancient town.

Plaka Milos

The chief town of Milos, hilltop Plaka features all those white-painted buildings with charming blue shutters that make for a picturesque Greek island destination. Strolling the stone streets and narrow alleys here, you’re sure to stumble upon a sidewalk cafe, lazing cat and potted plants blooming in bright colors.

Given its array of shopping and dining, elevated position (great for coastal views), and public transit connectivity, it’s a popular place to stay on Milos. Not to mention the handful of museums and historic sites nearby. 

Plaka Hotels

Things to do in Plaka

Plaka Castle sits on a hill above the town, overlooking the white skyline. Once a Venetian landmark, it’s now mostly in ruins, but after an easy walk up to the peak, you’ll find a small white church and courtyard with 360-degree views of every coast of Milos.

A few museums around town include the Archeological Museum of Milos, with it’s Bronze Age excavation and replica of the famous “Venus de Milo” statue found nearby, and the War Museum, a small operation set up in an old German bunker from World War II. 

Nearby historic gems include the Catacombs of Milos and Ancient Theater of Milos, both less than a mile away in nearby Trypiti.

Trypiti Milos

Just a stone’s throw from Plaka, and somewhat of a smaller version just downhill, Trypiti offers a modest selection of cafes and shops, unique Milos accommodations housed in historic dwellings and windmills, and elevated views toward the sea. 

Buses connect the town to hotspots around the island, so getting around without a car here won’t be a problem. Plus, a few of the island’s most interesting historic sites are within walking distance, if you don’t mind trudging down and uphill. 

It’s less than 3 miles from Adamas and a mile from Plaka, so those with a vehicle will find it simple to go back and forth between the hubs, making this a convenient place to stay in Milos.

Trypiti Hotels

Things to do in Trypiti

Once a place of refuge for Christians from Roman persecution, the Catacombs of Milos also serve as an ancient burial site and date to the 1st century. Parts of the historic landmark are open to the public for a small fee and the catacombs are just a 10-minute walk from Trypiti.

The Ancient Theater of Milos was built sometime between the 1st and 4th centuries and covered in marble, but it fell into disuse and disarray before being rediscovered some 300 years ago. The uncovered part of the arena is opened to visitors and located along a short trail that also passes the discovery site of the famous “Venus de Milo” statue. 

The seaside town of Klima sits about a mile downhill from Trypiti. Once a fishing village, it’s now mostly abandoned, but worth a visit to see the brightly painted and color-coordinating boat garages, some of which host overnight stays. Just a couple of seasonal shops and cafes operate here, but it’s an excellent spot to watch the sunset looking westward over the water.

How many days do you need for Milos?

I recommend spending at least three or four days on Milos to explore the different beaches and fishing villages and take a boat tour. The island is so beautiful, though, that it would be easy to spend a whole week of vacation here with a mix of relaxing and exploring.