Greece truly is a country of our dreams, and particularly the islands of Milos and Paros. The clear blue water, unique coastline, friendly culture, adventurous activities and delicious food made for a trip of a lifetime! We could visit the Greek islands every year and still have more to explore.
When planning a trip to Greece, it can feel daunting narrowing down which islands to visit because there are over 6,000 islands. Our biggest advice is to avoid the touristy areas as much as possible. Of course, Santorini and Mykonos are gorgeous, but these over-crowded islands make it difficult to soak in everything Greece has to offer. This is why we choose to spend our time in Milos, Paros, and Crete. We highly recommend visiting the islands of Milos and Paros, so continue reading to learn more! Check out the separate Crete blog here!
We also spent a few days roaming around the streets of Athens to end the trip. One only really needs about two nights in Athens, especially if the priority is to spend time on the islands.
Milos
We absolutely fell in love with Milos the second we arrived! Milos has the charm of traditional Greek architecture, gorgeous beaches, a white coastline and incredible food, while maintaining a very authentic feel. If you want a balance between exploring, relaxing, and adventuring, this is the island for you!
Must see places in Milos:
Sarakiniko
Many people describe Sarakiniko as feeling like you are on the moon. This unique white rocky landscape is breathtaking. This area is known for cliff jumping! We had so much fun jumping off the cliff and swimming around. As this is a very popular destination, it can get very crowded, so we recommend going early if possible.
Plaka
This is a quintessential town in Milos showcasing the white washed buildings and blue doors. It is a great place to stroll the narrow streets and explore the storefronts. There are souvenir shops, bakeries, restaurants, and bars.
Klima
Klima is a quaint fishing village known for its colorful boathouses.
Pollonia
Located on the northeastern side of the island, Pollonia offers a selection of tasty seaside restaurants.
Tsigrado Beach
This secluded beach is tucked away on the south side of the island. To access it, you have to climb down some ladders in between a narrow crevasse. Although hard to reach, it is worth the extra effort!
Fyriplaka Beach
Close to Tsigrado Beach, is the much larger beach of Fyriplaka. This is an ideal place to swim in the water and lounge on the beach. There is a beach bar and some sunbeds as well.
Food in Milos
- Makris Milos Fine Dining (close to Sarakiniko) – This is the restaurant at Domes White Coast Hotel. Incredible fine dining food and service. This restaurant has a beautiful sunset view as well!
- Yialos Milos (Plaka) – Perfect place to grab a casual lunch while exploring the town of Plaka
- Medusa (close to Plaka) – Enjoy dinner with the waves crashing at your feet. This is a MUST visit restaurant for the best seafood on the island. You will see tons of octopus that have been freshly caught!
- O! Hamos! Tavern (close to Adamantas) – Our favorite meal on Milos! Traditional Greek food with a local family-owned business.
Accommodation in Milos
If traveling to Milos, we highly recommend staying at Domes White Coast hotel. This is a small luxury boutique hotel near the famous Sarakiniko white coast. While this hotel is certainly luxury, it was worth every penny. To this day, this is our favorite hotel we have ever stayed at. The rooms are incredibly well-designed with a private pool on the patio with views of the ocean. Be warned that most pools in Greece are cold plunge pools! Enjoying a glass of rose and watching the sunset from our patio was a highlight. The restaurant at the hotel is known for some of the best food on the island. We enjoyed complementary breakfast each morning with greek yogurt, customized omelets, and fresh fruit. We also dined here for dinner one night at Makris restaurant where we had a beautiful sunset.
Getting around Milos
Milos is meant to be discovered by ATV. We rented an ATV for two days and explored the entire island. This was such a fun and adventurous way to get around. It made it very easy to maneuver down small dirt roads that are often encountered getting to the beaches. Alternatively, we would recommend renting a car.
Getting to Milos
You can either arrive in Milos via ferry or by plane. If you take the ferry, you will arrive at the port of Adamantas. We decided to fly into Milos by air, and depart by ferry.
How many days in Milos?
There is so much to see and do on this little island! We recommend 4 to 5 days.
Paros
Paros is much larger than Milos, and offers a variety of restaurants, towns to explore, and nightlife options. You will fall in love with the classic Greek buildings, crystal blue water, and so much good food!
Things to do on Paros
Parikia
Parikia is the main town and port city of Paros. Spend a few hours wandering through the narrow streets and visiting countless souvenir shops.
Naoussa
Naoussa is the second largest town on Paros, and has a vibrant atmosphere. This is one of the best places to go out for dinner, drinks, and explore the cobblestone streets.
Cooking class at Anezina Restaurant
This Greek cooking class was the highlight of our time in Paros! We booked this class as an Airbnb experience. We absolutely loved this cooking class, learning from Maria and meeting other travelers. She brings such energy and enthusiasm to the class! Our favorite recipes were the homemade dolmades, tzatziki, and Greek meatballs.
Kolymbithres Beach
Just a 10 minute drive from Nassoua, Kolymbithres Beach is praised for its crystal-clear water. Back a beach towel and spend the day relaxing!
Lefkes
Take a drive to the beautiful little village of Lefkes. Situated in the hills, this picturesque charming town is a perfect stop to walk around the streets admiring the buildings covered in bright bougainvilleas.
Golden Beach
This is one of the largest beaches on Paros, on the south eastern part of the island. It is known for activities such as wind-surfing and kite-surfing. There are beach side bars and sunbeds available as well!
Boat day!
A boat day cruising around Paros came highly recommended to us, but unfortunately we experienced a few windy days and our excursion was canceled. High winds are fairly common on the Greek Islands, so encountering a canceled boat excursion can occur. We recommend reserving your boat day early on in the trip in case it needs to be postponed. This is the boat cruise we had initially reserved for the day.
Food in Paros
- Kima (close to Drios) – gorgeous fine dining restaurant close to Drios with unobstructed views of the sea
- Afros Sip and Bites (near Naoussa) – great coffee and healthy baked goods
- Yemeni (Naoussa) – fantastic restaurant nestled in the streets of Naoussa
- Souvlakia Kargas (Naoussa) – casual lunch for the best souvlakia in town
- Koukos Wine (Naoussa) – enjoy a sundown glass of wine on the balcony
Accommodation
We stayed at the Calme Boutique Hotel which is located in Drios, a town on the southern part of the island. This area is a less popular option for accommodation on Paros as it is a 25 minute drive from Naoussa; however, we chose it for its seclusion away from the touristy areas. While we enjoyed our stay here, we do not necessarily recommend it as a must-visit for accommodation. Next time, we would probably choose a hotel on the outskirts of Naoussa, to offer a quiet refuge, but also close to the town.
Getting around Paros
Because Paros is quite large, we recommend renting a car. Driving around Paros was very safe and easy!
How many days in Paros?
We recommend 3-4 days in Paros
Our biggest take-aways
- Do not miss Milos! This was on of our favorite islands in Greece
- Rent ATVs and cruise around the Milos
- Go cliff jumping in Sarakiniko, you will not regret it!
- Book a Greek cooking class in Paros and learn how to make your own dolmades
We hope you enjoyed learning more about exploring both islands of Milos and Greece!