Milos is a volcanic island in the south west Cyclades, and it has more than 70 beaches scattered around its horseshoe shaped coastline, more than almost any other island in Greece. Because those beaches are so varied and so spread out, from the white moonscape of Sarakiniko to the sea caves of Kleftiko that you can only reach by boat, a clear map matters more here than on most islands. This Milos map puts it all in one view, the main port at Adamas, the hilltop capital of Plaka, the fishing villages, and the beaches and boat routes that link them.
Click any pin on the map to see photos, a short description and a direct link to the full guide for that spot. You can also switch the layers on and off to show just the beaches, just the villages, or just the roads and boat routes.
Interactive Milos map
The map above shows every place we cover on Milos. Below you will find the same places written out by area, so you can read through them and click straight to the guide for anywhere that interests you.
The ports and how the island is laid out
Milos is shaped like a horseshoe, wrapped around a huge natural bay, and knowing that shape helps everything make sense. The main port is Adamas, on the inner edge of the bay, and this is where the big ferries arrive. It is the busiest village, full of tavernas, shops and boat trip operators, and it is central, so many people base themselves here. To plan your arrival, see how to get to Milos.
Up the hill to the north west sits Plaka, the capital, a pretty Cycladic town with a castle rock and famous sunset views. Just below it are the old villages and the colourful boat house settlements along the water, like Klima. Over on the north east coast is Pollonia, a quieter fishing village and the second port, where the small boat to Kimolos leaves. The most dramatic beaches, like Kleftiko, sit on the wild southern coast with no road access at all, which is why boat trips are such a big part of a Milos visit. For the full picture, see our main Milos guide.
Villages on the map
Milos has a good spread of villages, each with its own character. Adamas, the port, is the busy hub with the most places to eat and stay. Plaka, the capital, sits high on the ridge with narrow lanes, a hilltop castle and one of the best sunset spots in the Cyclades. Klima is the most famous of the little boat house hamlets, a row of fishermen’s houses right at the water’s edge, their boat garages painted in bright colours, one of the most photographed spots on the island. Pollonia, on the north east coast, is a relaxed seaside village popular with families and divers. For more, see our guide to the best villages on Milos.
Beaches on the map
With more than 70 beaches, Milos is all about choice, and the map is the easiest way to make sense of them. The most famous is Sarakiniko, a stretch of smooth white volcanic rock that looks like the surface of the moon, on the north coast. Firopotamos is a small, pretty fishing village cove nearby, calm and good for swimming. On the sheltered south coast, Agia Kiriaki has warm, calm water and seaside tavernas. Many of the very best beaches, above all Kleftiko with its white sea stacks and caves, have no road at all and are reached only by boat.
Because the beaches face every direction, the wind decides where you should go on any given day, so it helps to have options. See them all, with how to reach each one, on the full Milos beaches guide.
Boat trips and sea caves on the map
Some of the best of Milos can only be seen from the water, which is why a boat trip is almost essential here. The star is Kleftiko, a cluster of white rock formations and sea caves on the remote south west coast, once a pirate hideout, now the highlight of most boat tours. Trips leave from Adamas and sail around the coast, stopping at caves and beaches you cannot reach any other way. You can also explore the island’s other sea caves around the coast, and read about its dramatic volcanic and caldera landscapes.
Things to do on the map
Beyond the beaches, Milos has real history, a reminder that this is where the famous statue of the Venus de Milo was found. Milos is also known for its food and drink, with local wineries and wine tastings and traditional cheese tasting and making experiences dotted around the island. For the best spots to catch the light, see our Milos photography guide, and check conditions before you travel on the Milos weather page.
Getting around Milos
Once you can see how the island is laid out, the next step is deciding how to get about, and on an island this size with beaches this spread out, it matters. A bus links Adamas with Plaka, Pollonia and some of the main beaches, but it runs less often outside peak season. Most visitors hire a car or a quad to reach the far beaches, and take at least one boat trip for the coast you cannot drive to. For full details see our guides to getting around Milos, the Milos bus timetable and Milos taxi and car rental.
Explore more of Milos
Now that you can see how the island fits together, open the full guides for the places that catch your eye. Start with the main Milos guide, browse the beaches, the villages and the sea caves, or plan how you will reach the island on our ferry page. To see how Milos connects to the rest of the group, use the full Greek islands map.
Which port will my ferry arrive at on Milos?
How do you get to Kleftiko on the map?
Where is Sarakiniko beach on the map?
Sarakiniko is on the north coast, a short drive from Adamas. On the map it sits between the port and Pollonia. It is one of the few famous Milos beaches you can drive right up to, which is why it gets busy, so early morning or late afternoon is best.
How far is Plaka from the port on the map?
Do you need a car on Milos?
For most visitors, yes. The beaches are spread right around the island and the best ones are far from the port, so a car or quad gives you the freedom to chase the sheltered coast on windy days. Looking at how spread out the beaches are on the map shows why. You will still want a boat trip for the beaches with no road.
