Undiscovered Greece: The Island of Milos

Sailing by Klima fishing village on Milos/Photo by Krista Simmons

Orbitz and Visit Greece partnered with popular travel blogger Krista Simmons to explore the nation’s charming lesser-known islands, including Naxos, Spetses, Hydra and the island of Milos. This is the third in her four-part series on undiscovered Greece, with this installment highlighting Milos.

[aesop_content color=”#727272″ background=”#ffffff” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Santorini has its storied white sand beaches, but if you’re looking to get off the typical tourist grid, just a quick trip away in the Cyclades is Milos, an off-the-beaten path gem that is home to stunning coastlines, world-class beaches, and natural hot springs.

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[aesop_content color=”#727272″ background=”#ffffff” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Pirates sailing the Aegean sea were drawn to Milos, and it’s easy to see why. First of all, it’s gorgeous, but most importantly the coastline is dotted with massive natural caves and beaches, making it a perfect spot for pilferers (and modern-day travelers!) to hide out. You’d be remiss to visit Milos without booking a sailing trip around the island to see what all the fuss is about, as many of the best beaches are only accessible by boat. And it doesn’t have to pillage your entire budget either; there are plenty of outfitters like Mamma Maria that offer affordable day trips, which typically leave the port of Adamas at around 8-10 a.m. Some of the caves in Kleftiko — note the similarity to kleptomania — are even bioluminescent, which you can view on one of their snorkeling excursions. (You can also read more about yachting in the Aegean here.)

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[aesop_content color=”#727272″ background=”#ffffff” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Along the coastal road east of Adamas, north-east of Milos, the beaches at Sarakiniko are a must-see. It’s almost other-worldly staring out at the azure waters, which are a stark contrast to the swirled white volcanic rocks which make up the coastline. It’s truly a beautiful geological phenomena worth visiting the island for in and of itself.

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[aesop_content color=”#727272″ background=”#ffffff” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]And of course there’s theancient fishing village of Klima, which was once the first port of Milos. There you’ll see old colorful fishing boats called syrmata, which were once parked in the colorful garage doors in front of the homes. It’s really a sight to see, and definitely Instagram-worthy.

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[aesop_content color=”#727272″ background=”#ffffff” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Milos is known for its local pastries, namely the peculiar watermelon pie, but there’s so much more than that. At Stella Tseroni‘s incredible bakery Kivotos ton Gefseon you’ll find everything from flaky, honey-doused housemade pastries to succulent spoon sweets in local honey that are all produced from the chef/owner’s farm. Tseroni also runs Restaurant Sirocco, a seaside taverna specializing in volcanic cooking, where fresh fish and local meats are roasted underground using the heat from the volcanic vents. She’s truly preserving some of the area’s unique culinary culture in the most delicious way.

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[aesop_content color=”#727272″ background=”#ffffff” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]Another unique Greek culinary experience can be unearthed over at Archontoula, a restaurant that’s been around in the capitol of Plaka for over 200 years, offers incredible traditional Greek cuisine and hospitality to match, including your selection of ouzo to sip on during your meal.

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[aesop_content color=”#727272″ background=”#ffffff” columns=”1″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]There are countless cute bed and breakfasts and hotels on Milos, but I opted to stay at Salt Hotel in the charming fishing village of Pollonia. The boutique property boasts clean design with a traditional white-and-blue Greek color palate, and stunning views of the sea. It was the perfect place to rest my head after a day of adventuring around the island. And as you can tell from the video of my adventures below, I did a lot of it.

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Tagged: Europe, Greece, Photo essay, Videos