An island known for its surreal volcanic-shaped beauty, what challenges must you brave for the reward of breathtaking beachscapes? In Milos, gorgeous is not hard-to-get. It’s also developed enough to offer just the right amount of frills on select, easy-to-reach beaches. Here’s our detailed round-up of the dazzling and accessible, or just very convenient options, for the prepared parent.
PROVOTAS & AGIOS SOSTIS
Provotas is a perfect little bay for toddlers in tow, although slightly unspectacular next to its dramatic neighbours. Subtly stunning, with sparkling waters and velvety sand, the gentle seabed stays near-flat for more than fifty meters out. On the beach, the resident hotel (Golden Milos) rents padded sun loungers and offers refreshment. Park directly behind on the road that runs parallel to the beach. There’s a shower near the exit for a quick rinse before you return to the car.
If you’re in the area and don’t mind throwing your towel down on the beach instead, check out neigbouring Agios Sostis. Also ideal for children, with less of a crowd, and sheltering crystal clear waters. These southern beaches are the ones to head to for the calmest seas when the north “meltimi” winds blow fiercely .
FIRIPLAKA
Close to one of the two of the island’s volcanic craters, chalky red and orange stained cliffs line a covetable sweep of pristine beach below. The sand is fine and silvery, and its blue-green waters, shallow enough for child’s play.
Timing is important for enjoying Firiplaka – already growing too popular along with Milos’ rise to fame. Visit during peak hours (from 10 am to 5 pm) at high season, and you’re likely to have to park far up the steep slope on the road down to the beach. You’re also likely to be hard-pressed for sunbeds furnished by the only canteen onsite offering cocktails and convenience foods (e.g. hot dogs, burgers and salads).
With a rocky shoreline of bays and small caves that beckons exploration, you can rent snorkelling equipment, standup paddle boats, and kayaks from Milos Watersports. They also offer private and semi-private kayaking tours to the famous-for-being-hidden Tsigrado (one kilometer eastward), otherwise only accessible by climbing ropes and ladders down a crevice, and Gerakas, a secluded beach dream with luminous sapphire waters only accessed by boat.
PALEOCHORI & TOURLOS
That view. Of startlingly clear waters that graduate from transparent, to Tiffany green, turquoise, then sapphire blue. All framed by coastal cliffs dusted in the reddish hues of colourful mineral deposits. The shoreline here is not of the sandy, gently sloping variety, but doesn’t taper off too dramatically either. And because Paleochori is long, it never quite feels crowded even when it’s busy.
If you can’t find sunbeds here (not unusual during peak hours on high season – it’s a good idea to book them ahead), backup is within easy reach: quieter Tourlos beach is a half-a-minute’s drive away (put a map pin on Deep Blue cafe-bar – the stairs here lead down to the beach) with waters similarly striking.
If you’re looking for seafront accommodation in Milos, Paleochori has some boutique options that’s also close to a choice selection of restaurants. Sirocco attracts with its unique style of slow-cooked food in clay pots buried and heated by geothermal springs. So successful was this concept that the fisherman’s taverna updated itself with a chic makeover and the addition of massage services and shisha. Trendy restaurant-bar Aqua Loco sits alongside Artemis boutique hotel next door. And finally, Pelagos seafood tavern is the last resident on the beach with a café-bar in its corner. Public parking is located behind Sirocco, although this gets packed out quickly. If you’re going to dine at Pelagos, parking is available behind the tavern as well.
In the mood for aquatic action? PITS Watersports will equip you with jet skis, wakeboards, waterskis, SUPs, and other inflatables…We settled with snorkeling with our almost 4-year-old. And Paleochori, close to the most recent location of magmatic activity on the island, is a great spot for this as rainbow wrasse, moray eels, and other marine life swim around streams of sulphuric gas bubbling up from the rocky seabed.
THE PORT BEACHES
Port beaches are not usually the most attractive, but the sandy, tree-lined shores of Pollonia and Papikinou (in the main port of Adamantas) are worth mentioning with waters both tepid and transparent. These are convenient options if you’re looking for accommodation within easy reach of a beach, village shops, mini marts and taverns, although not destination beaches in themselves.
