Milos or not??
 

It's my first trip to the greece and the greek island and I am definetly going to Santorini for 3 nights and Naxos for 3 nights. I am also spending 3 nights in Athens and 2 nights in Nauplion.

I am still debating wheter to go to Milos for 2 nights or not. From the pictures I have seen Milos beaches are beautiful unlique others in the Cyclades. If not, I will add one day to Naxos and one day to Nauplion.
I need advice.
Thanks
lucy_luz

Hi

A well informed poster named xaroula wrote this about Milos in another forum :

Classical sites: Ancient Milos (city) including theater, the excellent Archaeological Museum (don't forget that the Venus de Milo was found here), not quite Classical but the ancient site of Phylakopi, one of the most important Cycladic sites (finds from here make up about 70% of the National Archaeological Museum of Athens' Cycladic wing). If you are blanking on Milos -- read the Melian Dialogue (Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War).

Byzantine sites: Early Christian catacombs (you can walk around inside), Ecclesiastical museum, several beautiful old churches. There's a great book called "Milos: Early Christian Monuments" .

Hiking: Most of Milos is not covered by a road network, so there is a lot of "unexplored" space for hiking. Milos has the most interesting geology of any island I've ever been to (and I've been to Santorini, yes). There's a reason why the Minerological Museum is here. (Excellent museum by the way.)

Even if you can't swim at the beaches due to the season, they are still gorgeous just to see -- Papafranga (with multiple deep rock-cut channels), Sarakiniko (with lunar-landscape type rocks), Firiplaka and other geologically fascinating beaches.

Easy to reach from Athens: fast boat from Peiraias in 3 hours. Regular ferry connects with Peiraias as well.

Easy day-trips to the nearby island of Kimolos. Milos has scuba diving if you are into that as well. It's my favorite Greek island (but I've only been to about 20 so far!). Milos is great because you can spend 2 days or 2 weeks there and either way it's great.

Hope this helps.

I couldn't have said it better myself! or... um... hehe. ;-)

Milos is definitely worth the trip -- for a first-timer to Greece, it makes a very good choice because it is so unique and unspoiled at the same time. I believe two nights in Nauplion is enough; do keep in mind that to go to 3 islands and Nauplion in such a short time, while perfectly doable, is going to require a lot of energy on your part!

One of the reasons I recommend Milos SO highly is that it seems to have hit the jackpot -- it really has it all: natural beauty, not overrun by tourists, some of the best beaches in Greece, arguably the most significant history and archaeology in the Cyclades, wonderful people, laid back atmosphere, plenty to do (diving, hiking, etc), and easy to get to from the other islands (you can get there from Paros, Santorini, or Syros) as as Peiraias of course.

Although I've been to a fair number of islands -- see above ;-), Milos remains my favorite for these reasons. It is not usually a "first-trip-to-Greece" island, which preserves it from the tourist hordes, but it really does make a great introduction to the islands. If you go, post back and let us know what you thought :-)

best, xaroula.

Kalimera Xaroula

I didn't know you posted here as well. Lucky I gave credit to the author! Yes Milos is definitely in my Greek island hopping dreams thanks to you.

CYA

ok.
I do want to add Milos to my itinerary but I am not sure how to. Are there any airports in this island? How far is it from Santorini in a ferry?
If I go to Athens for 3 nights,
Nauplion for 2 nights, take a flight to an island and then spend 3 nights in each. (Naxos, Santorin and Milos) Then come back to Athens and go home! Is it to hard to go from Nauplion to any of these 3 island?

Your best bet is to do the following:

Arrive Athens, ferry or fly from Athens to Santorini. Ferry to Naxos. Ferry to Milos (with change of boat in Paros or Syros). Ferry Milos -> Athens. Leave Athens for a few days in Nafplio. Return to Athens and stay in Athens for 3 days before you leave.

Always leave Athens for the end, in case your ferries are interrupted due to weather or strikes or something.

You don't say when you're going, but if it's soon, you can check ferry schedules on www.gtp.gr

Otherwise, bear in mind that there are daily ferries between Peiraias and Santorini; Santorini and Naxos; and Milos and Peiraias. Between Syros and Milos at least 4 per week; between Paros and Milos 3 per week; between Naxos and Milos 1 per week direct. With a two-day flexibility (1 day earlier and 1 day later than your preferred day of travel) you ought to be covered.

I visited Milos late May early June a couple years ago. I really think it depends on the time of the season. When I was there the buses were very limited. In order to get anywhere you had to rent a car and some of the roads were not good. It is a pretty island, less touristy and the beaches are nice. The boat trips going to the best rock formations were not running due to winds. I think if you were going in July or Aug. it would be a different story. But if you are going earlier in the season I think Naoxs is a better choice.

I heard from people that it's a good idea to leave Athens for last when visiting Greece but after flying for so long would'nt you want to take a break before jumping on anohter plane or a ferry?

My trip will be this summer, late June or early July.

I think this is what I might do.

Athens for 3 days
ferry to Naxos for 4 days
ferry to Santorini for 4 days
flight back to Athens and go to Nauplio for 3 days


I think I am going to leave Milos for our next trip. It sounds great but it's a little out of the way. How long is the ferry ride from Peiraias to Naxos? It's Naxos a good choice to combine with Santorini?

thanks

Lucy,

Milos has an airport, and features Olympic Airways' lowest domestic fare (45 Euros one-way to/from the Athens International Airport).

There is regular connection between Milos and Santorini 2-3 times a week via conventional ferry (Ierapetra) year round in addition to faster ferries (such as the Superjet) during the high season.

You may check out complete ferry schedules to/from any destination for a given departure date at this website: www.openseas.gr

It may be a good idea to visit Milos when you have more time to devote to the island. It takes longer than 2-3 days to experience Milos :)

- Andreas

www.milosisforlovers.com