If you’ve made the decision to travel to Milos this year, I am immensely jealous of you! With its crystal-clear waters, paper-white sands and beautiful churches, Milos definitely tops my list of favourite holiday destinations. Offering a range of activities from beach excursions and hikes to boutique shopping, you will not be left disappointed. However, as perfect as this island may be, there are still some very important tips you should be aware of to ensure you make the very most out of your experience.
1. Hire a vehicle
Milos, like most other Greek islands, has a bus for public transport. However, the bus stops are few and far between, for the most part offering minimal shade. Moreover, the bus only comes around every couple of hours, meaning your day needs to be planned very meticulously around when you can catch your next ride. If you miss it by only a few minutes, you could be stuck in your spot until evening!
Hiring a car, bike or ATV is by far the best way to explore Milos. Not only are you given the freedom to adventure on your own time, but it also allows you access to countless off-road gems that you otherwise would not be able to access. Many of the roads in Milos are terrifyingly narrow, making it impossible for buses to travel through. Even cars can struggle on some of these roads!
If you do decide to hire a vehicle, I highly recommend you organise it before arriving on the island. Most travellers will have the same idea as you, and as a result, prices sky-rocket during high season. I visited Milos in July, and by the time I arrived, car-rental places were either fully-booked or they charged extortionate prices. Book your vehicle at least a few weeks in advance to ensure you do not miss out on the opportunity to explore Milos with full freedom and autonomy!
There are many different spots to rent your vehicle from. I used Matha Rent A Car and was very satisfied! Their customer service is wonderful, the car was in great condition and the pick-up and drop-off processes were very simple.
2. Bring your own beach towels
Most accommodations will provide you with bath towels, however not many will go the extra mile in providing beach towels. If you’re exploring Milos you will almost definitely be spending ample time a day in the ocean, and so having a beach towel handy is essential! I packed a kikoi at the last minute as a “just in case” accessory, and it ended up being the most used item in my bag!
3. Hire a boat for a day
There are many beautiful beaches to be explored on Milos island. However, the most exquisite of these can only be accessed via the sea! With no beaten paths or roads, there is simply no way to reach these spectacular spots without doing a bit of ocean exploration. For this reason, I highly recommend you hire a boat for a day to discover them! Boats can be hired with a skipper for those with no boating experience, however if you can present a skippers license, you can take one out by yourself.
I hired a boat (without a skipper) for a full day and spent it splashing around the entire island. I discovered the most wonderful beaches, rock formations and underwater caves. There really is something truly special about spots untouched by people and commercial fingers.
Much like with hiring a vehicle, these boats are booked out relatively quickly, so I recommend organising one for yourself before arriving on the island. There are countless spots to hire from, however I used Eldoris Boat Rentals and they were fantastic! The staff were friendly and helpful, and the boat itself was in pristine condition.
4. Bring water everywhere you go
This may seem like a silly tip, as you’d be sure to pass a kiosk or food market somewhere along the way no matter where you’re headed. For the most part, you would be correct. However, there will be times in which you decide to explore some dirt roads that take you completely off course. The best way to explore Milos is to “get lost”, but in these times water will be essential.
It is not recommended you drink the tap water in Milos, so you’ll want to get yours bottled from a food market. Water is cheapest here, going for anywhere between EUR0.40 to EUR0.80 per litre.
5. You cannot flush your toilet paper
No, this is not a joke. In fact, this rule applies everywhere in Greece! The sewage system on the Greek islands is very old and the pipes are incredibly narrow. As a result, toilet paper is guaranteed to block the pipes and cause some very unpleasant overflows. Next to each toilet you will find a bin intended for your used toilet paper. There is a sign in every bathroom to remind you of this rule, so you don’t need to stress about forgetting!
These bins generally get emptied every day to avoid any unpleasant smells from festering, however if you are a clean freak like me, you may opt to take the bin out yourself more regularly. Call me crazy, but cleaning myself in a room that smells of waste is not something I consider to be fun!
6. Tipping is definitely a thing in Greece
Wherever I go in the world, I always make sure that I understand the tipping system. In Greece, the service industry survives off their tips, as the wage is very low. As a result, tipping anywhere between 10% – 20% is highly appreciated. How much you tip depends on the level of service you receive, however since their tips are their bread and butter, I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed by your waiters’ attentiveness and effort.
Exploring Milos is an unforgettable experience. With these 6 important tips, you can be sure that your experience will be one filled with breathtaking views, bundles of fun and a bucket-load of phenomenal memories.