How to Get to Milos, Greece: A Complete Breakdown
Are you planning a trip to the Greek Islands and wondering how to get to Milos, Greece?
Milos is slowly becoming one of the more popular Greek Islands in the Cycladic island chain, and for good reason! Its incredibly unique beaches and adorable seaside towns are enough to make anyone swoon.
However, getting to Milos might not be as straightforward as you think! In this guide, I break down everything you need to know about how to get to Milos, Greece. I’ll cover how to get to Milos from other areas of Europe and the USA, as well as getting to Milos from other Greek islands. I’ll also touch on costs of flights versus ferry tickets and more!
So, keep reading if you are planning a trip to the island of Milos and wondering the different ways to get there!
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The Ultimate Guide on How to Get to Milos, greece: Flights, Ferries, & More
A Quick Look at the Island of Milos
Don’t have a lot of time? Here’s a quick guide to the island of Milos to help plan your epic adventure!
Where to Stay:
Hotel Rigas (Adamantas)
Salt Suites (Pollonia)
Artemis Deluxe Rooms (Paliochori)
Read my full guide on Where to Stay here!
When to Visit:
– I recommend shoulder season (Early May or late September)
– Summer (June – August) is peak season
– Winter is off season and not recommended
Things to Do:
– Explore the beautiful beaches!
– Take a boat tour to Kleftiko
– Wander through the adorable towns
Where is Milos, Greece?
Before we get into this guide on how to get to Milos, Greece, I wanted to touch on where the heck Milos is in relation to other islands!
Milos is part of the Cyclades island chain in the Aegean Sea, which also includes Ios, Naxos, Paros, Santorini, Mykonos, and many others! This is definitely the most famous out of all the Greek island chains!
Below is a little graphic of the Cyclades to show you where Milos is among the islands!
The island of Milos is around 60 square miles (160 square km), which makes it slightly larger than other islands like Santorini and Mykonos.
Milos is famous for its incredible landscapes, like the cliffs of Kleftiko and the lunar landscapes of Sarkiniko Beach!
For more information on the island of Milos, make sure to check out my Ultimate Milos Travel Guide and my breakdown of Where to Stay in Milos!
Frequently Asked Questions
What airport do you fly into for Milos?
The island of Milos has its own airport, Milos National Airport (MLO).
How long is a ferry ride from Athens to Milos?
Ferry times vary based on number of stops, season, and other factors. However, the fastest time of a non-stop ferry from Athens to Milos is about 2.5 hours.
Is it better to ferry or fly from Athens to Milos?
I highly recommend flying between Athens and Milos. It’s only a 40-minute flight!
How much is the ferry from Athens to Milos?
Ferry tickets from Athens to Milos range from 20 euros to 100 euros depending on season and availability. For the fastest ferry, expect to pay around 75 euros.
What airlines fly to Milos, Greece?
The only airlines that fly to Milos, Greece are Olympic Air (owned by Aegean Airlines) and Sky Express. The only routes are from Athens to Milos and Milos to Athens!
Can I fly from Santorini to Milos?
You can fly from Santorini to Milos; however, you will have to connect in Athens. There are no direct flights between Santorini and Milos.
Flying into Milos, Greece vs Taking the Ferry
The two primary options for getting to the island of Milos are by flying or taking a ferry.
I will analyze both of these options later in this post depending on where you are traveling from; however, here is a quick overview!
Flying to Milos, Greece
Milos has a small airport on the island: Milos Island National Airport (MLO). The airport is located in the center of the island, less than 10 minutes away from the port of Adamantas.
Unfortunately, the only place you can fly to from the Milos airport is Athens International Airport (ATH). During the summer months, there are multiple flights a day between Milos and Athens. In the off-season, the options become fewer (1 or 2 day).
Two airlines offer flights to and from Milos: Olympic Air (owned by Aegean Airlines) and Sky Express. The travel time is approximately 40 minutes, and the average cost ranges from $50-$150! (Some flights in off season drop all the way to $19!).
Taking the Ferry to Milos, Greece
The other primary option for traveling to Milos, Greece is taking a ferry!
Milos is served by its main ferry port in the town of Adamas (also called Adamantas). This town is one of the most popular places to stay on Milos, thanks to the large amount of restaurants and shops near the port.
Ferry schedules vary year to year; however, during the summer months, there are typically multiple ferries per day to Milos from Athens and other neighboring islands. This is the most popular way to travel to Milos during the summer!
I will dive into the exact routes and time tables later in this post, depending on where you are traveling from. However, as you can see on the map below, there are several different options for ferry routes leaving Milos!
How to Get to Milos from Outside Greece
Now that we’ve covered the top two ways to get to Milos, let’s dive into the details based on various starting locations.
If you’re traveling from outside of Greece, whether that be from the USA or from Europe, you will not be able to fly straight to Milos.
As mentioned above, the only way to fly to Milos is by connecting in Athens first. However, I highly recommend booking separate flights, which will save you time and money.
For example, if you are flying from Paris, you should book a one-way flight from Paris to Athens, then another flight from Athens to Milos. Your options for flights from Paris to Athens will be much better if you are not booked all the way through to Milos.
Just make sure to give yourself enough time during your layover! Or, even better, spend a night or two in Athens before heading onto Milos!
Note: While you cannot fly from other countries in Europe straight to Milos, you can do this for other islands in the Cyclades. For example, I took a direct flight from Paris to Santorini and did not have to stop in Athens. Then, we took the ferry from Santorini to Milos later in the trip. If your trip to Greece includes other islands, this might be a good option for you!
How to Get to Milos Once in Greece
Now that you understand how to get to Milos from other countries, I am going to provide a few options for getting to Milos from specific areas in Greece!
How to Get to Milos from Athens
Flying from Athens to Milos
Now, we’ve already covered that the two main options for getting to Milos from Athens are to take the ferry or fly. Which you choose will depend on your preferences, allotted time, and budget. However, I highly recommend flying.
Here is a look at the average costs of flying one way from Athens to Milos in July and August, which is peak season (this screenshot was taken in May).
As seen in the above, you can get a one-way flight from Athens to Milos for as cheap as $62, even during peak summer months.
Plus, a flight from Athens to Milos takes less than an hour! So, this is definitely the preferred method, especially if you are already going to be in the Athens airport flying from your home location.
Taking the Ferry from Athens to Milos
Now, let’s look at the ferry options between Athens and Milos! Most ferries will leave from the port city of Piraeus; however, some leave from Lavrio.
The below screenshot is for a Friday in mid-July (again, taken in May).Note that exact schedules, availability, and costs will vary month to month and season to season, but this is a good example.
As you can see above, ferry prices from Athens to Milos vary in both duration and cost. The fastest option takes 2.5 hours and costs around 78 euros. However, the cheapest option, while only 20 euros, takes over 15 hours.
Compare this to taking a direct flight for less than 100 euro that will get you there in 45 minutes, it seems like an easy choice to me!
In addition, ferries in Greece are known to be somewhat unreliable, especially during the summer months. For example, on the day of our departure from Santorini to Milos, our ferry was delayed over 2 hours.
From approximately May through September, with a peak between July and August, the Aegean Sea experiences strong winds known as The Meltemi. These winds can make seas particularly rough during this time of year and cause even more delays/cancellations.
Note: If you will be traveling via ferry during your Greece Island Hopping Itinerary, I highly recommend packing Dramamine or another type of seasickness medicine! You’ll thank me later.
So, if you are traveling from Athens to Milos, my recommendation is 100% to fly!
How to Get to Milos from Santorini
Now let’s discuss how to get from Santorini to Milos! If you are planning a Greece Island Hopping Itinerary, you will probably be visiting multiple islands, which I highly recommend!
And although both Santorini and Milos have their own airports, there are no direct flights between the two of them. So silly, right?!
If you would like to fly between Santorini and Milos, you have to connect in Athens.
As you can see on the image below, one way flights from Santorini to Milos range between $130 to $200 and up. The fastest travel time for this particular option is just 2 hours and 15 minutes, which includes a 50-minute layover in Athens (quite short).
If you don’t mind connecting in Athens, this is not a bad option for getting to Milos.
Your other option, however, is to take the ferry! During the summer months, there are usually 1-3 ferries traveling between Santorini and Milos.
Below is an example from a Friday in June (screenshot taken in May). In the winter, routes may drop to only a few times per week.
This ferry route usually costs between 50 and 100 euros, depending on time of year and when you book!
Note: While the ferries say direct, they are not always direct. We booked what we thought was a direct ferry from Santorini to Milos, and it ended up stopping at a few other islands (not sure why!).
Between that and the delayed departure, it would’ve been faster for us to fly! So, it really is up to you and what your preferences are.
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my 3 Day Santorini Itinerary & Travel Guide!
How to Get to Milos from Mykonos
Last but not least, let’s talk about how to get to Milos from Mykonos. As you probably know, Mykonos is another very popular Greek island and the perfect addition to any Greek Island Hopping Itinerary!
Mykonos is a bit further from Milos than Santorini, but not by much! Your options for getting from Mykonos to Milos are almost identical as Santorini: fly or take the ferry.
And just like between Milos and Santorini, there are no direct flights between Milos Airport (MLO) and Mykonos Airport (JMK). All flights connect in Athens.
Prices are similar to the Santorini flights, between $130 and $250. The times are similar as well and vary depending on how long your layover in Athens is!
On the other hand, your options are slightly limited if you want to take the ferry from Mykonos to Milos. In the summer months, there is typically one ferry per day going from Mykonos to Milos.
In the winter months, the frequency drops down to a few times per week (instead of one per day).
Typical costs of the ferry hover around 100 euros. So, it really is up to you on whether or not you want to take the ferry or fly between Mykonos and Milos!
How to Get to Milos from Other Islands
It would take forever to list out the options for getting to Milos from every Cyclades island! However, the theme is the same.
If the island has an airport (like Santorini, Paros, Naxos, or Mykonos), you can fly between islands, but you will have a connection in Athens.
The other option is to take the ferry between islands. This might be your only option if the island does not have its own airport, like Ios or Antiparos.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are several options to consider when figuring out how to get to Milos, Greece!
If you are coming from Europe or the USA, you’ll first need to fly into Athens to start your journey. From there, you can either fly or take a ferry!
For those coming from another Greek Island, the most common method is to take a ferry, since all flights must connect through Athens. However, flying should still be considered as it may be cheaper and faster!
Whichever option you choose, I promise Milos is worth it! This island felt so untouched compared to places like Santorini, and it’s the perfect addition to any Greek Islands itinerary!
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
