The Greek island of Milos has been named among the world’s best by two of the most prestigious travel publications in the world for 2025 – here’s why it’s so special
“The best islands in the world… are the kind of Instagram-perfect destinations that travellers fantasise about on winter evenings: dreamy, sun-drenched landscapes surrounded by the bluest waters.” This is how Travel + Leisure introduced their list of the world’s best islands for 2021, where a stunning Greek island outshone all others.
The small yet beautifully formed Cycladic island, Milos, is situated 52 nautical miles from its neighbour Santorini, but it might as well be worlds apart given the significantly fewer visitors it receives. While Santorini attracts some 3.4 million tourists each year – even up to 17,000 a day – Milos saw less than half that number in 2023.
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With its numerous picturesque beaches, vibrant fishing villages and tavernas serving delectable local dishes, Milos certainly deserves a top spot on any travel bucket list for 2025.
But it’s not just Travel + Leisure singing the praises of Milos. The globally acclaimed travel magazine Conde Nast has also dubbed the island “the Greek island of the summer” for 2025, reports the Express.
They wrote: “Born of earthquakes, tsunamis and undersea volcanic eruptions over hundreds of thousands of years, Milos was destined to carve out a distinct name for itself. But, up until the mid-2010s, the mineral-rich Greek island was little more than an unassuming summer hideaway for doe-eyed Athenian couples.
“With more than 70 sand and pebble beaches, considered among the best in the Aegean, to choose from, Milos had a single vacay MO: swim, eat, sleep, repeat.”
Covering an area of just under 62 square miles, Milos was made famous by the discoveries of the famous Venus de Milo, Poseidon of Melos and Asclepius of Milos statues. Located between mainland Greece and Crete, and its possession of obsidian, made it an important centre of early Aegean civilisation.
Milos also boasts several beautiful villages. Adamanta has one of the biggest natural harbours in the Mediterranean, while Plaka, the capital, is home to traditional Cycladic architecture of narrow cobblestone alleys fringed by whitewashed houses with brightly coloured windows and balconies adorned with bougainvillaea.
The Venetian castle-fort in the Old Town offers one of the most breathtaking views of the sunset on the island, if not the whole of Greece.
The charming fishing village of Klima also must not be missed. Its most famous feature is its iconic architecture – rows of blue, red, and yellow-coloured two-storey boathouses, known as “syrmata,” lining the waterfront.
Originally used as shelters for fishing boats, these garages now often serve as quaint holiday homes.
Milos’ volcanic history is evident in the abundance of hot springs, caves and geological formations scattered across the island, including Kanavas, Alykis, Provatas, Pikropigis springs, Papafragas and Sikia Caves, and Kleftiko Cove. For nature enthusiasts, these are a must-visit.
The island also boasts several important archaeological sites, such as the early Christian catacombs, the Bronze Age settlement of Phylakopi and museums like the Mining Museum which displays Milos’ 11,000 year old mineral history.
Next, take a boat trip to the stunning Sikia Cave, a spectacular cave whose roof has collapsed, creating an almost perfectly shaped window to the blue sky above.
Flights to Milos for April are available at a fantastic price of £662 with Ryanair and Olympic Air, departing from Luton Airport to Milos (MLO) with a stopover at Athens International (ATH).
