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Greek Island Hopping in Milos, Paros and Naxos
A trip by Selena TaylorFind Us LostGreek Island Hopping in Milos, Paros and Naxos
After months of nonstop travel, we finally made it to Greece! Here's everything you need to know about our experience Greek island hopping in the idyllic Cyclades islands.
Milos
Days 1–4 of 10 · 4 nightsMilos had been on my travel bucket list ever since I saw photos of its iconic white, lunar-like beaches like Sarakiniko. The island lived up to the hype from the moment we arrived – we had no agenda, but we knew we wanted to see as many beaches as possible.
Cave Suites
Private-pool suites with wide sea views, built for quiet.
9.7 Alternative places to stay
MilosDay 1
Kleftiko by boat
Daily Cruise to Kleftiko - Polyaigos
After breakfast on our terrace, our first adventure was a boat trip to the breathtaking Kleftiko caves. We hired our own boat to navigate to the best swimming spots in Milos. Pirates once hid between these white tunnels and arches on the island's wild southwest corner – today you drop anchor beneath them, slip into water so clear the boat seems to float on air, and swim through rock rooms the sea carved out over centuries.
Mikros Apoplous
We were back by lunchtime, enjoying a relaxing meal by the water in the charming port town and soaking in the unique Cycladic architecture and laid-back vibes. Mikros Apoplous sets its tables right on the Adamas waterfront – ouzo-friendly small plates, grilled fish, and the ferries sliding past a few metres away.
Plaka Village
Plaka is the chief town in Milos, a Greek island in the Cyclades group. It is perched on the top of large rock, overlooking the gulf of Milos. No cars can enter the village because of the narrow spaces between walls and buildings. Motorbikes, mopeds and the like are the only usable vehicles.
Utopia Caffe
In Plaka you will also find a couple of great bars. Utopia Caffe is the place to be seen and the place to see incredible sunset views, as good as anywhere in Greece. Climb up through the whitewashed alleys in the hour before sundown and claim a cushion on the terrace – the whole west coast of Milos spreads out below.
MilosDay 2
Sarakiniko & the lunar north
Sarakiniko Beach
Milos had been on my travel bucket list ever since I saw photos of its iconic white, lunar-like beaches – and Sarakiniko is the one that started it. The island lived up to the hype from the moment we arrived: this was our favorite beach, and we went at least three times. Go early or at golden hour, walk barefoot over the smooth white rock, and swim in the narrow inlet between the moon-white cliffs.
Papafragas Beach
Papafragas Beach, with its hidden sea-caves emerging through towering white cliffs, resembles a turquoise swimming pool or canal. While the narrow path that leads to the beach can be quite challenging, Papafragas is one of the most impressive beaches of Milos and should not be missed.
Mandrakia
A tiny postcard fishing village on Milos's north coast – whitewashed houses with boats drawn up to brightly painted syrmata doors, a stubby harbour wall, and Medusa Taverna presiding over it all. This is where the famous hanging octopus drying in the sun lives, where fishermen still mend nets in the afternoon, and where the sunset lights the whole scene like a film set.
Medusa Taverna
In Mandrakia you will find Medusa Taverna – the only taverna in this tiny village but a very good one. With the traditional hanging octopus, sometimes in a screened box to protect it from insects and wind, you can't miss Medusa and you won't regret lunch here either. Very well priced in a truly unique and very special setting.
MilosDay 3
Paliochori & sunset at Klima
Paliochori Beach
Volcanic colors you won't find on any other shoreline – dark sand giving way to red and yellow cliffs that still vent heat from below. Paliochori stretches across three coves on Milos's south coast, each with its own character. The central section is where beachside tavernas grill fish over geothermally heated sand – order the baked tomatoes, cooked in the earth itself. Hot mineral springs bubble up through the seafloor in the shallows, warming patches of water to almost bath temperature. The multicolored rock formations behind the beach shift from ochre to green to rust, proof of the island's volcanic restlessness. Sunbeds available in the main cove; the western section is quieter.
Sirocco Restaurant
A Paliochori beach taverna with one trick no one else can copy – they cook in the volcanic sand. Lamb wrapped in vine leaves, octopus, baked tomatoes, even bread, all slow-cooked in the geothermally hot earth right behind the dining tables. Book ahead and stay for a swim afterward in the warm-water shallows.
Klima Village
One of Milos's signature colourful fishing villages – white-and-blue 'syrmata' boathouses carved straight into the cliffs, doors brightly painted, fishermen's boats pulled up to the door. Along with Mandrakia and Firopotamos it is the fishing-village trio nobody misses. Arrive toward golden hour when the pastel doors glow.
MilosDay 4
Fyriplaka, Tsigrado & Pollonia
Fyriplaka Beach
Firiplaka with its towering volcanic cliffs, snow-gray fine sand, white pebbles and shallow turquoise waters is situated between the beaches of Provatas and Tsigrado. The extensive beach has umbrellas, sunbeds and a bar hut. There is also a cave under a huge rock in the water near the shore carved out of a volcano a long time ago. Access to the beach is possible by your own vehicle, taxi, bus or even by boat which goes around the island, starting from the port of Adamas. While most of the road is asphalt, the last part of it is a gravel paved driveway.
Tsigrado Beach
Follow the amazing paddling trail to Tsigrado. Visit the famous beach of Tsigrado the easiest way possible! Get a kayak or stand-up-paddle (SUP) from Fyriplaka beach and reach Tsigrado through the water. Have fun paddling and discoverevery hidden place!Do you want to visit Tsigrado without worrying about the tiring and sometimes dangerous climbing that is otherwise required? You can rent a kayak or stand-up-paddle (SUP)from our kiosk at Fyriplaka beach. Paddle along the shore for approx.1km (0.62 miles) and reach Tsigrado beach within 15 minutes. Not only is this the easiest and safest way to reach Tsigrado, but also during your paddling route you will come across many points of interest. You will have the chance to visitwonderful places that are accessible only through the water, swim in the unique clear-blue waters and explore hidden caves!
Pollonia
Pollonia is consistently my top pick for where to base yourself in Milos. It's a small fishing village on the island's northeast tip, where tamarisk trees lean over a sandy crescent and the tavernas set their tables right at the water's edge – the kind of place where dinner runs long and nobody minds.
Yialos Restaurant
Tables on the sand, feet in the pebbles, the fishing boats of Pollonia bobbing a few meters away – Yialos is where seafood and setting conspire perfectly. Chef Achilleas Kamateris trained across Europe but cooks Aegean: raw fish preparations, grilled catch of the day, and creative plates that stay rooted in Cycladic simplicity. The sunset from the beachfront tables is an event in itself. Twenty years in, still the best restaurant in Pollonia and arguably the best seafood on the island. Northeast tip of Milos, about 10km from Adamas. Reservations are non-negotiable in summer.
Paros
Days 5–7 of 10 · 3 nightsParos exceeded all expectations, offering picturesque beaches, charming towns, and a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure. Our evenings were spent BBQ'ing, riding our ATVs at sunset, and playing games – I know it's a trip we'll remember forever.
Agrabeli Paros
Cycladic studios set in a vineyard just behind Naoussa bay.
9.7 Alternative places to stay
ParosDay 1
Kalogeros clay & a monastery sunset
Kalogeros Beach
Paros's quirky natural spa. The cliffs at the north end are rich in argyle clay – scrape some off, mix it with seawater, slather it on, let it dry in the sun for half an hour, then rinse off in the sea. Skin comes out exfoliated and soft. The beach itself is a mix of sand and rock with clear snorkelling water and views toward Naxos. Bring a small cup or spoon for the clay; rarely organised, so pack what you need.
St. Antonios Monastery
A whitewashed monastery on the summit of Kefalos hill above Marpissa, reached by a cobbled path that zig-zags up past the ruins of a Venetian castle. From the courtyard the view runs over the whole east coast of Paros – Piso Livadi and the beaches below, Naxos floating across the strait – and at dusk it becomes the island's quietest grandstand: locals drive up, sit on the low wall, and watch the sun drop behind the valley. Come for the last hour of light, bring water and something warm for after sunset, and give the walk down your full attention – the marble cobbles get slippery once the light goes.
Charoula's Tavern
One of the oldest tavernas on the island, set in a small picturesque square in Marpissa village under two mulberry trees that throw a wide shade across the tables in summer. Traditional Parian home cooking – stuffed zucchini flowers, oven-baked revithia, garden vegetables and family-raised meat. Identifiable by a hand-painted mural on the square's wall. Easy walk from the schedule's other Marpissa stops; ideal evening ending after a beach + village day.
ParosDay 2
Antiparos
Antiparos Cliff Jumping
A shelf of smooth white rock on Antiparos's west coast where the sea floor drops straight into deep, glass-clear turquoise – the kind of place you jump into rather than wade. Ledges at a few different heights let you work your way up, the water below is deep enough to land safely, and between jumps you float over pale rock slabs that glow in the sun. There are no facilities and no shade, which is exactly the point: bring sea shoes, water and a dry bag, go with company, and check the swell before you leap. On a calm day it is the clearest water you will swim in all trip.
Soros Beach
Wide sandy shores and deep waters on Antiparos's west coast – a must-visit beach that delivers on every level.
Antiparos Town & Venetian Castle
A whitewashed village built within 15th-century fortress walls – where islanders still live in homes stacked upon each other.
ParosDay 3
Kolimbithres & Naoussa
Kolimbithres Beach
Paros's most renowned beach – surreal granite formations sculpted by wind and sea into a landscape from another planet.
Naoussa
If you want to be close to the center of the restaurant scene, this is it. Naoussa is the postcard fishing harbour where Paros comes out at night – come for golden hour on the old port, pick a table beside the moored caiques, and settle in. The lanes behind fill with cocktail bars and boutiques as the evening warms up.
Venetian Castle of Naoussa
A half-submerged medieval fortress at the harbour's edge – Naoussa's most iconic silhouette and sunset vantage point.
Mediterraneo
A family-run kitchen tucked into Naoussa's marina, just removed enough from the harbour bustle to feel calm. The menu builds modern twists on Greek-Mediterranean classics: black risotto with cuttlefish, grilled octopus, marinated anchovies. Boats bobbing twenty metres away, prices reasonable for Naoussa, service unhurried. Booking helps in high season, but the marina's distance from the main square means you're rarely in a queue.
Naxos
Days 8–10 of 10 · 3 nightsNaxos turned out to be a delightful surprise, offering so much to explore, from charming old villages perched on the mountains to calm, sandy beaches. It might be the most diverse island we've visited, so it definitely tops my list of Greek islands.
La Grande Vue Suites Naxos
Cave villas with private pools and a long view over the Naxian coast.
9.9 Alternative places to stay
NaxosDay 1
The Portara & Naxos Town
Naxos Town (Hora)
Arriving in Naxos felt like stepping into a postcard. The island's iconic whitewashed buildings are perched perfectly above the crystal-clear waters, creating a surreal welcome.
Portara (Temple of Apollo)
A marble gateway to myth stands alone against the Aegean sky – the last fragment of a temple never finished. The Portara is the monumental entrance to an unfinished Temple of Apollo, initiated between 530-524 BC by Lygdamis, the tyrant of Naxos. Standing six metres tall on the Palatia islet at the harbour entrance, this marble doorframe is the island's most iconic silhouette.
Agios Georgios Beach
Chora's own beach – a shallow sandy crescent curving south from the old town, water so calm it feels like a lagoon. You can walk to it from the port in ten minutes, drop your bag at a beach bar, and be swimming before lunch. Families love the gentle shelf; the south end is where the windsurfers go out. The rocky islet with the whitewashed church is the photo.
To Elliniko
Worth queuing for a table. A lively Greek taverna near St. George beach whose garden terrace fills up the moment dinner service opens – the grill runs non-stop and the portions are generous in that old-school Naxian way. Souvlaki, slow-cooked lamb, fresh salads, simple Naxos-produce plates done well and priced fairly. Come early or book ahead in July–August.
NaxosDay 2
Agios Prokopios & dinner on Plaka
Agios Prokopios Beach
Often voted Naxos's most beautiful beach – a long golden sweep sheltered from the north winds, six km from town.
Plaka Beach
A long run of soft sand on Naxos's southwest coast, where shallow turquoise water barely raises a ripple. Plaka is the Cyclades with the volume turned down: cedars and low dunes behind the sand, whole stretches left free for anyone with a towel, and where sunbeds and tavernas do appear, they charge a good deal less than Mykonos or Paros. There's room to spread out – the beach runs long enough that crowds never really form – and the water stays calm, clear and shallow far out, easy for small children and long, idle swims. It faces west, so stay for the end of the day: the sun goes down over open sea, and the whole beach slows to watch.
Tortuga
A barefoot beach restaurant at the top of Plaka, where dinner arrives with sand still between your toes. Tortuga keeps it simple and does it properly – wood-grilled fish, generous salads, cold rosé – under bamboo shades a few steps from the water, and times its evenings to the sunset, which drops straight into the sea in front of the tables. Stay on after dark, when the lanterns come on and the whole place slides into low-key beach-bar mode. Book a front-row table for the golden hour if you can; otherwise come with your towel and make an afternoon of it.
NaxosDay 3
The marble villages road trip
Apeiranthos
When you drive inland, it feels as if it could be mainland Greece – mountains, white cobblestone towns, and beautiful views of the ocean. Apeiranthos is the road trip's showpiece: a village built almost entirely of pale Naxian marble, its lanes polished smooth by centuries of footsteps.
Halki & Vallindra Distillery
An elegant village in the fertile Tragea plain, where neoclassical houses frame a legendary citron distillery.
Koronos
One of the oldest mountain villages on Naxos – stone-paved alleys, emerald mines, and views that stop you mid-step.
Rotonda
High in the hills just before Apeiranthos, Rotonda is a large restaurant and bar with sweeping views over the valley and out to sea – the kind of view that stops conversation when you walk in. Come for a long lunch after the mountain villages, or for a late dinner that turns slowly into drinks as the lights of the island come on below.