PRESET COLLECTION USED IN THIS BLOG POST: GREEK ISLANDS COLLECTION
These past few months of travel have been a blur. Since leaving Amsterdam in July, we haven’t been in one place for more than a week! Jacob and I were already planning to be in Greece in September and had a week in Paros already booked. So, we decided to add in Milos at the beginning of the month to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary.
Milos
Stay details: Asterias Boutique Hotel (where we stayed) & other properties on the north side (near most well-known beaches); Melian Boutique Hotel (recommended by a friend, fully booked during our visit); this Airbnb (on one of our favorite beaches). All hotels & homes in Milos.
I’d been wanting to go to Milos since seeing photos of the incredible ‘moonscape’ white beaches there. From the moment Jacob and I arrived we knew we were going to love it. We headed from the cute port town for our hotel, Asterias, and were greeted by a kitten and the sweetest mother and daughter duo. After ordering breakfast on our porch for the next morning, we headed into town to grab lunch on the water. We ended up going on a boat day to Kleftiko caves the next day, courtesy of Captain Jacob…
View Post: The Complete Milos Travel Guide
Kleftiko Caves
We had no agenda in Milos, but we knew we wanted to see as many beaches as possible. The thing that I loved most about this island is that it’s the perfect size, especially if you are traveling by ATV (which we were!). Most beaches were less than 15 minutes from us, but if we wanted to go on an outing, the farthest one away was 30 minutes. We spent 6 days here and saw a lot, but definitely could’ve stayed and stumbled upon more towns and coves. Our favorite beach was Sarakiniko, we went at least three times.
Sarakiniko Beach
Papagragas Beach
Paliochori Beach
Firiplaka Beach
Paros
Stay details: Villa Veni (the house we stayed at with our group of friends); Cleopatra Suites (our second spot, we felt like locals here and were a 2-minute walk to the beach & restaurants); Yria Hotel & Spa (a member of Small Luxury Hotels & near the main town). All hotels & homes in Paros.
Next, we made our way over to Paros. We were so excited for this leg of the trip, because it was planned months ago (which for us is rare these days!). Since we won a stay from being runners-up of a contest, we got to choose a week-long stay in any property around the world. We settled on this 8-bedroom house in Paros because it checked all the boxes for us: on a Greek Island, large enough to host a big group, pool, and easy beach access. We set the date months in advance, told our friends about it, and they all flew out to meet us for the week! It was so much fun.
Our house rental (left) & cliff jumping in Antiparos (location)
Our evenings in Paros were spent BBQ’ing, riding our ATV’s at sunset, and playing games like charades. I know it’s a trip we’ll remember forever. Having everyone in one place from all corners of the world was so special — our friends came in from Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle and Amsterdam. The hardest thing about traveling full time is not getting to see friends and family frequently, but the upside is getting to see them all around the world!
Kalogeros Beach
Dinner in Downtown Paros
Sunset from St. Antonios Monastery
After Paros, our plan was to head to Folegandros. I had heard this island was more remote than the others and had some amazing undiscovered beaches. Unfortunately, making it there was not easy! After finding out the ferries were only running there twice a week (we didn’t plan ahead, and the ferries run less frequently during off season…sense a trend in our planning?), we ended up extending our stay and renting a seaside apartment on the east side of Paros. It actually gave us more time to spend with friends who also stayed behind, plus we were a block from one of the most amazing beaches on the island!
When it finally came time for us to leave again, our ferry ended up being cancelled due to wind. So instead, we made a snap decision to hop over to Naxos, which is very close to Paros.
Naxos
Stay details: Naxian Collection (where we stayed); Naxian on the Beach (their beautiful sister hotel, fully booked during our stay); Medusa Beach Resort (family run with a private beach); Santana Beach Hotel (located on one of the most desirable beaches on the island). All hotels & homes in Naxos.
Pulling up to Naxos island is surreal. The whitewashed buildings of downtown are perched just over the water. We had started the day without a place to stay for the night, but thanks to the gracious team at the Naxian Collection, we ended up in the most beautiful room overlooking the bluffs of Naxos. The food at this hotel was unreal. We must’ve ordered room service every day because it was so good! Naxos ended up being a huge surprise, there was so much to see even though we didn’t have the best luck with weather.
Our hotel, Naxian Collection
Agios Prokopios Beach
On our favorite day in Naxos we took a road trip from our hotel to discover different parts of the island. When you drive inland, it feels as if it could be mainland Greece. There are mountains, white cobblestone towns, and beautiful views of the ocean. Naxos might be the most diverse island we’ve visited, so it definitely tops my list for a Greek Island to visit!
Apiranthos town (left) & Chalkio town (right)
Koronos town
Dinner at Tortuga
Protara Arch
Towards the end of our stay the weather took a turn for the worse so we decided to leave a day early. We took the late ferry back to Athens. It was a bittersweet ending to the trip. We missed being in a major city since we had been hopping around for almost a month, but we also didn’t want to leave the relaxed lifestyle of the Greek Islands.
It’s only a matter of time before we’re back…Folegandros, we’re coming for you. For more Greek Islands inspiration, have a look at our Santorini guide or photos from our favorite beach in Milos. You may also want to check out our guide to choosing the best Greek Island to visit!
Preset collection used in this blog post: Greek Islands Collection
mynordicroom Says
https://mynordicroom.com I’d like to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in writing this blog..
Melissa Says
Hey, loved the blog! My Fiancé and I are traveling to Milos for a week in September. We currently have a car rented for the duration of our stay but now I’m wondering if we should opt out for an atv or buggy! I was wondering what company you booked with? Did you rent an atv for your whole stay or certain days? We are flying in and staying in two different airbnbs so will have to move a couple small carryons. Not sure if you did the same.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Elizabeth Says
Hi Selena,
We are planning a trip next May to Greece, traveling with our family of young adult children. We plan to stay 3 nights in Santorini and 4 or 5 nights on another island. We are trying to decide between Milos, Naxos, Paros or Zakynthos. I am uncertain with the weather in May, if the beaches and water temperature will be too cool to enjoy. If the water is too cool we will want variety and not just beach days. What island do you recommend for this type of trip? I appreciate your suggestions! Thank you!
Selena Says
Post authorI’d suggest Naxos! There’s a lot to see around the island, which you can explore with a day trip drive, and the downtown is very charming. Milos and Zakythos are all about the beaches. Paros would also be a good option as it’s larger and there’s more to see.
Roxana Says
hi Selena,
I m looking to visiting Milos and maybe another island. How long did you stay in each of these islands?
Thank you!
Selena Says
Post authorWe did 6 days in Milos (which felt like the perfect amount for us), 10 days in Paros (though this part of the trip was meant to be shorter, we had 2 ferries get cancelled and it affected our time in Naxos as well), and 3 nights in Naxos. I think the sweet spot is 5-6 days to get a feel for the island, explore beaches/restaurants, and return to any spots you love.
Steph Says
Hello, my partner and I are looking at going to Milos, Naxod and Paros next year. I am struggling to find ferries running from Milos to either Naxos or Paros without huge stops somewhere else. Any suggestions? It does not appear there are any shorter routes. How did you get from Milos to Paros? Thanks
Selena Says
Post authorThere’s two ferry companies that operate, and the route is about 1 hr 35 min or 1 hr 45 min from Milos to Paros! Check Ferry Hopper (make sure you plug in the right dates, ferries are less frequent if you aren’t going in summer): https://www.ferryhopper.com/en/?aff_uid=fndlst
Naveen Says
Hi Serena,
Thanks for the amazing blog. We are. a group of 11 traveling to Greece in the first week of October. We will be visiting Athens, Santorini, and looking to visit one more island with beautiful turqoise water beaches for 2 nights.
Do you recommend Milos or Paros? If Milos, do you recommend a boat tour to the caves and multiple beaches, and if so do you recommend any specific operator?
Thanks for your help.
Selena Says
Post authorIf you are looking for beaches, I’d definitely recommend Milos as it has some of the most unique beaches anywhere! We rented a boat ourselves from a local on the island to explore Kleftiko caves and nearby beaches, but booking in advance might be preferred since you are visiting for only a couple nights.
I haven’t personally taken this boat tour in Milos, but I have been very happy with Get Your Guide tours in general during travel, and this first one includes the best stops & lunch: https://bit.ly/3yyYICt
Enjoy!
Vanessa Says
Hi,
We are booking Island hopping in Greece and cannot choose between Naxos, Paros and Milos.
If you have to pick 2 out of the three islands which would you recommend please?
We are going to santorini, Mykonos and then need to pick 2 of of these 3 islands and cannot decide? X
Selena Says
Post authorIt’s so tough! Milos is my favorite. If I was choosing between Paros and Naxos… I’d say Paros because it has a bit more for everyone (great towns, food, and beaches, plus the option to day trip to Antiparos). However, I loved Naxos as well. The mountain towns are unique and I loved the beaches I visited. You can’t go wrong.
Nadine Says
Hi Selena
Oh my, I love your blog!! My husband and I will be visiting Greece in September. We will be spending 2x nights in Santorini and 2x nights in Hydra. We have another 2x nights available and we can’t decide between Milos or Paros?? Please help!?
Also, when renting a scooter of boat for the day ons Milos/Paros do we need any specific license/paperwork?
Selena Says
Post authorParos is a lot larger so you may find Milos is more manageable for 2 nights! You can’t go wrong though – both are favorites in my book.
We’ve never rented a scooter (only ATV) so unfortunately I’m not sure. We’ve never needed extra paperwork for an ATV or boat, that said, it’s been a few years since we’ve rented a boat on Milos so that could’ve changed. I’ve never rented in Santorini and islands can vary based on what rentals exist and how the companies handle their rentals. You could try reaching out to wherever you are staying to see if they can give you a recommendation here?
Ben Says
Any guidance when it comes to deciding between Paros and Milos? I’ve read your posts and both sound incredible. Is it worth splitting and doing 2 days on each or dedicating 3 or 4 days to one of them. Which one would you pair with Santorini?
Selena Says
Post authorMilos is my favorite, I’d say if you have 6 days or less it’s perfect. If you are doing a week or more, Paros is larger and offers more to see. Both are accessible from Santorini via ferry!
Bex Says
Hi just wondering what camera and lens you used for these shots? They are incredible! Planning our trip to Greece for next year and this post has been so helpful. Thank you!!!!
Selena Says
Post authorThese were shot with the Sony A7RIII and a 16-35mm lens with the exception of the underwater photos, which were taken with a GoPro and dome. Hope that helps! Thank you so much x
Amy Says
Love your blog! Such stunning photos and great information. Really appreciate you sharing so freely including locations and names. Makes planning our trip so much easier. Would you be willing to share what kind of camera and lens you used on your partial water/above water shots? I’m trying to limit my cameras to my mini drone and GoPro (and of course phone), but I love those types of shots when there is something interesting underwater. Thanks again!
Selena Says
Post authorThey were taken with a GoPro and a dome housing! More info on the gear used here (and I link to the items): https://finduslost.com/our-travel-photography-gear/
Michelle Says
Hi! I love your blog and these pictures are stunning. My husband and I are planning a trip to Greece this August for a friend’s wedding.
We’re torn between Naxos and Paros. If you had to recommend one over the over, which one would you choose?
We’re planning on doing Milos, Mykonos and either Paros or Naxos.
Thanks so much! Xx
Selena Says
Post authorSo hard to choose! I really loved both. Naxos has more mountainous regions than the other Greek Islands I’ve been to – great for road tripping and visiting little towns tucked away inland. I also loved the downtown area of Naxos. Paros definitely has more options for beaches though, and it’s great for trying loads of restaurants. We went with a group and it was perfect because we never ran out of new beaches to visit!
If I HAD to pick one I’d return to Paros because there’s more to explore there (and Antiparos, the sister island, is also a short 15 minute ferry away). That said, you really can’t go wrong with either. Enjoy the trip!
Meredith Says
What a fantastic blog! Thank you for all the insight and beautiful photos! My husband and I are planning a 2 week trip in June. We are set on 1 week in Crete, but struggling with selecting another island. My husband has been to some of the Greek islands before so trying to select a place new for him too. I’m stuck between Naxos, Paros and Milos. From your blog I really feel in love with Milos so I’m heavily swayed that way. I’m not sure if you’ve been to Crete or not, but curious which island might compliment Crete better? In Crete we’re planning on a variety of activities- hiking, old town/historical sites, several beaches…. thanks for your input!
Selena Says
Post authorI haven’t been to Crete, but hope to go soon! Honestly, my default is always Milos when recommending to friends and family… but you really can’t go wrong with any of the three you mentioned. Each one is individually beautiful. I personally loved Milos the most because the beaches were the most diverse and unique.
Jane Says
Your blog is beautiful. I am also torn between Naxo and Pros. We are definitely doing Santorini and Milos! Safe travels.
Renee Craig Says
Hey! Love your blog!! My husband and I are going island hopping in Greece in June. We are going to Milos and wanted to do a boat day…maybe just a half day. Is it easy to drive your own boat and find your way around the island? Is it easy to find Kleftiko Caves on your own and get back to where you started? Thanks!
Selena Says
Post authorHey Renee! I asked Jacob (he’s the one that did all the driving) and his thought is you should feel comfortable piloting a boat. You don’t need to be an expert by any means, but you should have some prior experience. Otherwise it might be a bit intimidating.
If in doubt, there are a number of boat tours that go to Kleftiko. I’d suggest choosing a smaller one for the most flexibility!
Courtney Says
Hi Selena,
Thank you for your write up on Greece (Paros, Milos & Naxos) it was truly helpful 🙂 I have slightly adjusted out itinerary as I hadn’t incorporated Milos or Naxos and after seeing how beautiful they seem I have snuck them in.
We are dedicating 14 nights to Greece (were hoping to see Skopelos and a road trip from Kalamta airport through Nafpilo, Ancient Theatre than to Athens and than fly to Paros and begin that leg. We have never been to Europe, let alone Greece so in your opinion is that squeezing too much in? We are a couple that really like to explore one place, but there is just so much to see here and I am having a hard time narrowing it down 🙁 We are not party people, we love the land, the water and finding off the beaten track gems.
Any advice and your time is greatly appreciated.
Courtney AUS
Selena Says
Post authorHi Courtney! I haven’t personally been to Skopelos or Nafplion but I’ll do my best to help! You could definitely fit 2 Greek islands in 1 week (3 if you want to jump around more, but I’d personally stick to 2 so you can truly enjoy each one). For the mainland, 3 destinations is definitely doable, 4 will be more crammed. If I were you I’d dedicate at least 3 days in Athens, then 2 other locations on mainland Greece for week one. The second week could be 3 days in Milos and 3 days in Naxos. That means you’ll explore quite a bit on week one, and have time to relax and enjoy two beautiful islands on week two. You could also hop over to Paros island from Naxos for a day if you wanted!
I hope that helps! Enjoy the trip, you can’t go wrong with Greece. 🙂
naomi Says
Hi, Do you have any more information for a 5 day stay on Paros/antiparos? what area to stay, things to do, places to eat?
Selena Says
Post authorHi Naomi! The place we stayed in Paros is linked above, this portion of the trip for us was more laid back so we spent time near our property exploring beaches and the downtown. It’s hard to go wrong in Paros… I recommend visiting the downtown, renting a boat, and hopping over to Antiparos for a day trip. Enjoy!
Matthew Says
Hey, was the cliff jumping location in antiparos hard to get to? We are riding a moped there
Selena Says
Post authorIt’s a bit tricky, yes! I recommend marking the spot on your map (I use google maps and download an offline version for an area when we travel). Good luck.
Richard Salmony Says
Hi – great blog! Thank you for sharing. I’m heading to Paros & Naxos with 4 adults and 2 kids in just 4 weeks for my 40th! The Antiparos cliff jumping photos look like a great day trip. How long did it take to get there? Any issues navigating the waters along your way? We have reserved a boat for 2 days during our stay. Any tips? Thanks in advance – Rich
Selena Says
Post authorThanks Rich! You can take a ferry from Paros and it is very quick (15 minutes) to get to Antiparos. We actually rode our ATV’s and scooters onto it as well, so we could take them over and explore the island. Highly recommend. 🙂
Enjoy!
Rob Says
Hi, really enjoyed your blog. We’re visiting these 3 islands. Would you say renting an ATV is the easiest and best way to get around these islands? Thanks.
Selena Says
Post authorYes, definitely! It’s also more affordable than a car and allows you to get to beaches you otherwise might miss if you had a car. Enjoy!
Anna Says
If you had to choose between Paros and Naxos….
Selena Says
Post authorHey Anna – I think you’ll find this post useful for that question!: https://finduslost.com/greek-islands-how-to-choose-which-to-visit/
Emily Says
Hi Selena!
A few of my friends and I are planning to go to Greece but can’t quite choose the destinations of (2-3 places). We definitely want to visit Santorini but also are interested in more beachy places and Greek towns. If you had to choose 2 places between Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros and Ios and how many days for 2 locations?
Thank you so much and I really love your photos!!!
xx
Selena Says
Post authorSantorini and Paros would be my picks for you! Paros has tons of beaches, and you can even take a day trip to Antiparos (the neighboring island) for even more. It will also have way less crowds than Santorini, and more local food. There are cute towns as well – it’s my top pick for a group trip!
Santorini is breathtaking, and will be perfect for sightseeing, towns, shopping, and sunsets.
I’d shoot for 8 days, so 4 days on each island. 🙂
Have the best time!
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Edy Says
We are going to be in Greece in May and are looking at Naxos, Pros, or Milos for ma14-17th. Unfortunately, it may not be warm enough to bask in the sun and water all day. Any recos on the best one island to choose based on the time of year we are going? We are going to Santorini and Crete after if that helps 🙂 . THANK YOU!!
Selena Says
Post authorOops sorry I missed this earlier! Honestly you’ll find great beaches at all 3, no shortage of sand and beautiful water. They’re all very close to each other too. If beaches is what you’re after, Milos is always my top pick (and has a lot more beaches with coves, which is great if you’re getting a lot of wind that time of year).
Hope that helps!
Claudia Barresi Says
Hi! Is there a direct ferry between Santorini and Milos? Or Milos and Athens? 🙂
Selena Says
Post authorThere are ferries from both, but usually they stop at other islands on the way to drop off/pick up. Check all options here!: http://www.greekferries.gr/
Tara Says
Taking a trip to the islands soon and would love to see your full travel guides for Naxos and Paros!
Selena Says
Post authorIn the works 🙂
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Ally Says
Hello! Did you prefer Naxos or Paros?
Selena Says
Post authorWe loved Paros for all the beach options, and Naxos for all the food and town options. 😉 Hard to choose, but I’d say Paros has a bit more to explore in terms of coastline (and you can easily take a day trip to Antiparos too).
Javier Says
Excellent blog, guide and photos. Just booked my trip to Greece and have been looking for that cliff jumping spot for the past two days. Thanks for the coordinates!
Kyra Jacob Says
Javier – Can you share the coordinates with me?
Selena Says
Post authorHi Kyra- they’re here 🙂 https://www.google.com/maps/place/36%C2%B057'26.5%22N+25%C2%B003'08.7%22E/@36.957367,25.050234,799m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d36.957367!4d25.052428?hl=en-US
Selena Says
Post authorYou’re so welcome! Enjoy 🙂
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lazuli Says
we are going to Greece in late June next year. for week one we plan for a few days in Santorini and rather than rush between 2 other islands, I’d like to pick one and soak it up. Milos or Naxos?
Selena Says
Post authorDepends on your preference – Milos has amazing beaches + lots of great food options. Naxos has quaint towns + mountains. Naxos also has nice beaches (not as much of a variety as Milos though). Since Santorini doesn’t have very sandy beaches, maybe go for Milos so you get the best of both!
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