Mandrakia Milos – A Delightful Fishing Village in the Cyclades
Thinking of visiting Mandrakia Milos?
Quaint harbour with traditional whitewashed boathouses and colourful small boats moored in the crystal clear azure waters – this is Mandrakia Milos, one of the most picturesque small fishing villages on the island.
This post is a complete guide to visiting Milos Mandrakia – from booking Milos accommodation eating in the best Milos restaurants to epic places you must see. Happy exploring!
Where is Mandrakia Greece? – Milos Map
Mandrakia village Milos is situated on the northern coast of the Greek island Milos, just over 5 km away from Adamas.
Mandrakia Milos Introduction
Mandrakia Greece is one of the most picturesque traditional fishing villages in Greece Milos island. It’s an epic place to explore and a superb location for some beautiful travel photos. Mandrakia is super small, and you can easily combine it with other places nearby, such as Searkiniko Beach, Klima, Plaka and Adamas. You can also stay in Mandrakia for an ultimate relaxing experience.
You may also like: Where to stay in Milos – Ultimate Guide
Milos Island Quick Guide
✈️ Check the best Milos Greece flights via Expedia
🚢 Book your ferry to Milos from Athens or another Greek island through Ferry Scanner
🚗 For the best Milos Car Rental deals, check Discover Cars
🏨 Still looking for a hotel in Milos? Here are the best Milos Accommodation Deals:
Adamas: Konstantinos Milos Hotel
Pollonia: Pollonia Studios Milos
Mandrakia: Traditional House by the Sea
⛵Best Milos Boat Tour: All Day Kleftiko Sailing with Snorkelling + Lunch
Things to do in Milos Mandrakia
#1 Explore Mandrakia’s traditional boathouses
The picturesque fishing village of Mandrakia Greece is so famous thanks to its colourful boathouses, so start exploring Mandrakia at its harbour! The boathouses or in Greek ‘sirmas’ are still being used, and you can see a lot of small boats moored on the water. The houses for the boats were curved in rocks! Make sure you charge up your camera, as this place is super beautiful!
#2 Take a picture at Milos Mandrakia Viewpoint
For the best picture of Mandrakia Milos, head back to the car park, where you came from. By the shore, there is a wall where you can sit and take an epic shot of the whole Mandrakia bay and its colourful sirmas!
#3 Visit the Temple of Zoodochos Pigi
Situated right in the heart of Mandrakia village is its picturesque church with whitewashed walls, blue-painted frames and a bell tower – typical to Cycladic architecture. Explore around the church to find some cool details and, of course, the stunning panoramic sea views. Also, don’t forget to pop inside to see the church’s altar with golden icons of saints.
Location | Temple of Zoodochos Pigi (Ναός Ζωοδόχου Πηγής)
#4 Spend a day at Mandrakia Beach Milos
The beach is actually called Tourkothalassa Beach, and it is situated directly opposite the colourful Mandrakia harbour. It is a small beach covered with small pebbles and rocks. If you like quiet beaches, you’ll like it here. There is a steep path that leads to it and you can follow Google Maps direction to find it. This Milos beach is not the most glamorous beach on the island, but it is a good option for those that decide to stay in Mandrakia and can walk to the beach from their apartment.
Location | Mandrakia beach
#5 Dine at Medusa Mandrakia Milos
One of the best things to do in Mandrakia is to dine at the fantastic Medusa Milos Greece restaurant. You can find it to the right of the Orthodox church in Mandrakia. Medusa Cafe is a super cute place with gorgeous sea views. They use locally sourced products to prepare their Greek and seafood dishes and have superb reviews, so if you’re looking for an excellent Milos restaurant, consider stopping by Medusa restaurant!
TIP | Medusa is one of the best restaurants in Milos, so you may have to wait for a little for the table. If you want to celebrate a special occasion, consider booking in advance.
Location | Medousa Mandrakia Milos
Website | Medusa Milos
#6 Sea Kayaking Milos
If you’re looking for some cool activities to do on the island, book a Kayak Milos Tour! On tour, you’ll explore the stunning shore of Milos and get some blood pumping too! Here are the best kayaking tours in Milos, both within a 20-minute drive from Adamas:
From Fyriplaka
From Tsigrado
#7 Rent a boat Milos
If you’re looking for a unique activity away from the mass crowds, why not consider a boat hire Milos? This is an excellent option for a group of friends or a couple to spend a day sailing around Milos. The most popular destination is the lesser-explored part of Milos and the spectacular Kleftiko, but you can go wherever you want! The boat is suitable for up to 4 people, and the rental cost price starts at €150 for 8 hours. The owner will explain everything to do with the boat and give you all the tips, including where to go and places to avoid. This could be your best day on Milos!
Milos Rent a Boat
#8 Kleftiko Boat Tour
If you love boat trips, sun and sea, a visit to Kleftiko Milos Bay is hands down the best Milos boat tour you can take! The trip involves swimming and snorkelling in the unbelievably turquoise sea waters, cliff jumping, cave exploring and a lot of fun! Kleftiko is one o the most spectacular beaches in Milos.
Kleftiko Day Tour with Snorkeling + Lunch
Mandrakia Milos – Nearby Things to do in Milos
If you’re looking for what to do in Milos near Mandrakia village Milos, here are some destinations that you can combine with visiting Mandrakia.
Plaka Milos | Plaka is the oldest town on Milos which was its capital city. The town is perched on a hill with some epic panoramic views of the entire island. Plaka has many charming cafes and boutique shops selling quality handmade souvenirs and home decor. The best thing to do in town is to climb Plaka Castle! You can get to Plaka in 10 minutes from Mandrakia.
Sarakiniko Beach Milos | Sarakiniko Milos is an absolute must-see when visiting the island of Milos! Sarakiniko has become famous on Instagram for its peculiar moon-like landscape of white rock formations shaped by the erosive powers of wind and sea. Sarakiniko Beach is located just over 9 km from Mandrakia Milos.
Firopotamos Milos | | If you want to see more colourful fishing villages, also check out Firopotamos, which is located an 8-minute drive from Mandrakia. There is also a gorgeous Firopotamos Beach nearby!
Klima Milos | Klima village is another super charming, traditional fishing millage on Milos famous for its colourful boathouses that are lining a picturesque shore surrounded by golden hills. You can get to Klima in 10 minutes by car or ATV.
Adamas Milos | Milos port Adamas is situated under 5 km from Mandrakia. Adamantas Milos is an excellent place to stay or visit for some excellent museums and great places to eat.
Apollonia Milos | Pollonia village is situated an 18-minute drive east, and it is also a fantastic place to stay or visit for a day!
Where to stay in Milos, Mandrakia
Luxury Accommodation Milos Mandrakia
Milo Milo Suites – Hotel with a pool
Location | Milo Milo Suites are located a short walk from Mandrakia village and a short walk from Tourkothalassa beach.
Facilities | The property boasts a pool overlooking the sea and the village of Mandrakia. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast served in the privacy of their own apartment. All rooms have stone walls and Cycladic design. Each apartment sleeps up to 4 adults and includes a bedroom, lounge with a sofa bed, a fully equipped kitchenette, a bathroom and a private terrace with comfy furniture.
Best for | Friends, couples, pool-goers, beach explorers.
Mandrakia Totally Sea View House – House with private pool
Location | Mandrakia Totally Sea View House is located right in the village of Madrakia.
Facilities | The property features a tastefully furnished two-bedroom house with a private pool with sun loungers, stunning sea views, and private parking. The house can sleep up to 5 adults and is perfect for a group of friends travelling together. It features two bedrooms, a lounge, bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen, including breakfast items in the fridge and a quality coffee machine. Guests can also enjoy an outdoor dining area on a terrace.
Best for | Friends, pool & boutique accommodation lovers, families.
Aerides Mandrakia Milos – A house by the sea with a gorgeous terrace
Location | Aerides Mandrakia is situated right in the heart of Mandrakia Milos, a 3-minute walk to the beach.
Facilities | The house has a beautiful minimalist Cycladic design and comes with a double bed and a sofa bed in the lounge. There is also a fully equipped kitchen including breakfast items, a bathroom featuring a shower and a large seating area in front of the house overlooking the sea.
Best for | A romantic couple stay.
Midrange Accommodation in Milos Mandrakia
Seascape Mandrakia Milos – Apartment in the heart of Mandrakia
Location | Seascape apartments are located in the heart of Milos Mandrakia, 150 meters from Gerania Beach.
Facilities | The apartment features a double bed, a fully equipped kitchen and a private bathroom. Outside of the house, there is a cute terrace with a table and chairs, perfect for enjoying meals. The hotel offers a car rental service and a tour desk.
Best for | Couples on a peaceful holiday.
Traditional House by the Sea – A house by the sea
Location | Traditional House by the Sea is located right in the heart of Madrakia, just above the boathouses lining up the shore.
Facilities | The house can sleep up to 3 adults. It features an open living concept with a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and a patio with sun loungers overlooking the sea. There is free parking for guests.
Best for | Friends, couples, local vibes, sea view.
Tsakonas Mandrakia Home – House with a view
Location | Tsakonas Mandrakia House Milos is located right in Madrakia village within walking distance to the famous Medusa restaurant and Gerania beach.
Facilities | The house features one bedroom and a lounge with a sofa bed and can sleep up to 4 adults. There is a fully equipped kitchenette, including a coffee machine and a bathroom. Guest can also enjoy a private furnished patio with BBQ facilitates, perfect for some downtime. Free parking is available at the property, and hosts can arrange car hire.
Best for | Friends and families.
What’s the best time to visit Mandrakia Milos?
The best time to visit Mandrakia is early afternoon when the sun shines on Mandrakia harbour bringing up all its colours. Mandrakia colourful bay is facing west, which means that Mandrakia is in the shade until midday. If you’re a photographer, that is definitely an important factor for taking good quality photos.
TIP | Make sure you apply plenty of sun cream and bring water with you as Mandrakia can be very hot.
How to get to Mandrakia Milos?
Getting around Milos is extremely easy. Most of Milos points of interest are well connected by public transport. However, to get to Mandrakia village, you will need to rent a vehicle – either a car, a scooter or an ATV. Use Google maps for directions and park in Mandrakia Milos public parking, which is free of charge.
Renting a Car in Milos Greece
If you rather explore the island at your own pace, you can easily rent a car and drive to the best Milos island attractions yourself. I found that online car rental costs the same as doing it in person on arrival, and it saves you the hassle of shopping around and finding a decent car hire Milos on the island. It also makes sense to prebook the car online if you’re travelling during the peak season.
I usually use DiscoverCars to search for the best car rental option and always opt-in for the full insurance cover to save myself unpleasantries such as paying an excess fee for damages.
Deals for Car Rental Milos
READ ALSO: Renting A Car In Milos: All You Need To Know & Tips
ATV Rentals Milos Greece
Riding an ATV vehicle is also a popular form of exploring the island. ATVs are easy and are super fun to drive and they are particularly useful for off-road adventures. The downside of renting an ATV is they are almost as expensive as car rental and may be unpleasant to drive in windy conditions.
Scooter Milos
Another cheaper way of exploring the island is renting a scooter. Since I lived in Bali for a long time, this was my preferred way! I rented a scooter at Scooter & ATV Rental Milos Shop – Apollonos Sunshine for €20 a day. You will probably need to negotiate a little and pay in cash to get a similar rate, but it’s entirely possible! Before you decide on renting a scooter, make sure you have the appropriate driving licence suitable for scooters. They actually check it in every rental shop! If you’re from the UK, a full driving licence is sufficient.
Milos Buses
If you don’t want to drive, that’s not a problem at all because Milos has an excellent network of buses that connects all the best places on the island. The only thing to have in mind is that the buses in Milos are way less frequent off-season. For the details, check the Milos Bus Website below.
Unfortunately, buses don’t go to Mandrakia due to the poor road condition.
Check Bus Milos Timetable Here
Taxi Milos
Taxis are also widely available on Milos; however, they are the most expensive way of going around Milos, and I would only use them in the last resort. As it seems to be the case in most tourist places in the world, taxi drivers take advantage of the visitors not familiar with the local rates. Below I’m leaving the link to one of the more reputable taxi companies on Milos in case you need it.
How to get to Milos Greece
By Ferry
The most common way of getting to Milos is taking a ferry either from Athens or, if you’re island hopping in the Cyclades, from another island. Several companies service the route between the Cycladic islands in Greece, and these are Seajets, Blue Star and Aegean Speed Lines.
If you want to save some money on the ferries that can be costly, especially if you’re island hopping, I recommend booking your fares way in advance. I always use Ferry Scanner to look for the best tickets. If you’re planning your trip to Milos at peak season, booking your ferry in advance makes even more sense, especially if you’re not very flexible on dates. If you book online, Ferry Scanner offers an extended free cancellation period in case your plans change.
When searching for tickets, you will also notice that slower ferries can be a lot cheaper, so if you don’t mind a 2-3 hours longer trip, booking a slower ferry can be a good way of saving some money.
Travelling on ferries is an experience in its own right! Remember to arrive early as the boarding process and loading the vehicles is swift, and boats don’t wait around and usually leave on time. Also, always check ahead of time if your ferry is scheduled to go on time. Ferry services rely on good sea conditions, and cancellations are common, especially in September and October when there are more chances of strong winds.
Ferry Athens Milos
A very common route of getting to Milos is taking an international flight to Athens and getting from Athens to Milos on a ferry. The airport in Athens is well connected with the city, and it is possible to take a metro from the airport to the ferry port of Piraeus. Take Line 3 from the airport to the city centre – Monastiraki – and then Green Line 1 to the port.
The Athens Milos ferry takes anything from 2.5 to 4 hours and arrives in Adaman Port, which is Milos main port.
Ferry from Santorini to Milos
Another popular route is Santorini to Milos. The journey time is 2 hours on a fast Seajets ferry and up to 7 hours if you’re travelling indirectly. Santorini is one of the most spectacular and super famous Greek islands. Even though it is super crowded and largely overpriced, I would recommend going for at least one day to see for yourself what’s all the fuss is about.
Ferry Paros Milos
If you’re travelling from Paros, expect 1.5 hours on a fast ferry and up to 6 hours on a slow ferry. Paros is also a great island to explore, with many quaint and historic towns and stunning Cycladic architecture.
Ferry Sifnos to Milos
Sifnos is the closest island to Milos, and a ferry ride takes as short as 30 min. Sifnos is a great island to visit on a day trip from Milos if you’re short on time.
Ferry Naxos Milos
Naxos to Milos takes just over 2 hours with Seajets. If you’re a beach lover, you’d like to know that Naxos has some of the best beaches in the Cyclades.
By Plane – Milos Greece Airport
If you rather avoid the Athens Milos boat journey, you’ll be pleased to know that you can also catch a flight. Milos airport is very small and only operates a few flights between Athens and Milos by Olympic Airlines/Aegean and Sky Express.
There is a regular bus service between the airport in Milos and Adamas Port, while you will need a car or a taxi to get to other parts of the island. I’m leaving the link to Milos bus schedule, which varies slightly depending on the season, below.
Check Bus Milos Timetable Here
Weather in Milos Greece
Milos Greece weather is characterised by hot and dry summer and mild winter typical for the Mediterranean climate. The hottest months are July and August, with high daily averages reaching 30 degrees Celcius and blue skies almost every day. This is also the island’s peak season and when it receives the highest number of visitors.
The best time to visit Milos Greece are the months of June and September when crowds ease off, accommodation rates are lower, and the weather is at its best – hot and sunny enough for enjoying the beach but not too hot for exploring the island.
May and October are still very nice, with daily temperatures in the mid-20s and plenty of sunshine. If you are not fussed with swimming in the sea, May and October are perfect for exploring the island and enjoying the low prices.
Many places shut down between November and April, and the island goes into hibernation. If you decide to visit Milos during this time, I recommend staying in Adamas, which is the biggest town on Milos.
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