Milos and Paros make an easy pairing, but we wouldn’t plan the two islands in quite the same way.
In Milos, much of the appeal is in moving around. The landscape changes quickly from the white volcanic formations of Sarakiniko to tiny fishing villages, narrow coves and the colorful cliffs of the south coast. With only a few days, we’d divide the island geographically and let the weather decide which coast to explore when.
Paros can take a slower pace. We’d still set aside days for the beaches, villages and a boat around Antiparos, but leave more room for long lunches, an afternoon shopping in Naoussa and at least one day without much of an agenda.
We recently planned this route as part of a longer Greece itinerary for an Apolide client. Below is the edited version: three days in Milos, five in Paros, and how we’d put them together.
Milos – 3 Days
We’d use three days to cover three distinct parts of Milos: the villages around Plaka, the volcanic north coast and the beaches of the south. A rental car is useful, but the important thing is not to lock the north and south coast days into a particular order — wind conditions can completely change which side of the island you want to be on.
Day One – Plaka → Klima
Start in Plaka, the hilltop capital of Milos. Give yourself a few hours for the pedestrian lanes, churches and small shops before heading down toward the water.
In the late afternoon, continue to Klima, where the old fishermen’s houses known as syrmata sit directly along the water. This is one of the places we particularly like toward the end of the day, when the light hits the bay and most people begin arriving for sunset.
Stay in Klima for dinner at Astakas, with tables directly along the waterfront.
We’d Stop At:
Aelia Boutique · Kalliopi Natural · Margarita Creations
Day Two – Sarakiniko → Papafragas → Pollonia
Give the north coast its own day, beginning early at Sarakiniko. The brilliant white volcanic rock is Milos at its most recognizable, but it’s also considerably nicer before the middle of the day.
From there, continue east to Papafragas, a narrow volcanic inlet cut between tall cliffs. We’d treat it as a shorter stop rather than trying to turn every beach into a half-day.
Continue to Pollonia for lunch at Yialos, then leave the afternoon fairly open for swimming or wandering around the village.
Apolide Note:
This is the day we’d move around according to the forecast. Sarakiniko is exposed to northerly winds; if the north coast looks particularly windy, do the south-coast itinerary first and come back to this one on the calmer day.
Day Three – Tsigrado/Firiplaka → Palaiochori → Trypiti
Head south for a completely different coastline. We’d choose between Tsigrado and Firiplaka, rather than rushing through both.
Tsigrado is the more adventurous option: a tiny cove reached through the cliffs using ladders and ropes. Firiplaka is much easier to access, with a longer beach beneath multicolored volcanic cliffs.
From either, continue east to Palaiochori for a late lunch at Sirocco, where some dishes are cooked using the naturally heated volcanic sand beneath the beach. Stay at Palaiochori afterward rather than getting straight back into the car.
For the final night, head to Trypiti for dinner at Barriello.
Our Pick:
Tsigrado if getting there is part of the fun; Firiplaka if you actually want to spend several hours at the beach.
Paros – 5 Days
Paros deserves a little more time. Rather than dividing it strictly by geography, we’d build the days around different ways of spending time on the island: one on the water, one around Naoussa, one exploring inland, one around Parikia and the final day intentionally left slower.
Day Four – Parikia
If you arrive by ferry, don’t immediately treat Parikia as somewhere to collect a car and leave.
Come back later in the day for the old town, its shops and a walk toward the waterfront. We’d finish with dinner at Mario, ideally around sunset.
We’d Stop At:
Aromatopoleion Perfumery · Memories Jewellery · Casa Alma
Day Five – Antiparos by Sea
One of the days we’d actually plan in advance.
Charter a boat for the day and head toward Antiparos, with swims around the Blue Lagoon, the south of the island, Faneromeni Bay and its sea caves, and Despotiko. The exact route should stay in the captain’s hands depending on conditions.
Back on Paros, keep the evening simple with dinner at Siparos, directly on the water at Xifara.
Day Six – Kolymbithres → Naoussa
Start at Kolymbithres, where smooth granite formations break the coastline into a series of small coves. Spend the morning swimming, then move next door for a late lunch at Maremma overlooking the bay.
From there, continue into Naoussa. This is when we’d give the town proper time: wander the old harbor, shop through the lanes, stop somewhere for a drink and stay through dinner.
For something traditional and unfussy, try Kafeneion i Palia Agora, a tiny kafeneio tucked into the pedestrian streets.
Shop:
Saline · Alenia · KORI
Apolide Note:
We like Naoussa much more as the second half of a day than as a sightseeing stop to tick off in an hour before the beach.
Day Seven – Marpissa → Prodromos → Faragas → Drios
Leave the coast for the morning and head inland to Marpissa and Prodromos. The villages are only a few minutes apart, so they make sense together and show a quieter side of Paros beyond the waterfront towns.
Have lunch at Anna & Giorgos in Marpissa, a family-run taverna centered on traditional Greek cooking and charcoal-grilled meats, then drive south to Faragas for the afternoon.
Stay until late, then continue east along the coast to Drios for dinner at Kima.
How We’d Plan It:
Don’t over-plan the villages. Wander for an hour or two, have lunch and then go back to the sea.
Day Eight – Ampelas & a Slow Last Day
By this point, we wouldn’t add another full circuit of the island.
Spend the morning wherever you’re staying — sleep late, swim, or book a treatment. Then head toward Ampelas for a long lunch at Kedros, set beneath the cedar trees by the water.
Leave the afternoon empty to decide on the spot what you’re in the mood for, whether it’s going back to a beach you particularly liked or spending time at your hotel. For the final evening, choose somewhere with a view and make dinner the only real plan.
Build Your Own Version
There are a hundred ways to divide eight days between Paros & Milos. This is how we’d do it — but it’s only one route through the much larger collection of places we’ve researched for both islands.
Our upcoming Paros & Milos Guides go much further, with the hotels we’d stay in, beaches we’d plan a day around, restaurants and bars we’d book, shops we’d seek out and the practical details we’d want before arriving.
