Sarakiniko, Milos

Name: Elysium Transfer Milos
Address: Pera Triovasalos, Milos, South Aegean, 848 00, GR
Telephone: +30 698 348 5847
Price range: €€

Sarakiniko is the reason a lot of people come to Milos in the first place. A stretch of pure white volcanic rock, worn smooth by wind and sea into something that genuinely does look lunar, dropping into water so clear it is hard to judge its depth. It is about fifteen minutes from Adamas on the north coast.

What to expect

There is no sand to speak of. Sarakiniko is rock: broad white shelves you walk across, a narrow inlet where most people swim, and small cliffs that draw a steady stream of jumpers. There are no sunbeds, no bar and very little shade. What there is instead is a landscape that looks like nowhere else in Greece.

When to go

Early morning or late afternoon, without hesitation. Between roughly eleven and four the white rock throws back the light and the heat with real force, there is nowhere to hide from it, and the car park fills completely. At either end of the day the rock turns warm and gold, the crowd thins, and the photographs are far better.

Getting there

Sarakiniko sits just off the main road between Adamas and Pollonia, so it is easy to reach but the parking is limited and informal. In August cars queue along the roadside and the walk in gets long. A transfer drops you at the entrance and collects you when you are ready, which removes the problem entirely.

From Adamas or the port: about 10 minutes, €30
From Milos Airport: about 15 minutes, €30
From Pollonia: about 15 minutes, €30
From Plaka: about 15 minutes, €25

Practical notes

Footwear matters. The rock is smooth and can be slippery near the water. Bare feet are fine on the dry shelves, less so on the way in.
Bring water and shade. There is no kiosk and almost no natural shade.
Watch the wind. A strong northerly pushes swell into the inlet and makes swimming unpleasant. On those days the south coast beaches are the better call.
Cliff jumping. People do it constantly, but depths vary and there are no lifeguards. Look before you leap.
Take your rubbish with you. There are no bins and it is a protected landscape.

What else is nearby

Mandrakia, a tiny fishing settlement with coloured boat houses at the water’s edge, is a few minutes further along. Papafragas, with its narrow sea channels cut into the rock, is close to Pollonia. All three combine easily into a half day, which is roughly what our Milos Highlights Tour does.