Planning a trip to Milos in 2025? Discover the island’s most exciting and lesser-known experiences, from geothermal beach baths and ancient trails to local food tours and sailing festivals. This guide goes beyond the usual beaches to show you a side of Milos you’ve never seen.
Milos may be famous for its moon-like beaches and charming fishing villages, but there’s far more to this volcanic Cycladic island than meets the eye. If you're heading to Milos in 2025, get ready to explore a deeper, more authentic side, where tradition, nature, and modern island life blend into unforgettable experiences.
Here are 6 unique things to do in Milos in 2025, perfect for curious travelers, culture lovers, and anyone who wants more than just a beach day.
Milos’ volcanic nature means you can find hidden thermal spots perfect for a natural spa experience. At Alikes Beach, warm waters seep from beneath the sand and mix with the Aegean, creating a surreal geothermal bath, no spa ticket required.
Why go:
Relax in natural thermal waters
Experience the healing power of the island’s volcanic core
A calm, undeveloped beach with zero crowds
Before roads, the locals used centuries-old stone trails (kalderimia) that still connect villages and remote landmarks. In 2025, several of these trails have been restored and marked, giving hikers a chance to follow ancient footsteps.
Best routes:
Plaka to Tripiti (past windmills and Roman ruins)
Zefyria to Agia Kyriaki (volcanic fields and coastline)
Provatas to Papafragas, A longer inland-to-north hike that ends near the dramatic sea caves just a few minutes’ drive from Pollonia
If you want a place to stay near Pollonia and Milos, consider taking a look at these seaside apartments!
Empourios to Cape Vani (ending at abandoned mines)
Bring good shoes and a camera! The views are wild.
One of the most significant religious and cultural events in Milos takes place every August in the old village of Zefyria. From the evening of August 14th, locals and visitors gather at the 17th-century Church of Panagia Portiani to honor the Feast of the Assumption. The celebration continues into the early hours of the 15th, blending deep spiritual devotion with a lively Cycladic party.
Why attend:
Witness one of Milos’ most authentic panigyria (festivals)
Enjoy live traditional music and non-stop dancing
Feast on local delicacies like pitarakia (cheese pies) and revithokeftedes (chickpea fritters)
Mingle with all ages, from musicians and dancers to elderly villagers and children
On August 15, continue the celebration at the Church of Kimissi Theotokou in Adamantas
These vibrant nights showcase the island’s rich religious traditions and love of celebration. Bring your appetite, for both food and culture.
Skip the tourist menus, learn how to cook like a local. A few family-run farms near Tripiti now offer small group cooking experiences, where you harvest, prep, and eat traditional Cycladic dishes from scratch.
Cooking Classes
What you’ll do:
Collect vegetables from the farm
Learn to make pitarakia (Milos cheese pies), ladera, and local sweets
Enjoy a long table dinner with wine at sunset
A perfect slow-travel experience.
Long before tourism, Milos thrived thanks to its obsidian, sulfur, and bentonite mines. In 2025, new guided tours let you explore underground mining tunnels near the old sulfur mines in Paliorema, complete with helmets, lights, and historical storytelling.
Paliorema Sulfur Mines
Why it’s fascinating:
Step into abandoned galleries frozen in time
Learn how volcanic geology shaped the island’s economy
Incredible photos of yellow cliffs and rusted rail tracks
Few tourists know that Zefyria, once the island’s capital, was abandoned in the 18th century due to pirate raids and disease. In 2025, efforts to preserve this haunting village continue, making it a must-see for history lovers.
What to explore:
Crumbling chapels overgrown with wildflowers
The restored Church of Panagia Portiani
A glimpse into life before Plaka took the crown
Bring water, a hat, and curiosity, you might have it all to yourself.
Milos isn’t just a beach destination, it’s a living island shaped by fire, sea, and centuries of stories. In 2025, go beyond the surface. Whether it’s cooking with locals, soaking in hot sands, or hiking to forgotten villages, Milos offers more than a vacation, it offers connection, calm, and adventure.
So don’t just swim and sunbathe. Let Milos surprise you.
Here are 6 unique things to do in Milos in 2025, perfect for curious travelers, culture lovers, and anyone who wants more than just a beach day.
1. Soak in Natural Hot Springs at Alikes
Milos’ volcanic nature means you can find hidden thermal spots perfect for a natural spa experience. At Alikes Beach, warm waters seep from beneath the sand and mix with the Aegean, creating a surreal geothermal bath, no spa ticket required.
Why go:
Relax in natural thermal waters
Experience the healing power of the island’s volcanic core
A calm, undeveloped beach with zero crowds
2. Hike the Ancient Trails of Milos
Before roads, the locals used centuries-old stone trails (kalderimia) that still connect villages and remote landmarks. In 2025, several of these trails have been restored and marked, giving hikers a chance to follow ancient footsteps.
Best routes:
Plaka to Tripiti (past windmills and Roman ruins)
Zefyria to Agia Kyriaki (volcanic fields and coastline)
Provatas to Papafragas, A longer inland-to-north hike that ends near the dramatic sea caves just a few minutes’ drive from Pollonia
If you want a place to stay near Pollonia and Milos, consider taking a look at these seaside apartments!
Empourios to Cape Vani (ending at abandoned mines)
Bring good shoes and a camera! The views are wild.
3. Celebrate the Feast of the Assumption in Zefyria (August 14-15, 2025)
One of the most significant religious and cultural events in Milos takes place every August in the old village of Zefyria. From the evening of August 14th, locals and visitors gather at the 17th-century Church of Panagia Portiani to honor the Feast of the Assumption. The celebration continues into the early hours of the 15th, blending deep spiritual devotion with a lively Cycladic party.
Why attend:
Witness one of Milos’ most authentic panigyria (festivals)
Enjoy live traditional music and non-stop dancing
Feast on local delicacies like pitarakia (cheese pies) and revithokeftedes (chickpea fritters)
Mingle with all ages, from musicians and dancers to elderly villagers and children
On August 15, continue the celebration at the Church of Kimissi Theotokou in Adamantas
These vibrant nights showcase the island’s rich religious traditions and love of celebration. Bring your appetite, for both food and culture.
4. Take a Farm-to-Table Cooking Class in Tripiti
Skip the tourist menus, learn how to cook like a local. A few family-run farms near Tripiti now offer small group cooking experiences, where you harvest, prep, and eat traditional Cycladic dishes from scratch.
Cooking Classes
What you’ll do:
Collect vegetables from the farm
Learn to make pitarakia (Milos cheese pies), ladera, and local sweets
Enjoy a long table dinner with wine at sunset
A perfect slow-travel experience.
5. Explore Underground Mining Galleries with a Guide
Long before tourism, Milos thrived thanks to its obsidian, sulfur, and bentonite mines. In 2025, new guided tours let you explore underground mining tunnels near the old sulfur mines in Paliorema, complete with helmets, lights, and historical storytelling.
Paliorema Sulfur Mines
Why it’s fascinating:
Step into abandoned galleries frozen in time
Learn how volcanic geology shaped the island’s economy
Incredible photos of yellow cliffs and rusted rail tracks
6. Discover the Ghost Village of Old Zefyria
Few tourists know that Zefyria, once the island’s capital, was abandoned in the 18th century due to pirate raids and disease. In 2025, efforts to preserve this haunting village continue, making it a must-see for history lovers.
What to explore:
Crumbling chapels overgrown with wildflowers
The restored Church of Panagia Portiani
A glimpse into life before Plaka took the crown
Bring water, a hat, and curiosity, you might have it all to yourself.
Final Thoughts: Discover a Deeper Milos in 2025
Milos isn’t just a beach destination, it’s a living island shaped by fire, sea, and centuries of stories. In 2025, go beyond the surface. Whether it’s cooking with locals, soaking in hot sands, or hiking to forgotten villages, Milos offers more than a vacation, it offers connection, calm, and adventure.
So don’t just swim and sunbathe. Let Milos surprise you.
