How to get from Athens to Milos
Thinking of visiting the Cyclades Islands? This group of islands encircling the sacred Delos is a popular destination for tourists, but the most underrated would probably be Milos. We’ll never understand that, though!
You’ll find Milos north of the Sea of Crete, surrounded by pristine turquoise waters and up to 75 beaches! Our favourite is Sarakiniko Beach and its greyish-white moonscape. It is also the home of the ancient Greek statue Venus de Milo, supposedly made between 130 and 100 BC to represent the goddess of love Aphrodite.
Here in Milos, you don’t need an itinerary. You can just pick a beach or two to spend the day. Explore the charming villages on foot or on a motorcycle. Make sure to also taste their fresh and tasty seafood!
2 ways to get from Athens to Milos
There are 2 ways you can travel the 160 km distance from Athens to Milos: via a 4-hour ferry with rates from €74.50 ($80) or via a 1.5-hour flight (including transfers) with fares from €83.00 ($90).
We recommend taking a ferry from Athens to Milos. Despite being the slower option, the ferry is more environment-friendly than taking a flight. It also gives you a chance to see other Cyclades islands along the way. The total costs of a ferry ticket plus the transfer from Athens to the port of Piraeus start from €74.50 ($80).
Alternatively, you can travel from Athens to Milos by taking a 40-minute flight plus 55-minute transfers to and from the airports. We don’t really recommend short flights like this because we don’t think they’re worth the amount of emissions they cause. But if you’re really short on time, combined rates start from €83.00 ($90).
TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.
Athens to Milos by Ferry
We like picking the most environment-friendly option as much as possible. For that reason, we recommend taking the ferry when travelling from Athens to Milos.
The ferry is a bit slower but not too much that it will take a whole day of travelling. It’s just enough for you to enjoy a few hours at sea. While making the journey from Athens to Milos by ferry, you can indulge in the gorgeous ocean views on various Greek islands of the Cyclades.
Step 1: Athens City Centre to Piraeus Port by Train
Ferries from Athens to Milos depart from Piraeus Port, 15 km southwest of Athens city centre.
The best way to get to this port is by train. Take the nearest Metro green line (Line #1) station in the city. That’s either Monastiraki or Omonia station.
A train ride to Piraeus Station should take around 30 minutes and cost €1.50 ($1.60).
From the train station, you can simply walk across the street to get to Piraeus Port.
Step 2: Piraeus to Milos by Ferry
There are several ferries that you can take when travelling from Athens to Milos.
The ferries with longer travel time, around 5 to 7 hours, are cheaper and offer a slow and steady ride. There are also high-speed ferries that take only 2.5 to 4 hours but come with a bumpy ride to Milos.
Ferry tickets range from €36.00 ($39) to €73.00 ($79).
See below the schedule of ferries from Piraeus to Milos during the summer months.
Ferry schedules Piraeus to Milos
Ferries from Piraeus to Milos arrive at Pier Adamantas within the city centre.
If you’re travelling outside the high season, ferries operate less regularly. You can check the latest schedules on BookAway. Note that Zante Ferries is only available on DirectFerries.com, while BookAway offers all other ferry options.
BookAway is our recommended platform to book your ferry to Milos because of its excellent customer service and best rates.
Athens to Milos by Flight
A flight is a good alternative option if you don’t have much time to spare. Total travel time is around 1 hour 35 minutes to get to Milos from Athens, plus the waiting time at the airport.
We’d like to reiterate that short-haul flights like this are harmful to the environment. If you’re not in that much of a hurry, a ferry ride from Athens to Milos will only take a couple of hours more.
Step 1: Athens City Centre to Athens Airport by Train
The best way to travel the 35 km from Athens city centre to Athens Airport is by train.
This train journey takes around 40 minutes and costs €10.00 ($10.50). You can take Metro Line 3 from the city. This train runs every 30 minutes from 05:40 to 23:30.
Other options you can choose from are a 1-hour bus that costs €6.50 ($7) and a 35-minute taxi with rates from €66.00 ($71).
Step 2: Athens to Milos by Flight
A flight from Athens to the island of Milos takes only 40 minutes.
There are three airlines flying this route during summer (May to October): Sky Express, Olympic Air, and Aegean Airlines. Outside those months, there are only a few flights per week operated by Sky Express.
Flights from Athens to Milos typically range from €71.00 ($77) to €99.00 ($105).
If you book your flight to Milos a few months prior to your journey, you can find much cheaper tickets at around €55.00 ($59).
All flights arrive at Milos Airport, 5 km south of Adamantas city centre.
Step 3: Milos Airport to Milos City Centre (Adamantas)
There are 2 ways you can get from Milos Airport to the city centre in Adamantas: via a 10-minute taxi or a 15-minute bus.
The bus is definitely the most budget-friendly with rates from €2.00 ($2.10). The only tiny disadvantage is that it has a 1-hour interval. So if you arrive at the bus stop just after the last bus departure, then you’ll have to wait for an hour for the next bus.
Meanwhile, taxis are available anytime outside the arrivals hall of Milos Airport. Rates to Adamantas start from €8.50 ($9).
Frequently asked questions about Athens to Milos
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
