How to get from Athens to Milos
Milos, located in the Western Cyclades of Greece, is one of the most beautiful places we have been to. It’s long been considered an untouched gem but more and more people are making the journey to Milos, whether they’re looking for alternatives to the busier and more touristy Santorini and Mykonos or just adding a. Trip to Milos to an Island hopping trip.
In this guide we’ll help you plan how to get to the Island from Athens (you can’t fly to Milos directly from many places so we are assuming your flying into Athens international first).
The short answer, for those of you who don’t want to read the whole blog post:
Get a taxi from Athens airport to Piraeus port (gate E9), or get the Metro is you’re looking to save some cash
Take the high speed ferry operated by Seajets, a return journey will cost around€150, a bit more than a slower boat but you will be able to maximise your time on the Island
Book your ferry ticket via Ferry scanner it’s really easy to use and see all of your options
Have your ATV or car booked and ready to collect from Adamas in Milos for when you arrive so that you can drive to your accommodation (or straight to the beach!)
Getting the ferry from Athens to Milos
Taking the ferry is the most popular way to get to Milos from Athens, the journey is convenient and gives you true Greek Island experience.
There are 2 types of ferries that operate between Athens and Milos
High speed ferries operated by Seajets
Conventional ferries operated by Zante ferries, Aegean Sea Lines and Minoan Lines
The ferries all leave from Piraeus port in Athens (gates E6 E7 and E9). (There is a ferry service that leaves from lavrion port but it takes 15 hours and runs a few times a week so you don’t need to know about that!)
The exact itineraries for the ferries are realised in March each year and you need to make sure you book early for peak times as they can get full quickly.
All of the ferry companies use electronic tickets with QR codes that you can use on your phone.
Taking your luggage onto the ferries is easy, you can either keep your luggage with you or leave it at a dedicated luggage area located in the car deck as you enter the boat.
Kids ages 0-4 generally travel for free (as well as pets) and those ages 5-10 will get a 50% discount on their ticket.
High speed ferry to Milos
The high speed ferry is operates by Seajets and runs about 3 times a day. The journey takes between 2.5 - 3.5 hours depending on the weather and if the ferry is stopping at Sifnos and Siros. This is our preferred option as it gets you to Milos quicker.
A single journey to Milos or Athens costs €74.70 - €89.00
The high speed ferry has no outdoor area as it’s a smaller boat and the seats are lined up like numbered aeroplane seats in the ferry (with more legroom). There are some small shops and bars on board for refreshments.
The smaller high speed ferry is more liable to weather related delays but on the day of your journey they will text you to keep you updated.
Conventional ferry to Milos
The conventional ferries are operated by Zante ferries, Aegean Sealines and Minoan Lines and take between 4-8 hours to get to Milos.
Tickets cost between €40-€270 per person and there are a variety of ticket types available. Some ferries will have cabins available with beds if you want to take a nap.
Conventional ferries, due to their size are less susceptible to weather delays and are generally less rocky so you can really relax, plan your holiday and enjoy a lunch or dinner at the restaurants on board.
Conventional ferries run about 1-2 times a day for each company.
Getting from Athens airport to Piraeus port
You can easily reach Piraeus port from Athens airport (or the city centre) with the following options (prices and timings are from the airport):
Taxi (30 minute drive, €60 in the day €76 at night)
Bus (90 minute drive, €5.50)
Metro/Train (80 minutes, €9.00)
Flying to Milos from Athens International Airport
Milos, although tiny does have a domestic airport which you can fly to from Athens. The flight time is 40 minutes but when you factor in security, check in times and waiting for luggage, we think it’s easier to just take the high speed ferry instead.
Airlines that fly to Milos include:
Sky Express
Olympic Air
Aegon Airlines
A return ticket will cost around €150-€220.
We usually use SkyScanner to check all available flight options for most of our trips.
