We are planning a trip for my daughter’s high school graduation next June 2025. I have been researching and we have seemed to narrow our island to visit to Naxos and Milos. We are pretty laid back and she and our other 2 children, along with one daughter in law (all ages 23-18) really like to hang out at neat beaches/pool and see quaint towns and a few historical sites but I’ve been told we can’t be on the go continually as I’ve been accused of on other trips. We don’t like crowds so that’s why we decided to exclude Santorini. We’d rather stay put and explore a couple islands instead of hitting several. We have thought about a day trip from Naxos to Santorini just to see it. We are trying to stick with 10 nights in Greece. My thought is to stay 4 nights Milos, 4 nights Naxos, 2 nights in Athens. It seems like may be difficult, if not impossible, to get from Naxos in the morning on the day of departure to the Athens airport for a same day international departure back to the US. So, maybe stay the night, or two, in Athens the night prior to our departure. In bound, I was hoping to fly into Athens and then on to Milos by ferry the same day of arrival. Not sure if that is too much to expect. We’d probably do ferries in between Athens and the islands with the possible exception of Naxos back to Athens just prior to departure. Maybe fly for that portion. I would gladly accept critique of any of this itinerary, thoughts or any advice or suggestions. I’m not sure about the timing of flying back home coming from the island and would like ideas to navigate that process too. Or anything else. It’s our first time in Greece and want a true Greek experience…but a relaxing time too. Thank you for any help!
Posted by
France Southwest
2315 posts
It's still basically the same advice, especially when I see words like "explore islands", "see quaint towns", "a true Greek experience", "we can’t be on the go continually"
Traveling to/from the islands and between islands is very time-consuming. Each day of travel will be mainly devoted to activities such as packing luggage, checking out of the hotel (before 10 a.m.), transfer to the port, waiting for the ferry, ferry travel, transfer from the port to the accommodation, check at the new hotel (generally not before 2 p.m.), unpacking luggage.
8 nights on 2 islands it's only 3 full days on each island. So in practice, for example and simplifying: one beach day and two “exploration” days (or the opposite).
It's also 3 days mainly devoted to travel, approximately 30% of your vacation time.
If you don't want to still have the feeling that you are "on the go continually", try adding a few days to your stay in order to add at least 1 night on each island.
So you will get closer to your goal, I quote: “want a true Greek experience…but a relaxing time too”
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thank you JoLui. I really would like to stay longer in each location but we are really trying to stay with 10 days total to drive everyones’s schedules. That’s why I’m trying to figure out my arrival and departure timing and how much time I really should stay in Athens on both ends of the trip. If we are there for an afternoon one day and we can see what we can see while there, that’s fine. It’s just not high on our priority list and would rather spend more time in an island. What do you think about Naxos and Milos for what we are wanting to do? Good choices? Thank you!
Posted by
France Southwest
2315 posts
Naxos and Milos are in the top 5 of the most visited islands in the Cyclades. It's a choice, I don't know how and by what it was influenced.
Milos would not be in my top 5, not even in my top 10.
Naxos can be in my top 5 provided that I avoid its capital, Naxos Town, and its surroundings. Too crowded for me, and the island is large enough to go elsewhere.
But that doesn't matter.
What is more important is that Milos and Naxos are not on the same ferry routes. Which means that in June there will probably only be one ferry operating an intra-Cycladic route which connects a few Cyclades islands. And it won't be direct.
This year in June to go from Naxos to Milos the trip takes more than 10 hours in a small, very uncomfortable and very expensive Seajets catamaran.
Departure from Naxos at 9 a.m., arriving in Milos at 7:30 p.m. although the distance between the two islands is only approximately 50 miles.
It's pretty much the same the other way around.
If you want to optimize this trip, it would be preferable to combine Naxos and Paros. The two islands are next to each other on the same ferry routes, there are at least 8 ferries per day and the journey takes less than an hour.
Moreover, you could even stay only on Paros and spend for example 2 days on Antiparos which is connected to Paros by a small ferry (crossing less than 20 minutes).
Be careful, in Paros there is a “tourist trap” place which has lost its authenticity, it is the picturesque village of Naoussa, very popular with honeymoon organizers and sellers of high-end products.
Paros Naxos and Milos have an airport and are barely 45 minutes from Athens by domestic flight.
Arriving in Athens you could find a connection with a flight to one of these islands and on the evening of day 1 you would be having your first drink at the beach watching the sunset... very “cliché” :))
Return to Athens at least 1 day before your return flight to the US.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thanks again. I would be interested in your thoughts and others on Milos. Why is it out of your top 10?
Given Paros and Naxos are so close, does it feel like you are getting the same experience when you stay on each? One reason I was thinking Milos was to get a little different experience from Naxos. I know we only have limited amount of time and need to keep it most likely 2 islands max so I was trying to get as much of a variety of Greek experience as we can.
Thanks!
Posted by
France Southwest
2315 posts
Everyone has favorite islands, I went to Milos and I didn't really like it, but that's my personal opinion. It could be your favorite island after staying on several islands. Who knows?
And to put my opinion on MIlos into perspective, I also admit that I got sunstroke there (even though it was not during the summer) with rather strange side effects. :))
So, as I say about my opinion "it doesn't matter"
It would be interesting if other people who know the 3 islands could give their own opinions.
We preferred Kimolos, a small island which is reachable from the port of Pollonia in the north of Milos and which has some points in common with Milos in its landscapes, but without the crowds.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/cVd5zmcZzHTendEN7
The short distance between the islands does not make them similar. This is why island hopping is popular and why many travelers return to the Greek islands.
That being said, compared to Paros, Milos with its volcanic landscapes and rocky beaches is in a sense more different than Naxos.
It also depends on what you do. Staying two days in Paros in Parikia, or in Naxos in Naxos Town or in Milos in Adamas, will not allow you to discover many differences.
But the first question to ask yourself is "can I go from island A to island B, at what price, at what times, which ferry, how long does it take to travel?"
To find out you can check on Openseas where you will see the ferry timetables for a whole week:
Or ferryhopper to also check ferry prices and possible connections if there is no direct route: