We are planning a trip to Greece in September 2025. This will be our fourth trip to Greece. We have been to Santorini, Mykonos (twice), Samos, Crete, Naxos, Paros and Ios. This trip we plan to again visit Ios (have an apartment to stay in, same place as in 2023) and Milos. Does anyone have recommendations on where to stay on Milos and Folegandros and what are the best beaches? Also, would you recommend Tinos or Sifnos? We will be in Greece for 3 weeks. Thank you.
Posted by
France Southwest
2756 posts
Having stayed on all the islands you mentioned, my first remark is that you do not mention whether you will rent a car or not, which can make a big difference depending on the island.
Milos:
Assuming that you will not rent a car and that you want to be near a beach the possible places to stay in Milos are very limited because the "best" beaches of Milos are difficult to access even with a car. Half of the island is a Natura 2000 area practically uninhabited with no road network and very few accommodation possibilities.
I would only recommend Pollonia in the north of the island that could be suitable with some decent small beaches, accommodation, restaurants and shopping facilities.
There is a bus line that serves Pollonia from Adamantas, the capital.
From Pollonia you can go in 30 minutes by ferry to Kimolos which would be in my opinion the ideal place (better than Milos) provided you have a car.
Here is Kimolos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/9ix1MMh3WdkhiHki9
Without a rental car I would not recommend Tinos although I love this island which is characterized by many very beautiful little villages but whose beaches are difficult to access by bus.
Tinos:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MwUrqjow6kWjhivt8
With or without a rental car Sifnos is an ideal destination, I have been going there since the 90s and leaving Sifnos always makes me sad.
There is an excellent bus network that serves the entire island including the villages with beaches in the south of the island such as Vathi, Faros, Platis Gialos.
These villages all have accommodation, restaurants, mini markets, etc.
I stayed in Vathy, Faros, Kamares (which I don't like too much) and Kastro, which is my favorite place in Sifnos but doesn't have a beach. Sifnos is also one of the best places in the Cyclades for hiking with many well-marked paths.
All buses leave from Artemonas / Appolonia in the center of the island. Here are the bus schedules in Sifnos for the first half of September:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18VTwX6Zg4zB_67gin90LZwuxaOama9o3/view?usp=sharing
On the 3rd weekend of September there is a food festival in Sifnos which welcomes all the best of the Greek island gastronomy with musical entertainment and of course lots of tastings.
Folegandros is almost a "car-free" island and especially an island for hikers. You won't really find a sandy beach. There is only one bus line that crosses this small island and goes from the port to the village of Chora, the "capital" of a few hundred inhabitants.
Posted by
161 posts
We went to Folegandros and Milos last year and we loved both islands, but folegandros more so because it’s so quiet and not full of people. We went to sandy beaches on Folegandros. We also rented a car because we pretty much do that everywhere nowadays because an ATV wasn’t cutting it.
Sifnos, on the other hand, the island we went to in 2023, is a must see mainly because of their beaches and mostly because of their food scene and we experienced things most people probably didn’t, such as coming across a celebration at the local school and then later on that night, on our way back to our lodgings in Faros, we came across live music, dancing and food and booze. All free. We just had to dance a little.
Posted by
Philadelphia, PA, USA
3480 posts
jonorossjan must have gone in late May/ early June, and happened upon a lovely occurrence all over Greece ... the school-ending celebration! They don't just hand out report cards & send the kids off ... no no oo! Greek schools have a festive Last Day! hoopla with balloons and music i n t he courtyards. Recitals, dances, prizes, awards, and audiences of applauding families. i first encountered one in Athens 1st week of June, on a side street leading down from the broad promenade on the south side o f acropolis. I heard it "over the wall" but got in just as it was ending. On another June in Nafplio, my travel companions spotted it, and led the rest of us in... there wre bleachers set up. We could pretend to be YaYas (grandmothers) and laugh & cheer.
When in Greece the last of May or first week of June, always ask your hotel or landlady about School-Endiing Celebrations!
Posted by
24 posts
In Milos I recommend "Hotel Milos Sea Resort" and in Folegandros "ANEMI Hotel & Spa".
Regarding beaches, in Folegandros I recommned Katergo, Agios Nikolaos, Livadaki and Vardia. In Milos: Kleftiko, Sarakiniko, Firiplaka and Agia Kiriaki.
Haven't stayed in Sifnos, only Tinos. Both are not well known for their beaches, mostly picturesque villages and food. Sifnos is more convenient to visit after Milos and Folegandros compared to Tinos.