Sarakiniko Beach on Milos Island

It is the power of nature itself that has created a very special stretch of coastline on the Greek island of Milos. At Sarakiniko beach in the north of the island, white deposits from earlier volcanic eruptions stretch for miles into the azure blue sea.

Visitors to Sarakiniko feel as if they are on another planet. The bizarre lunar landscape is immediately impressive and unique in Greece. Tom & Ella

The music video for DJ Kung’s song “This Girl” has turned the former insider tip on Milos into a world-famous tourist hotspot. In summer, thousands of vacationers flock to Sarakiniko for the perfect Instagram photo. At the end of April, we still enjoyed a certain idyll here and shared the bizarre backdrop with only a few other people.

Here we give you the most important information about the most popular attraction on Milos. With our tips for Sarakiniko, you have the chance to avoid the crowds on site:

#1 Getting to Sarakiniko

The impressive stretch of coastline around Sarakiniko Beach is located in the north of Milos, about 4 km or 10 minutes from the port town of Adamas. You can reach Sarakiniko by rental car via a normal asphalt road that ends at a large, partly unpaved parking lot. In the high season, the free parking spaces fill up quickly, so it’s worth arriving early.

You can book affordable rental cars for the island of Milos in advance with our partner Discover Cars*:

➲ Book your rental car here*

Opposite the parking lot is the Sarakiniko bus stop. You can find the current timetable for traveling by public bus from the port city of Adamas here: MilosBuses

If you don’t have your own vehicle, you can also use the reliable transfer service from MilosConcierge to get to Sarakiniko.

Best time to visit Sarakiniko

To avoid the crowds, you should arrive early in the high season. Before 9 a.m., it is still pleasantly quiet, the sun is already up and makes the chalk-white rocks glow beautifully, and you can still find a free spot on the beach with its shallow entry.

A visit in the evening is also atmospheric, when the sun bathes the bizarre landscape in a warm light. Even then, the rush of visitors is limited. If you are on Milos on a full moon night, you should definitely visit Sarakiniko — it’s a magical spectacle!

Incidentally, due to its exposed location, there are virtually no trash cans in Sarakiniko. There is a residual waste container in the parking lot and a small trash can on the beach, but it is emptied very irregularly and was already overflowing in May. There is also no toilet on the natural beach.

We would like to appeal to everyone to bring a small bag, backpack, or similar with them and take any rubbish back to the hotel or dispose of it in the trash cans on the main road. Unfortunately, there was a lot of plastic floating in the sea, from cola cans to chip bags. Such a natural treasure deserves to be cared for by all of us.

#2 Walk through the lunar landscape

From the Sarakiniko parking lot, walk down to the coast. After about 200 m, you will find yourself in the middle of the lunar landscape and see the tiny stretch of Sarakiniko Beach to the left of a hill.

It’s hard to believe that you are walking through a million-year-old landscape created by volcanic activity. The deposits of pumice and tuff, as well as ash and lava, have been eroded over time by the wind and sea, creating bizarre shapes and giving Sarakiniko its distinctive appearance.

At midday, the white rock is so bright that it dazzles. Together with the blue sky, it creates an unreal picture. Sarakiniko is simply impressive and will remain in our memories for a long time to come. By the way, cat lovers will also get their money’s worth: a small group of strays is fed daily by tourists on the beach.

Sarakiniko Beach marks the end of a gorge lined with tamarisk trees. Volcanic rock used to be mined here, and old tunnels (enter at your own risk) bear witness to mining in the region. But even in pirate times, there are said to have been caves in the rock that served as hiding places (see box).

On the other side of Sarakiniko Beach, continue towards the sea. After a few meters, you will come to a sinkhole right on the cliff, from which brave cliff divers climb back out. We only recommend jumping from the cliffs when the sea is calm and for good swimmers.

Most people turn back at this point to start their return journey, missing out on one of the most beautiful corners of Sarakiniko. Further west, you climb over a hill, behind which you come to a kind of plateau and, at the end, a small canyon that has been carved into the rock like a work of art. The evening sun rays offer fantastic photo opportunities here.

The rocky landscape of Sarakiniko is not slippery in dry weather, but small children should be led by the hand. Nevertheless, caution is advised, as a fall on your knees and hands can cause painful abrasions. It is advisable to wear sturdy shoes to ensure the best grip when crossing the individual hills.

If you walk down the coast from the parking lot and keep to the right in an easterly direction, you will come to the remains of an old shipwreck. The Sarakiniko Shipwreck was a large oil tanker that ran aground in 2003 and is now mostly submerged. This is one of the most beautiful places on Milos for snorkeling and diving!

#3 Excursions to Sarakiniko

You can also take a tour to Sarakiniko with a local guide. Sarakiniko is worth visiting both from land by electric bike or minibus and from the sea by sailboat. Click on the tours from GetYourGuide* for details, prices, and availability:

➲ To the bus tour to Sarakiniko*

➲ To the sailing trip with a stop at Sarakiniko*

➲ To the Milos Highlights Tour by e-bike*

#4 Hotel tips near Sarakiniko

Due to Sarakiniko’s central location near the two larger towns of Adamas and Plaka, there are several good accommodation options just a 5-10 minute drive away. Here are our personal recommendations for accommodation not far from Sarakiniko Beach. Click on the links from Booking.com* to see prices and availability:

• My Suite Milos* – tried and tested by us and found to be great!

• Sarakiniko Rooms* – located directly on the access road to Sarakiniko

• Sarakiniko Boat House* – quaint boathouse with a view of the lunar landscape

• Thea Sunset Suites*

• Solus Suites Milos*

#5 Restaurants and cafés nearby

There are no restaurants in the immediate vicinity of Sarakiniko. Occasionally, a simple canteen is said to operate in the parking lot of Sarakiniko during the high season. The nearest taverns and cafés are located in the villages of Triovasalos (tip: Karodromos) or Adamas. For a coffee break with a magnificent view, we recommend the Oasis Canteen in the beautiful fishing village of Mandrakia, just 10 minutes from Sarakiniko.

After visiting Sarakiniko, we recommend a detour to the fishing village of Mandrakia, just 10 minutes away. The circular pier with its colorful Milos boathouses is charming and worth a short walk.

For a quick snack, head to the Monk Cafe in Trypiti. Here you can enjoy not only a cool freddo, but also delicious mini pancakes and ice cream. From here, you can also visit the catacombs of Milos, the ancient theater, and the Milos boathouses of Klima.

➝ For more travel tips on Milos and the neighboring islands, click here: Cyclades Islands Overview

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