How We Got From Santorini to Milos by Ferry For Just €19

Milos has become super popular over the years for travelers heading to Greece. One of the best island hopping routes is to go from Santorini to Milos by ferry like we did on our last trip. However, there are some important things to know before you go! In this article, we’ll share the different ferry companies, ferry ports, and benefits of being here in low vs high season. We will even explain how to take the Milos to Santorini ferry in reverse to ensure you have an easy and fun travel day. 

How to Get to Santorini Greece

Before we get into traveling from Santorini to Milos by ferry, you should know how to get to Santorini! This is the most famous island in Greece which makes getting there very simple. Still, choosing between a flight and ferry can depend on the time you have and prices available. 

We almost always take a flight to Santorini for a couple of reasons. Typically, we’re coming from the United States (or somewhere else in Europe) and fly into Athens International Airport. After landing, all you’ll have to do is head to the domestic terminal and jump on one of the direct flights to Santorini.

There is a ferry that runs the same route, but know that this is not the best way! The two main ferry ports are actually located outside of the city. On top of that, even the high-speed ferries have a trip duration of up to 5 hours to get from Athens to Santorini.

When comparing the slow ferry vs a short 45 minute flight it’s honestly a no brainer! Check out our Athens to Santorini article here for more information. 

Note that you can also fly direct from Athens to Milos if you want to skip Santorini. Just remember the flights are limited outside of peak season.

→ Is Santorini Expensive? Yes… But This is How to Visit on a Budget!

1 Week Santorini & Milos Itinerary

If we went back and did our recent trip again, this is exactly how we would spend one week on Santorini and Milos. We know hindsight is 20/20 and the ferry routes can be tricky depending on the season. Yet, if you can base your travels somewhat around this you’re sure to have a blast!

Day 1: Fly from Athens to Santorini. Check into your Santorini hotel (here’s our favorite places to stay), head out for dinner, and walk to the best sunset spot on the island.

Day 2: Get an early start because this will be your favorite day on Santorini! The famous Fira to Oia hike takes you along the caldera between the two most beautiful towns. 

If you still have the energy when you get to Oia we recommend walking down the steps to Amoudi Bay below. You can even go for a swim here to cool off which we talk more about in this post.

Day 3: Jump on the local bus or rent a car to explore Santorini. Some of the best places to visit outside of popular Fira and Oia are Pyrgos Village, Perissa Beach, Kamari Beach, and Santo Winery. 

We also recommend combining Red Beach with the Akrotiri Lighthouse and ancient ruins for the ultimate day trip. Be sure to check out all our tips for the best things to do in Santorini! 

Day 4: Travel from Santorini to Milos by ferry. You can take the slow or fast ferry depending on your travel style and budget. Get settled in your hotel when you arrive, then head to a local taverna for a traditional dinner. These are some of our all-time favorite Greek dishes you can’t miss. 

If you only have 2-3 days on Milos you should stay in the port of Adamas where the Santorini to Milos ferry comes in. The colorful seaside village has tons of great restaurants, tour companies, and accommodation options to choose from.

Day 5: Take an amazing full-day Milos sailing trip. This was one of the best tours we’ve ever taken in the Greek islands. It brings you all around Milos, to the Kleftiko caves, and many incredible swimming spots. 

You can read all about our adventure here, or look into this popular company. The main reason to plan this for your first day on Milos is due to the weather conditions. Know that if the waters are rough they may push your cruise back a day.

Day 6: Rent a car in Milos for an amazing day around the island. Having a car will give you the freedom to get to all the best beaches and attractions on your own time. 

We absolutely loved Klima, Ancient Plaka, Firopotamos, Mandrakia, and of course the unique Moon Beach! Read all about our 16 favorite things to do on Milos here.

Day 7: Book an afternoon flight from Milos Airport to Athens to make the most of your last day. Spend the morning enjoying your hotel, going for a swim, and eating a delicious Greek breakfast. 

6 Tips For Traveling From Santorini to Milos by Ferry 

This will be a complete guide to traveling from Santorini to Milos by ferry. Yet, after taking this route multiple times there are a few things we went to stress right off the bat. 

1. Not all ferry operators run daily from Santorini to Milos. You can do a quick ferry search here, but know it will change leading up to the peak season. 

2. If you are on a budget, it’s better to wait until closer to your sailing date to book. This is because many companies don’t publish the Santorini to Milos ferry times in advance. 

3. Swing season and off-season have extremely limited sailings. Sometimes, they only make the trip once a week or not at all! Keep this in mind when planning out your Greece island hopping itinerary. 

4. Check if you have an e-ticket or you need to print it out. Some Santorini to Milos ferry companies require you to go to one of their local partner shops before boarding to get your tickets.

5. The Santorini ferry harbor Can be a MESS in the busy summer months! Arrive as early as possible and pay close attention to the boats coming in and out.

6. Booking a Santorini to Milos flight with airlines like Sky Express or Aegean Airlines? Then know that it most likely won’t be direct and you’ll have to transfer through Athens. 

Santorini to Milos Ferry Companies 

There is a high-speed ferry company called Seajets which dominates routes throughout the Cyclades group. This will be your fastest option by far when traveling from Santorini to Milos by ferry (updated Seajets times & prices). However, these direct ferries also come with a high ticket price. 

Seajets caters to tourists and release their ferry schedules well in advance so you won’t have any issues. Typically, for this type of ferry, you are looking at around 100 Euros per person. 

So how did we get a one-way ticket for just €19 each?? Well, we decided to book with Zante Ferries (read our review) which only does this route at certain times of the year. We booked our slow ferry tickets a few weeks prior and planned our itinerary around it. 

How Long is the Ferry From Santorini to Milos?

One slow ferry we use often in Greece is Blue Star which you can read more about here. Nevertheless, for this trip we went with Zante! This was simply because they had the best price and time of departure in the morning. 

Anek Lines and Golden Star Ferries also run the Milos ferry route among other companies. Our Santorini to Milos ferry took off at 7:30am and we arrived at 12:50pm. 

We definitely didn’t mind the longer travel time as it saved us almost 160 Euros each! The slow ferries also have an outdoor section so you can sit outside and get amazing views of the different islands as you cruise.

We understand that time can be a huge factor when booking your ticket. Our route took just over 5 hours and half a day can mean a lot if you’re on a short Greece itinerary. 

If you take the high speed ferry it will be only around 2 hours to travel from Santorini to Milos by ferry. Obviously, for a shorter holiday you may want to pay extra to go the fastest way. 

What To Know About the Santorini Ferry Port

Now that we’ve covered the boats and different ticket prices, let’s jump into more of what you can expect! The Santorini Ferry terminal (Athinios Port) honestly couldn’t be in a worse location. It’s not close to any of the popular towns and it can be quite annoying to get to. 

If you’re traveling from Santorini to Milos by ferry in the afternoon you can check the bus times. The buses conveniently run based on the ferry schedule, especially in the busy summer season. 

With that said, the seats can go quick! Make sure to get there early to buy tickets if you plan to take the bus. 

We actually loved using the bus to see Santorini as opposed to renting a car. Read all our tips for the Santorini bus system here.

If you have a super early or late ferry, the bus may not be running. In this case, your only option will be to book a taxi or private transfer. We went through our hotel for this and paid 40 Euros in off-season. The funny (or not so hilarious) part about this was it cost more than our Santorini to Milos ferry ticket! 

Know that the transfer prices increase in the summer for July and August. We recommend booking something in advance during this time with a shared shuttle or private transfer. 

Much of Santorini sits high above on the cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. To get to the ferry port you will need to actually travel down to sea level. We’re honestly getting dizzy right now thinking of the narrow and winding road that goes down to the port!

We had no problems arriving early, but our driver did share some horror stories with us. Since there is only one small road the cars and buses often get backed up in the busy summer months.

If you don’t get there early you run the risk of getting stuck in a long line of buses and cars waiting to pick up and drop off passengers. Our driver even said the traffic can get so backed up here that people will ditch their transfers and run down the road with all their bags.

Imagine being that desperate not to miss your Santorini to Milos ferry?? Be sure to always consider the time of day and season you’re traveling from Santorini!

Our Santorini to Milos by Ferry Experience

As we mentioned, we arrived at the Santorini ferry port about 45 minutes before taking off. We had printed out our tickets in town before and quickly got on the boat.

At most Greek island ports you will have to wait for the ferry to pull in. However, with this being the first stop of the route, it was there waiting already.

After boarding, we headed straight to the top deck to a quiet table with a view overlooking the water. We love this aspect of the slow ferries and it’s one of the reasons why we enjoy them so much.

We grabbed some hot Greek coffees from the cafe and drank them with the spinach pastries picked up earlier from the local bakery. 5 hours may sound like a long time, but it goes by quicker than you would think! 

Travelers pay a lot of money to cruise the Greek islands. So the fact that we were able to get similar views for less then 20 euros is pretty astonishing.

Another thing we like about traveling from Santorini to Milos by ferry is that it stops at other islands along the route. The slow ferry isn’t only for passengers and cars, but also used to get supplies between places. This is a fun way to see other islands we’d never heard of or thought about visiting yet.

If you’re traveling in the low season as we did it may get cold or windy. Fortunately, there are plenty of seats and spaces to hang out inside as well. You can even book special classes if you want for a slightly nicer travel day. 

Arriving in Milos

Before we knew on it we heard the announcement for the main port of Milos. Be aware that the ferries waste no time unloading in Greece! We made our way down to the loading dock and stood with the other passengers who were waiting to getting off. 

One of the most exciting moments of island hopping in Greece is when the large doors open up to a new island. After traveling from Santorini to Milos by ferry and getting our glimpse of the island, we were quickly off and en route to our Adamas hotel.

Where to Stay in Adamas

Ultra Luxury – Santa Maria Village – Perched up above Adamas with beautiful ocean views and luxury amenities. 

Fun Vacation – Galanis Sweet Home Milos – Nice rooms with balconies, kitchenette, and dining area.

City Center – Capetan Giorgantas – Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool, spacious rooms, and being just a quick walk from the port.

Budget Travel – Hotel Eleni – Cute family-run accommodation that is just steps from the beach.

Don’t Make This Santorini to Milos Mistake!

We can’t believe how many travelers make this blunder when visiting Greece. For some reason, they think that there are only airports on the larger Cyclades islands like Santorini and Mykonos. However, Milos does have an airport! 

Earlier in this post, we gave you an itinerary for how we would spend a one week vacation between Santorini and Milos. Just don’t book a round-trip flight to Santorini and assume you have to ferry back and forth from Milos. 

For example, if your big international flight is to Athens, you will then need to travel to Santorini. However, you should book a flight from Athens to Santorini, and then a separate one from Milos back to Athens after you plan your ferry route. 

That way you can travel from Santorini to Milos by ferry without having to backtrack! This will not only save you a lot of time, but also money in the long run. 

→ 11 Best Ways to Save Money on Flights with Skyscanner

Milos Ferry Port Tips

One great thing about Milos is that the ferries arrive right in the main town of Adamas. While you can stay all over the island, we have based ourselves from here on our last two visits to Milos. After getting off the ferry it was only a five minute walk to our accommodation. 

Adamas is a great place to base yourself from during swing season (check out our post here) as there will still be plenty of restaurants and tour companies open. So what should you do on the island of adventure?

Aside from everything we mentioned in our one week itinerary, we highly recommend renting a car for a day! This is the website we always use in Greece to compare rates and companies. You can also read our full guide to car rentals on Milos to help decide if you need one.

Milos to Santorini Ferry

You can easily do this route in reverse from Milos to Santorini. Just know that the same things apply with the routes in off-season. 

Never book your hotels before confirming there is actually a ferry running on the day you need it! Many of the slower ferries take off and arrive at strange times. That’s something important to keep in mind before confirming your travel plans as well! 

Hopefully, this Santorini to Milos ferry guide helped you plan out your own fun vacation. As you can see, Santorini and the island of Milos are so worth visiting in Greece! 

Have any questions about this article or want to share your own tips for traveling from Santorini to Milos by ferry? Leave us a comment below!

Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake

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Greece Travel Planning

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