“A simple but charming converted windmill (sleeps 4-5) and two outbuildings (for 2) on an underrated Greek island with spectacular coastlines”
On the rocky ridge above Venus’ resting place stands a string of windmills, one of which has been converted into a holiday rental. It is - unsurprisingly- a circular building with 1 room on each of the 3 levels (2 bedrooms, 1 kitchen-diner), and a shaded terrace outside looking over the sheltered inlet of Adamas. Next to it are two small 1-bedroom outhouses, which can be rented individually or with the windmill to accommodate larger groups. Owned by a meticulous Greek engineer, Gerasimos, it's not sold outside Greece through any other channels. A very special place, ideal for families or groups of friends who are keen to explore a little-known but still very beautiful Greek island.
Highs
- We loved sleeping in a Cycladic windmill, clambering up ladder-steps and looking out of tiny windows at the old wooden spokes
- It's a great option for families and groups of up to 8, using the 2 pretty outhouses for overflow
- Milos boasts some stunning beaches, eerie lunar coves and secret fishermen's hamlets - Sarakiniko, Plathiena, Fyropotamos - all just a short drive away
- Sunsets from the windmill can be spectacular
- Great value for money
Lows
- It can be windy due to the hilltop location
- There’s no pool and the nearest beaches are a short drive away
- The island isn't as ‘prettified’ as some, but it feels truly Greek
- They could do with some sunloungers and a BBQ in the yard
- If you're only booking one of the houses and the others are taken, you won't feel very private
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Windmill Rental
- 4
- Basic self-catering (+ walk to restaurants)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- WiFi
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Beach Nearby
- Off-street Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
Rooms
In all the houses, rooms are sparsely but tastefully furnished, with typically Greek décor: white-washed walls, wooden floors and furniture, blue shutters, canvas chairs and simple storage niches.
On the ground floor of the Windmill is a kitchen-dining room, fully equipped with an oven, a fridge, a filter-coffee machine and adequate cutlery and crockery for simple meals. Going up, you come across a double bedroom with an ensuite shower bathroom. On the second floor is a second bedroom, with the same layout. If you prefer twin beds, the mattresses on the bed-platform can be slightly separated, or there is a sofa which can be used as an additional bed.
There are also 2 outhouses, the White House and the Stone House, whose exterior, as you may imagine, are white-washed and natural-stone respectively. Each is spread over one level and located about 50m from the mill. You get a double bedroom, a shower room, a simple kitchenette (hob, fridge, and cutlery and crockery) and a terrace with stunning sea views.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- CD player
- Coffee / tea making
- Extra beds
- Fridge
- Hairdryer
- Hob or stove
- Radio
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
All houses have simple cooking facilities, which are great for whipping up snacks and light meals, though you would struggle to produce a hearty supper.
But luckily, there are plenty of tavernas and cafés around. A short walk away, overlooking the ancient site and the cove of Klima, are the simple Kafeneio Y Hará (Café of Joy) and the more elegant Ouzeri Methismeni Politea.
A 5-minute walk the other way brings you to Tripiti village, which has a lovely bakery and pie-shop filled with hungry schoolchildren during breaktimes.
Another 10 minutes’ walk uphill - or a short drive - brings you to Plaka (old Milos town), which has various eateries, the best of which is Ergina, serving various local delights, including pitarakia cheese pies and, for the brave, snails.
Another option is to walk or drive down to the main port Adamas, where there are dozens of fish restaurants and ‘grill-houses’, as well as patisseries serving the local speciality koufeto, made from baby marrows in syrup.
Features include:
- Children's meals
- Coffee / tea making
- Fridge
- Hob or stove
- Restaurants nearby
Activities
- Our favourite beaches are Sarakiniko - a secluded bay among white, sea-smoothed rocks; Papafraga - a deep inlet with a smugglers’ sea-cave; Firopotamos and Fourkovouni - small fishing coves; and Paliochori and Provatas - popular sandstrips
- Visit Plaka, the former capital of Milos, with pretty alleys, a 19th-century cathedral, a Venetian castro and a hilltop chapel of Thalassitra (a great spot to watch sunset)
- Below Plaka is the ancient site of Melos, with its Dorian walls, fragments of column and remains of a Roman amphitheatre. This is where the Venus de Milo statue was found, but all you can see now is a replica in Plaka’s archaeological museum
- Near Melos are some early Christian catacombs, 200m of tomb-lined caveways which once housed 5000 bodies - well worth a visit
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Scuba diving
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
Kids
A lovely place for a family holiday. The windmill itself makes an original and imaginative bolthole for 4-5, and with the 2 outbuildings, you can bring the parents, or give teens a bit more privacy. You will need to self-cater or eat out (most options involve a short drive), so it's ideal for more enterprising families.
Best for:
Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
The windmill is perfect for a family, with a double bedroom on the first floor and a kids' bedroom up at the top, which can be made up as a twin and has a single sofabed as well.
Children's meals:
It's self-catering here, with a basic kitchen with oven and fridge but no microwave or dishwasher. You can hire the cooking services of a local cook if you fancy a night off, or head to the many local tavernas, bakeries and pie shops.
Kids Activities nearby:
- Explore secret beaches, sandy coves, smugglers caves and fishing villages along the coast
- Take to the water in a fishing boat and see the island from the sea
- Visit the ancient site of Melos, where the Venus de Milo was discovered
Families Should Know:
The stairs in the windmill are steep. There is no hospital on the island, just a health centre in Plaka (open 24 hours) and doctors' surgeries in Adamas and Pollonia. Bring everything you think you'll need with you.
Distances:
- Airport: 10 minutes (Milos)
- Ferry: 4-6 hours from Piraeus by highspeed ferry
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
