Kimolos, the quiet island just off Milos, makes an easy day trip — a ten to fifteen minute ferry from Pollonia to Psathi. Plan it with tours, boat trips and tickets from My Greece Tours.
This nearby island is a rewarding excursion in the Milos travel guide. The sections below cover how to get to Kimolos, the village of Chorio and its Kastro, the beaches, the hiking, and how to spend a day.
How do you get to Kimolos from Milos?
You reach Kimolos by a short local ferry from Pollonia, on the northeast tip of Milos, to Psathi, the port of Kimolos.
The crossing on the small boat, the Osia Methodia, takes only 10 to 15 minutes and runs a series of times a day. Tickets are cheap and bought at the dock or on board. You can even bring a rental car, scooter or ATV across, which makes exploring Kimolos easy. The short, frequent crossing makes Kimolos one of the simplest day trips from Milos. Kimolos sits just across a narrow strait from the northeast corner of Milos, and reaching it could hardly be easier. The crossing runs between Pollonia, the chic fishing village on Milos, and Psathi, the small port of Kimolos, on a little local ferry called the Osia Methodia.
The journey takes only ten to fifteen minutes, and the boat runs a series of times a day through the season, so you are never tied to a single departure. Tickets are inexpensive and paid for at the dock or on board, with no need to book ahead. A real advantage is that you can take a vehicle across: bringing your rental car, scooter or ATV over from Milos. Or hiring one on arrival in Psathi, makes it simple to reach Kimolos’s scattered beaches and villages. This short, cheap and frequent crossing, combined with the option of taking your own wheels.
Makes Kimolos one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips you can take from Milos. The questions below cover what visitors ask most.
What is Chorio and the Kastro like?
Chorio is the main village of Kimolos, a beautifully preserved Cycladic settlement of whitewashed houses and stone-paved alleys, set inland above the port. At its heart stands the Kastro, a medieval fortress quarter, and the village also has an ethnographic museum.
Unlike more touristy Cycladic towns, Chorio remains a living, authentic community, with traditional architecture and a relaxed pace. Wandering its lanes, visiting the Kastro and pausing at a local taverna are the highlights of a visit to Kimolos. The heart of Kimolos is Chorio, its main village, set on a rise a short way inland from the port of Psathi. It is a beautifully preserved example of a traditional Cycladic settlement, a maze of dazzling whitewashed houses, blue doors and stone-paved alleys that feel untouched by mass tourism.
At the centre of Chorio stands the Kastro, a medieval fortress quarter built as a refuge from pirate raids. Whose old stone houses and lanes form the historic core of the village and reward a slow wander. Nearby, an ethnographic museum tells the story of island life and traditions. What sets Chorio apart is its authenticity: unlike certain Cycladic towns reshaped by tourism, it remains a living. Working community where local life carries on, lending it a genuine charm and a relaxed, timeless atmosphere. Strolling its quiet alleys, exploring the Kastro.
Stopping for a coffee or a meal at a traditional taverna in the village are the simple pleasures that make Chorio the cultural highlight of a day on Kimolos. The questions below cover what visitors ask most.
What are the beaches on Kimolos like?
Kimolos has beautiful, unspoilt beaches, far quieter than those on Milos. The standout is Prassa on the northeast coast, with golden sand and crystal-clear turquoise water.
Other lovely spots include Bonatsa and Kalamitsi, with shallow calm water good for families, and remote, boat-access coves like Soufi on the southwest. The clear water and tranquil, undeveloped feel are a big draw. With a vehicle you can reach a series of beaches in a day, making swimming a key part of a Kimolos visit. For all its small size, Kimolos has a wealth of lovely beaches, and because the island sees far fewer visitors than Milos, they tend to be peaceful and unspoilt. The most celebrated is Prassa, on the northeast coast, a beautiful stretch of golden sand washed by crystal-clear turquoise water, prized for its serene atmosphere and natural beauty.
Elsewhere, gentler beaches such as Bonatsa and Kalamitsi offer shallow, calm, clear water that suits families and easy swimming, while more secluded coves like Soufi. On the southwestern coast, are reachable only by boat and reward the effort with soft sand, turquoise shallows and complete tranquillity. The common thread is exceptionally clear water and a quiet, undeveloped feel that has been lost on busier islands. With your own vehicle, brought over from Milos or hired in Psathi, you can comfortably reach a series of these beaches in a single day. So swimming and sunbathing in peaceful surroundings becomes a central pleasure of a Kimolos day trip, a calm counterpoint to the busier beaches of Milos.
The questions below cover what visitors ask most.
What hiking and sights are there?
Kimolos rewards walkers with scenic hiking trails across its quiet landscape. A favourite loop climbs from Chorio up to Mount Skiadi..
With its unusual mushroom-shaped rock and panoramic views over the Aegean and neighbouring Milos, then descends past Mavrospilia beach and the Ellinika archaeological site back to the village. The island also has the Skiadi geological landmark, old churches and the relaxed port of Psathi. Combined with the beaches and Chorio, the hiking and sights fill a varied and rewarding day. Beyond its beaches and village, Kimolos offers genuine rewards for walkers and the curious, set against a quiet, rugged landscape. A much-loved route is the loop that climbs from Chorio up to Mount Skiadi, the island’s high point.
Crowned by an unusual mushroom-shaped rock formation sculpted by erosion, from where panoramic views stretch across the Aegean to neighbouring Milos.
From the summit the trail descends toward the coast, passing the beach of Mavrospilia and the Ellinika archaeological site. The remains of an ancient settlement partly sunk beneath the sea, before looping back to Chorio. Along the way the island reveals old chapels, dry-stone landscapes and the relaxed little port of Psathi, where the ferry arrives and tavernas line the waterfront. These walks and sights add an active, exploratory dimension to a visit. Combined with the unspoilt beaches and the charm of Chorio, they easily fill a varied and satisfying day. Showing why Kimolos is far more than a quick add-on to a Milos holiday. The questions below cover what visitors ask most.
How do you spend a day on Kimolos?
To spend a day on Kimolos, take an early ferry from Pollonia to Psathi, ideally with a vehicle.
Start by exploring the village of Chorio and its Kastro, then drive to a beach such as Prassa or Bonatsa for swimming and a relaxed lunch at a taverna. Fit in a short walk or a quieter cove in the afternoon, then catch a late ferry back to Milos. Bring water, sun protection and cash, as the island is quiet and undeveloped. A relaxed pace suits Kimolos best. A day on Kimolos works best at a relaxed, unhurried pace that matches the island’s tranquil character. Take an early local ferry from Pollonia across to Psathi, ideally bringing your rental car or ATV over so you can explore freely.
Or hiring one on arrival, since the island’s sights and beaches are spread out and the summer bus service is limited.
A good plan is to begin with the cultural heart of the island, wandering the whitewashed alleys of Chorio and its medieval Kastro in the cooler morning. Before driving out to one of the beaches such as golden Prassa or family-friendly Bonatsa for a swim and a long, lazy lunch at a seaside or village taverna. In the afternoon you can add a short walk toward Mount Skiadi or seek out a quieter cove, then return to Psathi for a late ferry back to Milos. Come prepared with water, snacks, strong sun protection and certain cash, as Kimolos is quiet and undeveloped with a handful of facilities.
Embrace the slow rhythm, and a day on this unspoilt island makes a memorable and restful escape from Milos. The questions below cover what visitors ask most.
What gives Kimolos its appeal is how little it has changed. With far fewer visitors than Milos, no large resorts and a slow, traditional rhythm. It offers a glimpse of the Cyclades as they were a generation ago, where the single ferry sets the pace of the day. The island is known too for its rich birdlife and protected landscapes, and for the relaxed welcome of its tavernas. Late spring and early autumn are the loveliest times to visit, with warm seas and even quieter beaches than the summer peak.
Practical preparation matters on so quiet an island. Carry cash, as card payment is patchy, fill up with fuel before exploring. Check the return ferry times in advance so you do not miss the last crossing back to Pollonia. A hat, water and sturdy sandals cover most of a day spent moving between the beaches and the village of Chorio.
To build the trip, base yourself in nearby Pollonia, the ferry departure point, pair it with a Milos boat tour, explore the Milos beaches. Fit it into the wider list of things to do in Milos.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Milos to Kimolos?
You get from Milos to Kimolos by a short local ferry from Pollonia, on the northeast tip of Milos, to Psathi, the port of Kimolos. The crossing on the small Osia Methodia boat takes only 10 to 15 minutes and runs a series of times a day. Tickets are cheap and bought at the dock or on board, with no need to book ahead. You can bring a car, scooter or ATV across to explore the island.
Is Kimolos worth visiting from Milos?
Yes, Kimolos is well worth a day trip from Milos. It offers beautiful, unspoilt and quiet beaches like Prassa, the beautifully preserved village of Chorio with its medieval Kastro, scenic hiking up to Mount Skiadi. A genuine, authentic atmosphere far from the crowds. The short, frequent ferry from Pollonia makes it easy to reach, and the island’s tranquil charm offers a restful, rewarding contrast to busier Milos.
Can you take a car to Kimolos?
Yes, you can take a car, scooter or ATV from Milos to Kimolos on the local ferry from Pollonia to Psathi, which carries vehicles. This makes exploring the island’s scattered beaches and villages most easier. Alternatively, you can hire a car, scooter or ATV on arrival in Psathi. In summer a limited local bus connects Psathi, Chorio and a handful of beaches, but having your own vehicle gives the most freedom on a day trip.