Mandrakia is the most beautiful traditional fishing village in Milos, Greece. The sleepy fishing village is built around a tiny circular harbour with colourful boat garages built into the sides of cliffs, a tiny church, Zoodohos Pigi, overlooking the village, and a restaurant, Medousa, with spectacular views over the crashing waves. Milos, one of the most spectacular islands in the Cyclades, has several gorgeous fishing villages and well-preserved traditional Cycladic villages, like Klima, Plaka and Pollonia, but even with such steep competition, Mandrakia is the jewel in the crown.

Read More: Milos Travel Guide

The setting is so picturesque, that it’s hard to imagine that the village was built for practical reasons, not simply to be beautiful. Mandrakia is on the more densely populated, eastern half of Milos, on the northwestern side of the coastline. It’s a short drive from the capital, Plaka, and sits between Milos’ popular beaches, Firopotamos and Sarakiniko. Because Mandrakia is so tiny, there’s no accommodation and as a result, rather than becoming a tourist resort, it’s more popular as a spot for day-trippers looking to enjoy the view and have lunch or dinner at Medousa, which is regarded as one of the best restaurants on the island.

Visiting Mandrakia was one of the highlights of the five days I spent in Milos, and one of the most memorable villages that I saw during my two-week trip to Greece with David. Mandrakia feels like the village that time forgot, but it’s Instagrammable traditional setting and colourful boat garages makes it a bit of a tourist magnet – and many fashion influencers and Instagrammers have spent time there this summer, so I imagine it will get a little busier every year!

How to get to Mandrakia

The best way to get to Mandrakia is by car. Hiring a car is essential in Milos, as the island is large and the buses are not particularly frequent and often the stops are a long way from the beaches themselves, requiring a long walk on the side of the road down to the beach (and a steep return walk). There are also boat trips that travel around Milos, so you could see Mandrakia from the water, however all boat tours in Milos are dictated by the winds, and if a strong northerly wind is blowing the boat may have to take a different route to sites on the southern side of the island instead. To guarantee a visit to Mandrakia, the best thing to do is hire a car (or book a taxi, but keep in mind there are limited taxis on the island and mobile phone reception at Mandrakia may be limited).

Medusa Restaurant in Mandrakia

Medusa is the only restaurant in Mandrakia, and one of the best restaurants in Milos, thanks to its amazing setting over the ocean. Stop in for drinks or dinner, and enjoy a magical sunset over Mandrakia.