Sarakiniko Beach: A Lunar Landscape in the Heart of Milos, Greece

Sarakiniko Beach’s Claim to Fame

Sarakiniko Beach is located on the island of Milos, Greece. It is famous for its beautiful lunar-like landscape, and attracts many tourists, to the island. The surface of Sarakiniko is a result of volcanic ash and fossilization. The landscape is made of pumice, a soft and malleable rock. Over time, the ocean’s waves molded Sarakiniko’s landscape into its current shape.

All photos on this post not watermarked with Suttonthoughts.com were shot by a local Milos photographer, Pantelis. You can book a similar session here (more on that later on).

Things to Do in Sarakiniko Beach

1. Swim at the Beach

Sarakiniko isn’t just a beautiful landscape, there is also a beach! The beach is pretty small, but there is plenty of room to put a towel down and swim around, even during Greece’s summer high season.

I especially enjoyed grabbing some goggles and floating around.

Although stunning, Sarakiniko is still a beach with live sea critters. Some tourists have reported being stung by sea anemones in the shallow areas. I just want to mention that because I’d prefer not to be another blogger who highlights all the positive things and leaves you to learn the negative the hard way. In this case, be aware of where you step and bring some goggles. It didn’t happen to me, but I tend to float more than I step through the sand.

2. Go Cliff Jumping off the Rocks

Cliff jumping is one of the most popular things to do at Sarakiniko Beach. You can jump from multiple levels of rock, ranging from easy to intimidating!

3. Have a Photoshoot

This is my favorite reason to head out to Sarakiniko — PHOTOSHOOT! I always wanted to have professional photos of myself in my 20s, and at 29 I decided it was the time (at the 11th hour, ha!) I took the opportunity to do it at Sarakiniko Beach, and I am so grateful.

I had an incredible local photographer who helped me with posing and was kind enough to snap a few pictures with my partner at no extra cost. The photoshoot was done at sunset, with a surreal background, and my goodness I can’t believe I get to keep these forever!

You can book the same experience with my photographer, Pantelis, through Airbnb. I would love to hear about your experience and see your photos if you do it!

4. Have a Picnic

The smooth rock makes for the perfect setting for a picnic. You can swim around and then retreat to your picnic on the lunar landscape when you get hungry. This is also a great idea because there aren’t restaurants around Sarakiniko Beach, only a food truck or two at the entrance. Don’t forget to bring a blanket and a hat; the rocks can get hot and there is no shade.

5. Tan on the Landscape

So you can either tan on the sand or tan on the lunar landscape at Sarakiniko Beach. My take is, that the lunar landscape is way cooler. Plus, you won’t bring a bunch of beach sand home in your towel or your hair!

6. Explore the Caves of Sarakiniko Beach

Sarakiniko has a bunch of caves, both on land and at the surface of the water. Some of them are hard to get to, but so worth it! There are no fees to view the caves, you can roam around at your discretion. Just a word of caution, the grounds are very uneven so be careful to watch where you step.

7. Go Snorkeling

If you enjoy snorkeling there is lots of opportunity for that around Sarakiniko. The water is so clear and beautiful to explore beneath the surface of the rocks. You’ll see mostly small and medium-sized fish and will have pretty good visibility to the ocean floor if you stay close enough to the rocks.

Also, Sarakiniko Beach doesn’t have snorkeling gear for you to rent so make sure to bring your own with you!

8. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset from Sarakiniko Beach

There is a lot I can say about a beautiful Greek island dusk and dawn, and none of my pictures will ever portray their beauty in person. Sarakiniko Beach is yet another post for watching the sunrise and sunset. Bring a blanket and romanticize the moment. Bring your camera and take pictures during the beautiful golden hours of the day, when the shadows create the perfect depth and the sun casts the perfect lighting. Wander the moonscape and let nature help you capture some beautiful Sarakiniko memories.

What To Bring to Sarakiniko Beach

• Sunglasses – The sun HITS here! Save yourself from squinting and bring your shades.
• Wide Brim Hat – There is no shade here and unless you land a spot on the small beach where you can insert an umbrella, bring a hat. It’ll be the next best thing to protect your face and neck from the sun’s rays.
• Snorkel Gear – There are no rental shops in or around Sarakiniko Beach, so if you plan to snorkel make sure you bring your gear.
• Picnic Blanket – A picnic blanket is a nice alternative to having to sit on your beach towel. You’ll want something to sit on because the Sarakiniko’s moon surface gets pretty hot.
• Travel Towel – Bring a towel in case you want to get in the water.
• Snacks – There aren’t any restaurants on Sarakiniko Beach. When I went, there was a food trailer at the entrance, but we weren’t tempted to buy any of the few items they had. Snacks will help hold you over so you can spend money on a sit-down lunch or dinner instead.
• Water – Sarakiniko doesn’t have water fountains, but they do sell water at the food trailer. Again, the food trailer isn’t nailed to the ground therefore I would bring my own water to not risk being without it.
• SPF – Preserve your skin with a strong SPF. You will burn. Alternatively, you can wear UV shirts. My boyfriend loved wearing his throughout our Milos and Santorini adventure.
• Flowy Dress (for pictures) – For the gals, this is a great memory. Try to find a secluded spot on Sarakiniko Beach, and let the wind and your dress stage the perfect breezy shot.