![]() |
AREADNE 2026 Research in Encoding And Decoding of Neural Ensembles Eliopoulos Conference Center Milos, Greece 23–27 June 2026 |
![]() |
Nearly every path to Milos requires a stop in Athens, whether the last leg is by air or by sea. In addition to the information on this page, there are many travel guides and web sites with extensive coverage of Milos.
High winds can affect both air and sea travel to and from Milos. We recommend including a buffer of at least one day before and after the conference to account for potential travel irregularities. Relatedly, we strongly recommend that you do not schedule an important event immediately following the meeting.
Air transportation to Athens International Airport (ATH) is available through major international airlines and many discount and charter companies. Arrive in Athens in the morning if possible to facilitate connections to Milos. Participants coming from non-EU countries connecting in Athens for Milos Airport (MLO) will need to pass though immigration at the first entry into the European Union, and normally also customs at ATH by collecting baggage, going through customs, and re-checking at the transfer desk. It is usually possible to select flight schedules so that overnight stays in Athens are not required when flying to and from Milos, although flights to and from the island are limited and do sell out.
If you will be taking a taxi from ATH to the city, be aware that as of 2025, the flat rate system is no longer in effect, and you will have to either insist on the meter being used, or negotiate a fare before getting into the cab. Be sure to be explicit about cost for luggage (which should be free, or have a small, nominal fee).
Air transport to Milos from Athens takes less than an hour and is available
multiple times per day, although the capacity is limited. The Milos airport
(MLO) is 5 km from the port town
of Adámas (also called
Adámantas) where the Eliopoulos Conference Center is
located. Transportation to Adámas is normally by taxi, public bus, or rental
car. Aegean Airlines provides service to Milos through it's subsidiary
Olympic Airways (IATA code OA). While Aegean Airlines (IATA code A3) is a
Star Alliance partner, Olympic is not a full partner, so only some Star
Alliance benefits accrue. Additional ATH-MLO service is available from
SKY Express (IATA code GQ). SKY Express is not a
formal member of any global airline alliance, but
has interline
agreements with many major airlines, including Air France, American
Airlines, Delta. Both airlines fly 42-seat propeller planes (ATR 42)
between Athens and Milos.
When departing from MLO by air with a connection in ATH, it is strongly recommended to allow two or more hours of time between flights as MLO-ATH flights are often delayed, especially toward the end of each day.
Under the most common flight patterns, you will have a wonderful view of the island while landing or taking off when sitting on the left side of the plane.
Boats to Milos leave from the Athenian port of Piraeus (TZE) located about an hour's drive away from the ATH airport. Bus and rail transportation are available from ATH and other parts of Athens to Piraeus.
The new Blue Line extension on the Athens Metro System means that you can travel from ATH airport straight to the Port of Piraeus without changing trains. The trip normally takes an hour, and costs EUR 9. Be mindful of your belongings, as pickpockets frequent the subway. The Piraeus metro station is directly across the street from the port itself, but as the port is quite large, be prepared for a possibly long (2 km / 20 min) walk to get to your boat.
Alternative departure ports for Milos include Rafina and Lavrio which are about 30 minutes by taxi from Athens Airport, but service is far less frequent than from Piraeus and can include substantially more stops.
Boat tickets can be arranged beforehand or purchased as late as the day of travel, but often the less expensive classes of travel fill up early. If you are flying in to Athens and want to take a ferry the same day, we strongly recommend arranging the sea tickets beforehand. If you are planning a few days' stay in Athens before going by sea to Milos, then it is possible to purchase tickets in Athens. Ferry ticket prices are controlled, so shopping between agents for price is not necessary, although some agents do not represent all carriers. Many ferry services have direct, on-line sales options. Boat schedules are available through www.gtp.gr.
There are two broad classes of boats which serve the Aegean islands: traditional, and high-speed ferries. The traditional boats are slower, have open decks, make more stops, and are less expensive. The high-speed ferries are faster, enclosed, and are more costly. Be sure to check the transit time in addition to the departure time for any boat you are considering, as some boats make several stops on the way to Milos. There is only one inter-island seaport in Milos. Slower boats can take 4 to 5 hours from Piraeus, and high-speed boats as little as 2-1/2 hours. Be certain to verify the route and schedule when booking. For Summer of 2025, passage from Piraeus to Milos runs will run about 80 euros, depending on various factors including boat speed. Smoking is permitted on some ferry boats, and on those, non-smoking sections are available.
The town of Adámas is the port and main settlement on the island, although there are significant other villages in the mountains and near the water. Adámas is readily explored on foot, and many establishments are not accessible by any other means. The Eliopoulos Conference Center is at the very southern edge of Adámas, on the bay. Click here for a detail from a map that can be helpful with hotel planning; as of 2025, the hotel locations given by on-line booking services appear to be accurate.
The island of Milos is small enough that it can be circumnavigated in a single day by motorized vehicle. There is frequent bus service from Adámas to other towns, beaches, and the airport. The bus depot is near the center of town; tickets (currently 2 euros) are purchased in cash on the bus. Cars, motorized scooters, and bicycles are readily available for hire, but you must have a motorcycle license to rent a two-wheeled scooter. An international driving permit is required to rent any vehicle with a non-EU driving license, in addition to your normal driving license. Filling stations are strategically placed around the island, including one in Adámas.
Avis, Budget, Avance, and Matha car rentals have pick-up areas at the airport. Other agencies operate out of Adámas.
The central taxi station is in
Adámas. Empty taxis do not circulate looking for fares, thus rides are
best arranged by phone +30 22870 22219 or by going to the main taxi
stand. Taxi rates are reasonable on the island. Fares for common
destinations are displayed on the dashboard of each taxi cab. It can be
advantageous to as to use the meter, or to negotiate the fare beforehand.
For longer distances, the meter will likely result in a higher fare than the
posted fare. There is a surcharge for arranging a taxi by appointment. A
typical fare from Adámas to the airport is 10 to 12 euros, and to the
conference center is 6 to 8 euros.