Diagram by Greece Trips. Free to reuse with credit - CC BY 4.0.
It is the island’s most photographed place after Sarakiniko, and unlike Sarakiniko it is somebody’s home.
What a syrma actually is
The word describes the arrangement, not the colour. Boats are hauled up out of the winter sea into a rock-cut garage; the family lives in the small room above. The paintwork was practical, using whatever marine paint was to hand, and it became the island’s signature by accident.
Klima is the largest and best-preserved example. Firopotamos, Mandrakia and Skinopi are quieter versions, and our things to do in Milos page places them in a loop.
Visiting it well
Two things to be clear about:
- People live and work here. Many syrmata are rented as accommodation and others are in daily use. Doorways are not props; photograph the row, not through windows.
- It is not a beach. There is a thin strip of shingle and the water is deep close in. You can swim, but this is a village to look at rather than a place to spend the day.
The light is the reason to time it: the shore faces west, so late afternoon puts the sun on the painted doors, which is when the photographs everyone knows are taken.
Getting there
Klima sits below Plaka and Tripiti at the end of a steep, narrow road. Parking is very limited at the bottom and the descent is not comfortable in a large car.
Many visitors park higher and walk down, which takes minutes and solves the problem. It combines naturally with Plaka above and the catacombs on the same hillside.
Last checked August 2026. Access and parking arrangements change - see our editorial policy.
Common questions
What are the syrmata at Klima?
Boat garages cut into the rock at sea level, with brightly painted doors and small fishermen’s rooms above, used to shelter boats from winter storms.
Can you swim at Klima?
There is a narrow strip of shingle and deep water close in, so swimming is possible, but it is a village rather than a beach.
When is the best time to photograph Klima?
Late afternoon, when the west-facing shore catches the sun on the painted doors.
Can you stay in a syrma?
Some have been converted into rental accommodation on Milos, while others remain in use by their owners.
How do you get to Klima?
Down a steep narrow road below Plaka and Tripiti. Parking at the bottom is very limited, so many visitors park higher and walk down.
Next
Read things to do in Milos, Plaka, or best beaches in Milos.