Renting a Boat Without a Licence on Milos: What You Get and What to Ask
Updated October 22, 2026 · 5 min read
The short answer. Yes, you can hire a small boat on Milos and drive it yourself without a skipper’s licence. The most-reviewed option is the self-driving boat tour to Kleftiko and more bays: €225 per boat for up to five people, 4 to 8 hours, rated 4.7 from 87 reviews. It suits confident, calm people who want to choose their own bays. It does not suit anyone who would rather someone else watched the wind.
There are seven self-drive and bareboat listings in total, starting at €225 per group.
How the hire works
The listing says you collect the boat from Agia Kyriaki beach, from a local family business, and that every person over 18 may drive it, in a group of at most five. After a short safety briefing you are the captain. You can book half a day or a full day. Included according to the listing are the safety equipment, water and salty snacks. At the end of the rental you pay for the fuel you used, on the spot. The listing does not include hotel transfers or travel insurance.
Two details change the real price. First, fuel is a variable cost, so the €225 is a starting figure. Second, you bring your own lunch, sun cream and towels. Ask the operator how fuel was charged for a typical half day, so you have a number before you book.
The options compared
| Boat | Duration | Price per boat (up to 5 people) | Rating · reviews | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-driving boat tour to Kleftiko and more bays | 4–8 hours | €225 | 4.7 · 87 | Starts at Agia Kyriaki beach |
| Self-drive boat rental, no licence required | 5–10 hours | €240 | 4.6 · 26 | Listed under Klima |
| Self-drive boat rental to Kleftiko and Sykia Cave | not stated | €260 | 5 · 6 | Few reviews |
The last two listings tell you less than the first. The booking page of each is where you find the rental period, the fuel arrangement and the rules.
Is it cheaper than a guided trip?
Only if the boat is full. With five people the €225 boat comes to €45 each before fuel and food. The semi-private sailing trip to Kleftiko, one of the most-reviewed trips on the island, costs €100.10 per person for eight hours and is all inclusive according to its title. Two people in a hired boat pay €112.50 each before fuel, which is more than that trip, and they also do all the steering and anchoring.
What the guided trips give you that a hired boat does not
A skipper knows which bay is sheltered today and which cave is worth the swim. The big boats also have shade, a toilet and a meal. A small hired boat has what the operator puts on it, so ask what the shade and toilet arrangements are. Our guide to sailing boat or catamaran trips to Kleftiko compares the guided options.
Wind and the sea
The meltemi, the strong north wind, is most common in July and August, and operators change routes when it blows. On a guided trip the captain makes that decision. On a hired boat you make it, or the operator does when you collect the boat. Ask these questions: when do you refuse to hand out boats, what should I do if the wind picks up, and how do I reach you? The listing mentions 24/7 support. Keep the first hours for the sheltered side.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
It suits a group of friends or a family with at least one adult who is comfortable with a small boat, who can swim, and who wants to stop where they like. The driver must be over 18, and the listing caps the boat at five people, so a group of six needs two boats or a different trip. It does not suit anyone who gets anxious in open water, a group that wants a hot meal on board, or a day when the forecast is rough. If someone in your group has a medical condition or is pregnant, read the exclusions on the booking page and ask the operator before you book.
If you would rather be driven
If the idea of captaining a boat puts you off, a guided trip is easier, and the half-day morning cruises return by the afternoon. See the sunset boat trips from Adamas for the evening options, or Polyaigos and Kimolos by boat for the further islands.
Our pick for most travellers: hire a boat only if at least four of you will share it and one person is comfortable at the helm; otherwise book the guided Kleftiko trip. Check dates and prices for the self-driving boat tour.
