Among the Cyclades islands close to the Greek capital Athens, Serifos is perhaps Greece’s finest hidden gem. The most rugged of them all, Serifos is essentially a large rock rising from the blue Aegean Sea with pristine beaches, hill-side walking paths, original island communities, and a rich mining history.
Still on the right track of balancing its environment with its tourism development, Serifos Island is an ideal place for a relaxing, laid-back holiday among the sugar-cubed white houses of Cycladic villages, a quaint harbor, and a great variety of beaches, some with very good seaside taverns. An island for getting away from it all, just a few hours away from Athens and other Cycladic islands.
Follow our Serifos travel guide to discover what to see on Serifos Island, what to eat, and how to get around.
Serifos Island in a nutshell
Located in the western Cyclades below the islands of Kea and Kythnos and just above Sifnos, Serifos is still a connoisseur’s destination, a favorite among the nature-loving individuals whose idea of an island retreat doesn’t include big hotel chains, Michelin star restaurants, and foam parties.
Serifos is a small iron and granite rock with raw beauty comprising of the rugged natural landscape, white chapels, and monasteries dotted between the few settlements, among which a magnificent Chora, the main village, spills its whitewashed houses around the conical hill, boasting some of the nicest Cycladic views out there.
Daytime is spent on some of its 70 beaches and coves, all close to each other, while in the evening the sunset-kissed restaurants, bars, and piazzas of Chora light up and provide a perfect backdrop to lively sophisticated nights along its cobbled streets.
Serifos is certainly not for those seeking a ready-made action-packed holiday, but will perfectly suit anyone seeking an authentic small Greek island experience in which simplicity reigns and the days pass slowly in swimming, hiking, discovering local tastes, rich culture, and proud past.
Serifos Map
How to Get to Serifos by Air
There is no airport in Serifos, so the only option is to fly to the nearby islands of Milos or Paros, or even Santorini, and from there, take a local ferry.
How to Get to Serifos by Ferry
Multiple daily ferries connect Athens’ Piraeus port with Serifos. The journey takes about 5 hours on the conventional boats (ferry tickets €38 one way per person), or 2-2.5 hours on the high-speed ferry (ferry tickets €64 one way per person).
The ferry to Sifnos docks in the only port on the island, Livadi Port.
Island Hopping
Serifos is ideally located for island hopping, with its diverse insular neighbors of Kythnos and Sifnos being no more than 1 hour away, making them an easy day-trip destination.
A bit further away lay other Cyclades islands – Milos, with its spectacular lunar landscape; the remote, laid-back Kimolos, and cosmopolitan Paros and Antiparos.
Coupling a visit to Serifos with bigger islands like Naxos, Paros or Santorini will give you a good combination of a fun-packed touristy island experience with the laid-back relaxation Serifos is known for.
Top Tourist Attractions in Serifos
The Best Beaches in Serifos
Serifos is well renowned for its beaches that come in all shapes and sizes, from sandy, to pebbly and rocky, pristine, or with low-key beach bars.
Livadakia Beach
Close to Chora and just next to the port of Livadi, this sandy west-facing beach is popular for its easy access, proximity to bars, restaurants, accommodation, and sun loungers on the sand. Although among the most touristed beaches of the island, it is never crowded.
Agios Sostis Beach
The most beloved beach of the island with a specific sand strip and the church above it, Agios Sostis gets busy during the summer.
Bring refreshments as there are no bars around and the parking is 15 min on foot away.
Ganema
Family-friendly beach option due to good protection from the northern winds. With one beach bar and lots of free space under shady trees, there’s no need for you to bring an umbrella or other beach shade.
Megalo Livadi
Historical beach as the Serifos mining history was unraveling here 100 years ago. Nowadays a place with long shallow azure waters, sandy beach and a nice restaurant.
Major Historical Sites and Museums
Chora
Unique Serifos Chora is set amphitheatrically around the hill. Its high (ano) and low (kato) settlements, connected by stairs, make for one of the most picturesque main villages of the Cyclades.
After admiring the traditional Cycladic architecture, renovated windmills, cobbled alleys, make sure to visit:
Church of Agios Konstantinos
The most photographed site on the island, sitting on top of Kastro and boosting a spectacular panoramic view of the sea.
Venetian Castle (Kastro)
A 15th-century settlement on top of Chora
Piazza
A marble-paved Main Square of the village with a colorful 1907 town hall building
Byzantine churches
Don’t miss the Byzantine churches of Agios Athanasios, Evangelismos, and Agios Eleftherios.
Serifos Island Museums
Folklore museum
Housed in a mansion in Kato Chora, showcases the rural past of the island.
Archaeological Collection of Serifos
Located in Livadi, the museum showcases the material culture of the island from the Classical Age until Roman times from the Castle of Chora and Aspros Pyrgos.
Taxiarches Monastery
The most significant monastery on the island, dedicated to the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, was erected in 1572.
Its complex past, local significance, unique architecture, and ecclesiastical importance are open to the public.
Serifos’ Mining Legacy
Mines have been part of Serifos since antiquity and the excavation of the ore continued in the 19th century by a German-led concession. The appalling conditions led to a strike in 1919 with fatal consequences, and the memorial in Megalo Livadi testifies about the early industrial struggles of local and Greek people in general.
Chrysoloras Winery
Located in Flaskos, Chrysoloras Winery produces biological local white, red, and rose wine in an arid climate with low but tasteful yields.
Serifos Villages
Although the main villages of Serifos are Chora and Livadi, it is worth making an inland tour to visit Panagia, Kallitsos, Galani, and Pyrgos for their architecture and setting.
Serifos Cuisine: What to Eat in Serifos, Greece
Pedoulia – cured pork with cabbage
Cheese from the pit – a local (delicious) hard cheese
Matsi – a traditional wide pasta
Getting Around Serifos: Local Transportation
Serifos is a small island (30 square miles) with small distances between beaches, villages, and the port.
The main road links the port of Livadi and the main village – Chora in a 4.5km stretch of paved road.
Local buses will take you to some villages and beaches, but not all of them.
Hiring a Car, Quad/ATV, or Scooter
The island is best visited on your own set of wheels (rent a car or scooter) as the bus service doesn’t cover all the villages and beaches of the island.
Serifos has its share of winding island roads, but nothing worse than other Cycladic islands.
Scooters start from €25, car rental from €60 a day, and pre-booking is strongly advised.
Riding a Bicycle
Due to its morphology and terrain, Serifos offers great mountain bike routes.
With easy, moderate, and hard trails, the island offers conventional and e-bike rental options.
Walking and Hiking
Hiking on Serifos is mostly easy if the route is taken in one direction, as most of them are downhill.
The island boasts more than 80km of signed and non-signed hiking paths.
Since many of them are traditional, centuries-old walking paths that connected the villages of the island before the road system, you will walk past many of its wonderful structures from the past – closed mines, dry stone walls, ancient sites, abandoned sheds, and trashing floors, all close to some of the island’s most beautiful beaches.
TIP: Be cautious and don’t hike if the temperatures and weather don’t allow for several hours in the sun without any shade.
Public Bus System
Bus routes connect Livadi and Chora all day long during the summer.
Some of the island’s villages are also on the public bus route, including Panagia, Galani, Kallitsos, Mega Livadi, and Koutalas.
Tourist bus routes connect the port of Livadi with various beaches during the summer, including Agios Sostis, Psili Ammos, Agios Ioannis, Vagia, Ganema, and Koutalas (prices between €2-4 one way).
Best Time of Year to Visit Sifnos
Like many other Cycladic islands, Serifos is best visited in June and September.
The summer months of July and August are very hot and busy, as it is the peak Greek and European holiday periods.
High Season (June – August)
Serifos has nowhere near the crowd numbers of the superstar islands like Santorini or Paros, but the main summer months do bring crowds from Athens and abroad, especially in August.
If you can, visit Serifos by the end of June to enjoy the island when at it’s most relaxed.
Shoulder Season (April – May, September – October)
My favorite time – late May and the whole month of September – is a time when the island is at peace with the number of its visitors.
You can find empty beaches and the restaurants will not ask for dinner reservations. The accommodation is also significantly less expensive.
Low Season (November – March)
Serifos is rather quiet during the winter, but still a great place for those looking forward to discovering what quiet months on a Greek island look like. Just shy of 1000 wintertime residents of Serifos ensures enough outlets remain open for a comfortable stay.
How long to stay in Serifos?
If you are on an island hopping tour, schedule 3 nights on Serifos. It would give you enough time to enjoy its most famous beaches, visit several local landmarks, and sample the island’s spectacular food.
If planning a relaxing holiday, go for 7-10 days and let the island’s easygoing vibe sink in after the 3rd day of stay, leaving the extra week for the full battery charge!
