Cyclades
Serifos
Wild, uncrowded, and quietly stunning — the Cyclades as they used to be.
Getting around
Car recommended
Cost
€€€
In peak season
Quiet
Best months
May, Jun, Sep, Oct
From Athens
5.5h ferry
In pictures
Serifos
Serifos feels like it belongs to the travellers who found it before it became fashionable, and somehow it still does. The hilltop Chora — a knot of whitewashed houses and windmills perched on a near-vertical hill above the ferry port — is one of the most dramatically positioned village settlements in the Cyclades. The beaches are excellent and rarely overcrowded: Livadakia below the port, Psili Ammos in the south, Lia on the eastern coast. The hiking between them on ancient mule paths through rough terrain is genuinely rewarding. Most visitors are Greek, which keeps the tavernas honest and prices reasonable relative to Mykonos or Paros. The island has an iron-ore mining history — ancient and modern — and the ruins of the old mines at Megalo Livadi on the southwest coast add an industrial note to the landscape that sets it apart from its neighbours.
How it scores
- Beaches
- Nightlife
- Food
- Culture
- Nature
- Family
- Accessibility
- Value for money
The catch
Quiet to the point of feeling empty outside July–August. Limited dining and accommodation options.
Hidden gem
Walk the old miners' path from Megalo Livadi — abandoned iron-ore loading bridges still stand on the beach.
Where it sits
Cyclades, Greece
Serifos — frequently asked
- When is the best time to visit Serifos? +
- The best months to visit Serifos are May to October. It's calm and uncrowded most of the year, so even peak season is workable.
- How do you get to Serifos from Athens? +
- Serifos has no airport — you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus or Rafina, which takes about 5.5 hours. Some travellers fly to a nearby island and ferry across.
- Is Serifos good for couples? +
- Serifos is one of the most romantic Greek islands — sunsets, candlelit tavernas, sea-view rooms.
- Is Serifos good for families with kids? +
- Serifos is a solid family option, though you'll want a car for the best beaches.
- Is Serifos expensive? +
- Serifos is affordable by Greek-island standards.
- Do you need a car on Serifos? +
- You'll want a rental car on Serifos — distances are longer and the best beaches are spread out.
- What's the catch with Serifos? +
- Quiet to the point of feeling empty outside July–August. Limited dining and accommodation options.