Serifos has one of the most spectacular hilltop villages in the Cyclades and a port town that is worth more than a quick stop on the way to the ferry. The island is quiet, rocky, and largely untouched by mass tourism. The villages reflect that. They are small, authentic, and full of the kind of character that comes from being left alone by developers for decades.
The 2 main settlements are Chora, the old capital perched on a cone shaped hill above the harbour, and Livadi, the port village on the southeast coast. Most visitors stay in one or the other and walk or take the bus between them. Beyond these 2, the island has a handful of tiny farming hamlets scattered across the hillsides, most with just a church and a few houses.
Ferries dock at Livadi, and a bus runs up to Chora throughout the day. Check the Serifos bus timetable for the schedule and the how to get to Serifos page for ferry connections from Piraeus, Sifnos, and Milos.
Which Serifos Village Suits You
The hilltop Chora with the castle: Chora is the reason many people visit Serifos. It sits on a steep conical hill visible from the ferry as you approach, with whitewashed houses cascading down the slopes and the ruins of the Venetian Castle at the very top. The walk up through the narrow lanes is steep but not long, and the views from the castle ruins take in the harbour, the open sea, and the islands of Sifnos and Kythnos on the horizon. Chora has a handful of tavernas, a couple of cafes on the main square, and a quiet atmosphere that feels untouched by the modern world.
The port town with the beach: Livadi is where ferries arrive and where most of the island’s accommodation sits. A long sandy beach runs along the bay in front of the village, with tavernas, cafes, and shops along the waterfront road. It is more practical than Chora for a base because the beach is right there and the bus to Chora takes only a few minutes.
A quiet beach hamlet: Livadakia sits in the next bay south from Livadi, a short walk along the coast. It is barely a village at all, just a cluster of rooms and tavernas behind one of the best beaches on the island. If you want to be on the sand and away from the port, this is the spot.
Megalo Livadi Serifos
Quick facts Location: a sheltered bay on the southwest coast of Serifos, about 11 kilometres from Chora. Population: around 50 today, down from roughly 700 at the height of the mining era. Known for: the ruins of the island’s iron mining industry, and the 1916 miners’ strike that won Greece’s first legally recognised 8 hour
Chora Town Serifos
Quick facts Location: a whitewashed hill town built at about 230 metres above sea level, roughly 4.5 kilometres inland and uphill from Livadi, the island’s port. Known for: its Venetian castle, whitewashed cubic houses climbing the hillside and 3 surviving windmills, regularly named among the most striking capital towns in the Cyclades. Layout: divided into
Livadi village Serifos
At a glance: Southeastern Serifos, the island’s only port and largest settlement, around 5 kilometres from Chora. A sheltered, wind protected bay that grew from a mining company headquarters into the island’s busiest tourist centre. Best suited to travellers who want an easy, well connected base right where the ferries dock, with a proper beach
Livadakia village Serifos
At a glance: Southwestern Serifos, a short walk from the port at Livadi and around 5.3 kilometres from Chora. A small, relatively new settlement built along one of the island’s most popular sandy beaches, with rooms, tavernas and the only organised campsite on Serifos. Best suited to travellers who want an easy, walkable beach base
Planning Your Village Visits on Serifos
Livadi and Chora are connected by a bus that runs several times a day, and the ride takes about 10 minutes. You can also walk between them on a path that takes roughly 30 minutes uphill. Wear proper shoes because the path is steep in places. The Serifos taxi page has numbers for local drivers.
The Serifos map shows how the settlements sit on the island. Between village visits, the walk to the Venetian Castle is the one thing everyone should do on Serifos. The old mining areas on the southeast coast are also worth exploring for their industrial history and atmospheric coastline. For the full picture see our main Serifos island guide.
