This is an island with a long history, a peaceful atmosphere and easy going tempo, exotic beaches and wild nature. It is an ideal destination for summer holidays, offering more than 70 beaches often reachable only by car or boat. Chora is five kilometers away from Livadi, the island's port, and is amongst the most scenic villages in Cyclades. It is built around a hill, an authentic medieval settlement with magnificent views. There are smaller villages like Galani, Kentarhos and Sykamia also built on hills, sophisticated Livadi where all the nightlife is, Koutalas with its old stone houses and old miners settlements, Mega Livadi with the company's headquarters, evoking classical style, and the old ruins of buildings and shipping stairs. Serifos underground is so rich in minerals that in the 6th century the island possessed their own currency.
Where to swim
At Livadi with umbrellas, sunbeds and sandy beach, Avlomonas and Livadakia with sandy beaches and tamarix trees, at Karavi with a sandy beach and flat rocks in the water, shaded by trees and suitable for nudism. At Koutalas bay you will find Ganema and Vagia shaded by trees and protected by Natura 2000. To the east you will find Psili Ammos, voted the best beach in Europe for the year 2003, sandy with shallow waters, Kentarhos just below the village by the same name, Platys Gyalos with shade and a taverna. To the north there is Sykamia, a long beach, and Karavas where you can only go through a rough country road or a path just as Lia in the southeast.
Where to stay
At Sympotama, Agios Sostis, Rizes Hotel (+30 52222) features 14 apartments and 2 suites with private pool, all looking at the port and Chora.
At Livadi, Serifos Beach Hotel (51209), Hotel Asteri (+30 51891), Indigo Studios (52548), Aiolos (+30 52152), Gorgona Studios (+30 51784).
At Chora, Apanemia (+30 51717), Anatoli (51510) and Galini (+30 51208, +30 6942555838)
At Livadakia, Dorkas (+30 51422), Medousa (+30 51127) and Corali (+30 51500). If you prefer open air go to Camping Coralli (+30 51500, coralli.gr) one of the best campings in Greece, featuring an internet area, restaurant, mini market, dining hall with different dishes every day, swimming pool, shared kitchen, laundry room. Imagine all this is on the beach where your tent could be just 5 metres from the water (for an early morning dive). There is also a beach bar.
Where to eat and have fun
At Livadi: Right at the edge of the port you will find cafe Anemos (+30 51783) offering an exquisite view of Chora and all of the surrounding areas due to its strategic placing. Go there for a royal breakfast, beautiful fresh salads, home made desserts and have a club sandwich – one of the best you ever had. You can also get an excellent cup of coffee at very reasonable prices.
At the end of the beach at the port you will find Yacht Club Serifos (+30 51888), which was the island's first taverna back in 1938. Today it is the number one hotspot in the island's nightlife. You can enjoy cocktails, pure drinks and excellent music in an elegant and well designed bar right next to the sea. Go there in the morning for super juices, salads and light snacks. As far as club restaurants go everyone stays awake till morning at Metalleio (+30 51755). It all starts at about 8 o'clock in the evening in the large terrace where you can have really good Mediterranean dishes and choose from a well educated wine list, all at very reasonable prices. One of the pluses is that during dinner music is very discreet and pleasant. There are also video wall screenings, as well as concerts and parties happening there all the time.
Also at Livadi there is the Shark Club with all kinds of music, pure drinks and properly made cocktails while enjoying the lit boats at the port. Lots of interesting people go to the Shark and usually stay there till really late. At the Ouzeri tis Kalis (6942467987) you have two choices: you either sit right on the beach (isn't this what you have been dreaming all winter) or in the terrace under the shade of a tree. Order the fish (always fresh, fished with their own boat) but don't say no to their excellent lobster pasta and bouillabaisse. On their menu you will also find fresh meats, home made pastries and traditional recipes from all over Greece, especially the islands. Pure Mama' s cooking.
Takis (+30 51159) is another all time classic at Livadi right next to the sea. There you will be served well cooked Greek cuisine based on organically grown produce and fish.
Indigo right by the sea at Livadi is ideal for coffees, juices, waffles and drinks, open morning through late at night. Have a cocktail juice on the sunbed at sunset. The best!
At Chora: At Aerino (+30 52592) you will not believe the view from the terrace – one of the best spots to have a drink on the island. The other highlight here is the music – emphasizing on jazz, ethnic, retro and rock pieces, right after the large freshly made cocktails and sweet specialties. Its very narrow, monastery like interior every so often becomes a gallery.
At Aloni (+30 52603) by Marieta Kotsikou you can enjoy the view over Livadi but mostly its traditional, finger licking, Greek cuisine. The Kafeneio tou Stratou (+30 52566) is propably the island's best loved place in Ano Chora right at the Town Hall square. It is a traditional coffee house serving royal omelettes and a special marble cake. Otherwise you can have a beer or an ouzo listening to stories from the locals and dreaming of coming back here in the winter. At Chora at plateia ton Mylon you will find Karavomylos (+30 51261) the right place for excellent wine, rakomelo, souma accompanied by tasty cycladic dishes. Nice Greek music is one of the store's trademarks mixing traditional and contemporary aspects. One of its two rooms serves as an antique shop. The other half is a club restaurant artistically decorated with a large terrace overlooking the sea. There is also Perasma a coffeehouse in Kato Chora with deliciously made quality food.
In the rest of the island you will find Stefanakos a traditional tavern on the Psili Ammos beach, on Koutalas beach there is Yparho – at Platys Gyalos Nikoulias taverna (+30 52174), at Megalo Livadi, Kyklopas (+30 51009) and Marditsa (+30 51003).
Calma Beach Bar (+30 52328) on Avlomomas beach, north of Livadi. You don't have to plan anything there. They start off in the morning with a hearty breakfast followed by Mediterranean cuisine while at night you can relax with romantic, lounge music enjoying a cocktail by the sea.
How to move around
Excellent service at Poseidon Rent a Car (Livadi, +30 52030)
Ethnic look
Serifos' favourite spot is Le Cotecheri (+30 52056) designed by Dassios. Dimitris has created a unique shop in Chora. There you can find selected items from his personal collection as well as accessories and objects brought back from his travels. You can also find mainstay sandals, sharong towels from Istanbul, home furnishings from the Middle East, jewellery from Afghanistan, dresses from Mauritania, lamps from Morocco as well items by other Greek designers. Le Cotecheri is open every day (11.00-14.00, 18.00-24.00).
Area Code: +30 22810
Police: +30 51300
Port Authority: +30 51470
Town Hall: +30 51210
First Aid: +30 51202
