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How many days in Serifos? 4 days of beaches, a cliff-top Chora and old mines
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Serifos is the island people reach from Piraeus in about two to five hours and then refuse to leave. It has no airport, no big resorts and no famous nightlife; what it has is Chora, a white town poured over a rocky peak above the port, a coastline of sandy coves, and the rusting remains of the iron mines that ran the island's economy for a century. Give it four days: one for Chora, two for beaches in different directions depending on the wind, and one for the mining coast and the inland villages.
Short answer
Three days is the comfortable minimum: Chora and the Livadi beaches on day one, the south-west mining coast on day two, the north and the monastery on day three. With only two nights, you will see Chora and lie on two beaches, which is still a good trip.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Livadi, Livadakia and the climb to Chora
Morning. The ferry docks at Livadi, the port and main beach village. Drop your bags and walk 10-15 minutes along the bay to Livadakia, a sheltered sandy beach with tamarisk trees and sunbeds (roughly €15-25 for two in high season). The water is shallow and calm when the north wind blows.
Afternoon. In the heat, rest, then take the local bus (about €2) or a taxi up to Chora, about 5 km by road. Walkers can use the old stepped path from Livadi, roughly 30-40 minutes uphill. In Chora, start at the main square, Ano Piatsa, with its neoclassical town hall, then climb the lanes to the Kastro and the church of Agios Ioannis Theologos at the top.
Evening. Watch sunset from the Kastro rock, looking south over Livadi bay and on clear evenings towards Sifnos. Eat in Chora, where tavernas serve mains for €12-18, then take the last bus or a taxi down (around €10-15; book ahead in August, as the island has only a handful of taxis).
The Kastro paths are rough rock and marble steps. Wear proper shoes, not flip-flops, and avoid the climb in the midday sun in July and August.
Day 2: South coast beaches: Psili Ammos and Agios Sostis
Morning. Drive or take the summer beach bus to Psili Ammos, about 10 minutes north-east of Livadi: fine pale sand, tamarisks and two tavernas behind the beach. Arrive before 10:30 in August to get shade.
Afternoon. Continue to Agios Sostis, a small chapel on a headland with a sandy cove on each side, so you can choose the one out of the wind. It has no facilities, so carry water and food. On calmer days, Kalo Ampeli on the south coast is reached by a dirt track and a short walk, and rewards with clear water.
Evening. Back in Livadi, have dinner by the water: grilled fish is sold by the kilo (often €50-80 per kilo for good species), so ask the price before it is cooked. The bars along the Livadi seafront stay open late but stay low-key.
Check the wind forecast every morning. When the meltemi blows from the north in July and August, choose south-facing beaches; north-coast coves can be rough.
Day 3: The mining coast: Megalo Livadi and Koutalas
Morning. Head west to Megalo Livadi, roughly 25-30 minutes by car from Livadi. Iron ore was shipped from here, and you can still see the neoclassical building of the mining company, the ruined loading bridges and rail tracks on the hillside. A memorial recalls the 1916 miners' strike, an important moment in Greek labour history.
Afternoon. Swim at Megalo Livadi itself, then stop at Koutalas, a quiet bay to the east with more mining remains and a small chapel on the shore. Locals favour simple fish tavernas around these bays; expect €15-25 per person for a lunch of fish, salad and wine.
Evening. Return to Chora for sunset at the windmills, then dinner. If you want a drink with a view, the bars around Ano Piatsa have small terraces over the drop to the sea.
Renting a car (from about €40-60 a day in summer, less in shoulder season) makes this day much easier; the bus network covers only the main routes, and timetables change through the season.
Day 4: Taxiarches monastery and the north villages
Morning. Drive north through Kallitsos and Panagia, a small village with an old Byzantine church, to Galani and the fortified Moni Taxiarchon, the Monastery of the Archangels, a white walled complex in a valley above the sea. Opening hours are irregular; dress modestly (covered shoulders and knees) and expect to find it closed outside visiting times.
Afternoon. Descend to Sykamia, a long beach in a green valley on the north coast, or to Platys Gialos if the sea is calm. Both have limited facilities, so bring supplies. In the late afternoon, return via Kentarchos and the panoramic road back to Chora.
Evening. Spend your last evening in Chora's lanes, which come alive after 21:00 in summer, with cafes and small shops open late. Order revithada (slow-baked chickpeas) if it is on the menu, a Cycladic Sunday dish.
In August, Serifos fills with Athenians on holiday. Book accommodation and the car months ahead for the first half of the month, especially around 15 August.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, merge Day 2 and Day 4: one beach on the south coast in the morning and the monastery in the afternoon. With 2 days, keep Chora and the mining coast, and swim at Livadakia and Psili Ammos.
Got extra days?
On a 5th day, take a ferry 20-50 minutes to Sifnos for its pottery villages and food, or to Kythnos in the other direction. Serifos also suits a slow week: walking the old mule paths between villages and trying a different beach each day.
Where to stay in Serifos
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Livadi (rooms to let) | Simple rooms near the port and the bus stop, walking distance to Livadakia beach. | €50-90 |
| Mid-range | Livadakia | Small studios and hotels steps from a sheltered sandy beach, 10-15 minutes' walk to the port. | €90-160 |
| Mid-range | Chora | Traditional houses with views over the bay; cooler at night, but you will need transport for beaches. | €100-180 |
| Comfort | Boutique villas around Chora and Livadi | Design villas with pools and sea views, mostly on the hills above the bay. | €200-450 |
Getting around
Ferries from Piraeus take about 2-2.5 hours on fast boats and 4-5 hours on conventional ships (roughly €40-75 one way, depending on the boat); some boats also call from Lavrio in some seasons. The island bus runs from Livadi to Chora many times a day in summer (about €2), with fewer services to Megalo Livadi, Galani and a few beaches; check the timetable posted at the port. There are only a few taxis. For two or more people, renting a car, scooter or ATV for at least two days is the practical choice. Some beaches are reached only by dirt tracks.
What to eat in Serifos
Serifos food is plain Cycladic cooking done well. Look for revithada (chickpeas baked in a clay pot), local goat in tomato sauce, sfougato (a cheese-and-courgette omelette or fritter), and fresh fish at Livadi and the mining bays. The island produces soft white cheeses and honey, sold at small shops in Chora and Livadi. A taverna dinner with house wine costs about €20-30 per person; a gyros pitta in Livadi is about €4. Breakfast is easiest at Livadi's seafront cafes, where a freddo espresso costs €3-4.
Best time to visit
June and September are ideal: sea warm enough to swim (around 22-25°C), most tavernas open and prices below August. July and August are hot and windy, with the meltemi often strong for days. May and early October are lovely for walking, but some places are still closed and boats are less frequent. In winter, the island is very quiet and ferry links are limited.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €35 | €65 | €150 |
| Food & drink | €25 | €45 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €5 | €15 | €40 |
| Local transport | €6 | €25 | €40 |
| Total per person, per day | about €70 | about €150 | about €310 |
Approximate 2026 prices for July-August; June and September are often 20-30% cheaper, and Greece's per-room climate resilience fee is added to accommodation bills.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a car on Serifos?
Not for Chora, Livadi and the nearby beaches: you can walk or use the bus. For the mining coast, the monastery and the north-coast coves, a car or scooter saves a lot of time, because buses are infrequent outside the Livadi-Chora route. Rent for at least two days in the middle of your stay, and book early for August.
Is Serifos good for families?
Yes. Livadakia and Psili Ammos have shallow water and sand, and distances are short. The island has no big resort hotels or water parks, so it suits families who like simple days: a beach in the morning, a nap, then Chora in the evening. Some steep Chora lanes are hard with a pushchair.
Can I combine Serifos with other islands?
Easily. Serifos sits on the Western Cyclades line from Piraeus, with frequent summer ferries to Sifnos (about 20-50 minutes) and onward to Milos. A common plan is Serifos for four days, then Sifnos and Milos, before returning to Piraeus. Check current timetables, which change every season.
Is Serifos quiet or lively?
Mostly quiet. Evenings centre on the Livadi seafront and the lanes of Chora, with a few bars that stay open late in July and August. There are no big clubs. Outside the first three weeks of August, you can still find empty coves, especially on the north coast.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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