Opening

Why go to an island like Sérifos? I can think of several reasons: Tourists do not overcrowd the island and the inhabitants have not adapted too much to tourism. This means that you have a bigger opportunity to meet an everyday life of the Greek people.

Furthermore you will find some beautiful beaches very much worth visiting, and the island is idealistic for those who like to walk. The landscape is rather rough but beautiful.

In 1995 this was my second island to visit, but unfortunately I only was able to stay about three days, caused by ferry employees going out on strike. But it was, in most cases, a very pleasant stay!

Map

Where to stay?

The port Livádhi is a very good choice of finding a room, at least if you travel of season. It situated in a bay on the eastside of the island and the harbour continues in a long beach where you can find hotels, boarding houses, taverns and cafeterias. A possible disadvantage if you choose a room close to the water, is noise from traffic or noise from a nearby tavern or bar.

A teen to fifteen minutes walk south, you find the village Livadháki, which could be a good alternative if your are looking for more peace. But here it's a more tourist feel, and be prepared for mosquitoes!

Around the island

Chóra 2km from Livádhi is quit and atmospheric and a highly spectacular village, sometimes regarded as the most beautiful village in the Cyclades, see Pictures below, or the entry picture above. With small houses, narrow alleys, tiny church clinging to the cliff edges, not to mention the breathtaking views across the valleys below.

If you continue and pass the village Panagia and later Galaní your reach the monastery of Moni Taxiarchón, from the fifteen century. It's designed for 60 monks, but presently (1995) home only to Makarios, a parish priest and a farmer-fisherman monk. The monastery looks like a castle thanks to its 6-metre high protection wall. The garden inside the walls is beautiful and a peaceful place made to spend some time of relaxation and contemplation. If Makarios is about, he'll show you treasure in the monastic church, such as an ivory-inlaid bishop's throne, #DFDBEA lamps from Egypt and more.

One day I was doing some walking from Livadí in the northern direction, just to check out some of the closest beaches. The map I've bought wasn't especially accurate, but anyway I made a good survey about the beaches in that direction.

If you are into walking, the northern part of the island is preferable, and you need a good map! I also would like to recommend a good book in then subject: Trekking in Greece, by Lonely Planet, ISBN 0-86442-159-1. In that guide you will find information about Sérifos and other islands as well!

For more information about sites around the island, see next heading: Beaches.

Beaches

Sérifos have some beautiful beaches and I will describe some of them here.

The beach in Livadí, which is the extension of the harbour is nothing much, dirty and grey. Instead walk 10 minutes to the south to Livadháki beach which is nice with protecting tamarisk to get shade.

Do you prefer nude bathing, continue 5 minutes further to the south to Karávi beach, which is clean, but have no shade and facilities. Unfortunately this beach isn't particularly beautiful and there are too much stones on the beach and into the water, to suit my needs! But it is the closest beach to Livadí for naturists.

To the north there are several beach within an hours walk. Farthest away you will find Ágios Ioánnis, with rather few visitors and no facilities (1995). This is a nice beach but rather exposed to weather. It is considered a naturist beach (1995), but I'm unsure.

10 minutes closer to Livadí, you find a beach considered to one of the most beautiful on the island: Pislí Ámmos. It's a sheltered beach with two taverns.

Further close to Livadí there are still some beaches; for instance Ai Sostis bay, which maybe difficult to find on a map but the contour line will look something like this:

It's a small but beautiful beach where you can find tamarisks to get some shade. I regard it as a semi naturist beach.

As I walked back towards Livadí I was passing at least to more beaches, Lia bay and Karamousa bay, which of one is rather stony. They are both quite secluded and suitable for nude bathing.

One day I was renting a motorbike and did some travel on the island and visited two nice beaches.

Close to the monastery of Moni Taxiarchón, there is a small village on the north coast named Platís Gialós with Platís Gialós bay, which consists of about three rather small beaches. I selected the easternmost beach that was secluded and suitable for a swim "a natural". It is a lovely little beach, peaceful with nice sand, but unfortunately no shade.

A little warning may be suitable here concerning the track down to the beach. It's rough and rather difficult to drive. Sorry to say but the moped I was renting broke down on this track, but I think the moped was rather bad from the beginning.

Later in the afternoon, after getting a new moped, I was continuing my travel around the island. Much delayed I reached the village Koutalás and about 1 km later the eastern part of the Koutalás bay, which is a nice and rather long sandy beach, that have a stretch of several hundred metres. In the far end, there is a nice small tavern with some basic food. Out of season this beach is rather abandoned, and suitable as a clothing optional beach.

Pictures