Serifos, one of the islands nearer to Athens, is ideal both for a short-break and a summer holiday. The over 70 beaches will keep you busy, while a visit to Hora and Livadi will present you with a wide range of options for food, coffee and drinks.

17

Discover the natural beauty, the history, and the sea bottom of Serifos with five unique activities.

Beach hopping

On an island with over 70 beaches, your first order of business is to see as many as you can. Serifos has beaches for every taste, but most of them have fine sand and are quite exposed to the sun, without much natural shade. In addition, most of them are not serviced, so, get a good sun umbrella and a portable fridge for your provisions and start exploring, taking the winds into account, before choosing the west, east, north or south coast.

Make sure you visit Kalo Ampeli, Ganema, Maliadiko, and Vagia. Many of the beaches are accessible via trail or by boat.

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Serifos/Photo: Unsplash

Hiking

Serifos has a wide trail network that links settlements and beaches. If the day is too hot, choose a beach as your destination so that at the end of your hike you can dip in the sea, or go hiking in the afternoon. A favourite trail is the one that leads from Livadi to Hora. It used to be the only connection between the two villages and the locals would cover the distance with the many steps, many times a day.

The distance is about 2.6km and, depending on your fitness, it will take between 45-60min to walk it, while if you go from Hora to Livadi, it might be easier, as it is downhill. From Hora you can also go to the island’s highest peak, Troulos, at 587m altitude.

Scuba diving

You can explore the amazing sea bottom of Serifos with the guidance of “Serifos Scuba Divers” (Livadi, tel.: 0030 6932 570552) that has been open for many years.

It’s ideal for both beginners and more advanced divers, with the trainers paying great attention to safety, and being very thorough with their guidance. Apart from fish, sponges and reefs, you can see shipwrecks near Serifos.

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Serifos/Photo: Unsplash

Mines

The island’s soil, especially in the southwest part is the reason for the long mining history of Serifos. Between 1860 and 1960, many investors and hundreds of workers arrived to the island due to the large iron deposits between Koutala and Megalo Livadi. In fact, one of the first strikes in Greece took place here, in 1916.

Driving towards Megalo Livadi, you’ll come across scattered remains of this significant part of the island’s history, ranging from railway parts to wagons and loading docks. In Megalo Livadi, there’s a monument in honour of the dead workers from the 1916 strike.

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Photo: Unsplash
Photo: Unsplash

Boat ride

The best way to get to know the lacy coast of Serifos is by sea, giving you the chance to swim in inaccessible beaches. There are many boat rental companies renting boats that don’t need a licence; you’ll receive a short training where the safety instructions will be explained and then, you’re off.

Alternatively, you can go on a day-cruise with one of the larger boats that leave Livadi and go around the island, stopping at the best beaches.

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