Serifos: the ultimate travel guide with tips for beaches, restaurants, and the most beautiful hotel

Serifos is one of those islands that still feels a bit like it is frozen in time. Small, rugged, and unspoiled, with winding roads, quiet beaches, and white villages that seem plastered against the mountain slopes. You will hardly find mass tourism here, and that is precisely what makes it so special: you share the island mainly with locals and a handful of travelers who, just like you, are looking for the real Greece.

During our trip, we stayed at Cocomat Serifos, a lovely base where peace and comfort come together. From here, you can discover the island at your own pace: from atmospheric Chora with its narrow streets and viewpoints to secluded bays with crystal-clear water.

In this blog, I’ll take you along to the most beautiful places and best tips on Serifos.

Cocomat Serifos

We stayed in a 4-person cottage at Cocomat Serifos, and it was truly one of those places where you immediately unwind. The cottages at Cocomat Serifos are former miners' cottages. Now they are a kind of Pippi Longstocking cottages consisting of 2 or 3 floors with cute blue shutters on the windows, a kitchen, a seating area, and a lovely private terrace.

The hotel is situated directly on Vagia beach, one of the most beautiful bays on the island, with a wide sandy beach and clear blue water right on its doorstep. It is remarkably quiet and serene, as if you have a small piece of the island all to yourself. In the morning, you wake up, open the blue shutters on your windows, and look directly out over the sea. It feels almost unrealistically beautiful, as if you have landed on an uninhabited island where only you and nature exist.

Breakfast is served in the restaurant area, where you can also have lunch or dinner during sunset. If you want to unwind, this is the place to be!

Highlights of Serifos

Serifos is also known as the “iron island,” a reference to the rich mining history that once took place here. You can still find traces of this industrial era on the island, which forms a striking contrast with the tranquility and beauty of today. In addition to this history, Serifos is primarily known for its small but beautiful beaches, often hidden between rugged rocks and accessible only via winding roads. Due to the Meltemi wind blowing when we were there and the accessibility of some of the beaches, we chose the beaches closest to the harbor.

Livadia beach, for example, is located by the harbor; it is a great little beach with clear blue water and a number of nice restaurants, some of which also rent out sunbeds. We stayed at Restaurant Calma , a nice little restaurant with simple but tasty food and lovely beach beds. The next day, we lay on the adjacent Livadakia beach at the Hippie Beach Bar, also a great spot.

We found Chora to be the absolute highlight of Serifos: the atmospheric little capital built against the mountain. Here, you wander through narrow streets filled with white houses and eventually arrive at Pano Piazza, a small but lively square with lovely restaurants and colorful chairs that immediately create a relaxed atmosphere. From here, you can also visit two charming little churches that offer beautiful views of the surrounding area.

The best restaurants in Serifos

Restaurant Axinos is located along Livadia beach by the harbor, a little towards the end, so you can sit here in lovely peace by the sea with a view of the harbor village. The food here is delicious, with all kinds of Mediterranean dishes on the menu. Incidentally, you will find even more restaurants and cafes along the water in the harbor village; there is plenty of choice.

In the middle of the charming Pano Piazza square in Chora lies Stou Stratou , an authentic taverna where you can comfortably settle down for a long Greek evening. The colorful chairs, the lively atmosphere, and the tables on the square make this one of the nicest spots in Serifos to enjoy traditional mezze, local specialties, and a good glass of wine. On this same square, you will also find Seriano Restobar , another nice restaurant for dinner in the evening. And there are even more restaurants on this wonderful little square, so you will always find something nice here.

And if you love peace and quiet and want to enjoy the most beautiful sunsets, you can also enjoy lunch or dinner at Cocomat Serifos as a non-guest.