Guide to Serifos beaches
Unlike other islands, where the harbor beach is a "service" beach on Serifos, it is the most beautiful beach on the island. The winds blow hard everywhere, and especially in the north, so you will have to choose the beach mostly according to this factor. Here are the beaches that, during our very windy stay, we were able to visit.
PARALIA LIVADI
equipped | free beach / fine sand / shading trees / beach bars / taverns and convenience stores nearby
A very long expanse of thin, golden sand unravels from the harbor, where it merges with restaurant patios crowding the shoreline with chairs, and gradually widens, leaving room for comfortable beach bars and a very long free beach. Behind it are restaurants, stores, dusty parking lots, and the Chora looking out to sea. In front is a crescent of crystal-clear, bright turquoise sea.
When it is windy, it is one of the best places to take refuge, although it is not spared. Find a corner with a bar behind you that protects you from the winds coming from the north, and it will be the most comfortable option you will find on the island.
LIVADAKIA
equipped | free beach / coarse sand / shading trees / beach bar
Livadakia greeted us with very rough seas. Although it lies in the same protected bay as Livadi, its location more toward the mouth of the gulf exposes it to stronger winds. The beach itself is not very wide, but it enjoys a nice row of tamarisk trees that provide shade. It is within easy walking distance from the center of Livadi, but lies beyond a promontory that separates it from the harbor beach.
GANEMA
free beach / fine sand / shading trees
Ganema beach is very wild, despite its extent. Lots of space, free of umbrellas, waiting for you with its fine sand and turquoise waters. It too is a good option when the strong northern winds are pulling. It can be reached by about a 15-minute drive from Livadi and has no services nearby, except for a few accommodations directly on the beach.
PLATIS GIALOS
free beach / coarse sand / tavern nearby
Small and intimate, this beach is an oasis of peace. It is located on the north side of the island, however, and while it does not face directly north, it has no protection and on windy days the sea is rough and impassable. It has a traditional tavern nearby with a nice terrace overlooking the sea. The road to reach it from Livadi is wonderful, has magnificent views of the mountains and the sea, especially at sunset, and reaches an isolated monastery. However, the small road from the monastery to the beach below is very steep, unpaved and full of potholes. It pays to have a good car to make sure you can climb back up.
On the days we visited Serifos the wind did not let up and many of the beaches were inaccessible, especially for a family. Below is a complete list with advice from locals, in case the weather is more clement with you.
[Information kindly provided by our host].
SUD
Kalo Ambeli: you leave the car at the end of the dirty road and walk down to the beach along a path, you will see the stairs through green reeds. It is a beautiful cove of fine sand, there is no phone signal, shade or a canteen so I recommend taking cold water with you, a hat or umbrella.
Vagia: coarse sand and deep water, there is a canteen and the hotel Coco mat, the restaurant is nice.
Ganema: long beach with fine sand at the beginning and pebbles at the end, when it is windy it is more protected at the end . It has a beach bar.
Koutalás: with pebbles, not that beautiful but quite protected in case of strong wind. There is a small tavern for a snack.
Malliádiko: the hippie beach. People are naked and do free camping. It is nice and quiet, the road though is bad, you may leave the scooter up and go down by foot.
Mega Livadi: where the mining company headquarters was. It is not the most beautiful beach but it has its charm and history. There are three taverns (I recommend the 1916), if you are in the south part of the island it's nice to ride there, for lunch it is busy but for sunset is really nice.
Karavi: small cove, nudist, private.
EAST
Lia: nudist, has no shade or canteen.
Agios Sostis: very beautiful, it has a church up in the hill, there is no canteen. If you walk behind the church there is an amazing place with white rocks.
Psili Ammos: one of the most beautiful beaches in Serifos, it has very fine white sand, shallow waters. There are two taverns (I recommend Manolis). There are families and children, it is one of the most popular.
Agios Ioannis: right next to Psili Ammos, much quieter.
NORD
Sikamiá: long beach with a tavern that usually has local products. It is one of the farthest beaches.
Skala: after Sikamiá, only reachable by boat or from a small path from Sikamiá. Very nice small cove.
