SeaTV · Cyclades Islands · Serifos
Serifos Island — Cliff-Top Chora & Quiet Anchorages
Between Kithnos and Milos in the western Cyclades. Less developed than its eastern neighbours, with a dramatic Chora perched on the hill above Livadi port and four practical anchorages around the coast — provided you respect the Meltemi gusts that hammer the south side.
Serifos sits in the western Cyclades between Kithnos to the north and Milos to the south. The island gives sailors four distinct anchoring options spread around its coastline — Livadi as the working port and main hub, Livadi Bay North as an anchorage alternative, Koutalas as the S-coast option with two coves to choose between, and Megalo Livadi as the quiet sand-bottom stop. The signature feature ashore is the Chora — Serifos’s old town, perched dramatically on the hill above Livadi with a Venetian castle at the top.
⚠ Reality check:
→ Strong Meltemi gusts blow from the south coast — extra care required
→ Koutalas NW cove: 2 large mooring chains running out from the beach + rocks both sides of entrance
→ Livadi Marina: narrow space to manoeuvre inside · some lazy lines, some alongside
→ Approach Koutalas from the SW only
⚓ Quick Facts
Position
Between Kithnos & Milos · western Cyclades
4 anchorages
Livadi Marina · Livadi Bay N · Koutalas · Megalo Livadi
Main port
Livadi (SE corner)
Chora
Cliff-top old town with Venetian castle
Top beaches
Livadakia · Avlomonas · Psili Ammos
Ferry from Piraeus
~2–3 hours
1. Livadi Marina (SE Corner — Main Port)
Position · 37°8’32″N · 24°30’58″E · Working Marina
Livadi Marina — Main Port at SE Corner
Position: Head of the bay on the SE corner of Serifos. The working port and main entry point.
Mooring style: No moorings · some berths have lazy lines, some are alongside.
Services: Water, fuel, and provisions available — full ferry-port amenities.
Ashore: Tavernas, cafés, shops, car/scooter rental — useful base for exploring Chora and the inland villages.
⚠ Hazard: Narrow space to manoeuvre inside the marina — plan the approach early, brief the crew on roles before entry.
2. Livadi Bay North (Anchorage Alternative)
Position · 37°8’46″N · 24°31’11″E · Bay Anchorage
Livadi Bay North
Position: North part of Livadi Bay · alternative to entering the marina.
Bottom: Sand and algae.
Best use: Useful when the marina is full or you prefer to anchor rather than tie up. Quick dinghy run to Livadi for shore.
3. Koutalas Bay (S Coast — Two Coves)
Position · 37°8.179’N · 24°27.447’E · S Coast
Koutalas — Open S Bay with Two Anchoring Coves
Position: Open bay on the south side of Serifos · approach from the SW.
NE cove: Anchor in 5–10 m · sand bottom · good holding. The simpler choice.
NW cove: Anchor in 6–10 m · sand · ⚠ care required — two large mooring chains running out from the beach. The harder choice unless you want the position specifically.
⚠ Critical entrance hazard: Rocks on both sides of the entrance to Koutalas Bay. Approach from the SW, eyeball the water on the way in, and don’t cut corners. Plot the rocks on the chartplotter before approach.
4. Megalo Livadi (SW Coast — Quiet Bay)
Position · 37°8.5’N · 24°25.8’E · Quiet Bay
Megalo Livadi — Quiet Sand-Bottom Stop
Position: SW side of Serifos.
Bottom: Sand.
Best use: Quiet daytime anchor or overnight in calm weather. Less developed than Koutalas, fewer boats.
Top Attractions on Serifos
Chora (the cliff-top old town): The signature shore visit on Serifos — winding alleys, white-washed houses, the Venetian castle at the top with panoramic views over the Aegean. Reachable from Livadi by short bus or taxi.
Livadi: The main port hub with tavernas, cafés, shops, and rental cars/scooters.
Beaches: Top spots include Livadakia, Avlomonas, and Psili Ammos. Crystal-clear water, golden sand.
Hike to the Monastery of Taxiarches: The most popular trail on the island — leads to a working monastery with panoramic views over Serifos and the surrounding Cyclades. Half-day walk from Chora.
Wind Strategy on Serifos
⚠ In the Meltemi, strong gusts blow from the south coast. This is the headline Serifos wind quirk — the island’s topography accelerates and channels wind down the south coast, making Koutalas and Megalo Livadi uncomfortable in heavy NE conditions even though they sit on the south side.
Strong Meltemi (NE/N): Move to Livadi (SE corner) — sheltered by the island bulk to the north.
South winds: Livadi becomes exposed. Move to anchorages in lee.
Calm settled weather: Any of the 4 anchorages workable. Megalo Livadi gives you the quietest night.
Pro Tips for Serifos
Brief the crew before Livadi Marina entry. The narrow internal manoeuvring space is the key risk. Roles assigned, fenders out, communication clear before you commit.
Plot Koutalas entrance rocks first. Both sides of the entrance — non-trivial. Approach from SW only.
NE cove of Koutalas first, NW second. NE cove has good clean holding in 5–10 m sand. NW cove has 2 large mooring chains and requires careful set. Use NE unless you have specific reason for NW.
Bus or taxi up to Chora. Half-day walk-around ashore. The Venetian castle at the top is the signature view. Best in late afternoon for the light.
Hike the Taxiarches trail if conditions allow. The Monastery of Taxiarches walk is the island’s signature hike. Go early morning before the heat builds.
Use Megalo Livadi for the quiet night. Less crowded than Livadi or Koutalas, sand bottom, room to swing. The right call after a busy day in Livadi or a cultural day in Chora.
Suggested Routes from Serifos
South to Sifnos: Short hop. See Sifnos Island and Kamares Port.
South to Milos: ~30 NM via Sifnos. See Milos Island.
North to Kithnos: Western Cyclades neighbour to the north.
Full Cyclades route: See the SeaTV 8-Day Cyclades Route for full multi-island planning.
✅ Sailor’s Checklist for Serifos
▢ Koutalas entrance rocks plotted (both sides)
▢ NW Koutalas cove mooring chains understood (2 large ones)
▢ Livadi Marina narrow manoeuvre briefed with crew
▢ Meltemi south-coast gusts factored into wind plan
▢ Chora visit planned (bus/taxi from Livadi)
▢ VHF on Ch. 16 throughout
Emergency & Service Numbers — Serifos
European Emergency: 112
Coastguard Distress (VHF Ch. 16): Universal
Coastguard Working (VHF Ch. 12): Per region
Serifos Port Authority (Livadi): VHF Ch. 12 / 16
Olympia Radio (VHF Ch. 03/86): Greek HF/VHF maritime service
Watch the SeaTV Visual Pilot Video
Drone passes over the Chora on the cliff with the Venetian castle, the Livadi Marina layout, the south-coast bays of Koutalas and Megalo Livadi, and a hike up to the Monastery of Taxiarches. Free for members.
Related SeaTV Pages
Cyclades Routes & Region
Sailing to Serifos?
Cliff-top Chora, four anchorages, and a Meltemi quirk that hammers the south coast.
“Serifos rewards the sailor who plans the wind angle right — Livadi for the practical day, Koutalas-NE for the clean anchor, Megalo Livadi for the quiet night, and the Chora on the hill for the cultural payoff. Plot the Koutalas entrance rocks first, watch the south-coast Meltemi gusts, and the island opens up.”
— SeaTV Visual Pilot · Cyclades Edition
