Serifos Palace

Serifos Palace is a self-catering hotel and apartment complex in Livadi, the port settlement of Serifos, positioned 800 metres from the ferry dock and 200 metres from the nearest beach. That double proximity — to the water on one side and the island's main practical hub on the other — makes it one of the more logistically straightforward places to base yourself on an island where transport between settlements is limited.

The property offers rooms and apartments with views split between the sea and the surrounding hillside, and also runs a separate set of apartments in the Livadi area with direct views toward the marina and up to Chora, the whitewashed hilltop capital visible from almost anywhere in the valley below. With a rating of 4.5 from 143 Google reviews, guest satisfaction is consistently high for this category on such a small island.

The accommodation is described as well-suited to families, couples, and groups of friends looking for a comfortable base within walking distance of the beach, the port's tavernas, and the main cluster of shops. The self-contained nature of the units — fully equipped kitchens in every apartment — means you're not dependent on restaurants for every meal, which matters when you're on an island with a small and somewhat seasonal dining scene.

What to Expect

Serifos Palace operates as a self-catering complex, meaning the units function more like serviced apartments than standard hotel rooms. Every apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen — pots, utensils, and whatever else you'd need to prepare meals independently. Air conditioning and heating are included, keeping the units comfortable across the full season. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property.

Beds come in both double and single configurations depending on the unit, making the complex flexible for different group sizes. The maisonette units, which are the larger option, include two bathrooms — practical for families or small groups sharing the same space. Daily cleaning is available on request rather than automatically, which is standard for apartment-style accommodation in Greece.

The views differ by unit: some face the sea and the Livadi bay, while others look toward the island's interior and the ridge that runs up to Chora. If the view matters to you, it's worth specifying a preference when booking. The separate marina-facing apartments, also managed by the property in the Livadi area, offer an angle toward both the water and the hilltop village — useful context if you're comparing unit types.

The property pitches itself at guests who want a quiet, comfortable stay close to the island's main amenities, rather than at those seeking a resort experience. Serifos has no large-scale resort infrastructure, and Serifos Palace fits the island's general character: practical, relaxed, and oriented toward the landscape.

How to Get There

Livadi is the first settlement you reach when arriving by ferry from Piraeus or other Cyclades ports. The port itself is the main arrival point for the island, and Serifos Palace is roughly 800 metres from the dock — a flat, walkable distance with luggage, though a taxi or a quick call to the property can help if you're arriving with heavy bags.

The hotel's address is Livadi 840 05, coordinates 37.1381, 24.5137. From the port, follow the main road that curves around the bay toward the beach; the property sits along this corridor, close enough that you'll orient easily on foot. A car is not necessary to reach the hotel from the port, though having one during your stay extends your access to the island's more remote beaches and villages.

For the beach, it's a roughly two-minute walk from the property. Livadi beach is a long sandy stretch backed by a handful of tavernas and cafes, easily reached on foot at any hour.

Best Time to Visit

Serifos has a concentrated tourist season running from late June through August, with July and August being the busiest weeks. During peak summer the island receives ferry traffic daily from Piraeus (approximately 2.5 hours by high-speed catamaran), and accommodation fills up quickly — advance booking for Serifos Palace during July and August is strongly advisable.

June and September are the most comfortable months for a stay in Livadi. Temperatures are warm enough for swimming, crowds are noticeably thinner, and most tavernas and services remain open. The Meltemi wind, which blows across the Cyclades in July and August, can be strong on Serifos — the island sits exposed in the western Cyclades — which affects exposed beaches more than the sheltered Livadi bay.

The property operates across the main season; given the website mentions heating in addition to air conditioning, there may be some capacity outside summer, but specific shoulder-season or winter availability should be confirmed directly with the hotel.

Tips for Visiting

• Book early for July and August. Serifos has limited accommodation overall, and a 4.5-rated property with apartment-style units books out well ahead of peak season. Contact the property directly via their listed phone numbers or website.
• Request your preferred view at booking. Sea-view and mountain-view units differ meaningfully in what you see from the room; the marina-view apartments in the separate building offer a third option with sightlines toward Chora.
• Use the kitchen. Livadi's small supermarket and the daily ferry connections mean you can stock up on basics without much effort. Cooking one or two meals in the apartment keeps costs down and suits the self-catering setup the property is built around.
• Ask about daily cleaning in advance. Housekeeping is on-request rather than automatic. If you want it on a specific schedule, arrange it when you check in.
• Rent a scooter or car from Livadi. The island's roads connect Livadi to Chora (the hilltop capital, about 3 kilometres up a steep but paved road), the monastery of Taxiarches, and several beaches that aren't walkable from the port. A vehicle transforms your range significantly.
• Walk to Livadi beach in the morning. The beach is 200 metres from the property. Early morning, before 10am, the water is flat and the sand is almost empty — the best window before day-trippers from Piraeus arrive in summer.
• Check ferry schedules before you book your departure. Ferry times from Serifos back to Piraeus vary by season and operator. The port is a two-minute taxi ride or 10-minute walk from the hotel, but late-season schedules reduce frequency sharply.
• Chora is worth an evening. The hilltop village above Livadi has a small cluster of bars and restaurants with views across the bay. The road up is steep; taxis run on request from Livadi.

Facilities and Location

The core facilities at Serifos Palace — as drawn from the property's own website — include fully equipped kitchens, air conditioning and heating, free Wi-Fi, flexible bed configurations (double and single mattresses), two bathrooms in the maisonette units, and daily cleaning on request.

The Livadi location means you have the port, the main beach, the local minimarkets, and the tavernas along the waterfront all within a short walk. The island's bus service connects Livadi to Chora on a schedule that thickens in summer and thins sharply in the shoulder months — worth knowing if you're planning to move between the two settlements without a vehicle. Taxis are available but limited in number on the island; the hotel phone or local contacts can help you arrange one.

For families, the maisonette format — with two bathrooms and a full kitchen — addresses the practical gaps that standard hotel rooms can leave on a small island where dining out every meal adds up quickly.