Fresh Air › Instead of Santorini
Serifos
Serifos is a dry, rocky island with a spectacular Chora perched on a hilltop above the port. It has good beaches, affordable tavernas, and a level of quiet that is becoming hard to find in the Cyclades. The island has been known to Greek visitors for decades but has not crossed into the international tourism algorithm in the same way as Santorini or Mykonos. The ferry connection from Athens is direct and relatively short.
Why visit
Dramatic hilltop Chora, excellent beaches, very affordable by Cyclades standards, and genuine peace.
Crowd level
Remains genuinely quiet. Some Greek visitors in August but never approaches Santorini volumes.
Best time
June or September
Getting there
2-2.5hrs by fast ferry from Athens. Multiple ferries daily in summer.
Tradeoffs
Limited restaurant variety. Fewer activities than more developed islands. The point is the quiet.
Direct comparisons
Layers
Region
At a glance
- Country
- Greece
- Region
- South Aegean
- Fresh Air Score
- 79/100
- Cost level
- $$
- Distance from Santorini
- 180 km