Livadi

Livadi is the main port and largest settlement of Serifos, a western Cycladic island of about 75 square kilometers with a 2021 population of 1,241. Built around a wide, well-protected bay on the island's southeast coast, Livadi took over as the island's harbor as shipping grew, and it now holds most of Serifos's hotels, tavernas and services, while the whitewashed capital, Chora, sits on a steep hill a short distance inland.

The bay itself is sheltered from the strongest winds and shelves gradually over a mixed sandy and rocky bottom, giving boats a comfortable place to anchor overnight away from the open sea. The main beach curving around the port is shallow and calm enough for children, with a scattering of cafes and beach bars along the back of the sand, while quieter stretches such as Avlomonas and Karavi lie within easy reach along the same coast.

Livadi's combination of a working harbor, laid-back village life and easy access to Serifos's beaches and hillside Chora makes it worth a visit if you're chartering a gulet in Greece when sailing through the western Cyclades.