Claudina

While Claudina has direct access to a small pebbly-stony cove that's shared with a couple of other villas (though other visitors may occasionally moor in the bay), there are plenty of other options for lovers of sandy-pebbly beaches, including those at Agios Sostis and Lia (both of which are an easy stroll away) and Livadi, Psili Amos and Agios Ioannis (all of which are within a 5-to-7-minute drive).

Ancient Serifos Town, or Chora, wraps around a rocky peak some 230m above Livadi. Home to a huddle of traditional white-washed houses, several fascinating churches and a collection historic windmills, it also boasts spectacular panoramas that are well worth the 10-minute drive up the winding road. In the summer months the town's bars, cafés and tavernas spill out onto the pretty streets and squares to create a delightful atmosphere.

If Serifos's coastline is defined by its many sandy beaches, rocky coves and bays, its interior is characterised by sparsely populated highlands (with hills rising to more than 500m above sea level) and a liberal scattering of white-washed, blue-domed churches and monasteries.

Measuring just 11km by 11km, you'll easily be able to explore the island in a week. There's a "main" road that runs in a figure of 8 on a southwest-northeast axis, with other minor roads and tracks leading off this to the various beaches, hamlets and churches around the island. When it comes to the coast, however, we recommend you hire a boat for a couple of days (or indeed the whole of your stay), and discover Serifos's myriad marine attractions from the water.