Neil & Kalen

The island of Hydra offers the ideal Greek island experience.

It has one real town, no real roads, no cars, and not even any bikes. Water taxis whisk travelers from the quaint little harbor to isolated beaches and tavernas. Donkeys are the main way to transport things here. These surefooted beasts of burden, laden with everything from sandbags and bathtubs to bottled water, climb stepped lanes. On Hydra, a traffic jam is three donkeys and a fisherman.

Hydra (pronounced EE-drah) is hardly undiscovered. In 1956, Sophia Loren came here to play a Hydriot sponge diver in the film Boy on a Dolphin, propelling the little island onto the international stage. (A statue honoring the film sits just outside of town along the coastal path.) By the 1960s Hydra had become a favorite retreat for celebrities, well-heeled tourists, and artists and writers, who drew inspiration from the idyllic surroundings.

The late Canadian songwriter Leonard Cohen lived here for a time — and was inspired to compose his beloved song "Bird on the Wire" after observing just that here on Hydra. To honor the expat poet, the town is naming the street in front of his house after him. Not that street names mean much — locals ignore addresses, and few lanes are labeled. Expect to get lost in Hydra…and enjoy it when you do.

Hydra is about 68 kms (42.2 miles) away from Athens, and the only way to get there is by boat. There are regular direct ferries from Athens, so there's plenty of choices!

All of the ferries from Athens to Hydra leave from the Port of Piraeus. There are several high-speed ferries daily on the Piraeus to Hydra route.  All of the services on this ferry route are run by Blue Star Ferries / Hellenic Seaways. You can check the Athens to Hydra ferry schedule and book your Hydra ferry ticket at www.ferryhopper.com.

Getting to Piraeus Port Near Athens

The Port of Piraeus is located to the west of Athens.  There are three ways to get to the port from either the airport or from central Athens: taxi, metro or bus.

Is There Luggage Storage at Piraeus Port?

Yes, there is luggage storage at the port. If you are a regular passenger, you have two options- the Heation Passenger Terminal or Akti Letionia. Both of these places will happily store your luggage for the day.

Is There Food at Piraeus Port?

Yes, there are plenty of places where you can purchase food and refreshments in and around the port. Within the port, there are plenty of little kiosks selling basic snacks and cold drinks.

There are also a few stands selling the traditional Koulouri Thessalonikis, which is a kind of sweet bread ring covered in sesame seeds and is incredibly tasty.

Outside of the port, you will find plenty of coffee shops and fast food places.

Athens to Hydra Ferry Options

There are two types of ferries travelling to Hydra - the Flying Cat catamarans, and the smaller Flying Dolphins.

The Flying Cats are a relatively small vessel. At 40 metres in length, it fits up to 336 people and its maximum speed is 28 knots.

The Flying Dolphins are a little smaller, around 35 metres, and fit 130 passengers. They are quite fast, reaching a top speed of 35 knots. As they are very small, they are the bumpiest options, and the least likely to depart if the wind picks up.

If you are prone to sea sickness, you might prefer to travel on the FlyingCat instead.

For any of these boats, tickets are priced at €28.50 ($34.33) per person, per trip.

How to Buy a Ferry Ticket from Athens to Hydra

Buying ferry tickets to Hydra is extremely easy. There are two options for purchasing tickets: in person or online. It is highly advised to book them online prior to departure as the ferries are prone to selling out, especially as they can make many stops on their way to Hydra.

Tickets will not be sent to you, nor can you print them out. Instead, you must pick them up in person from one of the many distributors at the port.

During the booking process, you will be given a list of places where you can collect your tickets. Some of the places charge a Euro service fee.

Another important thing to note is that you are allocated seats when you pick up the tickets and there is no guarantee you will be sat with your group even if you booked well in advance.

Booking tickets online is a simple process that is easy to navigate. We used FerryHopper to book our tickets and it was a walk in the park. 

Once You Arrive on Hydra

The harbor on Hydra is directly in the middle of the town. With the majority of hotels within walking distance, it should be easy enough for you to get to your hotel by foot as there is no form of motorized vehicle allowed on the island.

However, if your hotel is located further up into the hills, you may need to hire one of the donkeys on the island to transport you and your luggage to your hotel.

Getting Back to Athens from Hydra

Getting back to Athens from Hydra is as simple as actually getting to Hydra in the first place.

Just make sure you have collected all your tickets in Piraeus to avoid having to scramble to get them in Hydra as places on the island are not as easy to find, nor are they open as consistently as those in Piraeus.

Eat, drink, explore and relax..The island is an amazing place to enjoy silence, food, clean air and nature. Walk along the rocky coastline for the best views of the blue waters below.. Experience a sea tour by water taxis or you can take a romantic boat trip around the island at sunset and enjoy the dreamy scenery

If you are the active kind take an escorted horse ride and discover parts of the island that are off the beaten track. Explore the wild beauty, see the monasteries and enjoy the breathtaking views on top of the mountains. It’s an amazing way to see the island and a truly unique experience!

There are small beaches with rocks, pebbles and crystal-clear waters, where you can swim and take in the sun. For history enthusiasts, the island is full of opportunities! You can visit interesting museums, old mansions and amazing monuments. 
Moreover, Hydra is a perfect place to have fun by night at one of the clubs or bars by the port, and try delicious Greek food such as almond biscuits and fresh fish at one of the cafés and restaurants.


Beaches in Hydra


Most beaches in Hydra are rocky and quiet with pebbles and diving platforms. They are perfect for diving and sunbathing under the warm Greek sun. You can get to the beaches either on foot or by water taxi. Here are some of the most popular beaches and diving spots in Hydra:

- Avlaki: This is a small pebble beach with emerald green waters and concrete diving platforms for sunbathing on the rocks! It is a 10-minute walk from the port of Hydra and it’s great to visit at night, as it is beautifully lit.


- Mikro Kamini: Mikro Kamini is a small pebble beach with clear waters, visitor amenities and a beach bar. It is located by the village harbor and it’s great for kids. There are traditional tavernas and vacation apartments in the area.


- Vlychos: It is one of the most popular beaches in Hydra. It’s covered in small grey pebbles and its crystal-clear waters are great for families. There are seaside restaurants, cafés and holiday rentals in the village of Vlychos.


- Molos: This is a small wind-protected cove with sand. It’s great for secluded swimming and you can get there by water taxi.


- Mandraki: Mandraki is a small cove with inviting blue waters and sand. There are visitor amenities and water sports facilities on the beach. You can get there either on foot (30-minute walk from the port) or on boat.


- Bisti: It’s one of the prettiest beaches on the island with small pebbles, emerald green waters and visitor amenities. The beach is right next to a pine tree forest and it’s surrounded by tall rocks, perfect for diving and snorkeling.


- Agios Nikolaos: The wild pebble beach has visitor amenities, such as umbrellas and a café. It has blue waters and it’s one of the largest beaches on the island. You can only get there by boat, but make sure you arrange for your return before you catch the water taxi from the port of Hydra.


- Spilia: The coast of Spilia is close to the port of Hydra and it consists of several diving platforms among rocks, where you can dive in the beautiful waters and enjoy the sun.


- Hydronetta: The coast of Hydronetta is close to Spilia and it is a popular diving spot, where you can enjoy the magical sunset, drink at the bar, and dive into the blue from the rocky steps.

Sightseeing in Hydra

Hydra is a Greek island of great historical significance. Apart from the impressive manor houses, there are sites of historical and cultural value on the island, which speak volumes about the rich past of Hydra.

- Historical Archive

- Museum of Hydra


- Ecclesiastical Byzantine Museum of Hydra


- Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary


- Lazaros Kountouriotis Historical Mansion

Hydra has no shortage of excellent restaurants. The port is lined with enough choices to try a new place each day, especially with the menu changing so frequently you are sure to have endless choices.

In the port you will find everything from breakfast to dinner options, places to sit and drink all day through the night and most importantly, have the best seats to sit and people watch while enjoying delicious snacks. 

Although in the port you will still find traditional Greek dishes, they have adjusted them a little to cater more to the tourists. The prices do run a little higher at these restaurants but you can’t beat the view of the water.

Some of our favorites:

Papagalos- We ate here several times on our first trip. The wait staff knew us by the end of the week. It was a great option for breakfast, lunch and one of our favorite places to sit and read with a glass of wine. By night, it turned into a little bar filled with music, drinks and people dancing in the port.

Oraia Hydra- We ate dinner here twice while on the island. Their tables line the water front where we sat and drank well past dinner into the night. We also attended a birthday party in the private-rented out room upstairs.

Pirate Bar- We sat for afternoon snacks here with some frozen drinks after spending the afternoon swimming.

Sunset Restaurant- Although this is not right in the port, it is on the outside edge. While they do have delicious food on the menu, they are best known for none other than their sunsets.

If you are looking for the most authentic food, get lost and wander away from the port. Only then will you find the smallest, hidden places to eat. You will come across amazing food and be in the most authentic atmosphere you could imagine. Food also tends to cost less in the restaurants away from the port.

You will probably eat at a place you love one night and never be able to find it again, so make sure you try everything that sounds good to you.

Favorites:

Kryfo Limani (Secret Tavern)- We passed this place several times and passed it up each time because we did not think the tavern was what we were looking for. On our last night in Hydra, we were invited there so we decided to go and we absolutely loved it. It is worth noting, they only accept cash here.

Drinks:

1821- We stumbled across here by pure luck. They open only in the evenings and stay open well into the night. They are known for their elaborate drink menu. We made sure to trace our steps as we left so we could make it back another night.

Spilia Beach Club - This is a bar/restaurant located on the corner of the port setting right on the cliff. It has amazing views to sit and watch people swim, boats as they come into the harbor or just sit and read. Trying the mojitos here is a must!

Pirate Bar- It is in the port so that makes it easy to find and one of the more popular places to hangout after everything closes.

Wildlife on Hydra

I am not sure I will ever experience a place on earth where there are so many cats. The island is literally teeming with felines no matter where you venture off to.

If you try and eat a meal outside, there will likely be at least two cats vying for your attention (and your food).

The animal charity HydraArk takes care of the cats ensuring that they are parasite-free and trying to control the breeding through sterilization so the population doesn’t become too uncontrollable.

There are also plenty of dogs on the island running around but they all seemed to have collars so I am not sure if they are strays or not. Some of them run amuck so they very well could be strays.

As well as these animals, there are the aforementioned donkeys who are the working animals on Hydra Island and there is no shortage of them with a population of over 1000 donkeys living on Hydra.

Hydra Supermarkets

Within the town, there are plenty of little supermarkets that are open daily. This is perfect if you have managed to secure a place to stay with a kitchen.

You will be able to buy all the ingredients to make a perfect dish with the fresh fish landed that morning. As everything on Hydra has to be brought by boat, you will find things a little more expensive than mainland Greece but the prices are still very affordable.

There are also plenty of bakeries around that sell freshly baked goods.

ATMs & Cash Machines on Hydra

Most places accept all major credit cards, including shops and cafes. However, if you are wanting cash, there are multiple banks along the harbor with 24-hour ATMs and cash machines.  It is a good idea to have at least some cash on hand, in case credit card machines are not available.  The currency of Greece is the Euro.  U.S. Dollars are not accepted in Greece.

Water Taxis on Hydra

Outside of the Corner Café is the Hydra water taxi stand with a public telephone to order a taxi if there is no one at the stand.

You can use the water taxis to reach the various beaches along the coast as well as the different little villages on Hydra.

If you are going to a more remote beach, you should order a taxi to pick you up before heading to the beach as there are no phones at the more remote beaches to order one back.

Electronics & Communication

Greece utilizes a 230 Volt/ 50 Hz power supply, with a two-prong C/F plug type.  As long as your electronics are dual voltage rated you should not need a voltage converter.  You will however need a travel plug adapter.  We used the Tessan International Power Plug during our last trip with no problems.  For more information you can reference the following link: Electrical Safety First

Most of the cafés near the port offer free WiFi access to customers.  The WiFi is robust enough to check and send emails, browse the web, or post pictures of your Greek Island Getaway.

If you require phone and internet access beyond being able to connect to WIFi, most phone providers have options for international plans with daily, and per-use rates.

hydradirect.com - The essential guide for everything Hydra.  The site administrator, Kelsey Edwards, has been a a full-time resident of the island for the past 20 years.  Kelsey is warm and inviting and always willing to help those planning on visiting Hydra with any questions pertaining to the Island.  Kelsey's daughter runs Harriet's Hydra Horses.  On the site you can find information about Hydra's current Covid-19 control measures, as well as Greece's travel requirements and restrictions.

"Hydra:  The Laid-Back Greek Island" -  A wonderfully written article from Condé Nast Traveller about the Island of Hydra, featuring our very own Pandelis.

The Greece Tipping Guide - Tipping is handled differently in different countries.  This guide is here to help.

Getting Your Passport - You've got to have it to go.  The U.S. Department of State site will provide you with all of the information you need to get your passport application started. 

Basic Greek Phrases - Most of the residents of Hydra speak English, but the attempt to speak in a country's native language is always appreciated by the people.  So take a moment to learn a few useful Greek phrases so you can "Yamas!" with the rest of us.