Vlychos on Hydra is a peaceful little coastal hamlet west of the main town, best known for its two lovely beaches, Vlychos and neighbouring Plakes. Its landmark old stone bridge. Set along a stretch of clear, sheltered coast a pleasant walk or short boat ride from the harbour. It offers some of the finest swimming on the island in a calm, unspoilt setting. With a couple of the oldest and most atmospheric tavernas on Hydra. A beach bar for sunbeds. Views west to the mountains of the Peloponnese, Vlychos is a favourite escape for a relaxed day by the sea.
This guide covers what Vlychos is and where it lies, how to reach it from Hydra town, the two beaches of Vlychos and Plakes. The historic arched stone bridge that is one of the island’s most photographed sights, where to eat and drink. Practical tips for making the most of a visit. Just far enough from the main harbour to feel like a real getaway. Easy to reach on foot or by boat. Vlychos rewards anyone looking to swim and unwind away from the busier heart of the island.
What is Vlychos on Hydra?
Vlychos is a small, quiet coastal settlement on Hydra, about 2.4 kilometres west of the main harbour. It is known for two clear-water pebble beaches, Vlychos and Plakes, an old arched stone bridge, and a couple of long-established waterside tavernas.
Vlychos is one of the loveliest and most relaxed spots on Hydra, a small coastal hamlet strung along the shore beyond the nearer village of Kamini. Its heart is a tiny harbour and a beautiful sheltered bay. Flanked by the two beaches of Vlychos and Plakes that draw visitors for their clear, calm water and unspoilt setting. A handful of houses, a couple of tavernas and the famous old stone bridge complete the scene.
What makes Vlychos special is its combination of easy access and genuine tranquillity. It is far enough from the main harbour to escape the crowds and feel like a real getaway. Close enough to reach on an easy coastal walk or a quick boat ride. For anyone seeking a peaceful day of swimming, a long lunch by the water and a beautiful setting, Vlychos is one of the most rewarding corners of the island.
How do you get to Vlychos from Hydra town?
You reach Vlychos on foot along the coastal path west from Hydra town through Kamini, a walk of about 35 minutes and 2.4 kilometres.
The classic way to reach Vlychos is on foot, following the scenic coastal path that leads west from the main harbour through the village of Kamini and on along the shore. The walk covers around 2.4 kilometres and takes roughly 35 minutes at an easy pace. With the sea alongside you the whole way. It is a highlight in its own right and one of the finest easy walks on the island.
A small shuttle boat and the island’s water taxis run from the main harbour to Vlychos in just minutes, delivering you close to the beaches. Many visitors enjoy walking out along the coast and returning by boat, or the reverse. Because Hydra is car-free, these are the only ways to arrive, and both the walk and the boat trip are part of the pleasure of a day at Vlychos.
What is Vlychos beach like?
Vlychos beach is a sheltered pebble beach with a mix of pebbles and some sand, sloping gently into calm, shallow water.
Vlychos beach sits in a sheltered bay beside the hamlet’s small harbour and is one of the more spacious and welcoming beaches on the island. Its shore is a mix of pebbles and some sand that shelves gently into clear, calm water, making it comfortable for wading in and swimming. The protected setting keeps the sea sheltered and settled, which, together with its clean water, makes it a firm favourite for a long, lazy day by the sea.
Behind the beach, a taverna and a beach bar provide sunbeds, umbrellas and refreshments, so you can combine your swim with lunch and a drink without leaving the shore. The result is one of the most relaxing beach settings on Hydra, quieter than the spots near the main town yet with just enough comforts. It ranks among the very best of the island’s beaches for an easy, restful day.
What is Plakes beach like?
Plakes beach lies a short walk beyond Vlychos, a little further west along the coast.
A short walk on from Vlychos, roughly a kilometre further along the coastal path, brings you to Plakes. A smaller beach that many consider the most beautiful stretch of water on this side of the island. Its sea is a mesmerising, crystal-clear light blue over a stony seabed. The entry into the water is gentle. Making it easy and inviting for swimming and especially rewarding for snorkelling over the clear, rocky shallows.
Plakes is quieter and more natural than Vlychos, set below the small coastal settlement of the same name, with a hotel bar and restaurant nearby for refreshments. The combination of striking clear water, a peaceful setting and lovely views makes it a notable place to swim and relax. Together, Vlychos and Plakes give this corner of Hydra two fine beaches within an easy stroll of each other.
What is the old stone bridge at Vlychos?
The old stone bridge at Vlychos is a graceful single-arched stone footbridge spanning a seasonal stream by the beach.
The best-known landmark at Vlychos is its beautiful old stone bridge, a single graceful arch that crosses a seasonal watercourse just behind the beach. Built of the same warm local stone as the island’s houses, it is one of the most photographed sights on Hydra and lends the hamlet a timeless, picturesque character. Weathered and elegant, it frames the beach and harbour and is a favourite subject for visitors’ cameras.
The bridge is more than pretty: it is a genuine piece of the island’s heritage. Dating back centuries. It has appeared as a backdrop in films shot on Hydra, adding to its fame. Pausing on or beside the bridge, with the beach, the boats and the sea beyond. Is one of the small pleasures of a visit to Vlychos. It makes the hamlet instantly recognisable in photographs of the island.
Where can you eat and drink at Vlychos?
Vlychos has a couple of excellent waterside tavernas, including one of the oldest restaurants on Hydra by the little harbour, plus a beach bar behind the beach serving drinks and light meals.
For its small size, Vlychos is well served for food and drink, and eating here by the water is a real pleasure. Beside the little harbour stands a long-established taverna that is among the oldest on Hydra, serving fresh fish. Seafood and traditional Greek dishes in a wonderfully atmospheric setting right on the shore. A meal here, with the boats bobbing alongside and the sea stretching away, is a memorable part of a day at Vlychos.
Behind Vlychos beach, a beach bar and restaurant provide sunbeds and umbrellas along with drinks, snacks and light meals, so you can eat and refresh without leaving the sand. Over at Plakes, a nearby hotel also has a bar and restaurant. Between them, these spots make it easy to spend a whole day at Vlychos, combining swimming with lunch and a sunset drink. All in a relaxed, unhurried setting that suits the mood of the place.
What tips help for visiting Vlychos?
To visit Vlychos, walk the coastal path from town through Kamini in about 35 minutes or take a shuttle boat, bring water shoes for the pebbles, and combine Vlychos and Plakes beaches.
A little planning makes a day at Vlychos more enjoyable. You can walk out along the lovely coastal path from the main town, through Kamini, in around 35 minutes. Or take the shuttle boat or a water taxi if you prefer to save your energy for swimming. Many visitors do one leg each way. Bring swimwear, a towel and water shoes for the pebble beaches, along with sun protection and some cash, as it is a small, informal place.
Aim to enjoy both beaches while you are there. Swimming at Vlychos and strolling on to the clearer water of Plakes. Time a long lunch at one of the waterside tavernas into your visit. The setting is at its most beautiful in the afternoon and early evening light, so lingering into the late afternoon is well worth it. Relaxed, scenic and easy to reach, Vlychos rewards a slow, unhurried day by the sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Vlychos beach on Hydra?
Vlychos lies about 2.4 kilometres west of Hydra’s main harbour and is reached either on foot or by boat. The walk follows the scenic coastal path west through the village of Kamini and takes around 35 minutes at an easy pace, with the sea beside you the whole way. If you rather not walk, a small shuttle boat and the island’s water taxis run from the main harbour to Vlychos in just minutes. Because Hydra is car-free, these are the only ways to get there, so visitors walk one way and return by boat. Plakes beach is a further kilometre along the coastal path beyond Vlychos, an easy extra stroll.
Which is better, Vlychos or Plakes beach?
Vlychos and Plakes are two neighbouring beaches with slightly different characters, and visitors enjoy both in one trip. Vlychos is the larger and more sheltered, with a mix of pebbles and some sand shelving gently into calm water. Plus a taverna and beach bar for sunbeds and food, making it comfortable and family-friendly. Plakes, a short walk further west, is smaller and more natural, prized for its exceptionally clear. Light-blue water over a stony seabed, which makes it especially good for swimming and snorkelling. If you want amenities and shelter, choose Vlychos; if you want the clearest water and a quieter, more scenic spot, head on to Plakes.
The ideal answer is to visit both.
Is Vlychos worth visiting on Hydra?
Yes, Vlychos is well worth visiting and is one of the best places on Hydra for a relaxed day by the sea. In a lovely coastal walk or short boat ride from the main town you reach a peaceful hamlet with two clear-water beaches, Vlychos and Plakes. A beautiful old stone bridge that is one of the island’s most photographed landmarks. A couple of atmospheric waterside tavernas, including one of the oldest on the island. It offers excellent swimming and a genuine sense of escape from the busier harbour, all in a scenic, unspoilt setting. Whether you come to swim, to eat by the water or simply to unwind, Vlychos richly rewards the easy trip to reach it.