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 … Read more
Kamini on Hydra is a tiny, picture-perfect fishing village a short walk west of the main town, and one of the loveliest corners of the whole island. Built around a small harbour full of colourful wooden boats, with an old stone fort. A sheltered pebble beach and a scattering of tavernas, it has all the … Read more
The Hydra donkeys, mules and horses are the beating heart of daily life on the only Greek island where cars are banned. With no vehicles, no scooters and not even bicycles allowed, these hard-working animals. Along with water taxis and people’s own two feet, carry everything and everyone that moves around the island. From the … Read more
Hiking in Hydra is one of the great pleasures of this car-free island, where the total absence of roads and traffic turns the whole landscape into a walker’s paradise. Beyond the elegant stone town, a network of old mule paths and stone-paved trails climbs into pine-clad mountains and threads along a rugged. Cove-scattered coast, leading … Read more
Hydra boat trips are the finest way to discover the parts of the island the footpaths never reach. Because Hydra has no cars and no coast road, its most beautiful swimming coves, sea caves and the far eastern lighthouse are all but impossible to visit except from the water. A boat trip solves that at … Read more
Hydra history is remarkable for a small. Rocky island: a barren refuge that grew into one of the wealthiest and most powerful maritime nations in Greece. Then into a decisive naval force in the War of Independence. From humble beginnings as a shelter for refugees, the island built a great merchant fleet. Earned the nickname … Read more
The Hydra monasteries are among the island’s most rewarding sights, set high on the mountain above the town and reached by a beautiful stone-paved hike through the pines. The two most visited are the monastery of Profitis Ilias, the island’s only male monastery, and the neighbouring convent of Agia Efpraxia, home to nuns famed for … Read more
Hydra restaurants range from unmarked back-street tavernas and seafront fish terraces to polished modern-Greek dining rooms, and almost all of them come with the island’s trademark elegance and sea views. On this car-free island, eating out is unhurried and atmospheric: tables sit right at the water’s edge in the harbour. In the fishing hamlets of … Read more
The best time to visit Hydra is late spring and early autumn, roughly May to June and September to October, when the island enjoys warm, sunny weather, a sea warm enough for swimming and a lively but not overwhelming atmosphere. As a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf close to Athens, Hydra is easy to … Read more
Deciding where to stay in Hydra matters more than on most Greek islands, because Hydra is completely car-free. Where to stay in Hydra. And how steps you must climb to reach your hotel, shapes your whole visit. Most accommodation is in and around Hydra Town, the beautiful harbour capital, in converted stone mansions and homely … Read more