Saronic & Peloponnese · Slow down and seek inspiration
Hydra
Hydra is the car-free island of the Saronic Gulf, where life moves on foot, by boat or by donkey between stone mansions and a perfect harbour. We design private Hydra itineraries for travellers chasing the slow, creative rhythm that seduced Leonard Cohen.
Life on Hydra moves at a slower pace. You will not find any cars on the island, nor motorcycles or bicycles for that matter, and that is precisely the point.
Slow down and seek inspiration
Today Hydra’s population sits just under 2,000, but in the 19th century the island was home to some 10,000 sailors and grew prosperous on shipping. When that industry collapsed, in part because Hydra missed the turn to steamships that made ports like Piraeus rich, fishing for sea sponges became the main trade, and you will still see sponges for sale all over town. Take time to chat with the locals and you will be blessed with a hundred stories you have not heard before. That rustic depth is what drew world-famous names like Leonard Cohen and Sophia Loren, along with creative travellers of every kind who came seeking inspiration and never quite left.
Explore Hydra
The primary form of transport on Hydra is your own two feet, and we are big believers that the best way to experience the island is to dedicate real time to walking it. If something heavy needs moving, a donkey does the job.
Chora
The island’s architecture is stunning. Hydra’s authentic cobbled streets wind between buildings crowned with traditional red-tiled roofs, looking down over the port and the sea. You can happily spend a whole day exploring the narrow alleyways of Chora.
Hydra Port
Hydra Town is the capital and main harbour, a wonderful little town hidden in a small natural bay that only reveals itself when approached straight on. The settlement is protected as a traditional heritage site, full of beautiful mansions built in the 19th century by wealthy shipowners and merchants.
The donkeys
With cars banned, everyone gets around on foot, by boat or by donkey. That ban, together with the elegant stone mansions, creates a charmed atmosphere and makes Hydra one of the most serene destinations within easy reach of Athens.
Pairing Hydra
Hydra sits at the heart of a Saronic route: Poros and Aegina share the gulf, and elegant Nafplio waits on the Peloponnese shore beyond.
Known first-hand
Our best picks on Hydra
- Best Bar Pirate Bar
Yes, it is right at the port and yes, it fills up, but Pirate Bar is an institution, and we cannot think of a better lazy morning: a freddo cappuccino, docked boats gently rocking, and well-fed cats lounging in the shade.
- Best Dining Il Casta
An Italian trattoria in a dreamy courtyard among the alleyways, pairing traditional recipes with fresh Greek ingredients. Excellent handmade pasta, and for fancy dinner party vibes, order the octopus carpaccio with ginger.
- Best Beach Vlychos Beach
A lovely quiet pebbled beach two kilometres west of town, reached by water taxi or on foot, with crystal clear water and a handful of tavernas nearby. Ideal for those who love their beaches undisturbed.
- Best Daytrip Harriet's Hydra Horses
Horseback treks to the island's monasteries, mountains and beaches, from 45 minutes to a full day, led by Harriet Jarman, a local of Hydra since childhood.
- Best Hidden Spot Kamini
A picturesque fishing village an easy stroll west of town, past azure views, the parish church of John the Baptist and striking mansion ruins. Time it for dusk and finish with a drink at the Sunset Restaurant.
- Best After Dark Techne
Casual gourmet Greek dishes from the freshest seasonal ingredients, in a garden overlooking the Saronic Gulf lit only by the stars and the lights of the boats. By day, the deck looks straight down onto Avlaki beach.
Hydra is reached by hydrofoil from Piraeus in under two hours; the island is famously car-free, so arrive ready to walk.
Design
Design your experience
Tell us the occasion, the season and who is coming. One of our Epicureans will come back with a first sketch of Hydra, and will tell you if another island suits your dates better.