Welcome to Hydra

Let me introduce you to the beautiful Island of Hydra in Greece; unlike the ultra-famous Islands of Santorini and Mykonos, Hydra is a quiet Island with few tourists and full of charm. There are no cars in the island with the exception of two multi-task trucks. This lack of cars brings a welcome tranquility and the perfect atmosphere to relax from the stress of city-life.

To get to Hydra you can either take a 3 hour ferry ride from the port of Piraeus in Athens or take the much faster hydrafoil called “The Flying Dolphin.” I have seen many ports in my travels but none like the port of Hydra. Hydra Town takes your breath away; the waters are pristine despite the boat traffic, the town has a historic look to it, and the harbor is full of traditional coffee shops, restaurants, bakeries, and the main form of transportation, donkeys!

Now, if you are expecting white sand beaches, then perhaps this is not the island for you; most of the beaches in the island of Hydra are rock beaches and the main town where the port is located actually lacks a beach.  However the surrounding villages such as Kamini and Vlychos do count with rock beaches; remember to take water shoes with you to avoid sharp rocks and sea urchins.

Hydra is full of nightlife; from bars to restaurants opened after 2 AM you will not find a shortage of fun at night. Eating nutella crepes at 1:00 AM was one of my favorite pastimes, and dancing after my sweet indulgence was a must to shed the pounds. Perhaps you will even see a couple of famous people relaxing around bars and restaurants since Hydra is known for hosting bohemian celebrities.

There are a couple of hotels in the Island of Hydra; since I stayed in private accommodations, I cannot recommend any hotels first-hand. However, while exploring the island I found Hydra Hotel and fell in love with its architecture, accommodations, and location; the staff was friendly enough to let me have a private tour of the beautiful hotel, and the reviews in the internet are great. Since the island is small make sure you have your reservations before you arrive in Hydra, especially if you go during the summer.

Hydra is not a cheap place, but it is definitely worth it; in my opinion Hydra is one of the most beautiful towns in the world. If you are planning to travel to Greece, make Hydra a must-stop in your journey.