A Day Trip to Hydra: the laid back Bohemian Greek Island where artists and writers reside
Overview
Why should I day trip to Hydra Island?
… My introduction to Hydra Island from a fiction novel:
I first heard about the dreamy island of Hydra (or Idra / Ydra as the locals would say) in a novel entitled ‘A Theatre For Dreamers’, by Polly Samson. It told of a group of London-based teenagers who came to the island in search of a new life; the good life of the artistic dreamers. The were greeted by the generation above who had lived the reality of the island for much longer, with a judgemental eye that evaluates all newcomers. Along the way, the heartaches, trials and tribulations were recounted and the reality of life on an island with no cars, donkey transport and residents who traipsed down mountains to fetch their daily water, soon became apparent. This became the cornerstone for my deep desire to day trip to Hydra Island.
In the novel, one of the best holiday books, the romanticism of this place within the heart of the Greek Saronic Islands was put into perspective with the raw reality of day to day life. However, the story ignited a fierce determination in me to one day see this wondrous place for myself. I dreamed of tracing the stone mountain steps I had read about, climbing to the hilltop monastery to drink in the astounding views and to finish off my day with home made Greek wine at a taverna on the cobblestoned Hydra port. Unbeknownst to me, only a few months after finishing the book, the opportunity arose. Having now been there, I would urge you to consider visiting this incredible cosmopolitan Greek island and, if you’re a reader, definitely get a copy of A Theatre For Dreamers before you set sail.
My thoughts on Hydra Island after having been there for a day trip:
It’s impossible not to fall in love with the charming island of Hydra! Elegant stone mansions, narrow alleys, churches, donkeys roaming around, hidden white sand beaches, little shops and a picturesque waterfront all set the scene in this island paradise! This is one of the best Greek island tours from Athens.
My other posts on Greece:
If you’re interested in a holiday to Greece then be sure to check out my post The Best of Greece in 3 Weeks, which details an itinerary involving other Greek Islands and travel logistics, as well as my post on The Ultimate Mainland Greece Road Trip!
Logistics
Where is Hydra Island?
Hydra is part of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Myrtoan Sea and the Argolic Gulf. It is separated from the Peloponnese by a narrow strip of water. In ancient times it was known as Hydrea, a reference to the natural springs on the island. The three other most common islands to visit as day trips are Egina, Poros and Spetses, shown below.
How do I get to Hydra Island?
Unlike some other Greek islands, there is no airport on Hydra so transport is by boat. Departure ports are located at either Athens (Piraeus Port) or Nafplion. The metro system in Athens is efficient and easy to navigate, so we caught the metro from our accommodation in Plaka to Piraeus Port, which took approximately 25 minutes. The walk from the metro station (which is the end of the line) to Piraeus Port was about 10 minutes. Don’t be late as the boat docks are huge and it will leave without you! We ended up sprinting to the gangway with only a minute to spare.
How long does a day trip to Hydra Island take?
The exact time depends on which boat you take, however each leg is roughly 2 hours. Thus Hydra Island is the perfect location to day trip from the mainland! We took the Hydra Speed Cat on Alpha Lines and it was almost exactly 2 hours. You can choose how long you would like to stay on the island and book a return boat accordingly.
How do I get tickets for a day trip to Hydra Island?
Tickets can be purchased through vendors at Piraeus Port, online or privately through tour providers. In high season (summer) I’d recommend booking at least a few days before as tickets sell out quickly.
For excellent pre-booked tour options, see the Viator website. Click here to find and confirm your organised half- or full-day tour upfront.
Are there any stop offs on my day trip to Hydra Island?
Hydra is nearby Poros, Spetses and the eastern part of the Pelopponese coast, with connections to each. Departing Athens, you’ll pass through Poros first and then arrive in Hydra. This also applies to the return journey.
Can I stay on Hydra Island?
Yes, there are many small hotels and guests houses on Hydra. Most of these places will have a preferred muleteer and these sturdy animals will assist with your luggage!
Check out Booking.com for comparisons and best rates for hotels on Hydra Island.
Hydra Island Day Trip Essentials
Explore Hydra Port
Visit a museum
Bastions with cannons & iconic Hydra Port view
Statue of Greek admiral Andreas Miaoulis
Seafood lunch at Sunset Bar
Have a cocktail at a hidden bar
Climb the hill to the Greek flag
Cool off with a dip in Avlaki Beach
Refresh with a drink in Kamini (Kodylenias Restro Hydra or Castello bar)
Take a dip at Kamini Beach
Dinner & shopping at Hydra Port
…or see Hydra on a mule tour!
Hydra Port
Hydra’s famous feature is its bustling port. When stepping off the boat, you’ll be greeted with a bustling haven of visitors and locals seated at the various cafes dotting the harbour, scents of seafood and boutique stores selling jewellery, homewares and souvenir items. I was surprised by just how populated and busy the port was. Take a moment to just stop and breathe it all in. On a summer’s day with the sun shining, it’s pure bliss. Spend some time exploring the shops and people watch for a while. You’ll see fish nets in action, donkeys braying and rich holiday makers sipping on their hot morning caffe lattes.
Visit a Museum on Hydra Island
The boat conveniently pulls in right next to the Historical Archives Museum, housed in a stately stone mansion and home to manuscripts from the revolutionary period, paintings and ship models, rare books, maps, traditional costumes and carvings.
Bastions with cannons and iconic Hydra Port view
The bastions with cannons are located on the east and west side of the Hydra harbour. They were necessary to protect the harbour from Turkish attacks during the 19th century in the Greek War of Independence. Fortunately the Greek ships were able to stave off attacks from the Turkish fleets before their entry to the port and so these cannons have not often been used.
The east bastion near the Historical Archives Museum sits high up overlooking the Hydra Port, with phenomenal photographic opportunities of the port from above.
Note that it can be windy up here so hold on to your hat! We saw an unlucky gentleman watch on as his disobedient hat took flight into the gulf water below.
Andreas Miaoulis Statue
A snippet of history…
Not all Hydriots were unanimous in joining the Greek War of Independence in the 1800s. Island leaders lived a privileged life under Ottoman rule. In fact when Hydriot sailor Antonis Oikonomou expelled the Ottoman governor, Nikolao Kokovil, in 1821, Oikonomou was imprisoned, hounded off the island and assassinated later that year. Hydra did eventually join the cause of independence and provided a critical contribution in the form of ships and supplies. These were used to inflict heavy losses on the Ottoman fleet. The Greek admiral Andreas Miaoulis together with the two naval islands of Psara and Spetses, wrestled control of the eastern Aegean from the Ottoman Empire.
His impressive statue is seen today in the east bastion of the port.
Seafood Lunch
As you can imagine, there is no shortage of seafront cafes and restaurants selling fresh caught fish and seafood. By this stage, we had walked around the hustling bustling Hydra Port and were keen to find a smaller, quieter and more relaxing place for lunch. Enter Sunset Bar & Restaurant!
Shortly after walking around the western corner of the port, we were greeted with this breezy, friendly and open restaurant with unsurpassed views. Seated on the raised terrace overlooking the water enjoying grilled octopus and sauteed shrimp was definitely a highlight of my day on the island.
Enjoy a cocktail at a hidden bar on Hydra Island
After savouring the very last morsels of lunch, I went to take some photographs of the water and my gaze was directed downwards to the unusual sight of some umbrella tops – we had found a hidden bar!
Hydronetta cocktail bar is embraced by rocks and soaring views of the sea, offering a picturesque spot for swimming during the day and breathtaking sunsets listening to jazz and classical music in the evening.
Climb the hill past old stone homes on Hydra Island to the Greek flag
An unmissable feature of Hydra Port is the tall Greek flag high up on the hill by the western side of the port. I’ve searched high and low for the name of this hill but have failed to come across it. We had been keen to climb to one of the various monasteries for a view looking down over the port. Instead we decided to climb to the flag, which I’d highly recommend!
After finishing at Sunset Restaurant and Hydronetta, you’ll walk back up to the main footpath which takes you southwest to Kamini. Above this, is another pathway that leads up to an old windmill.
We took this pathway instead and beyond the windmill, the path leads onwards past quaint little village homes and accommodations. Eventually we reached a stone/dirt pathway that lead up to the Greek flag. It was a beautiful walk showcasing island life on Hydra away from the busy port.
R: the final descent to the Greek flag
The 360 degree views of Hydra at the top were simply astounding!
Surprisingly there were few people at the top and we stayed for about an hour watching the large ocean liners and boats below. In this time, we came across only one other tourist.
Avlaki Beach
From the top of the hill, you’ll see an inviting beach below with turquoise water and bronzed beach bods enjoying a refreshing swim. This is Avlaki Beach and I’d recommend a dip here in the July/August summer if you’ve just climbed the hill!
Refresh with a drink in Kamini
The upper town path then lead downwards to meet the lower tourist path and we next ended up in Kamini.
Kamini is a small fishing town with a few restaurants. Not many tourists make it this far so we enjoyed a refreshing gin and tonic at Kodylenias Restro Hydra cafe.
Kamini Beach
Continuing on from the cafe, we strolled past some whitewash buildings and up some more stone steps to arrive at Kamini Beach. We found it to be surprisingly quite populated. It looked difficult to find an appropriately ‘socially distanced’ piece of sand to sit on so instead we decided to trek on. However, we couldn’t leave before checking out Castello Bar above Kamini Beach. This trendy beach bar has fabulous sea views and house beats on offer.
Dinner and shopping at Hydra Port at the end of your day trip
Allow 20 minutes to walk back from Kamini to Hydra Port and make sure to arrive back in plenty of time for your return boat trip after your perfect day trip to Hydra Island. We had a few snacks and drinks at Isalos Cafe and then I couldn’t resist the urge for a spot of shopping. My parents had given me some money to spend for a birthday present from Greece and I found a beautiful locally-made green and blue pearl sterling silver ring. It’s the perfect reminder of my time in Hydra!
Alternative: Mule Tour of Hydra Island!
We spent the day on foot, enjoying the whimsical freedom of discovering the island at our own pace. However if you fancy a completely unique experience (or have joint problems making steps a problem), then consider a 15 or 25 minute mule tour. These tours take visitors through the back streets or to one of the monasteries.
Don’t miss out on this ethereal and rustic day trip from Athens to Hydra!
