Hydra
No cars, no scooters — just donkeys, water taxis and a stone amphitheatre of sea captains' mansions around one perfect harbour.
- Best forCouples · Culture seekers · Walkers & hikers
- In March13°C · 7 rainy days
- Ideal stay2–3 nights
- Approx. flying time~13h 50m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageGreek
- Local time13:142h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / FBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+30
Why go
There are no cars on this island and no scooters either, which changes everything. Goods move by donkey and handcart, the harbour is a stone amphitheatre of eighteenth-century sea captains' mansions, and the loudest sound after midnight is water against the quay. Artists and writers have been coming since the 1950s, and something of that has stuck: the island is chic without being glossy, and it takes its own quiet seriously.
It is two hours from Piraeus by hydrofoil, which makes it a plausible day trip and a much better overnight one, since the island only really relaxes after the last boat leaves. Expect to swim off rocks and concrete platforms rather than sand. Walkers get stone paths over the hill to monasteries and empty bays. Anyone travelling with heavy luggage, or small children, should think about those cobbles first.
- Ideal stay
- 2–3 nights
- The vibe
- Car-free, stone-built, artfully quiet
From our guides
Hydra has seduced everyone from Leonard Cohen to half the art world, and two hours by hydrofoil from Athens it earns the devotion. Walk the coastal path to Vlychos for a swim and a taverna lunch, and stay over: the island exhales once the day boats leave at five.
Featured in Ten island hideaways built for two
Things to do
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The harbour at dusk
Mansions in grey stone curve around the water, the day boats have gone, and the whole town takes an evening walk along the quay. This is the island's main event.
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Coastal path to Vlychos
A flat twenty-five-minute walk past Kamini village reaches a pebble beach with a stone bridge behind it and tavernas at the water's edge.
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Kamini
A small fishing harbour ten minutes from town, with a handful of tables by the water. It catches the sunset and stays far quieter than the main port.
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Prophet Elias monastery
A steep hour's climb up stone steps and mule tracks to a working monastery near the island's summit, with the Peloponnese laid out across the water.
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Sea captains' mansions
Several of the grand houses built on shipping money are open as museums and archives, explaining how a bare rock became rich enough to fund a revolution.
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Water taxi to Bisti
Boats run from the harbour to remote pine-backed bays along the coast, where the swimming is deep, clear and often entirely private.
Getting there
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Fly to
Spata-Artemida (ATH)
Nearest airport to Hydra, about 79km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Hydra Town
About an hour and a half from Athens airport (ATH) to Piraeus by metro or taxi, then roughly two hours on the hydrofoil to Hydra. Sailings from the smaller port of Metochi cut the crossing to 20 minutes if you are driving.
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On the ground
Getting around
There are no cars or scooters on the island. You walk, ride a donkey or take a water taxi around the coast, including to Vlychos and Kamini for swimming and lunch.
Public transport: The hydrofoils from Piraeus are the lifeline and run several times a day in season. On the island itself, water taxis and mules are the whole network.
Flights
Los Angeles Hydra, Greece
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Roughly 13h 50m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 11°C in January to 29°C in July. Driest June to August; wettest in December, with rain on about 8 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
March13° · rain 7 daysCool with the odd shower.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — May to October. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Converted captains' mansions, small guesthouses and rented village houses. No resorts, no chains, no pools to speak of, and porters move luggage by mule.
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Best base overall
Hydra Town
The amphitheatre of mansions around the harbour holds nearly every bed on the island, along with the tavernas and the port for Athens. Almost everything involves steps and there are no vehicles to help.
Find stays in Hydra Town -
Best value
Kamini
Fifteen minutes along the coastal path, a small fishing hamlet with cheaper rooms, a good taverna or two and swimming off the rocks. The walk back after dinner is dark, so bring a torch.
Find stays in Kamini -
Quietest
Vlychos
Further west past the old stone bridge, with a pebble beach, a handful of guesthouses and water taxis when your legs give up. Very little to do, which is the appeal.
Find stays in Vlychos -
Best with children
Mandraki
A sheltered bay east of the port with the island's only sandy beach and organised swimming, reached by boat or a hot twenty-minute walk. Choices are limited to one small resort area.
Find stays in Mandraki
Worth knowing before you book: Weekends fill with Athenians from May onwards and many places want two nights minimum. Warn your host about heavy cases, since mules and steps do the rest.
Search everything else in Hydra Town by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- No wheels
- Nothing motorised operates on the island. Pack light or in a rucksack, since your bag will be carried by donkey or hauled up steps by hand.
- Getting there
- High-speed ferries from Piraeus take around two hours. Book ahead for weekends and August, when Athenians fill the boats.
- Beaches
- There is no proper sand. Swimming is off rocks, concrete platforms and pebble coves, so bring something to sit on and shoes for the entry.
- Cash or card
- Cards work in most tavernas and shops, but ATMs are few and can run dry at weekends. Carry some euros as backup.
- Timing
- Day-trippers arrive mid-morning and leave by early evening. Stay overnight and you get the two best parts of the day to yourself.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Cape Sounion
Greece · 61km away →
Athens
Greece · 75km away →
The Peloponnese
Greece · 82km away →
Milos
Greece · 115km away →
Antiparos
Greece · 145km away →
Folegandros
Greece · 150km away →Elsewhere in Greece
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Hydra?
For warm, mostly dry days, May to October. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 11°C in January to 29°C in July. Driest June to August; wettest in December, with rain on about 8 days.
How long should I spend in Hydra?
Our suggestion: 2–3 nights.
How do I get to Hydra?
About an hour and a half from Athens airport (ATH) to Piraeus by metro or taxi, then roughly two hours on the hydrofoil to Hydra. Sailings from the smaller port of Metochi cut the crossing to 20 minutes if you are driving.
Do I need a car in Hydra?
No. The hydrofoils from Piraeus are the lifeline and run several times a day in season. On the island itself, water taxis and mules are the whole network.
What currency and language are used in Hydra?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Greek. Plugs: type C and F.
Who is Hydra best for?
Best for couples, culture seekers and walkers & hikers. In a phrase: car-free, stone-built, artfully quiet.