The island of Hydra or Idra in the Saronic Gulf in Greece

Hydra is one of the Argo-Saronic islands, a little south of Athens and not far from the capital of Greece, Athens. It is situated between Poros and Spetses. The island measures 52 square kilometers and has a population of about 3000 people. Because of its close proximity to Athens this hilly island has also become a tourist hot spot (also for people on the mainland that want to make a day trip). The main town of Hydra, is an attractive and picturesque place which has fortifications in the harbour, an 18th century Monastery, houses with red tiled roofs and pretty neo-classical mansions. Apart from the tourists that spend their holiday on the island and the day trippers from the mainland, the island is also visited by many cruise ships, which can make it suddenly very busy at the port of Hydra Town. Behind the harbour with its restored mansions, restaurants and shops are the cobbled and narrow streets of Hydra Town. Here it is more quiet and you can find some rest on one of the squares of the town. For those that are looking for more peace and quiet the only option is to go even further away. Since there are no cars on the island it gets more quiet the further away you are from Hydra Town. The only means of transport on the island is the mule. Most people who visit Hydra for a holiday, stay in Hydra Town and from there they make walks over the island to visit monasteries and beaches, or they go to the port to take a taxi boat or caique (traditional wooden boat) to the various bays and beaches on the island.

Hotels on the island of Hydra - Mistral Hotel - luxury hotel with very good reviews

With its warm and welcoming staff, this luxurious mansion is just 3 minutes from Hydra's port and features beautifully appointed guest rooms and great attention to detail. Mistral Hotel is run by friendly family owners who are more than happy to share their knowledge of Hydra with their guests. A small selection of rooms and studios in this traditional, stone mansion allow for attention to detail and unsurpassed personalised service. Relax in your elegantly presented room and enjoy beautiful views of Hydra or to the sea. Start each day with a lovingly prepared homemade breakfast in the picturesque garden or cosy lounge. Mistral Hotel offers the ideal sanctuary for rest and relaxation in between sightseeing and hiking around Hydra. The main attractions of Hydra are within easy walking distance of this refined guest house. Breakfast can be served in the beautiful flower garden of the hotel. Check availability and prices & book the Mistral Hotel on Hydra - click here

Hotels on the island of Hydra - Nefeli Hotel - very good reviews

The traditional settlement enjoys a prime location in Hydra offering the most amazing views of Hydra Town, the ancient Port and the mainland of Peloponnese. Hotel Nefeli has 9 traditional guestrooms, each uniquely styled and offering a terrace with great views. All units, surrounded by lovely gardens, are equipped with air conditioning, TV, refrigerator and en suite bathrooms. Hydra, being a car-free island, is ideal for those wishing to trek and explore its natural beauty. Guests are welcomed at the port and escorted to Nefeli Hotel. Additional arrangements can be made for heavy luggage to be transferred by mules. For visitors wishing to see the outstanding scenery, visit the charming monasteries or have a picnic lunch. The hotel also arranges half-day or full-day mule-treks around the island. Check availability and prices & book the Nefeli Hotel on Hydra - click here

Hotels on the island of Hydra - Piteoussa Guesthouse - very good reviews

Piteoussa Guest House, situated in a quiet area of Hydra Town, only 200 metres away from the harbour, is located on the beautiful Hydra, the most exclusive and unique of the Saronic islands of Greece. All tastefully and uniquely decorated rooms of Piteoussa Guest House are spacious and comfortable aiming to make guests feel at home. Some rooms offer private balcony. Each room features en-suite bathroom with hair dryer and refrigerator. Modern equipment and technology installations include air conditioning, TV, free WiFi internet and CD/DVD player Check availability and prices & book the Piteoussa Guesthouse on Hydra - click here For all hotels, apartments and studios on Hydra island in Greece - click here

Hydra sights

The convent of Agia Efpraxia (dating from 1825) en the monastery Profitis Ilias at an hour and a half distance walk from Hydra Town. The Monastery of the Prophet Elias, which dates from 1813 and is built on the slope of Mount Eros on the site of an abandoned older monastery. The Monastery is inhabited by two monks and it includes a courtyard, a church, a vegetable garden and several other buildings. The walk from Hydra Town takes about one and a half hour (up the hill), so take water with you when you want to visit these places. Views from both monasteries are spectacular, over Hydra, the sea and the Pelopennese. Hydra Town with its fortifications, neo-classical mansions and the 18th century Panagia Monastery. This monastery was built with the stones from the former Poseidon Temple of Poros island. In the middle of the harbour of Hydra Town stands a three story high bell-tower that dates from 1643 and which is one of the oldest buildings of the town. The Byzantine or Ecclesiastical Museum of Hydra is located in the center of the Harbor under the clock tower.

Hydra beaches

Hydra is not a real beach island destination. Most of its beaches are small and consist of pebbles or they are just rocks were you can go into the water. One of the few beaches with sand and probably the best option is the Mandraki beach just east of Hydra Town. To reach the beaches of Hydra you will have to make a walk or you can take a taxi boat or caique to bring you to the beach of your choice. Spilia "Beach" is as close as it gets to a beach in Hydra Town itself. It consists of rocks and a concrete platform just west of the main harbour of the village. There are parasols and sunbeds for rent here. You can go into the sea here, but it is less easy to get out again. Next to Spilia there is a simular place with rocks and a concrete platform, which is called Hydroneta. Behind Hydroneta there is a taverne. Avlaki Beach is the next place where you can go into the sea. It is situated close to Hydroneta and it consists of a few patches of pebbles and two concrete platforms where you can lie in the sun. Behind Avlaki is a discotheque which sets the beach in a light in the evenings and plays music. Access to this pebble beach is steep and over steps that lead down from Spilia Beach. It's less easy to climb up again. A 15 to 20 Minutes walk to the west from Hydra Town will take you to the smaller, more quiet and also picturesque village of Kamini with its marina and a couple of tavernes. Here there are two pebble beaches. Mikro (smaller) Kamini which is shallow and safe for small children, is the more popular one. Megalo (larger) Kamini is the more quiet of the two. In Kamini Beach there are parasols and sunbeds for rent. A large building behind this beach is a former arsenal where the munition (gun powder) was safely kept at some distance of the harbour of Hydra Town. Vlichos Beach is a pebble beach which is situated 2 kilometer west of Hydra Town (about 30 to 40 minutes walk). It is a small beach with pebbles and gray sand, where you can rent parasols and sunbeds. You can reach the beach on foot from Hydra Town or by taxi boat. Vlichos Beach is shallow, so it is suitable for families with small children. One of the sights in Vlichos is the ruin of a bridge that dates from the 17th century (it is in between Vlichos and Palamida Beach). Palamida Beach is situated south of Vlichos Beach. The walk to this beach takes about 20 minutes from Vlichos Beach and on your way you will pass the ruins of a stone bridge, that dates from the 17th century. The beach of Palamida is a sandy beach. Here you can see the mansion of the Voulgaris family which was once the home of the admiral of the Ottoman fleet, during his visit at Hydra. Very close to the beach there is also a small shipyard where small boats are repaired. Molos Beach is situated even further west from Hydra Town and is more quiet and less developed. The beach be reached on foot, but it is over a more difficult track through the pine tree forest and much of the back of the beach is fenced off, so it is hard to find an entrance. Not all taxi boats go here because the water is very shallow (too shallow for most of the boats). Here there are no sunbeds or parasols for rent and there are no other amenities, so you must bring your own water and food. Kaoumithi Beach is the beach after Molos Beach. This is a small and sandy beach which is backed by some trees where you can sit in the shade. You can reach this beach with its clear waters on foot from Hydra Town or by taxi boat. The walk takes about 60 to 70 minutes time. The beach is not organised, so there are no parasols and sunbeds and there are no further amenities. You have to bring your own water and food and also a sun lotion if you want to spend some time here. Bitsi Beach is situated on the west side of Hydra island and is regularly served by caiques (small traditional wooden boats). This is a peaceful beach which is home to a diving center. The small pebble beach is surrounded by pine trees. On the beach is a cantina during the high season, where you can get a drink and there are a couple of sunbeds and parasols for rent, but you can also find shade under one of the trees on the beach. The sea is shallow here and the white pebbles give the water in the cove a beautiful turqoise colour. Agios Nikolaos Beach is the beach next to Bitsi Beach. It is a pebble beach which is set in a cove and it can be reached by taxi boat in about one hour time. There are regular caiques from Hydra Town to this beach. There are sunbeds and parasols for rent on Agios Nikolaos Beach and during high season there is a small cantina where you can buy a drink, but it is safer to bring your own water and something to eat if you go this beach, becuase it is quite remote. There is not much shade on Agios Nikolaos Beach. Mandraki Beach is situated at 2 kilometer distance east of Hydra Town and can be reached on foot in about 30 minutes (not much shade on the way) or by taxi boat. This is the best beach of the island, with pebbles and sand. The beach is organised and there are sunbeds and parasols for rent. There is a small beach in a cove (pebbles and rocks) and a larger more sandy beach. Mandraki Beach can get busy because of the accommodations that are built along the beach. Mandraki Beach has amenities such as tavernes and there is a possiblity to practise watersports. Limnioniza Beach is one of the few beaches in the south of the island of Hydra. It is at a 4 kilometer distance of Hydra town and can be reached either on foot or by taxi boat. The trip by taxi boat takes about 30 minutes. During the high season there are also regular caiques going to this beach. There is a small cantina on Limnioniza Beach for your drinks and there is a possibility to practise watersports. On all other times it is wise to bring your own water and food. Nisiza Beach is situated in the south of the island of Hydra. It can be reached from the small village of Epikopi on foot (it is a little southeast of this village). From here there is a rough path that will take you to the beach in about 35 to 40 minutes time. The beach can also be reached by taxi boat or caique. It is a small pebble beach behind the mountain Klimakio and there are no facilities here, so you must bring your own water and food. Shadow is a rare commodity on Nisizia Beach, because there are not many trees.

© Hans Huisman, https://www.angelfire.com/super2/greece/ 2014