Hydra is a long, mountainous island in the Saronic Gulf, off the Peloponnese. Its charm comes from one rule: no cars or scooters are allowed. You get around on foot, by donkey or by water taxi.
In the 18th and 19th centuries Hydra was very rich from maritime trade, and its shipowners built the great stone mansions that rise like an amphitheatre around the harbour. During the War of Independence of 1821 Hydra's fleet, with admirals such as Andreas Miaoulis, was decisive against the Ottomans. Since the 1950s and 60s the island has drawn artists and writers: singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and painter Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika lived here, among others, and contemporary art exhibitions are held today.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| The harbour | Cafés, shops and the captains' mansions, with cannons on the ramparts |
| Historical Archives and Museum | Documents and relics of the revolution |
| Lazaros Kountouriotis mansion | House museum of a family of shipowners and politicians |
| Monasteries of Prophet Elias and Agia Efpraxia | On the mountain, with a scenic path |
| Kamini and Vlychos | Fishing villages reached on foot along the coast |
Beaches are few and small, often pebbly: Vlychos, Plakes, Bisti and Agios Nikolaos, reached by water taxi. Many swim from the rocks near the harbour at Spilia.
Getting there
Hydrofoils from Piraeus take about 1.5-2 hours; there are also links with Poros, Spetses and Ermioni in the Peloponnese.