Hydra Travel Guide: What to Do and See in Hydra

Where Is Hydra Located?

Hydra, also known as Ydra or Hidra, is an island located in the Saronic Gulf, specifically in the Aegean Sea and south of Athens, the capital of Greece. It is also close to the Peloponnese peninsula, both points separated by the Gulf of Hydra.

This island is almost entirely dedicated to tourism and its older visitors are usually Athenians, thanks to the island's proximity to the Greek mainland. Between the port of Piraeus and the port of Hydra, there are about 70 km.

Hydra was one of the major naval powers in the world during the modern period and its ships played an extremely important role in the Greek War of Independence.

In addition, famous movies such as A Girl in Black or Boy on a Dolphin were filmed in Hydra. According to many tourists, Hydra is the most authentic Greek island and in Greca we recommend you to know why.

Main Attractions of Hydra

Hydra is well known by travelers for being an island that offers a completely different experience from the rest of the Greek islands. It is a territory where time seems to have stopped, with architecture from another era, without roads or cars, where the entire landscape invites you to reflect and take a break from the modern world. Below, we tell you about some of the most important attractions of Hydra for you to take into account when planning your trip.

Historical Archives Museum of Hydra

It is a museum founded in 1918, which is located inside a very luxurious mansion that belonged to Gikas Koulouras, a prominent Greek sailor. There you can find multiple elements that are linked to naval tradition, such as anchors, navigation maps, and nautical prints, among others. You'll also be able to see manuscripts, traditional clothing, and books dating back to the 19th-century Greek Revolution.

Ecclesiastical Museum of Hydra

This is a museum for history buffs. Here you can see objects from all kinds of cultures, from Byzantine icons and Christian relics to gospels from ancient times. This museum is part of the Church of the Assumption, also known as the Cathedral of Hydra. This construction was completed in 1648, so visiting it will give you a great view of past times.

Hydra Cathedral, Greece

Agia Eupraxia Monastery in Hydra

It is a monastery for women, which was built in 1865 next to the church that bears her name. It is located on top of a hill that has a height of 500 meters above sea level. In addition, visiting this monastery is of great interest to tourists, due to the number of allusions to the Greek and religious culture of ancient times. At the same time, it is very particular in the eyes of visitors, thanks to the colors that highlight its Hellenic-style construction among the entire mountainous landscape.

View of the monastery of Agia Eupraxia in Hydra

With similar views and characteristics, you can visit the monastery of the prophet Elijah, a building that dates back to 1813. It is located 100 meters below Mount Eros and two hours from the port of Hydra. Similarly, we recommend that you go to the Agia Triada monastery, whose construction dates back to 1821 and is located on a hill near Mandraki Bay. If you are more adventurous, you can consider going to the Zouvras monastery, which is located two hours from the center of Hydra, in the northern part of the island.

Hydra Bastions

Also known as the Hydra Cannon Bastions, this is a particular tourist attraction, dating back to the 18th century. This construction served as protection against possible attacks by Turkish troops, which were vastly superior in number at the time compared to the Greeks. Concerning this fortress, we recommend that you visit the Merchant Marine Academy in Hydra if you are interested in naval matters.

Hydra Bastions, Greece

Donkey ride in Hydra

If you want to enjoy a quiet afternoon on the island of Hydra, we recommend that you take the typical donkey or horse rides through the city.

Donkey in Hydra, Greece

These animals are world renowned for being found on multiple Greek islands, wearing colorful clothes, and leading different tourists around steep or mountain streets.

Scuba diving in Hydra

If you are passionate about water sports, visiting Hydra is your opportunity to do some activity of this style, especially the well-known scuba diving or diving. Being a rocky island, Hydra is perfect for diving among its stone walls and underwater caves. And not only that! You can also see a shipwreck from the proto-Helladic period, called the Dokos shipwreck. It is an attraction of cultural and archaeological interest discovered in 1975, which attracts thousands of tourists passing through Hydra. In fact, you can visit a small island with the same name, Dokos Island, on a free afternoon.

Scuba diving in Hydra

Travel to Hydra, Greece

If you want to know how to visit Hydra, the island of Greece, we provide you with two possible ways here.

On the one hand, you must bear in mind that Hydra does not have an airport, so it is only possible to travel to Hydra by ferry. However, you can take a flight to a nearby city and from there buy a ticket, for example, for the ferry from Athens to Hydra.

On the other hand, the ferries from Athens to Hydra have a frequency of around five times a day. The ferry ride from Athens to Hydra takes approximately two hours.

Shopping in Hydra

The island of Hydra is the ideal place for local shopping, especially in its capital. Most businesses are located inside traditional buildings, so you'll need to pay attention to the windows and look at items that might be of interest to you.

In most cases, the items being sold are related to the Greek fashion market, jewelry, gifts, and works of art. All these items are of the finest carving, made by craftsmen and artists who are experts in their field. Nor can you miss walking through its beautiful and colorful street markets, especially linked to Mediterranean cuisine.