This hidden paradise, about a 30-minute boat ride from Hydra Port, lies on the island’s tranquil west end and offers the ultimate European beach experience.
Our day trip guide covers how to get to Agios Nikolaos Beach on Hydra Island, plus our top tips, like how to snag those front-row beach chairs.
Overview: Day trip to Agios Nikolaos Beach on Hydra Island |
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Is Agios Nikolaos worth visiting?
Agios Nikolaos Beach on Hydra, Greece
If you can only visit one beach on Hydra Island, make it Agios Nikolaos Beach. The 30 minute boat trip is absolutely worth it.
Also known as St. Nicholas Beach, this secluded paradise has everything you need for the perfect beach day: tranquillity, a beach bar serving fresh food and drinks, and calm, crystal-clear water for swimming.
The pebbly shore, typical of Greece, means no sandy mess - just pure relaxation. Bring a book and snorkelling gear, and soak up the serene atmosphere as yachts glide by.
How to get to Agios Nikolaos from Hydra Port
To get to Agios Nikolaos Beach, head to Hydra Port and look for the passenger boats with a "St. Nicolas Beach" sign, typically near the clock tower. Our boat operator departed at 10:30 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM.
You can pay by credit card, and your roundtrip ticket allows you to choose any evening return time. We had the options of 4 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM.
We paid 20 Euros each for our roundtrip ticket.
How to make reservations for front-row beach chairs
Agios Nikolaos Beach has three rows of beach chairs. The second and third rows are first-come first-served, costing 20 euros for 2 chairs and an umbrella.
To snag the best non-reservable loungers, catch the earliest boat for first pick.
For those prime front-row beach chairs, you have to call Angelo at +306984479770 to reserve them. They cost 25 euros for 2 chairs and an umbrella.
What to expect at the Agios Nikolaos beach bar
Iced coffee and wifi sign at the beach bar
The beach bar at Agios Nikolaos is top-notch. They take credit card and offer a fresh, varied menu. They also play the right kind of beach lounge tunes - but if you prefer quiet, you can sit farther from the bar.
For non-alcoholic drinks, the bar serves fresh juices, homemade lemonade, homemade iced tea, espresso, iced cappuccinos, frappes, water and soda.
For alcoholic drinks, they serve beer, Greek white and rose wines, and refreshing cocktails like Aperol spritz, palomas, mojitos, negronis, margaritas and daiquiris. I really enjoyed my mojito - they used fresh lime and mint.
The food menu features salads, fresh fruit, sandwiches, toasties, wraps, bruschetta and chicken nuggets. There is a good variety of salads like Greek, beetroot, chicken avocado, tuna, smoked salmon, and watermelon feta.
Prices are around 7-8 euros for wine, 5-8 euros for beer, and 12 euros for cocktails. Salads range from 10-13 euros, while toasties, wraps and sandwiches range from 4-15 euros.
Returning to Hydra Port from Agios Nikolaos Beach
You don’t need to choose your return boat time until the last minute. We thought we would be taking the first boat back, but had so much fun that we ended up taking the last boat!
You'll see the boats lined up on the west side of the beach. Just show your proof of purchase to board. Our return options were 4 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM.
Enjoy your dreamy beach day on Agios Nikolaos!
Looking for a place to stay on Hydra Island? We stayed in the Sunset Studio at Hydra Dream Houses and loved it. It was quiet, close to the central strip, and perfect for relaxing on the private terrace with a view. 🛌 Browse more stays on Hydra Island
Check out our Hydra guides:
- 18 Best Things to Do in Hydra, Greece
- Ultimate 3 Day Hydra, Greece Itinerary
- 7 Unique Restaurants on Hydra, Greece
And don't miss our other Greece guides:
- 5 Days in Greece - Athens & Hydra
- 8 Days in Greece - Santorini, Athens & Hydra
- Athens 1 Day Itinerary
- 7 Ways to do Oia, Santorini on a Budget
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