From idyllic swimming coves and chic boutiques to exquisite dining and lively nightlife, Hydra has it all. This island, known for its bohemian and artistic allure, has been a favourite of many famous artists and feels like a well-kept secret among European travellers.
Just a short 1.25 hour ferry ride from Athens, the car-free island is easy to reach and offers a unique blend of relaxation and sophistication.
After spending 5 days on the island, we've created the ultimate 3 Day Hydra, Greece itinerary, taking you to the island's must-see spots, from tucked-away restaurants with sunset views to the best swimming coves and beach bars.
Overview: Hydra, Greece Itinerary
→ Enjoy a leisurely lunch along Hydra Port and shop the chic boutiques → Swim and get drinks at a cliffside beach bar → Dine at a hidden hotspot with sea views → Listen to jazz at Hydra's newest cocktail bar → Start your morning with a healthy breakfast → Beach hop along the coastal path from Hydra Port to Vlychos Beach → Eat handmade pasta in a leafy courtyard → Experience Hydra's nightlife → Take a day trip to a remote beach → Visit a former slaughterhouse turned cutting-edge art gallery → Devour the best gyro on the island → Watch a movie at the outdoor cinema |
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How long should you spend in Hydra?
We recommend spending at least three days on Hydra to explore the island's best spots. However, if you're seeking more downtime, five days is the sweet spot.
How to get to Hydra, Greece
To reach Hydra Island, you'll need to take a ferry from Piraeus Port in Athens. We rode Alpha Lines on the way there and Hellenic Seaways on the way back. Hellenic Seaways has a bigger ship and is more established. Alpha Lines is a newer company.
✔️ Top Tip: reserve your ferry in advance, especially in summer, to secure a spot on the direct route. The trip takes just 1 hour 10 min - 1 hour 20 min.
Hellenic Seaways or Alpha Lines?
We tried both, and Alpha Lines was our favourite since upgrading to business class only cost 2 euros, and choosing our seats was easy.
⛴️ Compare ferry ratesIs Hydra walkable?
Hydra is a car-free island, so getting around is done by walking or boating. The island is small, with everything close by, but it’s hilly.
Before booking your accommodation, it’s a good idea to check how far uphill it is from the port.
Walking the coast from Hydra Port has some inclines, but the cobblestone path is fairly easy to navigate if you don’t have mobility issues.
If you have a lot of luggage, don’t worry - you can hire donkeys or porters with wooden carts to help get your bags to your hotel.
3 Day Hydra Greece Itinerary
Day 1
Check into your stay
While Hydra doesn’t offer a wide range of hotels, its charming apartments and guesthouses more than makeup for it. We found that staying about a 5-minute walk from Hydra Port struck the perfect balance - far enough to escape the noise, but close enough to avoid too much of a steep climb.
Our stay in the Sunset Studio at Hydra Dream Houses was excellent. It was quiet, yet just a short walk from the main strip. We loved relaxing on our private terrace with a glass of wine and taking in the view.Our host met us near Hydra Port when we arrived. If you arrive early, they’ll gladly store your bags for you until your room is ready.
🛌 Browse more stays on Hydra IslandTake in the vibrant port atmosphere at Isalos Cafe
Kick off your trip with a coffee or bite to eat at Isalos Cafe - the outdoor cafe along the port quickly became our go-to spot each morning. With its delicious smoothies and prime people-watching, it's the perfect introduction to the island.
Take your time here and soak in the surroundings.
Explore Hydra Port and its chic boutiques
Exploring Hydra Port
After lunch, stroll along the main port strip and explore the tiny side streets to find tucked-away boutiques and eateries.
We were blown away by the shopping in Hydra. The main strip is packed with chic shops selling everything from handmade jewelry and stylish clothing to quirky housewares. We loved seeing so many Greek designers showcased.
Don't miss:
- Kashish Athens for clothing with unique prints
- Koutsikou Hydra for stylish housewares and accessories
- Svoura Concept Store for unique ceramics and glass-blown items
- Sirens for high-quality shoes and clothing from Greek designers
- Adonis Boutiques & Showroom for colourful swimsuits.
Swim and get drinks at Hydronetta Bar
Hydronetta Bar
After working up a sweat from exploring and shopping, head over to Hydronetta Bar, a cool beachside spot just a short walk from the port. Perched on a cliff, it has intimate tables with straw umbrellas and amazing views of the turquoise sea.
Chill out with Greek wines or beachy cocktails, like mai tais and caipirinhas, while enjoying the breeze and watching the swimmers below. With its uplifting music and dreamy sunsets, it’s the perfect place to unwind.
The best part? You can take a refreshing dip in the sea and then head back to your table to finish your drinks.
Dine at Techne, a hidden hotspot with sunset views
Dining in Hydra is fantastic, with plenty of great spots to choose from. Our favourite restaurant we dined at for sunset views was Techne, a hidden gem between Hydronetta Bar and Kamini village.
Techne offers delicious Mediterranean dishes and signature cocktails, and its “see and be seen” crowd creates an exciting atmosphere. Book one of its elevated outdoor tables for stunning sea views and top-notch people-watching
✔️ Top Tip: we made the rookie mistake of booking our reservations for 7:30 PM and ended up being the first ones seated every time! Greeks eat late, so aim for a 9 PM reservation.
Make your reservation online.
Sip after-dinner cocktails at L'Americano
L'Americano is Hydra's newest cocktail bar, opening in July 2024. We were one of its first guests!
Nestled on a side street off the main strip, it offers a relaxed atmosphere with jazz music and skilled bartenders crafting cocktails. The elegant space is a nice change from the club-like bars.
Day 2
Start your morning with breakfast at The Lemon Trees
Refuel with a healthy breakfast at The Lemon Trees. Choose an outdoor table under a lemon tree and order a fresh juice, coffee and one of their super bowls. The staff here were super friendly.
Beach hop along the coastal path from Hydra Port to Vlychos Beach
The coastal walk from Hydra Port to Vlychos Beach
Beach hop your way from Hydra Port to Vlychos Beach. The coastal path takes you past Hydronetta Bar, Avlaki Beach, the historic fishing village of Kamini, and over an old stone bridge before reaching Vlychos Beach. The walk is about 35 minutes each way.
Vlychos Beach is a quiet spot to unwind away from the busy port. Rent a beach umbrella and chairs and enjoy beachside service.
⛱️ At Vlychos Beach, you can rent two blue chairs and an umbrella for 15 euros from the ice cream shop, or two white chairs and an umbrella for 20 euros from Enalion restaurant. The latter has a QR code for easy food ordering.
On the way back don’t miss Castello Beach Lounge. We stumbled upon this gem during our walk, and it quickly became a favourite. Set around an old stone prison, it offers a beach club vibe with hypnotic electronic music.
⛱️ At Castello, you can rent two beach chairs and an umbrella for €30, or hang out at the bar for free. The menu features everything from coffees and cocktails to poke bowls and smoothies.
Eat handmade pasta in the leafy courtyard at Il Casta
Il Casta
Il Casta may not have the same views as some other places, but its leafy courtyard and laidback, yet sophisticated setting set it apart.
Its Italian dishes and handmade pastas were a refreshing change from Greek fare. We also loved the quirky furniture and mismatched hand-painted plates.
It’s one of Hydra's top restaurants, so be sure to call ahead for a reservation.
🍷 Must try: Any handmade pasta and the perfectly chilled house wine.
Experience Hydra's nightlife
Hydra Island might be small, but its nightlife packs a punch. Bars and nightclubs are buzzing until 2 AM - 4 AM, and even some boutique shops stay open until midnight.
Check out these two hot spots for a great night out:
Pirate Bar: Great for socializing, this lively spot right on the port has tons of outdoor seating and a DJ spinning tunes inside.
Amalour: If dancing is more your style, head to Amalour around 2 AM. When we arrived the dance floor was packed, with a DJ playing everything from Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love” to Peggy Gou’s “Nanana,” keeping the energy high throughout the night.
Day 3
Take a day trip to the remote Agios Nikolaos Beach
If there’s one beach you can’t miss in Hydra, it’s Agios Nikolaos. This remote paradise, a 30-minute boat ride from Hydra Port, is tucked away on the island’s serene west end and is the ultimate European beach experience.
Its still, crystal-clear water is perfect for swimming and its beach bar is top-notch, playing just the right blend of loungey tunes. We enjoyed iced cappuccinos and club sandwiches, and topped off the day with a mojito. They accept credit cards.
🏖️ Top Tip: To score the best non-reservable beach chairs (20 euros for 2), hop on the earliest boat. If you’re aiming for the prime front-row chairs, call Angelo to reserve at +306984479770 (25 euros for 2).
Getting to Agios Nikolaos Beach:
➡️ Look for the boats at Hydra Port with a "St. Nicolas Beach" sign, usually near the clock tower. Ours departed at 10:30 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM.
➡️ You can pay with credit card and your roundtrip ticket lets you choose from any evening return time. Our options were 4 PM, 5:30 PM, and 6:30 PM.
Read our full Agios Nikolaos Beach guide.
Visit a former slaughterhouse turned cutting-edge art gallery
DESTE Foundation slaughterhouse gallery
Originally an old slaughterhouse, the DESTE Foundation has transformed the space into a cutting-edge contemporary art gallery with annual exhibitions.
One of the highlights is the striking sun sculpture by Jeff Koons, the artist renowned for his balloon dog sculptures. The sun installation is permanent and definitely worth a look.
For this itinerary, we recommend visiting at 7 PM before dinner. See what exhibition is on.
Hours: Open daily from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM, except Tuesdays.
Devour the best gyro on the island
Grab a mouthwatering gyro at ... and Onion! - one of the most affordable and delicious eats on the island.
I tried the spit-roasted chicken pita, loaded with tzatziki, tomatoes, onions, and even French fries. While fries in a pita might sound a bit unusual, this Greek twist is tasty. It might just be the best gyro I’ve ever had.
Watch a movie under the stars
Outdoor Cinema in Hydra
Catching a movie at the outdoor cinema is a fantastic way to wind down after dinner. Open-air cinemas are a cherished Greek tradition, with many in Athens and across Greece.
We enjoyed Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, Rope, from the 1940s. Entry and snacks were fairly priced - tickets cost just 8 euros each.
🎥 Top Tip: Bring cash! They accept cash only.
Check their Instagram page to see what’s showing.
We hope you enjoyed this Hydra itinerary!
Thinking of spending more than 3 days on Hydra Island? Check out our list of 18 unique things to do in Hydra.
Get started on planning your trip to Hydra
- 🛌 Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to for finding places to stay. Sort by top reviewed.
- ⛴️ Compare ferry rates: with Direct Ferries
- ✈️ Compare flights: with Skyscanner
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Don't miss our other Greece guides:
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