HYDRA | If you’re looking for a Greek Island that’s easy to visit as a day trip from Athens, Hydra is one of your best options. Also known as Ydra, or Idra, the island is a small one (49.6 km2), and can be reached by ferry from Piraeus (Athens) in between one to two hours, depending on whether you get the fast ferry, or the regular one.
There’s one main town on the island, home to a population of around 2,000 people. Most of what you’ll want to see and do when visiting is located in town, with a single walking path leading out of town. This path hugs the coast, offering various beachside stops in which to relax and go for a dip in crystal clear, blue waters.
Hydra a peaceful place, and you can’t help but notice the lack of cars and vehicular noise as you’re exploring. With the exception of garbage trucks, no motorised vehicles are allowed on the island. You won’t even see any pedal bikes, as the terrain is far too hilly, and the streets too narrow. The best way to get around is on foot, since everything is so close. You can also get around using public transport, which takes the form of horses, mules, donkeys, and water taxis.
There aren’t any sandy beaches on Hydra. Instead, you’ll find pebbled coves dotted throughout, inviting you to relax with the smell of fresh pine, and the clearest, bluest water that I’ve personally seen in Greece. They may not be the biggest or ‘best’ beaches in Greece, but they’re pretty special. Mandraki Bay, Kaminia Castello, and Vlychos are three of the most accessible ones within walking distance of the centre.
Singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen lived on Hydra for a time in the 1960s. He was inspired to write his song “Bird on the Wire”, while observing that very thing. Wander around, just outside the centre of town, and you’ll find a variety of coloured plants, birds flying around, and a few small villages. It’s a joy to explore them, checking out the topography of the area, and the architecture. Most have a taverna or two, and even accommodation if you don’t want to stay in the heart of town.
Due to its size, and relative lack of amenities, Hydra isn’t as popular of a destination as some of its larger and more lively cousins. It’s this peace that’s the island’s biggest selling point, and in recent years, more people have started to cotton on.
In the main town, you’ll find several places to eat and drink. Prices are elevated due to the captive market, as you’d expect. One thing that I like to do, is to prepare a picnic basket full of goodies from my favourite independent grocery stores and market stalls in Athens. It’s cheaper than buying food on Hydra, and there’s nothing quite like having a picnic in a quiet, beachside cove.
If you want to eat in at a restaurant with a waterfront view, I recommend Psinesai Grill House. They offer decent quality, tasty, traditional Greek taverna fare. Just behind it, you’ll find pastry shop, Tsagaris. The family-run bakery has been operating since 1930, and are famed for their traditional almond-based biscuit, amygdalota, and other Greek pastries.
For a relaxing drink, while waiting for your ferry back to Athens, pay a visit to Spilia Beach Bar. It’s located on an elevated part of the port, overlooking the ocean and the main town.