Hydra is one of the most un-spoiled and interesting of the Greek islands. The entire island is a preserved national monument and has retained all its 17th & 18th century charm and quaintness. It is both very safe and cosmopolitan with narrow cobbled streets, hidden courtyards, braying donkeys and magnificent scenery; a place that time forgot!

Hydra is a small rocky island in the Argo - Saronic Gulf, south east out of Athens from the port of Piraeus. As there are no motorized vehicles, you can really feel that you are away from it all, untouched by the modern world, yet you will find all the things you will need to have an interesting, and varied holiday. There are museums, beaches, a large variety of tavernas and restaurants serving both traditional Greek food and international cuisine. Bars and shops, a market and local corner shops selling fresh produce from the Peloponnese mainland which is only half an hour away by boat.

Hydra takes its name from ancient springs, and although the town is dotted with wells, these were closed because of seismic activity around the mid-20th century. However most houses have a ‘cisterna’ which collects rain water from the roof in winter but mains water is also available from boats arriving daily form the mainland. The dominant geographic feature of Hydra is its rocky hillsides, and wooded valleys which are empty save for the occasional farmhouse and isolated monasteries.

Hydra harbour is fabulous at any time of the day with its donkeys, colourful fishing boats juxtaposed with millionaire yachts! The harbour is still ‘protected’ by bastions with cannons used to celebrate the many festivals.  Since the 1950’s, Hydra has been regarded as an important cultural centre, attracting famous people from both the Arts and Literature from Greece and abroad including Laurence Durrell, Henry Miller and Leonard Cohen. For those interested in history is the preserved Mansion of Lazaros Kountoyriotis and the Mansion of G. Kountouriotis which incorporates the Museum of Byzantine Art and History and the ‘Melina Mercouri’ Gallery that displays paintings of famous artists. The Museum of History has important relics, archives and a library. Hydra is an island of churches and monasteries, six of the latter and 300 of the former. You never go far without seeing one!

An aerial view of Hydra and its harbour:

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