Everything you need to know about how to get to Hydra from Athens by ferry or day trip. Here's how to visit the beautiful Saronic island of Hydra made easy!
Hydra Island Near Athens
The Saronic island of Hydra is an easy day trip from Athens, and a popular destination with visitors and Greeks alike. Combining rich history with a cosmopolitan vibe, its traffic free nature is a stark contrast to busy Athens.
If you're looking to take a side trip from Athens to a nearby Greek island for a day or two, Hydra is a natural first choice. In this guide, I'll show you how to get from Athens to Hydra by ferry, where to buy ferry tickets, and also give options for organized day trips.
How to travel to Hydra from Athens?
Hydra is about 68 kms away from Athens, and so the only way to get there is by boat. There are regular direct ferries as well as day trips from Athens, so there's plenty of choice!
Depending on which option you take, getting to Hydra can take anywhere from just over an hour to a couple of hours. First off, here's how to get to Hydra Greece from Piraeus, the port of Athens by ferry.
Athens to Hydra Ferry
All the ferries from Athens to Hydra leave from Piraeus Port. There are several high-speed ferries daily on the Piraeus to Hydra route.
All the services on this ferry route are run by Blue Star Ferries / Hellenic Seaways. You may have used this company before when travelling to the Greek islands.
You can check the Athens to Hydra ferry schedule and book your Hydra ferry ticket at www.ferryhopper.com.
If you are planning to take the ferry at high season, a specific time or if you are not flexible, it’s best to book your e-ticket at least a few days in advance.
Ferry Piraeus – Hydra
For spring and early summer 2020, there are two types of ferries travelling to Hydra. There are the Flying Cat 6 catamaran, and the smaller Flying Dolphins.
The Flying Cat 6 is a relatively small vessel. At 40 metres in length, it fits up to 336 people and its maximum speed is 28 knots.
The Flying Dolphins are a little smaller, around 35 metres, and fit 130 passengers. They are quite fast, reaching a top speed of 35 knots. As they are very small, they are the bumpiest options, and the least likely to depart if the wind picks up.
If you are prone to sea sickness, you might prefer to travel on the FlyingCat 6 instead.
For any of these boats, tickets are priced at 28.50 euro per person per trip at the time of writing.
We find that Ferryhopper is the most convenient platform to book a ferry to Hydra from Athens.
The cheap ferry to Hydra
In July and August 2019, there was a slower ferry, Agia Marina Aiginis, stopping at Aegina on the way to Hydra. It was departing from Piraeus at 9am daily (9.30 on Sundays), leaving Hydra at 16.30. Tickets for this ferry cost 19.50 euro.
Timetables for the Agia Marina Aiginis haven’t yet been announced for 2020. In fact, timetables for any Piraeus – Hydra ferries have only been released until the end of May. Watch this space!
Ferries to Hydra from Piraeus – Gate E8
The boats to Hydra depart from Gate E8, a short walk from the Piraeus metro / suburban station. Once you have come out of Piraeus metro, cross the street and follow the coast to the left. More information here on how to get to Piraeus from Athens.
Day trips to Hydra – DIY Version
It is entirely possible to plan a day trip to Hydra on your own, by catching the first ferry of the day to Hydra, and the last ferry back to Pireaus.
This will allow you about 10 hours on the island, which will give you plenty of time to stroll around the main town, admire the unique architecture and the cobbled streets, and perhaps go for a quick splash in one of the beaches closest to the town.
If you are interested in history and art, you can choose to visit either the Historical Archive of Hydra, or the Koundouriotis Mansion, that has been transformed into a museum.
If you are more attracted to the outdoors, you can either hike or hire a water-taxi to take you to a beach far from the town, where you can swim and snorkel.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to enjoy a meal and coffee by the coast, watching the world go by.
Organized day trip to Hydra
If you can’t decide whether to visit Hydra, Poros or Aegina, another option is to take an organized day trip to these three Saronic islands. This day cruise includes lunch, and it’s a good introduction to all three islands, though you won’t have much time on either of them.
I've got a review about a similar full-day cruise I took in the Saronic Gulf here – 3 island cruise from Athens.
Staying overnight in Hydra
Just like every other place in the world, if you want to fully appreciate Hydra it’s best to spend a couple of days, or maybe more.
The island has 11 lovely hiking paths, and as cars are not allowed, it really feels like you have escaped from it all. Following the hiking trails you will spot many different types of flowers, and you will also come across the island’s unique monasteries.
Water taxis, taking you to the beaches around the island, are available at the port. It is also possible to rent a private boat for a day and explore the hidden bays of the island, or organize a dive through the Hydra Diving Centre.
Booking.com
If you decide to stay in Hydra for a few days, make sure you book your accommodation well in advance, especially if you are planning to go on a weekend.
Some of the best hotels on Hydra are Phaedra Hotel, a renovated 19th century mansion also recommended by Rick Steves, and Mistral Hotel, a traditional stone mansion. Both hotels are located very centrally in Hydra town, and close to some great restaurants.
Pin this Hydra Greece guide for later
Use the image below to pin to one of your boards. That way, you'll be able to easily find this guide on getting to Hydra Island later on.
Hopefully this guide on how to get to Hydra Greece will help you plan your trip. If you have any other tips, please leave a comment below!
More Greek Island-Hopping Guides
If you are planning to do more island hopping in Greece, you might want to check out these other guides:
Michele says
Hello
We are a 60plus year old couple who would like to go to either Hydra or Crete (I know quite diverse choices) but we love walking and have read of the lovely trails on Hydra. We need the break after a very rough year and wondered if you could offer any advice as to the best island/area to go to. We are thinking of a week from 14th October or thereabouts.
We would like to still feel we have some atmosphere in the evening.
We are happy to plan things independently as I understand Hydra may be difficult to get a package deal ??
Regards
Michele
Dave Briggs says
Hi Michele,
Hydra would be a nice destination for walking, as you could do many of the walks literally from your doorstep. Personally, I would find it a bit small for a week, but I can also imagine it is a great place if you just want to get away from everything. Find yourself a nice boutique hotel on Booking, and relax!
Crete is a wonderful destination, but it’s really the size of a little country rather than a personal island. As such, you would probably need to hire a car to get to different hiking points. If this is your type of thing, consider staying at Chania which is a lovely little town, and quieter in October than the summer.
Hydra they may not be much going on in the evening.
Chania, there would be a nice taverna scene with drinks in a great setting.
Honestly, you can’t really go wrong whichever you decide!!
Have a great time in Greece
Dave
Anna Palej says
Dear Dave Briggs,
My name is Anna Palej and I am an assoc. prof. at the Faculty of Architecture and Fine Arts, Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski Krakow University, Poland.
I am writing a book for students “Cities of Information Civilization – New Challenges” in a limited edition of 100 – 200 copies that will be distributed at the University.
I would like to include a photo (showing different buildings climbing the hill) I found at your website as an illustration of the „Unity in Diversity’ phenomenon in urban design.
I would be very grateful for sharing this photo with me free of charge.
Waiting for your kind response
Anna Palej
Dave Briggs says
Hi Anna,
Please send me an email to dave@davestravelpages.com with details of the photo you wish to use and the page you found it on.
Thanks!