Hydra Ferries
Everything you need to know about ferries to and from Hydra — the Hydra Town port, routes from Piraeus and the Saronic Gulf, and how to plan a visit to the car-free island that has charmed artists and writers for generations.
The port: Hydra Town
Arriving by ferry at Hydra Town is one of the great entrances in the Greek islands. The horseshoe harbour opens up as the boat rounds the headland — the white and ochre stone houses climbing the hillside above the water, the cannons on the old mansions of the admirals, the donkeys waiting on the quay. There are no cars, no motorbikes, no scooters. The silence as the engine stops is remarkable.
The port is the centre of island life: cafés, small shops, the clock tower and the restored 18th-century sea-captains' houses are all clustered around the waterfront. Everything on Hydra is reached on foot or by donkey.
Routes from Hydra
Hydra is served exclusively by high-speed passenger ferries — there is no car ferry because there are no cars to carry. Hellenic Seaways runs Flying Dolphins (hydrofoils) and catamarans from Piraeus on a regular daily schedule, with the crossing taking about 1.5 hours.
The Saronic island route is a natural combination: ferries from Piraeus call at Aegina, Poros and Hydra on the same line, making it easy to visit two or three islands in sequence. Spetses, a further 30 minutes south, is the last stop. This makes Hydra an excellent two- or three-night base for a compact Saronic island-hopping trip.
The island
Hydra is the Saronic island with the greatest artistic and literary pedigree. Leonard Cohen lived here in the 1960s, as did a notable community of painters, poets and writers attracted by the car-free quiet, the light and the cheap rent. Today the island is more expensive and more visited, but the character that drew them is intact. The old stone mansions, the narrow donkey paths climbing the hills, the small churches, the sunset from the cannon terrace — Hydra has changed less than almost any other Greek island.
Swimming is from rocky platforms and small coves reached on foot or by water taxi. There are no beaches in the conventional sense, but the clear water and the absence of jet skis and road noise make up for it.
Planning tips
Hydra has no cars, which means no car hire. Bring only what you can carry or load onto a donkey. Accommodation in the old stone houses books quickly for summer weekends — Athenians come regularly, and the island is a popular romantic destination. The last Flying Dolphin back to Piraeus typically departs in the early evening; check the return timetable before you go, as there is no overnight conventional service. Water taxis from the port can reach the swimming coves and the small settlement of Kamini at reasonable rates.
Ports & terminals
- Hydra FerriesView on map →
Ferry routes from here
Frequently asked questions
- Which port do ferries use on Hydra?
- Hydra Town harbour, on the north coast — the only settlement of any size on the island. All ferries dock directly in front of the horseshoe port.
- How long is the ferry from Athens (Piraeus) to Hydra?
- Hellenic Seaways high-speed hydrofoils take around 1.5 hours from Piraeus. There is no conventional car ferry to Hydra.
- Are there cars on Hydra?
- No — Hydra is completely car-free by law. There are no motor vehicles on the island, only donkeys, horses, bicycles and your feet. This is one of the island's most distinctive and beloved features.