Planning a daily trip to Hydra from Nafplio? At this article you will find all the information that you need in order to have an amazing day to the unique island of Hydra.
So, Hydra is located at the East part of Peloponnese region. It is a very unique island as no cars are allowed. The only way to move on the island is the local bus, by foot, by boat and with donkeys. The closest port at the mainland of Greece in order to reach Hydra is Metochi and is located aprox 88kms from Nafplio (1.5hour drive). From Metochi you can go to Hydra by Ferry or by the taxi boats. There are scheduled every day ferries every two hours starting at 8:00am and the last one being in 00:00am from Metochi to Hydra and every tow hours starting from 7:00am and the last one being in 11:30pm from Hydra to Metochi. (The aforementioned schedule is for July-Septmeber). At Metochi, right next to the port you will find a big parking lot where you can safely leave your car until you return back.
Directions to Metochi HERE
Beaches in Hydra Island.
In order to visit the beaches at the island you have the option to take the bus from next to the port that will take you at some of the beaches that are located at the west of the island. The other option is to take the boats from the port that will make the round of the island and will stop at different beaches.
Vlichos Beach (Highly Recommended) – Directions HERE
Kaminia Beach (Highly Recommended) – Directions HERE
Spilia Beach – Directions HERE
Hydroneta – Directions HERE
Bisti Beach – Directions HERE
Agios Nikolaos Beach (Highly Recommended) – Directions HERE
Things to do in Hydra
Bastions – Directions HERE
One of the sightseeing at the town of Hydra are the bastions with the cannons that were used for protection of the island during the Turkish fleet. They are strategically located at the entrance of the port in a semi-circular alignment. In the middle of the bastions is the monument of Miaoulis, a national here and Hydriot shipowner and builder. He played an important role in the Greek revolution of 1821 as the Head Naval Commander of the Greek fleet.
Historical Archive-museum of Hydra – Directions HERE
Summer Hours: 09:00am-4:00pm & 7:30pm-9:30pm
Entrance Fee: 5€ per person
The Historical Archive Museum of Hydra is a reminder of the Greek War Of Independence. The building was finished in 1996 and has important exhibits from the families who dominated the social structure of the island in 1800’s, such as an impressive array of swords, clothing, replica ships and portraits from the period. The most important exhibit in the museum us the silver urn that contains the embalmed heart of Admiral Miaoulis. The two storey building has one exhibition at the ground and one at the first floor, while the terrace is available for open air concepts during the summer time. At the store that is located at the ground level you can find different gift options and important books about the history of Hydra and Greece in general.
Lazaros kountouriotis Historical Mansion- Directions HERE
At the west side of the port is located a historical building, the mansion of Lazaros Kountouriotis, who offered his ships, crew and fortune to the Greek War of Independence. The historical building operates as a museum, annex of the National Historical Museum. On the ground floor the visitors can see the Kountouriotis family heirlooms. On the first floor are representative works of Greek traditional folk art, an art selection mainly from the Greek Islands. At the basement that was the cellar of the house, there is a gallery displaying works of two painters that were closely connected to Hydra and Kountouriotis family, Periklis Vuzantinos and his son Konstantinos Vyzantinos.
Prophet Elias Monastery – Moni Agias Efprxias – Directions HERE
If you enjoy walking and you want to admire the amazing view from the top of Hydra Island then Prophet Elias Monastery is the best option for you. A path that goes from the village of Hydra to the top at an altitude of 500m from the sea level, right underneath the highest point of Hydra island the mountain Eros, for a total distance of 3.5kms. The monastery was established in 1813 by 13 monks who arrived on the island from mount Athos. During the times of the Greek Revolution of 1821, Theodoros Kolokotronis, a leading Greek revolutionary figure was kept as a prisoner for 4 months in the monastery after a dispute he had with the executive officer of Hydra, George Kountouriotis.
Deste Foundation Project Space – Directions HERE
The Municipality of the Island of Hydra granted Deste the island’s old slaughterhouse. Every summer the Foundation hosts art exhibitions on the island and is in adittion to the deste foundation’s exhibition program in Athens.
Restaurants
Techne Restaurant & Social – Directions HERE
Xeri Elia Douskos – Directions HERE
Omilos – Directions HERE
Castello Kamini Hydra – Directions HERE
Kryfo Limani – Directions HERE
Ostria Restaurant – Directions HERE
