General Information & Reviews

Reviews

• mania88 01 Sep 2012
  Home sweet home

  After a heavy and tiring winter in the city of Athens, those few days off work were like a dream to me and Hydra was a great idea to escape from town. It was actually the first time that I felt relieved that a tiny yet quite picturesque house was waiting for me there, I was not in a mood for searching a hotel. Until then none of my friends had visited and I was happy that this time I had them with me.
  
  For those who haven't been to this island let me give you a taste. First of all, Hydra is ideal for all tastes, a very romantic place sitting in the middle of the Saronic Gulf, just a couple of hours from Athens. The heart of Hydra beats in the beautiful and cosmopolitan town with the picturesque port and the stone mansions. Wondering through the labyrinth of narrow streets with the traditional houses and tiny chapels will give you an unforgettable experience. As I am familiar with these quarters, I can tell you that Hydra is getting more beautiful every day. In Kaminia where I stay the whole atmosphere is much different from the busy Chora, it is quiet day and night.
  
  For me the best time to visit the beaches is early in the morning where you will enjoy your isolation and the calm waters. Instead, at noon beaches are crowded. They are not so easy to reach, it needs a lot of walking to go to the beaches in Hydra but you can also take the boat from the port.
  
• voarld 13 Dec 2011
  Delightful weekend

  My friends recommended the island of Hydra for a relaxing weekend, in the middle of September till they got back to London. It took us two hours to get to Hydra from Piraeus, we found a guest room on the last minute, quite traditional amongst the whitewashed alleys. Our first visit was to the village of Kaminia for a swim, then the road led us to Vlichos. We had a coffee there at the traditional kafeneion and for lunch we got our favourite Greek specialty, grilled octopus.
  
  Despite its small size, Hydra is very cosmopolitan with exceptional bars and cafes located at the waterfront, no wonder that large groups of tourists and couples kept arriving at the port all day long. At the town, you will see many impressive mansions and interesting churches and you will love the souvenir shops offering handmade products in good prices. I would definitely like to come back again sometime, spend more time at the small beaches and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere on a summer day under the warm sun. If you like hiking, I know there are interesting monasteries in the inland but hiking is pretty long and it will be tiring in hot days.
  
• escape33 08 Aug 2011
  Love this Saronic treasure

  I live many years in Greece and Hydra was one destination that I frequently got to visit. Apart from the fact that the island is situated very close to Athens, I was absolutely amazed by its beauty. Hydra is an ideal short trip for the weekend. Arriving at the port of Hydra at night was the best image of this island. Hydra at night was just amazing to watch, people walking in and out from the labyrinth of the narrow alleys and locals sitting and chatting from their balconies.
  
  Hydra is full of Neoclassical mansions and great museums. It is ideal for the nature lovers thanks to its fine network of green paths. The food was delicious in both taverns we visited. We took the boat to Kaminia, Spilia and Vlichos. All of them are located at a short distance from the Town and we really enjoyed the water. They are not fully organized but you will be fascinated by the rocky landscape and the natural beauty. Two night spent in Hydra are fine to see it all and relax.
  
• ursulapola 30 Mar 2011
  Romantic island

  I just spent a long weekend in Hydra and I really enjoyed myself. The nature is outstanding and the fact that there are no cars it brings you back of 30 years.
  I wrote about my trip in Hydra in my blog www.sunnygreece.it
• jeanne22 21 Jan 2011
  Best last minute trip

  I was looking forward to spend my last minute vacation in a Greek island with my friends. Since I had only 4 days till I get back to France, they thought we should go somewhere near. We chose Hydra, only 1h 20 min with the high speed ferry. As soon as we arrived, we didn't want to waste any time so we started our touring. We took a donkey ride right to the top of the town where was out hotel. It has a fantastic view up there. The village has some very traditional houses to see and several taverns where we tasted great food, mostly fresh fish.
  
  I was impressed by the clear water of Kaminia beach and Vlichos. But I liked more Hydroneta, a rough swimming area surrounded with rocks and a bar just right at the top offering a magnificent area. As you can imagine, it is one of the most popular spots of the island and gets really crowded. Studying history myself, I was so pleased by the Historical Archives Museum where you see some rare collections of artifacts, photographs and documents. Make sure you book a room before you travel to Hydra, especially in high season, because finding a room around the hilly streets of the town is very difficult.
  
• choco 02 Apr 2010
  Top nightlife and atmosphere

  It is such a pity that Hydra has probably the most uncomfortable and rocky beaches in Greece! Otherwise, it would be just PERFECT! The little town is so relaxing to walk, the people are friendly, the port is the most romantic place to be and nightlife... aahh, the nightlife on Hydra! It is almost sunrise and people are still on the streets fresh and happy after a long night out. There are bars with lounge soft music, clubs with loud music, romantic beach bars, all type of nightlife for all ages. Disco Heaven is a good dance spot and for something more quiet, try Amalour with live jazz and soul music in the evenings.
  
  Hydra must be one of the latest places on Earth that there is no traffic! You probably know that no cars are allowed on the island. Hop from the boat to the mule! Boats trips are a must in Greece. There can't be Greek holidays without getting on a boat! You take a boat from the port and you go all around the island. Best beaches are on the northernmost and the southernmost spots of Hydra. Hydronetta is also nice but not for the beach, for the cafe above the rocks and the nice sunset.
  
• sam57 16 Jan 2010
  Lively and cute

  Hydra has an extremely vibrant atmosphere be it during the daytime or at night. We stayed at a beautiful hotel in the town itself that was originally a mansion. I liked that the locals in Hydra preserved their traditions despite the invasion of tourism. The architecture was picturesque and I saw a couple of panygiria in my week there. Believe me, if there is a distinctive element in the Greek culture, this is panygiria for me, these local festivals that gather people in the square and dance and drink all night. This gives a wonderful feeling of community and togetherness! It is so sad that we have lost this feeling today in the western countries…
  
  The port is the best place to hangout at anytime of the day. Night clubs like Pirate and Saronikos are very popular. My favourite restaurant was Taverna Gitoniko. The Greek salad and the pies are my favourite dishes. Right in the port, you will also see a nice museum housed in a traditional mansion. When we were there, it had an exhibition with some nice paintings. Apparently they were paintings of a famous Greek artist, but I don't remember the name now. The general idea about this museum is that you will love it if you like art.
  
• vasilisel 09 Dec 2009
  Charming in every way

  We visited Hydra on our way to Spetses. We could stay for only 3 days on this magnificent and picturesque island. We wish to go back to the island again. The entire island from the harbour looked like a picture postcard with whitewashed houses having red tiled roofs and green vegetation in the background. We stayed at a charming hotel in Hydra town, close to the port. The entire town though has a certain cosmopolitan vibe to it but all the houses here only reflect traditional architecture.
  
  Close to our hotel, there were two amazing and splendid mansions. The locals informed us that they were built way back in the 19th century by some wealthy merchants. We visited some nice churches in the town and did a lot of walking.
  
  Maybe you already know that no vehicles are allowed in Hydra, except for horse-carriages and some motorbikes (by the way, I believe even these few motorbikes should be banned, they create so much unnecessary noise!!). My favourite area in Hydra was the market place and its numerous souvenir shops. I bought some exquisite jewelry and pottery to take back home. A beautiful island only an hour and a half away from Athens!
  
• lola 17 Nov 2009
  Lots of walking

  Hydra is one of the best choices if you want a nice place close to Athens. I would say Agistri and Hydra are the most beautiful islands that are so close to Athens. Hydra is reachable only by hydrofoils, which is good when you want to avoid spending your time in the boats. Unfortunately, in the hydrofoil, you can't feel the wind striking your face.
  
  From the first moments arriving in Hydra, you realize how beautiful it is. White houses built around the port, many cafes and tavernas with the numerous small boats... and lots of donkeys and horse buggies to carry you. The bad thing is... that is really difficult to move and travel outside Hydra Town. The donkeys and horses are the only choice if you don't want to walk, which makes it incredibly difficult to visit places outside the town. Yes, no cars or bikes are allowed. Be prepared for lots of walking then. Not being able to travel that much out of the port area, is the reason I think, that the tavernas and cafes are so expensive... you have no other choices. Same with beaches, not many choices there either.
  
  I'd say you take the boat from the port to the beaches, but don't expect to find anything else than small, rocky coasts. The bar above Hydronetta is fun and gathers nice young people. It seems that most of the activity is located around the port. Find accommodation close to the port because it will be too difficult to carry your bags around. Roads in Hydra are very hilly.
  
• 27uu78i 05 Oct 2009
  Relaxing and close

  If you are keen on walking, do not miss Hydra since no vehicles are allowed! Except from one I think that cleans the garbage! When I came back home, I could not stand all this traffic jam. There the only think that I was aware were the donkeys and not to step on their poops!!!
  During the day, Hydrabelongs to day-trippers of Athens city but after evening it's all yours, relaxing, and you can walk all the way round the port with an ice cream on your hand as you listen to the music that comes from the local coffee spots with outdoor chairs and tables (take a glimpse at an old small bat that has been smartly converted to a couch even!)
  Well as a disadvantage, there were not actually close or easy to access swimming beaches and some spots of the edge areas of the island were insufficient lighted but it so close to Piraeus that you can easily get back and go somewhere else.
  Or you can simply take the hydrofoil to Porto Heli, Ermioni or Spetses which have pretty beaches to swim.
  
• el2335 19 Jul 2009
  Better for couples not families

  Hydra is a romantic island and I'd say it is mostly suitable for couples. I went there with my husband a couple of years ago. Fortunately, we hadn't taken our children with us because beaches are rocky and they could hurt. I was impressed that there were no vehicles on the island, not even motorbikes were allowed in the Town! We tried the horse carriage around the port but it felt like the old, romantic times! The only annoying thing was the horse... very smelly!! Generally Hydrawas expensive, but you could find places to eat well. All taverns and cafes at the port were expensive, but there were small taverns in the alleys in the Town were prices were a bit lower. Check the menus before you enter a place but the restaurants just next door could be much cheaper.
  
• chelsea34 18 May 2009
  Take a ride on horse carriage

  It is a pity that they took off normal boat to Hydra and put express hydrofoils. This way you can't really enjoy the trip at sea. It is like a bus, without the air hitting on your face and the sea gulls around. When you arrive on the island, especially in August, you get hit by a big wave of tourists who come and go along the waterfront. As cars are prohibited in Hydra, we were tired to carry our luggage till the hotel. The hot sun didn't make things easier. So, my advice is to pack lightly. There are some beautiful horse carriages on Hydra and couples will find them very romantic. Otherwise, you will not find many things to do.
  
  There are no museums (except for one in the port, but it was open only in the morning), beaches are not that great (very stony and crowded) and all gift shops have the same things. What you will really like on Hydra is walking in the town and having a drink in the port. If you like trekking, there are many nice routes to follow. Try the path from the town to the monastery of Prophet Elias on the slopes of a mountain.
  
• t3ngram 20 Apr 2009
  Christos Karas may be descended from Hydra

  I am an Australian with some Ydra ancestry from the family Carras/Karras/Karas, nearly 200 years ago. If Christos did some research he would probably find that his love for this beautiful and historic island had a genetic basis as well as an emotive one.
  
  I could think of no greater gift to him, than to have him know that his family were originally from Ydra !
• luca29 21 Mar 2009
  Nice scenery but rocky beaches

  I saw some extremely clean streets on Hydra, which is not a regular thing to see in Greece (sorry, Greeks, but I am telling the truth!!). The scenery was also nice and peaceful. Swimming is not so great there because beaches are very rocky. No cars are allowed in the town and all transportation is done on foot or by horse carriage. Most hotels are found in the capital and have good services. At least, ours was clean and cozy.
• dennisfun 20 Jan 2009
  Rather expensive food

  Hydra town is lovely and quiet because of the lack of mechanized transport. Beaches on Hydra (those in walking distance from the harbour) are small and stoney, but the swimming was great - good for snorkelling. Food was fairly good but rather expensive. Hydra feels like more of a pricey getaway place for the Greeks than a tourist town and the food prices were reflective of that. I had better food in general on the other islands (Naxos, Santorini) I stayed at.
• larissaz 01 Jan 2009
  Sailing to Hydra

  We sailed into the port of Hydra so we spent a lot of time at the marina. The beaches closest to the marina are rocky - not much in way of atmopsphere - but there are lots of swanky cafes and tavernas overlooking the water. The village of Hydra was lovely, with all the whitewashed alleyways and blooming flowers and trees. The ban on motorized vehicles adds to Hydra's charm. Great sunset views from the marina! We ate at the tavern Garden of Taste. The ambience was wonderful, the food decent - nothing special but the usual Greek fare and good service. We also cooked on our boat and found that the supermarkets offered lots of fresh food. There is one gyro cafe (like a fast food restaurant) tucked away in the corner of the marina where the sailboats dock that served excellent gyros and ice cream that really hit the spot! Our best activity was hiking to the Monastery of Prophet Elias. Difficult hike but the views are worth it!
• colleteh 14 Dec 2008
  Improve water supply system

  I went to Hydra for a very specific purpose, the Rebetika conference that takes place there every year. This is an international gathering of musicians for a musical style that I love. I liked a lot the main town and got to know only one beach, Manthraki, which is fine for a quick swim and sunbathe. Donkey riding is a nice experience, especially for the people of big cities as I doubt if they will have this opportunity again. The only strange thing on Hydra was the water supply. I think authorities could get their act together with finding a decent water supply - perhaps a bore hole? Unbelievable that the water still comes by tanker!! Surely a grant could be procured for this from EU?
  
• jessyja 30 Oct 2008
  A break from reality

  Friends recommended Hydra as a true break from the excitement of places like Santorini and Mykonos. The fact that there are no cars and everything is transported by cart is extremely special in the world, where we take car transport for granted as a norm. I had the most amazing stay in Hydra and I loved the Mistral Hotel. The staff there are great, the rooms are beautiful and the location is perfect on the island. Vlichos Beach was beautiful and the restaurant up the hill was amazing. In general, local food is great on Hydra. There is nothing I can put into words, we don't have anything that tastes like that in America.
• carolina44 09 Sep 2008
  Pack lightly

  Hydra is a very calm and relaxing island filled with beauty and charm. The island is perfect for couples and family. The food is excellent, you can dine anywhere and the food is great. Some bars are too expensive. You will pay a lot for a drink which will end up tasting like fruit juice. Have in mind that there are no vehicles on Hydra, only donkeys. So pack lightly and be prepared to walk! We made the mistake to pack our whole closet in our suitcase which made it very difficult to get around when finding our hotel.
  
• detligedetuk 09 Jun 2008
  Hydra revisited

  All Greek islands draw you back eventually but Hydra has a special power, ensuring you visit again and again! In addition, because I love visiting Athens, Hydra is a convenient island retreat - less than two hours away! Excellent choice of restaurants and accomodation. The Koundouriotis Mansion above the port is very interesting - I always find my way back there at some point during a stay. As I wander around its many rooms I imagine myself living there - if only!! For keen walkers there are various hikes to follow.
• domi24 30 Apr 2008
  Keep the island cheap and clean

  Hydra is an island that I really prefer. We have been there many times before, although the trip from Switzerlsnd takes a whole day! I think it's worth it. Hydra is simply a little paradise. But over the last years, it got too expensive (if you compare the prices with the services). The food and our general experience of the cafes, restaurants, etc, was excellent, except for the high prices. And one more thing, to keep the island cleaner, such a beauty shouldn't be spoilt by any way. Just enjoy Hydra!
  
• daniella21 18 Mar 2008
  Peace and quiet

  I was on Hydra for professional reasons and stayed for the weekend. I enjoyed my stay there, although I didn't have enough spare time to explore the island. What I can tell for sure is that I liked the hotel I stayed at very much. The place is ideal for peace and quiet and the weather was warm and shiny. I loved the landscapes. I'd like to come again someday to get to know it better and I will surely recommend it to others.
• Michael_S 12 Feb 2008
  This is a wonderful island!

  My family is Greek and I was born in Greece. I've visited this island all my life. The island is pure Greek charm. There are no cars on Hydra, except an occasional dump truck. Beaches are scarce and can be reached by walking or by water taxi. The best part of the island is simply to relax in a harbor cafe and watch the harbor activity. The weather is great in September. It's an arid island so not too many trees, but the water is a gorgeous dark blue. This is a wonderful island. Visitors should be aware that there are no cars on the island. Travel is on foot or donkey, which is part of the island’s charm. It is one of the most charming islands and my favorite in the world. It's a 10.
• Angie_M 19 Dec 2007
  Different from the other places

  It is a very quiet place and very much different from the other places since the only mode of transport were donkeys and boats. The sea there is simply amazing and the beaches are all clean and nice. Food is very good however in some restaurants at the port food and drinks are quite expensive. However, we managed to find a nice restaurant where food is very good and prices are very much reasonable.
• mitsokay 01 Nov 2007
  Simply just beautiful

  Hydra is simply just beautiful to look at. The port is the main tourist attraction, and so everything is easily accessible, you really don't need to go anywhere else. It has the most prettiest cafes and great shopping.
  There is a little beach bar located on the opposit side of where the boat drops people off. It sits right on the cliffs edge over looking the water, perfect for a nice drink or just to hung out with friends. It has straw umbrellas which people sit under, and play the latest music. The restaurants on the port are all great. The people are all friendly and the food is great
• Willemsen_P 17 Jul 2007
  Very quiet place without motorized vehicles

  I happened to visit Hydra because of a 5-day congress taking place there in September. I came to Greece by plane from Belgium and then took a speed boat to Hydra. The impression I had for the island was that of a very quiet place without any motorized engines. There weren't many trees on the island, however it had beautiful landscapes. The beaches were wonderful for swimming. I enjoyed a lot my stay there. The harbor by night is very nice. The hotel we stayed in as well as the food at the restaurants we tried was very good. I'd rate the overall quality of services on the island with an 8/10. I’d like to come again someday
• M_Nicholson 02 May 2007
  Close to Athens and very convenient

  I have traveled to Greece many times and visited more than 30 Greek islands. On this trip we were celebrating a friend's birthday in Athens and Olympia and decided to spend a few days on Hydra before returning home. I have been to Hydra many times over the last 30+ years. It's one of my favorite islands and very close to Athens so it's convenient to visit for a few days to relax at the end of my visits to Greece. There are no cars on the island, which makes it very restful and a great place to stroll, shop, and watch the boats, tourists and locals go by. I love strolling around the Port; taking the caique to Vlichos, which is a wonderful beach, going to the outdoor cinema. What I don’t like is that in some restaurants the food is overpriced and not very good. I have tasted the best souvlaki (in Greece?) on Hydra and wonderful ice cream and sweets at a “Zacharoplastion” in a little “plateia” near where the telecom office used to be! I’ll definitely come again; I rate the overall quality of services on the island with an 8/10.”
  
• Pieter_P 27 Feb 2007
  Perfect place to relax

  Nationality: Belgian
  Age: 24
  Countries visited: 30+
  The trip: I arrived to Greeec by Plane to Athens with Alitalia and car to Poros, boat to Hydra. The trip was very good with no delays
  Reasons for going to Hydra: Own interest
  Idea Hydra before arriving: Very lovely and quiet place, ideal to come to rest, dolce far niente for young people.
  - Island/Area : 9/10
  - Landscapes : 8/10
  - Tree Covered : 8/10
  - Beaches and Waters : 9/10
  - Cleanliness : 7/10
  - Villages : 8/10
  - Main Town : 10/10
  - Food/Restaurants : 8/10
  - Local People : 10/10 Very Friendly
  - Accommodations : 10/10
  - Sightseeing : 8/10
  - Prices : 6/10
  - Public Transportations : 10/10
  - Authenticity : 10/10
  - Peace and quiet : 6/10
  - Weather : 10/10
  Perfect place to relax, away from busy Athens and other touristy places
  Anything negative about Hydra island or needs improvement: Ferries should be operating later from Ermioni, 16h30 is too early
  Recommendations: Stay more than one night and really take your time to enjoy Hydra
  Rate of the overall quality/organization/services of this island/area in comp
• Maria_P 20 Dec 2006
  Nice and quiet good for relaxation

  Nationality: Romanian
  
  Age: 39
  
  Countries visited: 15-30
  
  The Trip: I arrived on the island by plane with Tarom and by Flying Dolphin. The trip was very good with no delays.
  
  Reasons for going to Hydra: A summer school that I attended was held on the island
  
  Idea before arriving on Hydra: I searched on the internet almost everything available on the island so I had quite a good idea about where I was going, including landscapes, beaches, restaurants, etc
  
  - Island/Area : 10/10 Very nice and quiet, very good for relaxation
  
  - Landscapes : 10/10 Beautiful, a typical greek island, very unspoiled
  
  - Tree Covered : 3/10
  
  - Beaches and Waters : 9/10 Only because there are no sandy beaches
  
  - Cleanliness : 7/10
  
  - Villages beauty : 10/10
  
  - Main Town beauty : 10/10
  
  - Food/Restaurants : 10/10
  
  - Nightlife : 7/10
  
  - Local People : 10/10
  
  - Lifestyle : 10/10
  
  - Activities : 10/10
  
  - Excursions & Sightseeing : 10/10
  
  - Prices : 10/10
  
  - Authenticity : 10/10
  
  - Peace and quiet : 10/10
  
  - Weather : 10/10
  
  Favorite things about Hydra
  
  -Best Beaches: The crystal clear water of the Aegean Sea
  
  -Best Activity: Hiking, swimming
  
  Peace and quiet
  
  Negative opinion about Hydra
  
  The only thing I disliked was the accommodation, for really high prices and not very much to offer
  
  Recommendations for future visitors
  
  For what I heard from other people, Mistral Hotel is very good. All the restaurants serve decent food for reasonable prices
  
  Rating of the overall quality/organization/services of this island/area in comparison with other countries
  
  9/10
• T_Papadakos 06 Nov 2006
  Very unique and picturesque island

  
  
  Nationality: Greek American
  
  Age: 38
  
  Countries visited: 1-5
  
  The trip: I arrived on the island by Plane with Alitalia and by boat with Hellenic Seaways. The trip was very good with no delays. It was exactly on time-not a minute past the scheduled time. This was true on all 4 boat trips that we took. Very impressed!
  
  Reasons for going to Hydra: Greek American - Go frequently
  
  Idea of the island/area before arriving: Any Greek island you go to has its beauty, its sites, its special attraction. My husband had been to Hydra and though it was beautiful as well as everyone else who had gone. I loved it! It is the only island that cars are not allowed. You can walk through the whole island. You can get to beaches either by foot or by boat. The port and the houses were very picturesque. I would definitely go back
  
  Best Beaches: Can’t remember the name but they were all beautiful!
  
  Best Activity: The water trampoline at Mira Mare Beach. It was great for the kids as well as for adults
  
  Best Bar/Pub/Club: Spilia
  
  Recommendations: It is definitely a place to visit!
  
  Rate of the overall quality/organization/services of this island/area in comparison with other countries: 10/10.
  
  
• Bob_Kelly 30 Jul 2006
  It was perfect

  Nationality: Irish-German American
  
  Date on the island: 24 July 2006
  
  Countries visited: >5-10
  
  The trip: I got to the island by hydrofoil it was bout 90 minutes from Piraeus. The hydrofoil gets you there quickly but it is as noisy as an airplane.
  
  Reasons for going to Hydra: My traveling companion was stationed in Greece in the 1980?s.
  
  Expectations and opinions: It met and exceeded my expectations.
  
  - Island/area: 8/10
  
  - Landscapes: 8/10
  
  - Tree Covered: 7/10
  
  - Beaches 7/10 & waters: 10/10
  
  - Cleanliness: 8/10
  
  - Villages: 8/10
  
  - Main Town: 9/10
  
  - Food/ restaurants: 10/10
  
  - Nightlife: 8/10
  
  - Local people: 9/10
  
  - Accommodation: 9/10
  
  - Activities: 8/10
  
  - Prices: 9/10
  
  - Public Transportations: N.A.
  
  - Authenticity 10/10
  
  - Peace & quiet 7/10 in the morning and 10/10 at night
  
  - Weather 10/10
  
  Best restaurant: A Hidden Cove, 2 blocks from the port, under a giant lemon tree.
  
  Negative opinion: It was perfect
  
  Recommendations: Spend at least four days and many more if possible.
  
  
  
  I would definitely come back to Hydra
  
  
  
  Rate of the overall quality/organization/services of this island/area in comparison with other countries: 9/10.
  
  
• crossed 28 Sep 2005
  Beautiful but expensive

  Hydra is surely very beautiful but it?s also quite expensive; this can maybe be explained by the fact that it was (and is still is in a way) a very cosmopolitan island but come on! I think they should reconsider there prices and I?m sure I?m not the only one saying that.
  
  The beaches are poor but waters are excellent. And the cafeteria-bar above Hydronetta is true paradise; it plays soft, relaxing music 20 hours a day, serves many cocktails and offers a tremendous view over de sea and the neighbouring islands; and the sunsets from there are just unforgetable.
• passi003 15 Sep 2005
  Hydra: A lack of beaches but so charming...

  What a lovely place!
  Hydra is so charming I couldn?t believe my eyes. I went there last year and I adored it.
  The fact that all vehicles are prohibited is creating a relaxing atmosphere and helps you to really enjoy the place.
  The town is so lovely with its beautiful 18th century mansions and its narrow streets!
  The only negative point of Hydra is its lack of beaches (most of the swimming places are cemented sun desks or rocks, only a couple with pebbles) but the water is so clear and fresh that you quickly forget about that.
  I?m sure that anyone who goes to Hydra automatically falls in love with it, and I am sure you will too?
• liviotsach 10 Jun 2005
  A little Jewel

  Hydra is a little jewel embellishing the Argo-Saronic. It has a cosmopolitan aspect due to its high popularity in the sixties, when many artists and actors were having there holidays there. Nowadays it has lost a bit of its glamour and has become a bit too popular for my taste but I still enjoy going there for a few days and rest my eyes and soul with its charm and beauty. Even if it has changed a lot now, it is still very attractive and I?m sure you will be charmed too by this little place. The beauty and popularity of this island is due to its capital and only town which is full of neo-classical mansions with coloured doors, balustrades, shutters and loggia walls. The serpentine alleys are tempting you to walk for hours. Everywhere there is colours, beauty and benevolence. The charm of Hydra is accentuated by the fact that the island is closed to any kind of motorised vehicles. Enjoy!
• patsosa 04 Jun 2005
  Wonderful place

  Some friends of ours had told us so many good things about the peninsula of Pelion that we decided to go there during June 2004. We arrived in Athens, rented a car from there and drove all the way to Volos (about 4 hours); then we drove 30 minutes to the village of Makrinitsa which is a wonderful place in the mountains, with beautiful houses in stones and slates; it looks like a medieval place and the main square has a huge tree in its middle as well as a beautiful fountain. Then we drove an hour or two until the wonderful village called Tzagarada where we found a studio which was in a superb traditional house; everything was perfect and we had a magnificent view over the sea. The beaches from the village were about 20 minutes away (by car); they were sandy, with turquoise waters and shadowed by various trees. We found Pelion a wonderful place because it combines mountains and sea in a unique way.