Hydra

With a heart of artistic serenity

Charmed from the moment you come ashore

Hydra’s harbor has you under its spell before you even take your first step. It’s a picture-perfect stage set; stone mansions, cannons, fishing boats, sea taxis and cobbled streets inviting you to wander unhurried; to admire at your own pace.

There are no cars here. Distances are covered on foot, by mule or by boat, and enjoyed with long leisurely glances toward the sea. The town preserves its elegance without ever needing to explain itself.

As you stroll its alleyways, Hydra begins to reveal its full identity: Maritime history meets cosmopolitan aura. Quiet mansions preside over its potent artistic energy. It’s an island small in size, yet immense in presence.

And even if you have never visited before, chances are you already know it through cinema. Hydra has served as the backdrop for many international film productions, carrying its image across the world.

A small spot on the map

a big place in the memory

Stunning stonework, sea
and grace in every step

You can find a piece of maritime history in every corner of Hydra. In the captains’ mansions, in homes transformed into museums, in churches, busts and cannons still facing out to sea.

From history the trail will lead you to the island’s strong artistic leanings. So enamoured with the place was singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen that he bought a house and had a life here. Nowadays, a museum and festival celebrate him and his work as well as the inspiration he drew from his second home. From Kaminia and the Red House to contemporary exhibitions and the island’s international summer art gatherings, Hydra continues to provide impetus to aspiring creators and artistic luminaries like Cohen without losing its character.

And let’s not forget the sea. At Spilia and Hydronetta, you can dive straight from the rocky cliffs into the inviting blue waters as sunset lingers at your pleasure. Higher up, toward Kiafa and the windmills, you can take in the stunning panorama across the Aegean.

Hydra does not need grand journeys to stay with you. A walk along the harbor, a swim from the rocks, a table beside the sea and the feeling that time here has found its perfect rhythm are all that’s needed.