Hydra, Greece

Definitely worth going, but spend the night, if you can. We landed in Athens and were headed for Hydra the next day and night, in April 2018. We got to the Athens Piraeus port for the first ferry of the day to Hydra, to find it had been postponed due to rough seas. It didn’t seem windy or stormy, but they said wait one hour. That ferry got cancelled, too. After the third ferry got cancelled, we got a taxi (with another couple we recruited to share the fare), and headed to another port farther south, which had calmer waters and a shorter crossing. The extra effort was worth it, and we got to Hydra with fine weather and a smooth crossing. Be prepared for lots of cats on Hydra.

Thanks for quick reply. This is very helpful.

Hydra is not the closest island to Athens.

For a day trip, or possibly staying a night, also see Aegina.

https://www.aegina.com.gr/?lang=en

It is 40 minutes from Athens, while Hydra is almost 2 hours away and its ferry connections are more frequent (first departures very early in the morning and last returns to Athens from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. depending on the time of year.

In Hydra, travel outside the port is difficult since it is an island without cars, there is no sandy beach or archaeological site (unlike Aegina).

On the other hand, if you are interested in the artistic life of the 60s when many artists, painters, writers, musicians (Leonard Cohen) came to stay on the island, Hydra may interest you.

Cats and wind are what you will encounter most in all the Greek islands. :))

I can also recommend Aegina as the better option.

It is much closer to Piraeus than Hydra and has more to offer. In fact it has everything one would want in a Greek Island.

Nothing wrong with Hydra as it is indeed lovely with one of the prettiest waterfronts in Greece and the village cascading down to the harbor.

Hydra is definitely worth a visit but I feel Aegina would give you more bang for the buck!

This is a great suggestion and would love to go someplace closer. I will check out Aegina for sure. (We love cats...). Thanks...

Does Aegina require a car?

A major advantage of Aegina, besides being closer is that 2x a day or more (right now at 8:30am & 12:30) you can choose a "conventionai" ferry -- i.e., large vessel with open decks. Thus you can sit out for an hour & enjoy the "seascape" -- huge freighters, cruise ships, schooners, tiny sloops, shoreline etc. By contrast Hydra trips are all on Hydrofoils where u are stuck indoors in reserved seats, windows r salt-rimed no view. NOTE: Be sure to catch those open-deck ferries... the other Aegina sailings are hydrofoils -- I believe coming back, the last open-deck ferry goes at 18:15 or so (6:15pm).

Here's a wonderful photo-blog of a June dayttrip to Aegina (I need to thank its creator, because I've posted this every week for YEARS!) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/36264706@N03/sets/72157621604646139/detail/ it not only shows Aegina highlights, it shows the ferry trip over & back.

If u want to save time ticket-buying, the day before u could just purchase at any ticket agency near your hotel. A taxi during morning rush from Central Athens may cost €20-25... have your hotel clerk book taxi & confirm the estimate (no flat-fee for this ride). OR, if u are convenient to Monastiraki or Syntagma metro station, a Metro ride to PIraeus takes about 30 minutes... I'd plan to catch train by 7:15 or so, to allow time to find the gate. There's a coffee-bar on ferry, once you board.

TRANSPORTATION - You have several options, depending on budget & ambitions:
• Rental car options right at the port - don't know whether can do by hour or just by day
• At port, a bus stop w timetable. The main route takes you to high hill mid-island for famous Temple of Aphaia then onward. Problem is, if you get off at temple, that takes 15 mins, then next bus not for hours. What I did: walked down road 200 yards, saw handmade sign "shortcut to Ag Marina" (beach village). I scrambled downhill on dirt trail and presto! lanes leading right into Ag Marina... it was June, I'd brought swimsuit, so I used cafe restroom to change, had nice dip, and then had lunch at that cafe. I'd asked where/when next bus stopped & caught that.
• Another option is half/half. Before taking bus, stop at Taxi line to get cards from drivers w phone #. Ask them the est. fare from XX (wherever u plan to end up). THen, when wanting to return to port town, use cel phone to call... unless there's a taxi where u are.
• Final option: At port you now can rent "e-bikes" -- pedals with motor-assist. The road is good & not tricky, so if you're an experienced cyclist, this is ideal for you.

BEGINNING OF DAY - On arrival, right by pier is small ruins area... only ONE column (but u can take a tricky photo with it at one side, sea in background). Tiny museum; main items IMO were huge "man-size" ancient Amphora (jugs).

AFTERNOON - If u have time, coming back to port, it's fun to explore narrow back-streets; Aegina has lots of permanent Greek residents (many commute to Athens); I always love browsing in local groceries/ home decor shops for unique Greek brands. Then have a 5-oclock beverage or snack at seafront cafe - before summer, most other customers will be speaking Greek.

This is so great and helpful. We now know exactly what to do and how to arrange it. Thanks so much.

Sorry, one other question. Do you think Aegina has fewer ferries in the off-season (we will be there in mid-October) or is there a place or website where we can check that? Thanks!

I did just check the ferry schedule to Aegina and the ferries are limited that time of year but we may be able to make something work. Thanks again.

RE ferries, keep in mind, you don't have to have a conventional ferry BOTH ways ... if you can have the open-deck option one way (while it's still light), then u could put up with hydrofoil for the other.

Don't worry, in mid October you will have between 15 and 20 ferries a day in both directions.
Among these possibilities the ferry "Phivos" from Saronic ferries

https://www.sf.gr/img/ships/foivos.jpg

and the "Agios Nektarios" from Anes Lines

https://www.ferriesingreece.com/photos/vessels/ag-nektarios-1-1920.jpg

are conventional ferries

Don't bother with ferries bookings, in October you can buy your tickets the day of the trip (or the day before)

We went to Greece in 2014 for 2 weeks. The most beautiful and memorable part of our trip was walking the beautiful coastline in Hydra. Even beat Santorini in our opinion. First thing I remember even now 9 years later.

Have been to Hydra, but not Aegina.

Seeing the photos of Aegina in the link janet provided, I am happy I went to Hydra.

For me, Hydra with the white washed buildings was the "Greek island' experience for me.