Hydra Day Trips from Athens

Hydra is a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Athens, so the real choice on a day trip is how much of the day you spend on it. We list 5 day trips that include Hydra from Athens. Of the tours we describe, one is a single-island ferry day and the others are cruises that also call at Poros and Aegina. Travellers have left more than 658 reviews on the tours we list here, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5. Of the trips shown here, the one with the most reviews is "Hydra Island: Full Day Trip from Athens with Swimming", with more than 554 reviews and a rating of 4.6 out of 5.

Single-island ferry day on Hydra

This is the trip that puts Hydra first: a high-speed ferry from Piraeus, a one-hour guided walk of Hydra Town and six hours on the island, out of about 10 hours in all. The rest of the day goes on getting there and back. "Spend six full hours on Hydra", one listing notes; free time covers sightseeing, shopping and swimming at Spilia, and a digital travel guide with beach and shopping suggestions comes with it. Rated 4.6.

Cruises that call at Hydra, Poros and Aegina

Two of the tours we describe sail to those three islands, each with a buffet lunch on board. One runs about 11.5 hours and adds live music and dancers, with Greek, English, Spanish, French and Italian shown on its listing. The other offers a VIP lounge, fast-lane embarkation and a chance to explore the cobblestone alleys of Hydra town. Cruises that visit several Saronic islands cut the time on Hydra to about 1 to 2 hours.

Saronic day cruise with hotel pick-up

A third format is an island-hopping cruise of the Saronic Islands with pick-up and drop-off at your Athens hotel and lunch included. Its highlights name Hydra, Poros and Aegina, so Hydra is one stop among three here too.

Among the tours we describe, the ferry day is the one that spells out six hours on Hydra and a one-hour guided walk of Hydra Town; the cruises trade that time for three islands in a day, with Poros and Aegina as the other stops.

Table data is indicative and comes from the GuruWalk catalogue. Each activity's current details, including availability, are the ones shown on its listing when you book.

The harbour and the Koundouriotis mansion

Hydra's horseshoe-shaped harbour opens onto a maze of stone alleys, and the Lazaros Koundouriotis Historical Mansion shows how shipping families of the 18th century lived. A cruise stop lasts 1 to 2 hours; the single-island day gives about six hours on Hydra, with time to add the mansion, the path to Kamini or a swim. Amygdalota, the local almond sweets, are worth trying along the way.

The coastal path to Kamini

A stone coastal path leads west to the fishing hamlet of Kamini, about 15 to 20 minutes on foot. The stone paths of the island are polished smooth and slippery, so wear sturdy shoes with grip. Keep the longer walks away from the midday heat.

Swimming at Spilia and on the beaches

Spilia and Hydronetta are rocky swimming platforms cut into the cliff, with ladders into deep water. The beaches are pebbly, which makes water shoes a good idea.

Cash and boat seats

Carry some cash for harbour kiosks, water taxis and beach chairs on Hydra. In the warmer months seats on the boats sell out, so morning departures and late-afternoon returns are worth booking ahead.