Hydra

An island without cars: a horseshoe harbour of stone captains’ mansions, donkeys on the lanes, swimming from the rocks, and the artists and writers who never stopped coming.

The Saronic Gulf
No cars at all
Athens in two hours

The harbour, HydraPhotograph: Pexels

Kalós orísate

An island without cars

Hydra is a rocky island in the Saronic Gulf whose captains grew rich on sea trade in the eighteenth century and built the grey stone mansions that still rise above the harbour. Its fleet fought in the Greek War of Independence in 1821.

There are no cars on the island, by law: goods and luggage go up the stepped lanes by donkey, and water taxis run along the coast. The harbour town, in a horseshoe around the port, has been protected from modern building for decades.

In the 1950s and 1960s artists and writers came: Leonard Cohen bought a house here in 1960, and Hydra still draws collectors and artists every summer. Swimming is from the rocks, dinner is by the water, and Athens is two hours away by fast boat.

A few words of Greek
English	Greek	Say it
Hello	Γεια σας	YAH-sas
Please	Παρακαλώ	pa-ra-ka-LO
Thank you	Ευχαριστώ	ef-ha-ri-STO
Good evening	Καλησπέρα	ka-li-SPE-ra
The bill, please	Τον λογαριασμό, παρακαλώ	ton lo-ghar-yaz-MO, pa-ra-ka-LO

Cruises

Hydra by sea

How the ships arrive in Hydra, and the luxury lines that call.

Only small ships call: they anchor off the harbour and bring guests ashore by tender to an island without cars.

The luxury lines that call here

From the lines' own 2026 and 2027 voyages. Ports change from season to season, so check the voyage before you reserve.

Luxury Cruise Lines Suites at Sea

Plan your trip

Luxury travel in Hydra and the Mediterranean: your questions answered

Plan your journey to Hydra

Where is Hydra?

In the Saronic Gulf off the eastern Peloponnese, Greece. Fast boats from Piraeus take about two hours; private water taxis and helicopters reach the island from Athens, whose airport takes private jets.

What is Hydra famous for?

Having no cars, its harbour of stone captains’ mansions, its artists and writers including Leonard Cohen, swimming from the rocks, and its unhurried, timeless way of life.

Do you tip in Hydra?

Service is generally included in the price, but leaving 5–10% for good service is customary. Round up taxi fares, or add 5–10% for longer journeys. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day.

What should you wear in Hydra?

Dress modestly at churches and monasteries: women cover their shoulders and knees, and men wear long trousers and sleeved tops. At the monasteries, wraps are usually provided at the entrance and men in shorts are turned away. No hard-soled shoes on yacht decks. Fine dining is smart-casual, and Athens and Mykonos can be dressier.

Beyond Hydra

More in Greece

Mykonos, Santorini, the Athens Riviera, the Peloponnese and Crete, and the Mediterranean beyond.

GreeceLuxury Greece Holidays: Mykonos & SantoriniExplore Greece The MediterraneanTwenty-two countries and Gibraltar, first class onlyExplore the Mediterranean Plan your journeyFrom your home to Hydra, with the costsOpen the trip planner

Customs and etiquette

Customs and etiquette in Hydra

How Greece does things.

Language: Greek is the official language. English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and anywhere that serves visitors.
Greetings: A firm handshake with eye contact on first meeting is usual. Friends typically greet with a hug or two cheek kisses. Address people as Kyrie (Mr) or Kyria (Mrs/Ms) with their surname until invited otherwise.
Dress: Dress modestly at churches and monasteries: women cover their shoulders and knees, and men wear long trousers and sleeved tops. At the monasteries, wraps are usually provided at the entrance and men in shorts are turned away. No hard-soled shoes on yacht decks. Fine dining is smart-casual, and Athens and Mykonos can be dressier.
Dining: Greeks eat late. Lunch is usually taken by about 3 pm, and dinner rarely starts before 9 pm, often 10 pm or later in summer. Reservations are essential at the top restaurants in Athens and on the islands in high season. Sharing plates is the custom.
Tipping: Service is generally included in the price, but leaving 5–10% for good service is customary. Round up taxi fares, or add 5–10% for longer journeys. Luxury hotels: porters €2–5 a bag, housekeeping €5–10 a day.
Good to know: Avoid the open-palm "stop" gesture towards someone, because in Greece it is an insult (the moutza). It is illegal to approach, photograph or film military installations, vehicles or buildings, and offenders can be arrested; take the same care in border areas.
Tourist tax: Hotels add a climate resilience fee per room per night, €15 at five-star hotels from April to October; cruise passengers landing on Santorini or Mykonos pay €20 a visit in summer.

Every list on this page is checked by hand and dated: last checked October 2026. Hotels, restaurants and events link only to their own official websites, where confirmed.

The Mediterranean Season Letter

Where to be, every season

Four letters a year, one for each season: the Mediterranean from spring to autumn, and Beyond the Mediterranean, into the Alps, in winter. The one best hotel to book, and the events worth crossing a sea for.