All you need to know about getting easily from Athens to Hydra, plus all the other important aspects of the journey – Hydra ferry schedule, Hydra ferry prices, how to get to Athens’ port of Piraeus, which Piraeus to Hydra ferry operators to choose, ferry ticket prices and much more!
Map of Hydra Greece
In a Hurry? Here’s the best day cruise from Athens to Hydra
1000 donkeys: Things to know before traveling to Hydra
Hydra is one of the most unique islands in Greece. Close to Athens (1-2 hours away), it belongs to the Argo Saronic archipelago, together with Egina, Poros, and Spetses Islands, all lovely islands to visit as well!
The proximity and cosmopolitan flair make Hydra a great day trip or short break destination, especially from the busy Athens.
That is what the locals think too. They love it for its traditional unique architecture, artistic lifestyle, beaches surrounded by the deep blue Aegean sea, and centuries-old monasteries with scenic views from its hiking paths.
There are no motor vehicles on Hydra, making it one of the islands in Greece that are concentrated around its main (and only) port.
Getting around the island is by small boats and by a band of more than 1000 donkeys.
Not only a postcard-perfect sight, but Hydra is also known for its interesting beaches like Spilia, Avlaki, Mikro Kamini, and Molos, for its water taxi excursions, as well as for its cosmopolitan people-watching and historical sightseeing.
Lazaros Kountouriotis Mansion, Ecclesiastical Museum, Historical Archives Museum, Tetsi House Museum, and the House of Leonard Cohen are some of the highlights of Hydra.
Hydra is a Greek answer to Cannes and Capri, with global royals, celebrities, and artists rubbing shoulders with Athens’ elite and local fishermen.
With a reputation as one of the hubs of the Med’s high life, Hydra is the old-money Mykonos.
How to reach the ferry dock in Piraeus port
Athens’ main port is Piraeus, where most ferries depart for the Greek islands. Piraeus port is 12 miles west of the city center, and 28 miles from the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos.
Reaching the Piraeus port is easy and comfortable, whether you choose public transport or a private transfer (which might be the best option for a group of four).
🚌 Bus X96 departs the Airport every 30-40 minutes taking approximately 60 minutes. The ticket price is around €5.
🚆 Metro: A new metro line extension linking the Airport and Piraeus Port opened in late 2022. Line 3 (blue line) now goes all the way to the port and takes 55 minutes. The ticket price is around €10.
Private Transfers
Once in Piraeus – where do the ferries for Hydra depart from?
Piraeus is a large port and you are looking for a port gate that services ferries from and to Saronic islands. This is port gate E8.
Ferries to Hydra Island are numerous in summer with up to 9 departures daily, but only daily 2 departures in winter. The ferries are operated by Hellenic Seaways and Alpha Lines.
Should you need to store your luggage, there are several options at Piraeus Port.
Make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before your departure at the port gate, as the ferries depart on the dot.
Small snacks and cold drinks are available all around the port in little kiosks.
Ferries Piraeus to Hydra
As Hydra is a car-free island, all ferries are passenger-only ferries. This is important to keep in mind if you’re planning on island hopping and taking a car with you – there are no car ferries to Hydra port.
Hellenic Seaways sails to Hydra with two types of vessels – slower, bigger, and more comfortable Flying Cat and smaller but high-speed ferry catamaran-style Aero Highspeed.
Alpha Lines ferry company operates high-speed ferry catamaran-style Speed Cat.
Blue Star Ferries do not operate lines to Hydra.
If you are looking for a more comfortable ferry ride, book a Flying Cat as it’s a standard-type vessel with airplane seats and a bar. It’s the best option if you suffer from seasickness.
The ride is between 1h40m and 2h long.
Aero Highspeed and Speed Cat are faster and can reach Hydra in just above an hour. However, if weather conditions become bad, they are the first to be canceled.
They are also a bit less comfortable and have no bar onboard.
Ferry route: most of the departures make a call in Poros Island, before continuing to Hydra. The fastest ferry is once a day – it makes no stops and goes directly to Hydra.
The first departure for Hydra from Piraeus is at 10:10 am and the last one is at 9:30 pm or 11:30 pm (selected days only).
The first departure from Hydra to Piraeus is at 9:20 am and the last one is between 9:25 pm and 10:20 pm, depending on the dates.
Ferry ticket prices – How much is a ferry ticket to Hydra?
Ticket prices are almost the same for all departures and vessel options and range between €38-40 per way.
How to buy ferry tickets from Athens to Hydra?
Buying online is the best and the easiest option.
Although you can buy ferry tickets in the port, it is much better to avoid the crowds and sold-out ferries in Piraeus and buy your tickets online beforehand. My favorite is Ferryhopper.com for all ferry planning, scheduling and ticket buying.
The whole process is a breeze and enables you to have the tickets for the dates and boats you want.
Once you purchase an online ticket, you need to go to a ticket counter in the port to pick it up. You cannot print tickets or have them mailed to you. You will pick them up in one of many distributors’ offices as indicated in your purchase receipt.
Bring your ID and contact details with you.
TIP: If you are doing a day ferry trip or simply want to return to Athens on the last ferry, book ferry tickets well in advance.
Take a day trip cruise that includes Hydra Island
If you’d rather not plan the trip yourself, or if you’d like to see more than one Argo-Saronic Island, book one of the day ferry trip tours of the Saronic Gulf islands and have the package deal organized for you, including meals on board and even some music on the way. The tours are usually 12 hours long.
By far the most popular of the day cruises from Athens is the highly reviewed Hydra, Poros, and Aegina Day Cruise with Lunch.
Seeing three islands in one day is a great introduction to the Greek Islands and they are each very different, even though they are all close to Athens.
When you book this tour, there’s an additional add-on of a visit to the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina Island. It’s the last island you’ll visit that day and it would otherwise be at least 40 Euro to get a taxi round trip to the Temple.
My advice- book the add-on, but whichever way you get to it, make sure you Do see the Temple of Aphaia (and visit the tiny museum to the left of the site) – it’s one of the greatest architectural buildings of Ancient Greece.
Sailing to Hydra
The most stylish way to arrive at Hydra is to sail to its stunning port. Sailing around Saronic islands is a unique experience as the waters there are usually calm and without the fierce winds found around the Cyclades Islands.
The starting point is typically Alimos Marina in Athens and Sail Greece does great cruises.
