The town which is the centre of the whole island, is built amphitheatrically around the port. It looks glamorous like an art-paint, with grey, white and blue colours above the blue of the sea, an exemplar of architectonics and aesthetics. Right and left from the entrance of the port, there are the Parapets with the Canons, which protected the town.
At the left side of the port, after the statue of A. Miaoulis, we can find the Harbour Authorities of Hydra, which are accommodated in the old, stonebuilt powder magazine. Next to the Harbour Authorities is the marble Archive Building of Hydra and further we find the house of Tsamados family, which accommodates the famous Sea Captain Academy.
At the center of the port is located the Cathedral which was built in 1648 and reconstructed in 1774. Aforetime operated as the Holy Church of dormition. Today, in the Temple, are located the headquarters of the Town Hall and the Ecclesiastic museum.
Main characteristic of Hydra is that there are no wheeled vehicles and the transportation of people is being made only by donkeys, a thing that makes the Island even more romantic. The port of Hydra is filled with little and big yachts, boats and cruisers.
On the Island you will enjoy romantic walks in the narrows, picturesque, paved alleys.Generally, Hydra is famous for the calm life is offers to the visitors in the day, but also for the intense, cosmopolitan night life.Bar, pub, disco, with foreign-Greek music and rave-up till the morning.
The beautiful roads and alleys, paved with slabs and the houses, adorned with flowers, give to the island of Hydra a touch of magic and a romantic mood. Its worth visiting the Manors of the Island and watch the harbour from down the hill. Also, to admire the sunset from "Periptero" and "Spilia" and to visit the 6 Monasteries and the 300 churches of Hydra.
Especially, you have to visit : The twin Monasteries of Saint Eupraxia and Prophet Elias, where in 1825 were imprisoned some of the heroes of Greek Revolution, amongst them and Kolokotronis. The Monastery of Saint Trinity, The Monasteryof Saint Matrona, The Monastery of Saint Nikolaos. The Monastery of Virgin Mary of Zoubra, and the Church of dormition, with the Byzantine and Ecclesiastic Museum.
Hydra, from the 50's, has been one of the most importand cultural centers, which has been gathering famous personas of Arts and Literature from Greece and abroad. This has rendered Hydra as a center of artistic creatio. The cultural way of life owes a great deal to the Hydraian painter Gikas. Also from Hydra is the modern poet Miltos Saxtouris.
Deeply connected to the Island are the painters and also the writers writers Nick Xatzikiriakos-Gikas, Panag. Tetsis, Kostas Vizantios, Seferis, Elitis, Eggonopoulos, Petsalis, Pikionis and Henry Miller and many other artists and cultural people, who came to the Island and love it, recongnizing to it the ideal place of inspiration and creation.
Hydra has got a lot of beaches with rocks or sand and pebbles. You have got access to them on foot, with donkeys or sea transportation means. Common characteristic of these beaches are the crystal clear blue waters. Close to the harbour is a beautiful rocky area with deep blue water, called "Spilia". It attracts many tourists every year and it is an ideal place to enjoy the panoramic harbor view. It is also a place where you can have snacks and drinks, day and night.Near Spilia is another beautiful beach for swimming in blue waters and nice music from the bar 20 hours a day, called "Hydronetta".
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Just next to Hydronetta is a small pebble beach, with lights when the night come down and disco. Following the road next to the port we reach the place "Kamini", a small, natural, picturesque harbour full of fishing boats. Next to it, it is "Mikro (small) Kamini", a beautiful, small, pebbled beach, ideal for water sports and small children. In Kamini there are tavernas with local food and hospitality. From there by walking, we reach to the place "Vliho", which it has a beautiful beach with clean waters and white houses up to the rocks, besides the small beautiful shrine of Saint Haralampos. You can also find local tavernas.
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After 20 minutes walking and after passing a 17th century bridge, we reach the place "Palamidas", with a sand beach.There is located the Manor of Boulgaris and the ex house of Pashas. Near the beach of Palamidas there is a place to repair boats. After Palamidas is "Molos", a nice rocky beach. Next is "Kaoumithi", a beach with thick sand."Bisti" is a unique pebble organized beach 10 minutes by taxi boat and 30 minutes by regular boat, ideal for underwater fishing. Next beach is the one of "Saint George", located between two hills with pine trees. To the rocks up from the beach you find the Church of Saint George.
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Towards the south east side of the island one can find the organized pebble beach of "Saint Nikolaos", with crystal clear waters, surrounded by pine trees, ideal for underwater diving.To the east there is "Nisiza", another pebbled beach and following is "Klimaki", a large beach with cottages. After cape Rigas, we reach "Limnioniza", the most beautiful pebbled beach of the south shore of the island, ideal for underwater diving. After 25 minutes walking distance from the main port, 7 minutes by boat, or 3 minutes by sea taxi, there is an organized beach called "Mandraki"Here you will also find water sports like windsurfing,skiing and beach volley.
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By boat departing from the main port of Piraeus. There are a couple of ferry boats to Hydra during the day. The trip lasts for 3 to 3.30 hours.
From Athens the distance by car, is approximately 180 klm.Through the National Road Athens-Korinthos, we go left, after the isthmus of Corinth, to Epidavros. From Epidavros, we follow the newly opened road and in 10 min. we reach the place Kalloni.From Kalloni, in 15 min. we reach Galata, that is across Poros Island, and after 20 min. we reach Metoxi.If you don't want to cross over to Poros, you can continue your road to the magnificent Lemon Tree.
By private boat, where you can anchor at the main port of Hydra or in one of the ports of Mandraki, Kamini, Vliho, Palamida, Bisti, Molo Saint Nikolaos, the island next to Hydra Dokos, or to the cove of Skinto, where the most ancient shipwreck was discovered.
Hydra has got satisfactory tourist infrastructure, with lots of hotels, quest rooms, rooms to let, apartments and bangalows. Most of them are situated in traditional and old houses and Manors. Its worth visiting the Museums, Churces, Monasteries and the Manors of the Island. There are many organized santy and rocky beaches with clean and clear waters for swimming or underwater fishing and diving. To the island's beaches the visitor can take sea sports and various activities, such as fishing and diving.
Do not forget to make unforgetable walks with the lovely donkeys, that are substitute the non existing vehicles to the island, to the narrow paths of Hydra.Also you can use donkeys to your excursions to the mainland.The visitor to Hydra will enjoy authentic, and traditional food to the tavernas and restaurants and one must taste the traditional sweat of Hydra that is called "Amigdalota". Also there are snack bars, fast foods and places that sells souvlakia. The tranquillity of the day succeeds the strong and tense beat of the night, with many choices of greek and foreign music to listen to, in the bars of the island.
