Hydra.:
Hydra town is laid out like an amphitheatre around the harbour. There are smaller harbours either side. One has a fish taverna and water sports and can be reach either by a flat walk around the coast or by one of the many water taxi that service the locals. The small harbour on the west side of the town is closer to you and can also be reached by a short coastal walk or water taxi from Hydra harbour. Here there is a good taverna with magnificent views and small fishing boats harbour. Further along from this is what is know as The Baby Beach. The water here slowly deepens and is ideal for all. Much further around the coast is a small gathering of houses and this can also be reach by a path along the hillside. Over the top of Hydra island through the pine forest and down the other side there are secluded bays which can also be reach by water taxi, foot or donkey. Don't forget to book your return!
A Day Out.:
From Hydra you can take a day trip to the islands of Spetses, Poros, Dokos, Aegina and/or Agistri. If you wish to travel further hire a car from Poros (across the narrow sea channel at Poros is the small town of Galatas where you will probably get a better deal on your car hire or at least be on the mainland.) From here you can reach Epidavros with it's famous ancient amphitheatre within half an hour and a further hour will take you to Ancient Mycene and Agamennons 'Beehive' tomb. The colossal walls of Tirins are along this journey as is the first capital of Greece, Nafplion, although it still has it's ancient mosques and old town squares it also now has a very chic cosmopolitan feel and is an excellent destination for a day out with it's castle up 999 steps towering over the town and the island fort in the bay which can be reach by local water bus at 4 euros a person.
Privacy.:
The people of Hydra have a sense of privacy and discretion. The building regulations state that no window can over look someone Else's property and those that do because they are so old have been tightly shuttered closed.
This sense of privacy has made Hydra into a place that people come to take a relaxing holiday with assurance of discretion. Leonard Cohen, Joan Collins and Richard Branson are some of the well known people that have holiday homes here.
