It’s only 90 minutes from Athens and the noise you’ll hear on this island won’t involve automobiles– but donkey’s hooves and church bells. Long considered a haven for artists from throughout the world and a quiet retreat for artists from around the world, Hydra remains a quiet giant amongst the Greek Islands.
Check out 11 reasons to visit Hydra:
1. The island of Hydra in Greece’s Sardonic Gulf is a mere 37 nautical miles from the port of Pireaus and is a quick hydrofoil ride from Athens, making for a quick getaway or weekend destination. The island boasts one of the most picturesque ports in the world.
2. Garbage trucks are— by law— the only motorized vehicles allowed on the island. That’s right, not a single car or motorcycle to disturb your island peace. Horses and donkeys are the main form of public transportation but rest assured, if beasts of burden aren’t your thing, the main town is so compact that most people walk everywhere.
3. Water taxis are used to get across the short body of water to the Peloponnese, to neighboring islands, and to the villages on the other side of Hydra.
4. In 2007, a National Geographic Traveler panel of 522 experts rated Hydra the highest of any Greek island (11th out of 111 islands worldwide) as a unique destination preserving its “integrity of place.” Interestingly, for a Greek island, Hydra isn’t known for its beaches. On the contrary, the entire island is lined with rocky coves— perfect for snorkeling.
5. All you hear are the sounds of donkeys braying, sheep bells tinkling, waves crashing, people talking, church bells ringing. —Marilyn Terrell, Chief Researcher, National Geographic Traveler
6. If history is your thing, this island boasts a rich one— all the way back to prehistoric times with numerous museums and sites, monasteries and historic mansions belonging to important residents who dedicated their fortunes to Greece’s struggle for Independence.
7. Numerous memorials to heroes like Laskarina Bouboulina and Andreas Miaoulis dot the island and offer history buffs a chance to literally live history. The port’s ramparts are even lined with cannons used to protect the island from Turkish naval vessels from the 1820s.
8. In June 2009, internationally renown art collector Dakis Joannou opened a Hydra branch of a private art museum, the Deste Foundation, to show the work of established young artists. Joannou’s presence on Hydra has helped turn it into an international art destination.
9. If you’re lucky, you might even see Joannou’s Jeff Koons-designed yacht in the harbor— a stark contrast to the vintage look and feel of the town and the donkeys lining the port town— but still a cool sight to witness.
10. Elizabeth Taylor- In the 1960s, Taylor purchased (and apparently owned until her death) a home on the coast of the Greek island of Hydra. Its coastal spot right on the shore makes it most visible from a small boat tour around the island. Sophia Loren, who filmed the 1960s film Boy on a Dolphin also became a regular visitor to the island.
11. Long before his greatest successes admitted him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen bought a home on Hydra for a mere $1500. He and his musical gang were regulars on the island, often taking up a spot under a tree and playing the guitar and singing well into the morning hours.
12. The list says 11 photos— but this donkey pic was too cute not to include, so here’s one more!
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