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Where to find the best beaches in Hydra, Greece

Looking for the best places for swimming and sunbathing on the Greek island of Hydra? Our guide to the best beaches in Hydra has all the details you need to help you choose the perfect Hydra beach.

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The Greek island of Hydra is one of the Saronic Islands and is a popular destination for weekend breaks as it’s only two hours by ferry from Athens. It’s known for its traffic-free streets, with mules instead of cars, its pretty harbour and relaxed artistic feel.

And of course there are the beaches. Hydra isn’t the place to come if you’re looking for long stretches of golden sand, but there are plenty of lovely spots where you can sunbathe or take a dip in the sea. A string of easily accessible beaches runs along the coast around Hydra’s port, and there are others further afield which you can reach by boat.

Plakes beach and the Four Seasons Hydra
Plakes beach and the Four Seasons Hydra

Most Hydra island beaches are pebbly – so it’s a good idea to pack or buy water shoes to make getting in and out of the water less painful on the feet. Some are attached to resorts or restaurants and have sunbeds and umbrellas for hire, and others are more undeveloped. But what they all have in common is their beautiful clear turquoise blue waters.

So here’s our rundown of the best beaches in Hydra – starting with those closest to Hydra town – with details of how to get there, what facilities each has and who it’s best suited for.

Map of beaches in Hydra

Map of the best beaches in Hydra

Spilia and Hydronetta

More bathing platforms than actual beaches, Spilia and Hydronetta are the closest places to Hydra town for a swim. You jump into the water or go down a metal ladder from the rocks or a concrete platform straight into deep water, so need to be a confident swimmer.

If you take the coast road south (towards Kamini), then after a few minutes you’ll see the Spilia bar on your right. Take the steps down into the bar and carry on down the next set of steps and you’ll reach a concrete sunbathing platform. The bar serves drinks and snacks, and has deckchairs and umbrellas for customers where you can catch the sun.

Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Spilia swimming platform and cafe
Spilia beach and bar

Spilia gets the morning sun so it’s a good place for an early dip. For afternoon sun carry on around the headland to Hydronetta, where you can reach the swimming area through Sunset Restaurant. There’s a small concrete sunbathing platform built into the rocks and Hydronetta Bar sits just above, which is a great place to watch the sun set.

  • Type: Swimming platforms
  • Access: Short walk from Hydra harbour
  • Facilities: Two café-bars and a restaurant (with toilets for customers)
  • Best for: A quick dip, catching sunset, proximity to Hydra town
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Hydronetta swimming platform
Hydronetta swimming platform

Avlaki

Avlaki is currently closed off due to a landslip but we’ll update when it’s reopened.

Avlaki is the closest ‘real’ beach to Hydra town – and was my favourite spot for a swim – though it only has a small pebbly section as well as two concrete platforms with steps into the sea. To get Avlaki, carry on along the coast road towards Kamini and look out for the zig-zagging flight of steps to your right just before you reach Téchnē restaurant.

Avlaki gets plenty of sun in the afternoons and has some of the clearest and bluest waters I’ve seen in Hydra. It’s not usually too busy as the climb down (and back up) puts some people off. There are no facilities on the beach itself but Téchnē restaurant serves lunch, dinner and cocktails, or it’s only 10 minutes’ walk back to the harbour.

  • Type: Pebble beach and swimming platforms
  • Access: 10-minute walk from Hydra harbour and down steps
  • Facilities: Téchnē restaurant at the top of the steps (with toilets for customers)
  • Best for: Afternoon sunbathing, people who don’t mind a climb
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Avlaki Beach
Avlaki Beach

Kamini

The village of Kamini is around 15 minutes’ walk/1km from Hydra town along the coast road. It has a small harbour which you can reach by water taxi and a couple of good restaurants, including Kodylenia’s Tavern which has a gorgeous setting right on the corner of the harbour looking across to the Peloponnese on the mainland.

Kamini beach is five minutes’ walk further along – walk around the harbour, up the steps and continue along the path until you see Castello. This 18th-century fort has been converted into a bar and restaurant with sunbeds and umbrellas available in high season.

Just in front of Castello is a small pebbly beach. Because it’s sheltered and the waters are shallow it’s one of the best beaches in Hydra for families, and is nicknamed ‘Baby Beach’.

  • Type: Pebble beach
  • Access: 15-minute walk from Hydra harbour or a water taxi to Kamini harbour (€17)
  • Facilities: Castello bar/restaurant with sunbeds, umbrellas and toilets for customers
  • Best for: Families with young children
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Kamini Beach and Castello restaurant
Kamini beach and Castello

Vlychos

Carry on walking along the coast path from Kamini and the next village you’ll reach is Vlychos, around 35 minutes’ walk or 2.4 km from Hydra’s harbour. Vlychos (which you also sometimes see written as Vlichos) is a bigger beach, with a mix of pebbles and sand which slopes down gently into the shallow waters of this sheltered bay.

Enalion bar/restaurant just behind the beach has sunbeds and umbrellas which you can hire, and they will bring drinks out to the beach for you. There’s also Taverna Marina nearby in Vlychos’ tiny harbour, which is one of the oldest restaurants in Hydra.

  • Type: Pebble and sand beach
  • Access: 35-minute walk from Hydra harbour, water taxi (€25) or Enalion shuttle boat
  • Facilities: Enalion bar/restaurant with sunbeds and umbrellas, toilets and freshwater showers
  • Best for: Sun worshippers, families with children
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Vlychos Beach
Vlychos Beach

Plakes

Walk another kilometre along the coast path from Vlychos and you’ll find Plakes beach. This is home to the smart Four Seasons Hydra* resort and you can get to the beach using their shuttle boat from Hydra harbour, or it’s a 45-minute/3.5km walk. Plakes beach is pebbly and slopes gently into the water, looking out towards Dokos island.

The beach is split into two sections either side of the Four Seasons’ restaurant, which is open to non-residents for lunch and dinner and does good local seafood. Four Seasons have sunbeds and umbrellas for hire (which cost €20 for two when we last visited) with waiter service, or there’s space at the end of the beach where you can lay your towel.

  • Type: Pebble beach
  • Access: 45-minute walk from Hydra harbour, water taxi (€30) or Four Seasons shuttle boat (€10 return)
  • Facilities: Four Seasons resort with a bar and restaurant, sunbeds, umbrellas, toilets, changing rooms and freshwater showers for customers
  • Best for: Making a day trip of it
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: The Four Seasons Hydra at Plakes Beach
The Four Seasons Hydra at Plakes Beach

Mandraki Bay

Heading in the other direction from Hydra town, follow the paved coast road north for 30 minutes/2km, past the island’s former slaughterhouse which is now a modern art space run by the DESTE Foundation. Sheltered Mandraki Bay was once Hydra’s harbour and is where you’ll find the Mandraki Beach Resort* and Hydra’s only real sandy beach.

The beach slopes gently into shallow waters and there are no pebbles so it’s much easier on the feet. The Mandraki Beach Resort has sunbeds and umbrellas to hire (which cost €30 for two in high season), which also come with padded mattresses, towels, chilled water and a call button so you can summon a waiter to bring you drinks or snacks. The resort also has restaurant and bar overlooking the beach, and is known for its sushi.

  • Type: Shallow sandy beach
  • Access: 30-minute walk from Hydra harbour, water taxi (€25) or Mandraki Beach Resort shuttle boat (€10 return)
  • Facilities: Mandraki Beach Resort with a bar and restaurant, sunbeds, umbrellas, toilets, changing rooms and freshwater showers for customers
  • Best for: Avoiding the pebbles, luxury sunbathing
Mandraki Beach Resort

There’s also a second beach in Mandraki Bay which you come to before the resort and is just outside Mandraki 1800, a traditional Greek café and restaurant. This beach has a mix of sand and pebbles, and there are sunbeds and umbrellas to hire, which are free for restaurant customers. And look out for lots of cute cats and kittens living nearby.

  • Type: Pebble and sand beach
  • Access: 30-minute walk from Hydra harbour or water taxi (€25)
  • Facilities: Mandraki 1800 bar/restaurant with sunbeds, umbrellas and toilets for customers
  • Best for: A cheaper option in Mandraki Bay
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: The Mandraki 1800 beach
Mandraki 1800 beach

Bisti

If you’re looking to visit beaches in Hydra which are further afield, Bisti beach on the west side of the island is set in a sheltered bay with a pebbly beach that slopes gradually into the water, making it good for families or snorkelling. Pine trees behind the beach give welcome shade in summer, and there are umbrellas and sunbeds (€5) available.

There’s also a snack bar where you can pick up sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Beach boats connect Hydra harbour to Bisti in around 20 minutes, with several departures and pick ups each day (normally leaving at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 2pm and returning at 4pm and 6pm). You can also hike across the island to Bisti but it’s a fairly tough four-hour walk.

  • Type: Pebble beach
  • Access: Beach boat (€15 return), water taxi (€100) or four-hour strenuous hike
  • Facilities: Sunbeds, umbrellas, snack bar and toilets
  • Best for: Day trippers, families, snorkelling and diving
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Bisti beach
Bisti Beach (photo © Falco Ermut/Flickr CC)

Agios Nikolaos

Further around the coast from Bisti, Agios Nikolaos beach is a long arc of white pebbles which slopes into clear blue waters and is backed by rocky mountains. It takes around 30 minutes to reach Agios Nikolaos beach from Hydra harbour by beach boat, with departures and pick ups at the same times as the boats to Bisti.

Sunbeds and umbrellas are available to hire from a kiosk on the beach, which also sells snacks and drinks. You can also climb up into the hillside for about 10 minutes to reach a small whitewashed chapel which has great views down to the beach.

  • Type: Pebble beach
  • Access: Beach boat (€18 return) or water taxi (€125)
  • Facilities: Sunbeds, umbrellas, snack bar and toilets
  • Best for: Day trippers looking to get away from it all
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Agios Nikolaos beach
Agios Nikolaos beach (photo © Falco Ermut/Flickr CC)

Limnioniza

Across the southeastern side of the island, Limnioniza is one of the more remote Hydra beaches. You can only reach it by boat or via a hike which takes around two hours/5km each way. The path starts in Hydra harbour and follows hiking route 3 up into the hills surrounding the town, then up rocky steps and past two hilltop monasteries.

At the second monastery, you leave route 3 and pick up the path down to Limnioniza in front of a farmhouse – look out for blue dots painted on the rocks which mark the way before it becomes a more obvious path. The climb down is fairly steep and uneven, so make sure you wear sturdy shoes and watch out for the spiky plants.

At the bottom, Limnioniza is a sheltered horseshoe bay with pebble beach that slopes fairly steeply into the water (the first dips feels amazing after the walk!). As it’s so remote you don’t normally see many other people, and there are no facilities at the beach or along the route, and no shade so bring plenty of water, a picnic and an umbrella or hat.

  • Type: Pebble beach
  • Access: Two-hour hike each way from Hydra harbour
  • Facilities: None
  • Best for: Adventurers
Best beaches in Hydra, Greece: Limnioniza beach
Limnioniza beach

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Looking for the best places for swimming and sunbathing on the Greek island of Hydra? Our guide to the best beaches in Hydra has all the details you need to help you choose the perfect Hydra beach | Hydra island Greece | Hydra travel guide | Visiting Hydra GreeceA guide to the best beaches on the Greek island of Hydra, with details of how to get there, what facilities each has and who it's best suited for | Hydra island Greece | Hydra travel guide | Visiting Hydra Greece

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Michelle Martone

Friday 12th of July 2024

This is such a helpful article. Thank-you for writing it. I am planning a Yoga Retreat here summer 2025. Are there any absolute must see's on Hydra?

Lucy Dodsworth

Saturday 13th of July 2024

Thank you! Most of the joy of Hydra is in just wandering around but there are a couple of museums (the Lazaros Koundouriotis Historical Mansion has some great views too) and would recommend the walk along the coast to the Plakes or the longer route to Profitis Ilias monastery for more views.