The island and municipality of Hydra

The island of Hydra belongs to the Greek Saronic Islands, in the Aegean Sea. Besides this, it is also interesting to know that the Hydra Gulf separates this island from the Peloponnese. Anciently, this island name was Hydra, a word which refers to ancient springs it had until about 50 years ago.

Hydra is not only an island but also a province which has the peculiarity of counting with two municipalities; being this a characteristic that only a few other destinations in Greece have in common. This island offers a variety of attractions, many of them based on its beautiful coasts and amazing natural characteristics which turn it to be one of the most visited spots in the area.

The economy of Hydra is mainly based on its tourism related activities. This island receives visitors from around the world on a constant basis, although an important percentage of them come from other Greek origins, many of them from Athens. These visitors have provided the main economical resources for the island’s population for many decades.

One of the easiest ways to reach Hydra is from Piraeus due to the fact that tourists can find several daily ferries that would take them from that spot to this island. It is important to know that motor vehicles are not allowed in Hydra, and visitors would usually have to travel from one point to the other by water taxis, donkeys, or walking which is often the most preferred choice due to the small size of the island.

The main or most important town in Hydra is the area called the Hydra Port. The Hydra Port is a small town built around a harbor and in which visitors could find a variety of restaurants, galleries, and shops among others. Although this island should count with a great water source provided by the ancient springs that gave it its name, nowadays it has to import water from the mainland in order to survive due to the fact that the springs became dry after an important seismic activity that took place during the 20th century.

Map of Hydra in Greece