Hydra Harbour View
 

Has both natural psysical beauty and superlative architectural distinction. Pedestrians are free to wander the port and the peaceful back lanes with only an occasional dunkey, mule or horse. The whole island has been declared a monument by both Greek government and the Council of Europe. The barren rock island is at first sight almost forbidding until your ship enters the perfect horseshoe harbor surrounded by gray and white mansions, topped with red-tiled roofs, and churches, ans sussenly you see cause for all the excitement. 

WHAT TO SEE & DO:

Hydra town is the port, capital, and only town on the island, but it's chock-full of enough charm and history. The mansions that give the steep-sided port is special character were built in late 18th century by Italian architects. On the West side from the ferry pier you'll find the Tombazi Mansion, now a branch of the School of Fine Arts. Other interesting mansion are: Ikonomou Miriklis - with interesting interior -, Koundouriotis - built by an Albanian family that contribute to the cause of independence. On the East side the mansions Spilopoulou, Tsamados - now Merchant Marine School, and Kriezis. A small archaeology museum can be found here. 
Hydra is famous for the number of church, said to be one for every day of the year, and several of them  are well worth a visit. The most beautiful the Monastery of Assumption of the Virgin Mary, is found on the central waterfort as the Clock Tower. Here are more religious sites, Kala Pigadia, Convent of Agia Efpraxia, The Monastery of the Prophet Elijah - oferring superb view of the town and beyond -, Monastery of Agia Triada, Cloister of Zourvas, and many other.
The only beach on the island is at Mandraki, a 20 minute walk east of town. West of town you can swim off the rocks at Kamini, and another rocky beach Kastello. Further west is the pretty pine-lined cove of Molos, favored by jet-setters. One fairly good beach on the south coast, Limioniza.
The island of Dokos, northwest off the tip of Hydra, an hour boat ride from town, has a good beach and here Jacques Cousteau found a sunken ship with cargo still aboard believed to be 3000 years old.

GETTING THERE:

65km from Pireaus
Area: 50 sq km; Population 2.500
By Boat
Several ferries and excursion boats make the four-hour voyage between Piraeus and Hydra. There is several daily Flying Dolphin -make one hour and half- between Zea Marina and Hydra. Tolo - Hydra three day on the week with Mantalena Cruises.