Sightseeing in Hydra Island - what to see. Complete travel guide

Hydra is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece famous for its incomparable architecture and indescribable nature. Vehicular traffic is completely absent on this wonderful island, so locals move exclusively on donkeys and horses, making the place even more interesting and attractive for travelers. Fans of excursions, beaches and hiking would enjoy vacations there, as the island is rich in historical sites and natural landmarks.

Despite the fact that the island of Hydra is relatively small, there are about 300 churches and 6 ancient monasteries, which served as fortifications and saved the lives of thousands of people during the war. It’s worth to start your acquaintance with historical sights with a walk around the port area; the entrance to the port is crowned with beautiful bastions. For many years they were defending the island from invaders and became its permanent characters.

Near the port area there is a lovely building with a facade of marble and rare wood; today it’s home to the Historical Archives Museum. Its walls house an extensive collection of unique historical documents, hundreds of priceless archaeological findings and art objects with a long history. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Assumption of the Virgin Mary Church is considered to be one of the most beautiful among religious attractions. It’s located in close proximity to the coast, at the picturesque rocky terrain. As this religious landmark is close to the most popular beach of Hydra, the church is visited by all the guests of the island. No less impressive religious monument is the Church of St. Constantine that is one of the youngest churches on the island. The church was built near the center of Hydra, on a high hill with magnificent panoramic view of the surroundings.

Other important symbols of the island are its magnificent old mansions built in the 17th - 19th centuries. Many of them are available to visit; the atmosphere of the past centuries is completely restored there. Each house is a real museum with priceless artifacts, including antique furniture, beautiful paintings and tapestries, carpets and mosaics. The mansion of Lazaros Kountouriotis is especially remarkable among many historic buildings; it’s one of the most spectacular architectural monuments of the island. The amazing house of Count Alexei Orlov also enjoys attention of tourists. Now it’s converted into a lovely national restaurant.

One of the most interesting cultural places of the island is Melina Mercouri gallery. It houses a rich collection of paintings by prominent local artists; the gallery has become a regular venue for a wide variety of cultural events. Exhibitions and workshops on national crafts, as well as enchanting concerts and theatrical performances are often held there. Fans of exciting excursions should definitely visit the Byzantine Museum and see its priceless archaeological finds that were discovered by scientists on the island. Those fond of natural attractions won’t be disappointed too. The entire island is the amazing natural reserve, and modern activities don’t violate natural splendor of Hydra.

The charming island with untouched nature is an ideal location for beachside recreation. Spilia is the loudest and most popular beach of the island. It is located not far from the port area of the capital, so vacationers can not only swim or sunbathe but also enjoy various entertainments. They are welcome to relax peacefully or visit one of the several sports centers and try scuba diving. Water is deep near this part of the coast, so Spilia is not the best choice for tourists with children.

Family vacationers prefer to relax on another beach, Hydronetta. This is a shallow coastal area that becomes warm already at the start of the tourist season. Not far from the beach, vacationers will find interesting historical landmarks, visits to which will make any vacation more exciting and diverse. Avlaki Beach is a true landmark of Hydra. Giant rocks have made this beach internationally famous. When the sun goes down, an eye-catching illumination lights up the stones – everyone will be delighted to see such a mesmerizing view. In recent years, numerous discos and bars have appeared on the beach, so young people particularly enjoy spending their time there.