Stepping off the catamaran onto Hydra’s ancient harbour feels like entering a living painting – an island caught between myth and a Mediterranean daydream. Unlike the high-energy crowds of Santorini or Mykonos, Hydra is calm, considered and blissfully car-free. On this diminutive island just 75 minutes from Athens, donkeys transport visitors’ luggage, fishermen sit quayside mending their nets, and the island soundtrack features the gentle sound of water lapping the shore and the rhythmic clopping of hooves. This Saronic Island jewel delivers the charm of the Cyclades, without the chaos and crowds.
Even on my fourth visit, Hydra still waves her magic wand. I don’t think I will ever tire of her hidden coves, whitewashed alleyways leading to bougainvillaea-bright courtyards and the proud Neoclassical mansions standing testament to the island’s naval history.
