Greece Τhe Βeautiful

25/07/2019

Are you planning to visit one of the beautiful Greek Dodecanese islands?
Looking for a genuine taste of Greek tradition and local culture?
Maybe the island of Kos is the place you are looking for, a breathtakingly beautiful island, the home of Hippocrates,
where the rich history, the numerous monuments, the sandy beaches and the natural beauties will enchant you.

LOCATION OF KOS
Kos is the third largest island of the Dodecanese and is located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, south of Kalymnos and north of Nisyros,
and just 3 nautical miles from the coasts of Asia Minor. It is the third largest island in the Dodecanese,
covering an area of 290.29 kilometers and the circumnavigation of the island is calculated to 60 nautical miles,
although one can reach the island by air in less minutes.

CONNECTION
Kos is connected to several destinations, both by air and by sea. The main connections are with Athens and Piraeus and the islands of Rhodes, Kalymnos and Nisyros. There are also some ferry connections with some of the largest Greek cities and islands like Patmos, Lemnos, Leros etc.,
while regular trips are scheduled with small boats, with different routes like Kalymnos - Plati - Pserimos, and Nisyros.
Kos is also one of the few places in Greece from which one can visit Turkey. Throughout the year there are coastal shipping links,
especially during the summer months, while many excursions are planned, such to Alikarnassos.

WHERE TO STAY IN KOS
Before you begin your trip, you should have secured your stay. The demand is enormous during the summer months
and the accommodations are scattered throughout the island. Consult the categories of accommodation and book immediately your reservation.

GETTING AROUND
Kos has many forms of travel, local transportation, miniature trains, but to be sure rent your vehicle as soon as possible.
If you have a vessel, Kos has an organized Marina, located next to the historic Port of Kos, in the heart of the Dodecanese,
one of the most fascinating resorts in Greece and perhaps the best yachting area in Europe.

KOS, A WORTH VISITING ISLAND
There are multiple reasons which make Kos worth visiting.

Kos is an island rich in monuments. The tour of the island gives you the opportunity to discover unique and stunning scenery.
Make a tour around the island and you will not lose. Besides the attractions, the island has many natural beauties.
Do not forget to visit the hot springs, which have healing properties.

Kos is also a modern tourist island and is rightly ranked as one of the top tourist destinations, among other islands such as Mykonos,
Santorini, Rhodes and more. It offers many possibilities regarding accommodation, food, cafes, sports, excursions, night entertainment.
Enjoy a traditional Greek night and get to know the Greek music.

The island is very well known for its cycle lanes this is why Kos is often characterized as the island of the bicycle.
For this reason, there are various cycling trips. If you are a horse riding lover, respective trips for beginners and non are offered.

The whole island has beautiful beaches, organized and not. Kos is a great place for windsurfing, jet-skiing or even sailing,
while it is preferred by many as an ideal place to plan their wedding.

Information about the History of Kos Island
The island was originally colonised by the Carians. A contingent from Kos participated in the War of Troy The Dorians invaded it in the 11th century BC, establishing a Dorian colony with a large contingent of settlers from Epidaurus, whose Asclepius cult made their new home famous for its sanatoria. The other chief sources of the island's wealth lay in its wines and, in later days, in its silk manufacture.
Its early history–as part of the religious-political amphictyony that included Lindos, Kamiros, Ialysos, Cnidus and Halicarnassus,
the Dorian Hexapolis (Greek for six cities), is obscure. At the end of the 6th century, Kos fell under Achaemenid domination but rebelled after the Greek victory at Cape Mykale in 479. During the Greco-Persian Wars, when it twice expelled the Persians, it was ruled by tyrants,
but as a rule it seems to have been under oligarchic government. In the 5th century, it joined the Delian League, and, after the revolt of Rhodes,
it served as the chief Athenian station in the south-eastern Aegean (411–407). In 366 BC, a democracy was instituted.

Hippocrates - The Father of Medicine

Hippocrates is considered by scientists to be the founder of medicine.
He may have been the most important doctor of the ancient times and the best representativeof the Medical School of Kos.
He was also a profound philosopher and humanitarian. He was born in Kos in 460 BC and was the son of the doctor Irakleida and
Fenareti. According to tradition he was an Asclipiadi and the 20th grandson of Hercules on his mothers side
and the 18th grandson of Asclipios on his fathers side. His sons Drakon and Thessalos and his son in law Polubus continued the medical tradition
of the family. Following his father’s profession, he studied medicine at the Asclipio school of medicine in Kos. He studied the patients records and therapy methods. He had as teachers the paediatrician Irodiko from Silimbria and the philosophers Gorgia, Prodiko and Dimokrito.
At a young age he left Kos and worked as a doctor in Thaso, Thraki and Thessalia.

Pausania the traveler mentions that at the ancient temple of Apollo in Delfous, ther is a copper skeleton which was donated by Hippocrates.
Soon his reputation spread all over Greece. It is said he helped the Athenians during the period of the great plague of the Peloponissos war.
According to tradition he reached the gates of the Persian King Artaxerxi but then refused to offer his services. He died of old age near Larissa.
Up until the 2nd century AD on the banks of Piniou there was a sign showing his grave.
One of the biographers wrote that for many years bees nested on his grave and the honey which was considered therapeutic was used
by mothers to help their children. Studies considered to belong to Hippocrates and the Medical School of Kos are around 60 volumes.
The most important are: Aphorism, Diet related to illness, The Prognostics, Head injuries.

03/09/2018

The city of Skiathos is the only built-up area of the island. It is built on the southeastern tip of the island in a windless bay which separates the island of Bourtzi in two.
It is a relatively new settlement, built in 1829 - 1830 on the site of the ancient city, on two hills situated at the edge of the sea. The ancient settlement was built in 800 BC.
The large natural port of the modern city is ideal in shape and in location. This has been a basic element in regulating the life on the island both in the old and in the modern times.
The large natural port of the modern city is ideal in shape and in location. This has been a basic element in regulating the life on the island both in the old and in the modern times.
In the modern city of Skiathos, the houses are small and simple, with two floors in their majority and built amphitheatrically one next to the other. The streets are narrow without any typical planning apart from few parts in the city

Bourtzi is a small peninsula which separates the port of Skiathos in two. In the past it was a fort, which was established by the Gizi brothers who occupied Skiathos in 1207. It was surrounded by walls battlements and embrasures and on the left and right of the gate there were two round towers.
It is not possible to determine the height of the walls by the present ruins. Moreover, in the fort there was a tank and a small church called Agios Georgios, protector of the Venetians, probably built by the Gizi brothers. Because of that church, Bourtzi was also called "Kastelli tou Agiou Georgiou - Castle of St. George". The fort was destroyed in 1660 when the admiral Fransesco Morozini occupied the island.

In 1823 though the ruined embrasures, the island inhabitans - both Skiathans and refugees - managed to repulse Topal - pasha. After the liberation, the first lazaret of the island operated in Bourtzi. In 1906 a primary school was built in the centre of the peninsula, donated by Andreas Syngros. In the entrance of that school since 1925 there has been the bust of Alexandros Papadiamantis.
Nowadays, Bourtzi is really a rare recreation place. It is full of pine trees, always with fresh, cool air and with a magnificent view. There are few ruins of the old fort and we can see, on the left and right of the street leading to the entrance of the old school, the sites of the church of Agios Georgios and of the fort tank.
The old primary school has been converted into a picturesque cultural centre, with the initiative of the present municipal authorities. In it, there are practical conference rooms in good taste and a faboulous summer theatre which hosts successful theatrical and musical performances every summer.
Moreover, in Bourtzi there is a municipal cafe where special nights are held. These fit in with the ambience of the small, full of green peninsula.

Around the middle of the 14th century, because of the continuous pirate raids, the people of Skiathos were forced to set up their city in Kastro, a peninsula on the northern part of the Island, which was a natural fortress. In order to strengthen this fortress they surrounded it with walls full of embrasures and cannons tumed to the land. These were very strong and tall.
Communication between the fortress and the land was done by means of a wooden mobile bridge, which joined the fortress gate with the hill that faced it. In case of emergency it was pulled towards the inside part of Kastro and as a result it did not allow enemies to enter. On top of the external gate there was a terrace with the essential "zematistra", (a skillet full of hot water to scald intruders).
From the time it was built until 1453, Kastro was under Byzantine rule. Later, until 1538 it was under Venetian rule and until 1821 it was under Turkish rule. For a small period around 1660, Kastro went again under Venetian rule. Throughout these years the life of the people was very difficult and at times even hellish since apart from the continuous pirate raids and the aspiring conquerors, the people had to face the problem of limited space in the inside of the castle fortress.
Therefore, the houses were small and built very close to each other. Despite this, in Kastro there were more than twenty churches, a mosque without a minaret from the time of the Turkish accupation, and the required water tanks. The Cametary was located outside the city.

Ever since Kastro was abandoned, in 1830, and with the establishment of the independent Hellenic State, it was left on its own devices. As a result, nowadays only two churches have been saved (Gennisi tou Christou (Christ's Birth) and Agios Nikolaos). There is also the church of Panagia Preklas which is half ruined. We can see today a part of the wall with the gate, the marvellous terrace with the "zematistra", the half-ruined mosque and some ruins of the Turkish headquarters.
There are also two tanks and the cannon of Anagia which have been saved.
Definitely Kastro is the most important site of Skiathos, since it combines the wild and imposing natural beauty with history. Together they narrate other times in a melancholy way, through the ruins.

19/03/2017

Λουσμένα από τον ελληνικό ήλιο, άλλοτε πλάι στο κύμα και άλλοτε σκαρφαλωμένα σε κάποια κορυφή βουνού ή κρυμμένα ανάμεσα σε βράχους και πυκνή βλάστηση, τα ξωκλήσια μας είναι μοναδικής ομορφιάς και γνώριμο χαρακτηριστικό των ελληνικών τοπίων.

10/03/2017

Σε πιο Ελληνικο νησι ανηκει το 3ο ομορφοτερο χωριο της Ευρωπης;;

Ανάμεσα στα πολλά και πολύχρωμα μέρη της Ευρώπης και τους χιλιάδες κρυμμένους θησαυρούς της, το πρακτορείο BED ξεχώρισε και ένα μικρό Ελληνικό χωριό

05/03/2017

Ενα απο τα ομορφοτερα μερη της Ελλαδας!!

Ενα δάσος, μια λίμνη, ένας βιότοπος και μια φανταστική παραλία συνθέτουν το σκηνικό που παραπέμπει σε εικόνες τοπίων από την Αφρική ή από το δάσος του Αμαζονίου.

01/05/2016

Chios is located in the North East Aegean Sea. It is known as one of the most likely birthplaces of Homer, and also the ancient mathematicians Hippocrates and Enopides.

The island is very close to the Asia Minor coast, only 3.5 nautical miles from cape Pounta to Erythrea Inland in Cesme. It is the fifth largest Greek island (904 square kilometers) with a coastline of 213 kilometers and a population of 54.000.

The Regional Unit of Chios includes the islands of Chios, Psara, Antipsara and Oinousses. Administratively, it is divided into three municipalities: Chios, Psara and Oinousses.

Chios is a mountainous island. A few valleys are formed in the south and east regions of the island. Pelineo Mountain overlooks the northern part of the island, with the highest peak, Profitis Helias, at 1.297 m. Chios Island is known for its picturesque landscape, and also for the Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and sparse rainfalls in the summer. There are often north – northwest winds and the average temperature in the summer ranges between 24 – 26o C (75.2 – 78.8o F).

The main local products are mastic, citrus fruits, olive oil, figs and wine. Chios mastic is a unique product. Apart from the local agricultural products, Chios is famous for its maritime tradition. A lot of Chiots work in the Merchant Navy sector whereas some of the most important Greek shipping companies have been founded by families that come from the island. The town of Chios, called “Chora” by the locals, is the capital of the island.

The town of Chios, called “Chora” is the largest town of the island with a population of 29.000. It is the administrative, cultural, educational and commercial centre of the island, as well as its most important port.

It is built in the middle of the east coast, from where the Asia Minor coastline is visible. The town’s location indicates its close relationship with Ionia. Archaeological evidence indicates that the island has been inhabited since 6.000 B.C. The town of Chios was built by the Ionians a little before 1.000 B.C.
During its 3.000 – year history the town has been through periods of prosperity as well as decline.

Nowadays Chios is a vivid town with various economic, maritime and commercial activities. It is also the island’s cultural center, as most schools and libraries (The Koraes library among them) and the Homerion Cultural Center are situated there. Despite its transformations due to the 1822 catastrophe, the 1881 earthquake and extensive post-war rebuilding, the town has a lot of sites of architectural interest not only in the center but also in several of the neighborhoods.

In order to avoid the traffic in town center, you can walk, leaving your car in one of the peripheral parking lots (at Farkaina and at the Nautical Club of Chios parking lots, situated in the town’s south entrance, or at Ramnis Street and “Evodos” at the town’s north entrance).

You can walk by the waterfront at the central port (called “Prokymaia”), where a lot of cafes, taverns and restaurants are clustered, making it one of the town’s most vibrant areas.

At the central square (“Plateia Vounakiou”), elements of the past and the present are mixed. The modern offices of the Regional Unit of Chios and the Town Hall are there. However, around the square, you can also see the old Ottoman mosque (Mecidiye Camii), which has been turned into the Chios Byzantine Museum, and the Municipal Park.
Quite a few noticeable sites dating back to the Ottoman period are found near the square. These include the Ottoman mosques, Bayrakli Camii and Osmaniye Camii and the Ottoman fountains.

In the same area, the temple of Agios Vasileios ton Petrokokkinon that used to be the Town’s Cathedral at the end of the 16th century, as well as the temple of Agios Georgios are situated. From the square, following Kennedy Street, you will find yourself in front of the medieval castle's main gate (Porta Maggiore). The Castle dates back to the 10th century. It was built in the location of the ancient town having direct connection to the port. The Castle has always been inhabited; therefore you can observe buildings from different eras, while enjoying a walk in its narrow streets.

In the south of the square lies the town’s main market street, Aplotaria Street, which crosses the center of the old town. In Aplotaria Street, you can see a lot of 19th and 20th century bourgeois buildings. Towards the end of the street and to the east, the Philippou Argenti Street leads to the historic High School of Chios, which was founded in 1792, the Town's Cathedral, and Koraes' Library, which has a collection of 135.000 books, and also houses the Argenti Gallery and Folklore Museum.

In the south of the town lie neighborhoods that were created during the 20th century. The town has been expanding that way since. In this area, you can find the Archaeological Museum, the Aegean University, the Town’s stadium and the Maritime Museum.

In the town’s Perimeter lie the Kammenos Pyrgos (Burnt tower) and the Gothic Tower, dating back to the Genovese period.

03/10/2015

Trikala
A place where legends were born and experiences never come to an end… Castles, ancient sites, byzantine churches, monasteries and beautiful bridges indicate a continuous civilization.

Trikala is a modern city with 51,862 residents. It is considered the third most significant city of the area of Thessaly, with respect to its cultural and financial activities. This big town is located on the NW edge of the plain of Thessaly, close to the beautiful mountains of Hasia and is divided by the Lithaios river. Situated at the center of the valley, roughly where the ancient city Trikki would be placed, it is a town with a rather new city grid, with many squares and parks and pedestrian and bike-friendly roads. Trikala is a large commercial center with a significant farming industry and a famous local industry of dairy products.

History
The region of Trikala has been inhabited since prehistoric times and the first signs of life in the region occured in the nearby cave of Theopetra approx. 100,000 years ago. Neolithic settlements of 6,000 BC have been discovered in Megalo Kefalovriso and other locations.

The city of Trikala is built on the ruins of the ancient city Trikka or Trikke, which was founded around the 3rd millennium B.C. and received its name from the nymph Trikke, a daughter of the river-god Penaeus, or - according to others - a daughter of the river-god Asopus. The city was an important center in the Antiquity and the famed birthplace of the god of medicine, Asclepius. Indeed in the region there was once the most important healing center of the Greek world ('asclepeiion'). The city is mentioned in Homer's Iliad as having participated in the Trojan War, when Asclepius' sons, Machaon and Podalirius contributed with thirty ships towards the Greek expedition against Troy. In the Mycenean period the city was the capital of a local kingdom, while later on it became the main center of the Thessalian region of Estaiotis, which has been roughly identified with the modern prefecture of Trikala.

In historical times, the city of Trikke and its surrounding area experienced prosperity. It fell under the Persians in 480 BC, while ten years later it joined the Thessalian monetary union. In 352 BC it was united with the Macedonian kingdom, under Philip II. The city became a place where major battles occured between the Macedonian Greeks and the Romans. Although Philip V of Macedon and his son Perseus tried to defend the city, it eventually fell under the Romans in 168 BC.

In the early Byzantine era the region was conquered by many intruders: Goths (396), Huns (447), Slavs (577), Bulgarians (976-1025), Normans (1081), Catalonians (1309–1311) and in 1204 by the Franks, while for a short period it became part of the Despotate of Epirus. The city's current name first appeared in the early 12th century, in Anna Comnena's Alexiad. It was conquered by the Ottomans in 1393, and after an extended period of decline it became an important industrial center, with renouned industries producing woolen textiles and leather goods.

The city also became an important intellectual center for a long time during Ottoman dominion (1543-1854), where famous personalities, like Dionysios the Philosopher, received a great reputation. In the mid 16th century the Ottomans built the Koursoum mosque in Trikala for the growing Muslim population. It was built by Sinan Pasha who also designed the famous Blue Mosque in Istanbul. On the 23rd of August, 1881 the city regained Greek sovereignity along with the rest of Thessaly, following a treaty signed in Constantinople between the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Greece.

Elati and Pertouli
To this day Elati and Pertouli remain one of the oldest and most beautiful mountain resorts in Greece, where one can find a variaty of accomodation choices and plenty of traditional taverns to suit all needs.

A south Pindos escape
Built on the slopes of Mt Koziakas, the oblong mountain of the southern part of the Pindos, the picturesque villages of Elati and Pertouli are a major attraction of the wider area, not to mention a top winter destination throughout the country.

Elati
It is the largest mountainous village of the district of Trikala and the most touristic of them all. If you are into winter sports or relaxation in the midst of the mountain, Elati is the place for you. At a distance of only 34km from the city of Trikala and perched on the slopes of Mt Koziakas at an altitude of 950m, the village offers all the joys and benefits of a mountain holiday.

The gorgeousness of the landscapes all around the village, the scrumptious traditional cuisine of its tavernas, combined with loads of snow in the winter and freshness in the summer, makes Elati a place no less attractive than any famous destination in the Alps.

Pertouli
At 54km from the city of Trikala and 1.090m high on the slopes of Mt Koziakas, Pertouli is one more fascinating village built in an amphitheatre shape among thick woods, green fields and running waters. Once a meeting point for the farmers of the area, it is now a winter destination that stands out for its scenic houses with the red-tiled or stone roofs, its ski resort, and its excellent tourist infrastructure.

Only 5km out of the village, bushes and grass take over the fir forest to form the Pertouli Fields, ran by the river of Petrouliotiko, with a rich fauna and flora residing in and by its meandering water body. Watch horses canter by, cows graze lazily, and deer and roe deer pass by, while you’ll be on your favourite mountain activity or enjoying a picnic by brooks and ponds. It’s these fields you need to cross if you want to get to the refuge "Chatzipetros", at 1.738m.

Sarakatsanaioi, the nomadic shepherds of the Greek mainland who are originated from all around the Pindos mountain range but may live the world across, meet here on their international annual meeting every May.

Nearby villages
The whole area is full of gorgeous little villages, all rich with traditions and mouthwatering gastronomy. Among them, visit Dessi, Pyrra, and the area of Aspropotamos, where the river Acheloos springs. Doliana is the village with the 18th century monastery of the Holy Cross, known for its 13 domes. Last but not least, don’t forget to visit one of the most important Byzantine monuments throughout the country, the church of Porta Panagia with the famous mosaics of Christ and Virgin Mary. It is situated in the village of Pyli, where one can go through a stone bridge, the second biggest in the whole region of Thessaly. It was built in 1514 and it used to be the only passage from the plain of Thessaly to South Pindos and Arta until fairly recently.

Great Meteoron Monastery
The Holy Monastery of Great Meteoro (Transfiguration of Jesus) is the biggest and oldest one of all, dating back to the 14th century. It was called the monastery that was "suspended in the air" (meteoro), because of the formation of the gigantic rock on top of which it was built.

The Great Meteoro Monastery was founded by Saint Athanasios the Meteorite who was the first founder of the monastery and the organizer of the systematic koenovion. For this reason, the foundation of this monastery is considered to be a turning point, or even better, the beginning of the organized monastisicm in Holy Meteora. Hosios Athanasios was born around 1302 in the medieval town of New Patras, today’s Hypati and his lay name was Andronikos.

The main cathedral in the central courtyard is embellished with beautiful 16th century frescoes. Take time to gaze at the artistic details of some of the best samples of Greek Byzantine art and then rush to the museum, where historical codices and religious icons of high value are on display. Once you’ve reached the summit, a rewarding view awaits you and the monastery calls for exploration.

In the monastery the visitor can still visit and admire the Sacristy as well as the manuscript and the New-martyrs halls (previously a nursing home and hospital) and the hall of Coloured Historical Lithographies of the years 1913-23 and 1940-41.

Take a look inside the old refectory of the monks, where part of an original 16th century table is preserved, with the original cutleries on it. Don’t forget to take a glance at the monastery’s old kitchen on your way out, still black with smoke, with the original bread oven and soup hearth.

If you want to learn more of the myths and history of the first and most important monastery in Meteora, join Meteora Half-Day Tour! They will ensure that you won’t miss a thing!

Visiting hours and days:
The monastery is open from 09:00 to 17:00.
It is closed on Tuesdays.

20/06/2015

Hydra, built in the shape of an amphitheatre on a slope overlooking the Argosaronic gulf, is one of the most romantic destinations in Greece. Traditional stone mansions, narrow cobblestoned streets, secluded squares and above all the banning of cars and the use of around 500 donkeys as means of public transportation, explain the reason why Hydra preserved its distinctive atmosphere through the passage of time. The island experienced exceptional economic growth in the past thanks to its great naval and commercial activity. The Hydriots contributed significantly also to the 1821 War of Independence as their powerful fleet participated in crucial sea battles. It is rather impressive the fact that such a tiny island is the birthplace of five Greek Prime Ministers!

Lavish stone mansions owned by important families (Voulgaris, Kountouriotis, Tombazis, Kriezis, Bountouris etc), and built by Italian artisans reveal the wealth that experienced the island in the past. Today most of these mansions house the island’s museums. 300 churches and 6 monasteries spread around the island as well as the cannons and the statues of the Independence War heroes still standing at the balconies of the islands create a romantic mosaic.
As you walk along the waterfront, the heart of the town, you encounter monuments, churches, canons, museums, old mansions, statues of famous heroes, the old gunpowder store, shops and cafes, while picturesque winding streets lead you to neighborhoods located at the upper part of the town, as well as to the old neighborhood of Kiafas.
Hydra is also a yachting paradise, as every summer groups of sailing boats moor at the harbour, where they are joined by dozens of sensational motorboats and yachts. It’s worth mentioning that Hydra became famous all over the world thanks to the film “Boy on a Dolphin”, shot on the island in 1957 with Sophia Loren leading the starring role.
Visit the island’s museums to take in a little history:
• Historical archive-Museum of Hydra: It showcases rare archive material related to the history, tradition and culture of the island from 1708-1865. It includes an Archive Section, the Museum Section, and the Library.
• Ecclesiastical and Byzantine Museum: Housed in the old Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, it houses vestments, holy vessels, elaborately decorated gospel and icons, mainly from the 18th century.
• Annex to the National Historical Museum: The house of Lazaros Kountouriotis operates as an annex of the National Historical Museum. It was donated to the National and Ethnological Society of Greece in 1979 by Kountouriotis' descendents.
• Museum of Post-Byzantine Art and History of Hydra: Housed in the mansion of Georgios Kountouriotis, the museum exhibits personal artifacts of the Kountouriotis family, as well as exhibits from the modern history of the island.
Explore the island’s beaches:
• Mandráki: During the War of Independence it was used as a harbour but today it is an organised beach with excellent water sport facilities.
• Bísti: A pebbly beach, where Hydra Diving Centre organises water sport activities such as diving and kayaking.
• Vlychós: A beach covered with pebbles at Vlychos holiday resort.
• Spiliá: Ideal for tan-seeking sunbathers.
• Limnióniza: Many people consider it as the most beautiful beach on the island, probably because it takes two hours hiking in order to reach it, and enjoy a swim in its turquoise water!
• Hydronéta: This beach, which lies directly beneath the cannons, has cement decks suitable for sunbathing.
• Ayios Nikolaos: A sandy beach, on the west of the island. Access is only possible by water taxi.
Getting there
• By flying dolphin
There are flying dolphins departing daily from the port of Piraeus (app. 1h and 30 min.)
• By helicopter!
There is a flat area close to town of Hydra, which is used as a place for helicopters to land and take off. Air Heli, based in Porto Heli, also has air transport links to Hydra (tel. 0030 210 3601600).
The long, narrow island of Hydra, just 37 nautical miles from Athens in the Argo-Saronic Gulf, is both cosmopolitan and tranquil. Donkeys and boats are the only form of transport as laws prohibit automobiles (except for a few small garbage trucks), mopeds, and even bicycles. Due to the island’s status as a national historic monument, strict building laws also regulate development, protecting Hydra’s traditional architectural style and enhancing its old-world charm.
Hydra’s municipality covers 72 square kilometers. The main town is built amphitheatrically around the island’s main harbor, lined with large and small yachts, as well as traditional caicques, or fishing boats. Shops, hotels, cafes, and tavernas line the port, while cobblestone streets and alleyways wind along the coast and climb the steep, rocky hillsides, leading to the island’s various neighborhoods and villages.
Though Hydra has a year-round population of less than 2000 (per 2011 census), which can swell to 6000 over the summer, the interior is nearly uninhabited. Fires burned through this once densely forested area in 2007, destroying trees and other vegetation covering nearly one-third of the island.
Reminiscent of Hydra’s proud past, the architecture of the main town is extraordinary. Mingled among the islanders’ cascading whitewashed homes, with their brightly colored windows, stately, gray-stone mansions, built in the eighteenth century by wealthy merchants and ship owners in the Venetian style, watch over the main harbor. Many of the Hydra island mansions have been faithfully restored, and several house museums or galleries and are open to the public.
Despite the island’s rich history as an eighteenth and nineteenth-century naval and commercial power, Hydra’s economy today depends primarily on tourism and fishing. In the late 1950s, artists and writers, such as Canadian singer Leonard Cohen and novelist Henry Miller, started coming to Hydra. Since it has served as the setting for numerous movies and novels, as well as a destination or residence for artists and intellectuals, both Greek and foreign.
Local traditions remain very much a part of the fabric of life on Hydra, with religious celebrations dotting the calendar. As Hydriots take particular pride in the role their ancestors played during the 1821 Greek War of Independence, each June, the island also hosts a spectacular commemoration of Hydriot Admiral Miaoulis’s battle against the Turks, bringing Greeks from all over the country for a weekend of festivities, a naval reenactment, and fireworks. …Because its fleet was the body of the marine war during the Greek War of Independence in 1821, as it is still witnessed by the castle, the canons and the representation of the important marine battles and victories that still exist in the town of Hydra and on the entire island.
The sea around Hydra is deep, clear, and cool. Most of Hydra’s swimming areas are located on the rocks lining the island’s coast, though there are a few sand or pebble beaches. The main bathing areas in Hydra Town include Spilia and Hydronetta, and Avlaki’s swimming platform and Kamini’s pebble beach are another five to fifteen minutes respectively along the coast road heading toward Vlichos, another pebble beach with umbrellas, and Vlichos Plakes, a sand beach. Heading along the coast road in the opposite direction from Hydra Harbor will take you to Mandraki. Other beaches include Molos, Bisti, and Agios Nicolaus, reachable by boats leaving hourly from the Hydra’s main port.
Though the name Hydra means ‘water’ and refers to ancient springs that once provided the island’s water source, these days just about all water is imported, and those who don’t have private cisternas (wells for trapping rainwater) mostly drink bottled water. For this reason, Hydra is a particularly arid island, and any farming and animal husbandry are generally limited to family concerns.

On a visit to Hydra, soak up the island’s rich history and culture by visiting the island’s mansions, museums, galleries, churches, and monasteries. Wander the quaint and charming cobblestone streets past brightly colored doors framed with brilliant bougainvillea or plumbago, stroll the road along the coast with its stunning Mediterranean views, or hike the island’s rural trails, past pine trees and olive groves, shepherds herding sheep, and donkeys grazing patiently in the fields. Browse the boutiques and gold shops and admire the yachts moored in Hydra’s bustling port. Enjoy a quiet, traditional taverna meal in one of the neighboring villages. Have a night out on the town, dining in one of Hydra’s restaurants, then partaking in the active nightlife on the Port.