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Journal
The Hydra Travel Guide
“It was as if everyone was young and beautiful and full of talent – covered with a kind of gold dust. Everybody had special and unique qualities. This is, of course, the feeling of youth, but in the glorious setting of Hydra, all these qualities were magnified.”
A quote from the beloved songwriter and poet, Leonard Cohen, who spent many of his summers throughout the 1960s renting a quaint vacation home on the rustic Greek island of Hydra, along with his muse Marianne Ihlen. But Leonard Cohen wasn’t the only one who found solace in the rustic Greek island, as it was also a beloved holiday destination for Jackie Kennedy O’Nassis, Brigette Bardot and John Lennon.
Despite its glamorous travellers, Hydra has remained a relatively untouched gem of the Aegean Sea, with stone-paved roads free from motorised transportation, charming local tavernas and bars, rustic coves with pine-scented trees and authentic Greek architecture. Serving as the inspiration for our Summer 2025 collection, ‘Letters From Hydra,’ discover our creative team’s bespoke guide to visiting the island as they brought the campaign to life.
How to access the island
You may only reach the island by ferry, departing from the port of Piraeus in Athens and a few areas in the Peloponnese. Once you have arrived, note that there are no cars or motorised transportation. Most travellers will experience the island by foot or explore local coves and beach taverns by boat or water taxi.
Where to stay
Once a historic stone building from the 18th century, first built as a home in 1798, has since been carefully restored into a boutique hotel – effortlessly blending a sense of elegance with rustic Greek charm.
First a sponge factory established in 1860, this space has been thoughtfully restored, respecting its previous architectural design, and transformed into a boutique hotel with unique charm and surrounded by lush green gardens.
For a tranquil experience, this family-run luxury boutique hotel is set in a traditional Hydriot mansion but offers clean white lines, light airy rooms and elegant decor. While a few steps away from the main port, from the moment you step inside you are swept into a private oasis.
Embracing the natural stone buildings of Hydra, FOS Residence builds on this and embraces the rustic charm of the island in its decor – with local artworks, playful colours, checked flooring and quaint rooms overlooking the red rooftops of the surrounding town.
Where to find the best beach bars
While Hydra isn’t quite like that of Mykonos and Ios, if you’re looking for the perfect spot to drink cocktails late into the evening, there is no better beach club to covet. Only a stone’s throw from the ocean, you can watch the sun set over the horizon with a seasonal spritz in hand.
A cliff-side bar and restaurant with panoramic views of the island, settle in here for late afternoon and sunset drinks. (We’d recommend the pina colada). You can also climb down the steps into the ocean if you need a cool-off dip.
Another cliffside bar that opens later in the day for cocktails and drinks. They have also recently introduced a new series, Sundown Sessions, where Greek DJs and musicians take over the space during sunset. You might even recognise the spot from vintage references of the 1957 film ‘Boy of a Dolphin’ with Sophia Loren, as they captured a few scenes here.
Tucked further into the town rather than beachside, this all day bar (and cafe) is the perfect lunchtime spot. Snack on fresh Grecian horderves and ask your server for their best wine recommendation.
Where to dine
For a soulful, Italian dinner, this is the best spot for South Italian-inspired homemade pastas, classic bruschettas and one of the best tiramisus.
A family-led Greek taverna, run by chef Giorgos Saitis who learned under his father. They’re most beloved for their traditional meats, sourced from local suppliers, but also their typical Greek dishes like their moussakade and tzatziki. Quaint and located right in town, it’s the perfect spot for casual dinner.
For a more luxurious experience, this oceanside spot is an award-winning restaurant with fresh flavourful seafood on offer – most notably their seabass ceviche, octopus carpaccio and seafood arancini – which is hand delivered by local fisherman every morning.
Located just above the port, overlooking the sea and rocks, their menu blends contemporary Mediterranean cuisine with local seafood for a relaxed dinner.
Tassie's Tavern at the Four Seasons
Set amongst the pine trees right on secluded beach and part of the Four Seasons Hydra, the menu is authentic Greek cuisine with a local wine list. It also follows the recipes of Anastasia “Tassia” Rampias, one of the last great cooking maidens of the island.
Rustic and traditional, this village haunt sits beneath vibrant purple bougainvilleas with a tasting menu of authentic Greek dishes – grilled octopus xinato, keftedákia and shots of anise-flavoured aperitif. Serving plates have also been decorated by previous customers including Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood.
There is one dish you must try before you leave the island and that is the famous Pirofani Salad, only available at Pirofani restaurant. Opened in 1994 by Theo Triantafillou, the restaurant offers both Greek and international dishes, but the Pirofani Salad is what brings travellers in. Lettuce topped with fried bacon and Manouri cheese, drizzled with a mustard vinaigrette dressing.
Where to swim
Kamini Beach & Harbour
A short walk from the main harbour, passing Avlaki Bay along the way, this beach is known locally as ‘baby beach,’ as it’s a small cove best for relaxing on the Greek rocks and floating in the ocean.
While somewhere you might covet in the evening, Spilia Beach Club is also a relaxed daytime spot where you can laze on one of the daybeds under the straw umbrellas overlooking the ocean and dine on fresh salmon poke bowls. Stone steps also wind down into the sea when you need a quick dip.
Hydronetta Beach
The beach below Hydronetta Bar, this spot is designed mostly for swimming and snorkelling. While there’s limited places to relax with short platforms and rocky cliffs, it’s worth it for the crystal blue water. It’s why so many locals refer to it as the ‘Blue Cave.’
Where to explore
Rent a boat for the day
One of the best ways to explore the island and its magical coves is by renting a local boat. If someone you’re travelling with already has a license you can charter a small speed boat yourselves or you can opt for a skipper who can also help you tour the best spots.
Hike to Mandraki Bay
The hike to Mandraki Bay is a beautiful one that starts at the eastern end of the town’s harbour and follows the coast, passing small coves along the way. It’s considered to be a relatively easy route so even if you aren’t partial to a hike, it’s one you can complete in a few hours. Mandraki Bay is also the only sandy beach on the island, so you can cool off after in the turquoise waters.
Visit the Church of The Assumption
Considered to be the centre of the main town, this is one of the most (if not, the most) important landmarks on the island and was once a women-only monastery and a meeting spot for liberation fighters during the Greek War of Independence. Now, it is open to the public as a museum of art with a three-domed basilica and two bell towers, both built back in the 1800s.