Our Favorite Places To Stay On Hydra - The Best Hotels, VRBOs, And Airbnbs On The Beach And In Town
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Hydra is one of my favorite Greek islands to visit. I love its size- small enough to easily walk around the main town in a day but large enough to still have nook and crannies to explore even after multiple visits. And I particularly love the lack of cars on the island. It makes for a refreshing change from the sometimes overly crowded and congested other tourist sites of Greece.
Because of the lack of cars and rules about development, Hydra does not have big resort developments or large hotels. I love that it gives a local and unique flavor to every lodging because they are all small. I think Hydra is absolutely worth an overnight visit to see the island after the day-trippers leave and stay in one of these charming small hotels and bed and breakfast places. You can also find some great vacation rentals as well, mostly houses that people keep as second homes and rent when they are not using them.
To see our favorite things to do on Hydra and our favorite restaurants, check out “A 2 Day Itinerary In Hydra, Greece- All You Need To Know About This Magical, Car-free Greek Island.”
A Quick Snapshot Of Our Best Lodging Recommendations In Hydra
If you are just here for my top recommendations, then here they are:
Best Fancy Hotel In Hydra Port- Orloff Boutique Hotel
Best Value Hotel In Hydra Port- Mistral Hotel
Best Hotel In Hydra Port For Families- Phaedra Hotel
Best Beach Resort For A Couples or Wellness Retreat- Mandraki Beach Resort
Best Beach Resort For Families- Four Seasons Hydra
Best Vacation Rental For An Epic Family Vacation- Classy Villa with Wonderful View and swimming pool
Best Vacation Rental For The Price- Private holiday home - total relaxation in car-free island
Looking back at Hydra Port from the ferry. This is the largest town on the island by far and where I would look for accommodations unless you really want to get away from it all and spend most of your time on the beach.
What Part Of Hydra Is The Best To Stay In?
I would stay in Hydra Port because that’s where almost everything is located- the ferry dock, most of the restaurants, the museums, art galleries and shops, the grocery store, pharmacy, etc. You get the idea. The beach boats leave from the harbor here as do the water taxis. There are some lodgings outside Hydra Port but unless you want to get away from it all and spend most of your time on the beach, I recommend staying in the main town for easier access to restaurants and sights.
If you find a lodging located in Kamini, that is a pretty village just an easy 0.5 mile stroll along the coast from the main town of Hydra. If you find a good price, then Kamini is a good choice as well.
The other villages on Hydra, Vlychos, Mandraki, and Vlychos Plakes (or just Plakes), will be more remote and you will probably need a water taxi to get back and forth from Hydra Port. So again, unless remote is what you are looking for, you will end up spending a lot of money getting back and forth to other places on the island.
Tips For Booking Lodgings On Hydra
Because of the high number of tourists and limits on new construction, Hydra is not a bargain place for lodgings but it is well worth it to spend the night and see the place after the day-trippers leave. But it means you have to book early and expect to pay a little more than an equivalent lodging place on the mainland.
There are many lodging options in the Hydra Port, but they are mostly small, B&B-type places. It is sometimes difficult to find availability on clearing sites such as booking.com as some hotels preferentially book through their own websites and they do not always update their calendars frequently. If you see a place you love on a clearing site and it is not available, try emailing them directly. Sometimes you get lucky.
Many hotels will have a slightly cheaper price on their own website than on hotels.com or booking.com but you may not have the cancellation protection of those websites then. It’s your choice.
A few hotels may have connecting rooms that they don’t make clear on websites so if you find a place you like and would like connecting rooms because you have kids, again, email the hotel. You might find that they can do 2 rooms next to each other, which in these small places, might be the only 2 rooms on that floor.
If you have mobility issues or just hate stairs, make sure to clarify the hotel or vacation rental’s location. Most places in Hydra Port that are not super close to the waterfront will be a walk uphill with luggage (or a donkey rental). But the farther away you go from the waterfront, the quieter it will be as well, so it’s a trade-off.
Our Favorite Hotels On Hydra
*This is our personal list of places that we have stayed in previously, that were recommended by friends we trust, or that we have marked as possibilities for future visits. We do not accept sponsored stays but some of these links are affiliate links, please see Disclosures for a full explanation.
Best Hotels In Hydra Port
*Many of the rooms in these hotels sleep only 1-2 people like many typical European hotel rooms, but if there is a room that sleeps 4, I will make a note. If you need larger rooms, see below “Best Hotels For Families.”
Hotel Leto Hydra One of the larger hotels on Hydra, this is a more modern hotel that claims 5 star luxury with a minimalist approach to furniture - all white and natural wood. Most of the rooms are 2 person (either a King or 2 twins) and some have lovely private balconies- I would definitely splurge for one of these. They do have connecting rooms available that can sleep 4.
Orloff Boutique Hotel A historic building named for the Russian noble sent to help the Greeks against the Ottoman Empire, this is a small hotel with not many rooms but has several small, private courtyards and garden areas. It has been beautifully decorated in the classic Greek scheme of blue and white with lovely antiques. It really fits in with the building’s history. All of the hotel rooms are 2 person but the Premium Suite can sleep 4 as they have twin beds in a loft area. The Orloff also has 4 luxury suites in a nearby building that include dining areas and kitchens but still only sleep 2. The Orloff in general gets rave review for its service and attention to detail. Breakfast is included.
Miranda Hotel In a great location just a 2 minute walk from the harbour, this hotel is in an old sea captain’s house and has many of the charming architectural elements of the older Hydra houses. Rooms are small and the bathrooms could do with a bit of an update but everything is clean and the staff are nice. Breakfast is included. Per usual, most of the rooms are 2 person but they have a 2 bedroom suite on the top floor that has a wonderful terrace overlooking the town and the harbour. There is another 2 bedroom suite on the ground level but definitely go for the sea view!
Cotommatae Hydra 1810 Yet another historic hotel in a former sea captain’s mansion, this beautiful hotel has 63 5-star reviews on Google which is hard to do. It says something about the quality of the hotel and its staff. Most of the rooms are 2 person but there is a 4 person family suite (Sfouugaria/ “Sponges”) with a private garden. For couples, I would definitely go for the romantic Peristeronas (or “Pigeons”) Suite which has a private hot tub in a walled courtyard. The suite is named as such because pigeons mate for life- so they obviously have couples in mind for this one. Breakfast is included.
I loved the bougainvillea everywhere in Hydra and all of the hotel entrances tucked into little side alleys, like this one for the Hotel Miranda. Between that and the whitewashed buildings, it was so perfectly Greek and so charming.
Best Hotels On Hydra For Families
Phaedra Hotel This hotel has 2, 3, and 4 person rooms and suites. The 2 BR “Athena & Artemis” suite has a double bed and 2 singles as well as a beautiful private balcony. Go for this one if possible. Each room has a fridge and electric kettle. Breakfast is included. There is a 2 night minimum.
Mistral Hotel This hotel has 2, 3, and 4 person rooms. The 4 person attic studio with kitchenette looks great for families. Connecting double rooms available on the first floor. The included breakfast buffet served in the courtyard gets rave reviews.
Hydras Chromata An aparthotel, this former house has been turned into several rental apartments. The 2 bedroom apartment can sleep 5 and is huge (1200sf). It has a full kitchen and a private patio. A great location near some good restaurants and the hosts get wonderful reviews from guests.
Best Beach Hotels
If more remote sounds appealing, check out the Four Seasons Hydra (not associated with the Four Seasons hotel chain). It is a beautiful resort in the village of Vlychos Plakes, a short boat ride or 2 mile walk from Hydra Port. It has a nice vibe, sort of a tranquil minimalist Greek style. Most rooms have a sea-view as well. Plus, there is a well regarded restaurant onsite, Tassia’s Taverna, serving traditional Greek food by the beach. And they are now including free transfers back and forth to Hydra Port with their boats at certain times of the day.
There are 2 person rooms, 4 person suites (most of these have 1 BR and 2 small bench sofas that could sleep children so not 4 adults), as well as the “Moon Suite” 2 BR split- level unit with a double bed and twin beds. Breakfast is included as is a sunbed rental. If you want to spend most of your time on the beach but also have quick access to great food, I would stay here.
Best Hotel For A Couples Retreat Or Solo Wellness Vacation
Mandraki Beach Resort A luxury 5 star hotel right on Mandraki Beach. You can find 2 person suites beautifully decorated for the utmost in quiet serenity. Some have private plunge pools but I like the Tower room with 360 degree sea views. It has a top-notch onsite restaurant as well, Captain M, described as Mediterranean fusion with a Greek emphasis. Boat transfers from Hydra Port are included as the resort is about a mile away but you can also walk there easily along the coastal path. They have private yoga instructors as well in case you ever dreamed of doing sunrise yoga on a Greek beach. I know I have.
The lovely resort Four Seasons Hydra in Vlychos Plakes. The resort has gorgeous sea view suites as well as a beach side taverna. The sunbeds on the beach are available to hotel guests and day renters. Picture courtesy of their website.
Don’t see anything you like above? Go here for a complete listing of all of the hotels and guest houses on Hydra available on your dates.
The Best Vacation Rentals On Hydra
Many of the vacation rentals in Hydra are in beautiful old homes that have inviting courtyards and old-world charm. These rentals are very popular so many have a minimum nights requirement, anywhere from 3 nights to a week or more.
If you are just coming for one night, then you are probably better off at a hotel or B&B. But if you want to spend a couple of days exploring this magical island, hiking all of its wonderful trails and finding secluded beaches by boat, then a house rental may be better. Or, if you are looking for a wonderful place for a bigger family get together, some of the larger houses for rent on Hydra are on my “win-a-million-dollars-and-spend-the-whole-summer-here” wish list.
If you are looking for what to do in Hydra, check out “A 2 Day Itinerary In Hydra, Greece- All You Need To Know About This Magical, Car-free Greek Island.”
Pretty 3 bedroom house in Hydra town close to the port, no steps, pvt courtyard is a gorgeous 2 story apartment in Hydra Town with a lovely private courtyard with table and chairs for alfresco dining or a nice morning coffee. The house can sleep 7 and comes with washer/dryer and 3 bathrooms. Excellent reviews and averages $220 a night, although in busy summer months it is more like $400 a night usually.
Private holiday home - total relaxation in car-free island This house is perfect for those looking for a little peace and quiet because it is on the outskirts of Hydra Port, up towards the mountains so it will be a bit of a walk. But the price and the reviews are great. It manages to sleeps 6 in 2 BR/1 BA but it has 1000 sq ft of space and a nice terrace. Averages $154 a night.
Classy Villa with Wonderful View and swimming pool If you are looking for something with a bit more room and a whole lot of luxury, check out this gorgeous historic 4 BR/ 4 BA villa that has a large pool (one of the few on Hydra) and a jaw-dropping view over the town. It averages about $1,000 a night, and it is a walk uphill from the harbour— but wow, a stay here would be magical.
The wonderful view (and awesome pool) at “Classy Villa With A Wonderful View” vacation rental. Picture courtesy of their VRBO site.
Booking.com has a lot of small apartments and holiday homes for rent on their website as well if you feel more comfortable renting through them. Many of them are the same as on VRBO, but it is worth checking both for price comparison or if you just like one platform over another. I use both but I tend to like the property photos better on VRBO so most often use that but that’s just me.
Final Thoughts
I hope this helps you figure where you want to stay on Hydra. Don’t forget to check out our 2 Day Itinerary In Hydra. It has all of our favorite things to do on the island, including wonderful hikes and all about the amazing beaches on Hydra. Plus, where to eat, how to get to Hydra, best time of year to go, a little of Hydra’s history, and more. I am a consummate researcher who truly enjoys knowing all the things about a place, so my travel guides tend to be excessively detailed. It annoys my family but all the better for you.
Happy Trails! - Amanda
