The Best Hotels and Airbnbs in Hydra, From Charming Boutique Stays to Old Stone Homes (2024)

Despite Hydra’s cosmopolitan élan and close proximity from Athens, the best hotels in Hydra still remain blithely elemental. The timeless charm of the island unfurls around its historic port and weaves its way through narrow cobblestone streets where the absence of cars helps preserve the island’s slow and peaceful rhythm.

Vogue’s Guide to the Best Hotels and Airbnbs in Hydra:

• For the Creative Couple: Hotel Miranda
• For an Intimate Boutique Hotel: Bratsera Boutique Hotel
• For a Luxe Beach Resort: Mandraki Beach Resort
• For a Charming Home Away Home: Historical Stone Manor-Ground floor
• For Rooftop Meals With Impeccable Views: Villa Francesca

Hydra’s tranquil pace has inspired artists and writers who have long descended on its shores, often creating a home for themselves in some of Hydra’s most iconic guest house hotels, like Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant of Coperni, who had long vacationed on the island before choosing it as their wedding location. Today, the idyllic Aegean hamlet has become a favored destination amongst the fashion set for those same reasons; evidence of this is the seasonal arrival of fashion brands popping up on the island each summer. This season, By Malene Birger will be activating their high summer pop-up at Melisses Gallery from June through August, where they will be selling their collection, alongside special collaborations with various local curators and artists who reside on the island, such as Josh Hickey of Hydra Book Club, ceramicist Vittoria Berardinone of Potteryinhydra, artist Tom Powell and Rafalias, the local pharmacy dating back to 1890 known for their olive oil soaps.

Given Hydra is a bolthole for the art world as well, fashion lovers and contemporary art enthusiasts should make time to visit to Deste’s Hydra Slaughterhouse Project—part of the Deste Foundation which was established in 1983 by art collector Dakis Joannou (“deste” meaning “look” in Greek). Occupying an old slaughterhouse since 2009, visitors during the summer season—June through October—can attend site-specific art exhibitions of solo and group artists; previous installations brought Jeff Koons, Urs Fischer, and Kara Walker to the island.

Accessing Hydra and getting to experience the island and its medley of charming boutique stays is as easy as taking a one hour ferry from Athens port or booking a private transfer with beloved yachting brand Cyanos. No matter how you choose to arrive, you’ll have plenty of idyllic hotels to choose from.

Below, our favorite hotels and airbnbs to live like a local on the Greek island of Hydra.

Hotels

Located on the main street that connects the harbor with Kala Pigadia, Miranda Hotel is set in an old mansion in Hydra, originally built in 1810 as a wealthy sea captain's mansion. Since transforming into a 14-room boutique hotel in 1961, it has hosted a rotation of politicians, artists, actors and writers throughout the years and is one of the most beloved hotels on the island for its warm homespun atmosphere, characterized by the 18th and 19th-century furniture, antiques, and paintings by famous Greek artists.

• Amenities: Breakfast
• Address: Miaouli 454, Idra 180 40, Greece

At the core of Four Seasons Hydra rests a centuries-old stone mansion situated on a sprawling property that sits between mountain and sea. The eight room boutique hotel also features a taverna restaurant open for all three meals beneath the shade of a pergola on an elevated location overlooking the property’s own secluded beach. When guests are ready to explore the island, the port of Hydra is located close by and reachable for free via the hotel’s own boat.

• Amenities: Private beach, restaurant, bar
• Address: Plakes Vlychos, Idra 180 40, Greece

Originally a sponge factory in 1860, Brastera was thoughtfully restored into a boutique hotel. Its name represents the place where fishing fleets once embarked on sponge harvesting expeditions. Today, the 25 ethereally-designed rooms surround the central garden with a pool, an enticing novelty for a hotel based in the heart of Hydra’s old town.

• Amenities: Pool, restaurant, pet friendly
• Address: Hydra 180 40, Greece

Opened in 2023 on the only sandy beach in Hydra as one of the first luxury resorts of its kind on the island of Hydra, Mandraki Beach Resort is situated just a brief 3-minute sea taxi ride from the port and occupies a meticulously renovated historic building composing 17 contemporary luxury suites with terraces and private pools and a Greek restaurant.

• Amenities: Private beach, restaurant, bar
• Address: Mandraki Bay, Idra 180 40, Greece

The Orloff house, optimally located on the west side of the port and just a five minute walk from the pier, underwent a thorough restoration in 2022 after it initially opened as a hotel in 1986. Today, the property features six modern rooms, two suites and various common spaces, patios, courtyards, and a garden. Each of the accommodations is decorated with full respect to the original structure of the home with high ceilings and large windows with traditional blue window frames that maintain a cozy atmosphere.

• Amenities: Breakfast
• Address: 9, Rafalia street, Idra 180 40, Greece

Airbnbs

This tastefully decorated stone home in the quiet Bouagia neighborhood, just a 15-minute walk from the port was designed by two award-winning Greek architects. The two-storey house consists of two separate buildings, each with high ceilings, connected via a beautiful bougainvillea-filled courtyard with an idyllic outdoor dining area.

• Bedrooms: 3
• Amenities: Washer & dryer, private patio, AC, wifi, crib
• Location: In Bouagia

Unlike most homes on the island, there are no stairs required to access this stylishly designed home in the Kala Pigadia neighborhood, which in itself is an enticing reason to book. The house is split between two floors connected by an external staircase. The ground floor is composed of an open plan kitchen, a dining room, a spacious living room with a patio view and a bathroom, while the upper level features the master bedroom with high ceilings and a second bedroom with antique brass beds. The serene nature of the home extends into its outdoor areas, from a patio whose al fresco dining area is shaded beneath olive and lemon trees, to a private yard and terrace that features four sunbeds for taking in the views in the evening.

• Bedrooms: 2
• Amenities: Washer, AC, wifi, private patio, pet friendly
• Location: In Kala Pigadia

While the magical view house, located in a quiet hillside just a 10-minute walk from the port, is comfortably furnished and adequately equipped with all the essentials, the view–as the name would suggest–is its main draw. Watching the sunset from the large outdoor terrace is a memorable highlight for most guests and there’s also a smaller terrace on the first level, in which guests can read under the shade of a fruit tree or take in their morning coffee. For guests requiring a bit of privacy from the group, there’s a third bedroom situated in the intimate red cottage in the garden, which was just recently renovated with A/C and its own private bathroom.

• Bedrooms: 3
• Amenities: Washer, AC, private patios, Pack ’n play/travel crib & kids toys, WiFi, waterfront, shared beach access
• Location: in Kamini

This historical stone manor in the old city of Kiafa, a 15-minute walk from the port, is situated in a 16th-century palatial complex that has hosted famous guests such as Leonard Cohen and Jackie Kennedy-Onassis. It is split into two listings (ground floor and first floor) of which you can inquire about booking them together. The ground floor listing features two bedrooms and two bathrooms with a fully equipped kitchen, boasting Italian design and premium SMEG appliances, with an adjoining dining room. In the spacious living room, you’ll find both a fireplace and a wood oven, creating a cozy ambiance, while outside a meticulously landscaped garden offers panoramic sea views of which you can enjoy from the various dining and lounging areas beneath two pergolas.

• Bedrooms: 2
• Amenities: Washer, WiFi, outdoor dining area
• Location: In Kiafa

Villa Francesca is ideal for larger groups, boasting a spacious and well-designed layout that includes the three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a grand living room with a cozy fireplace and a sleeping alcove perfect for children. Additionally, there’s a generously-sized kitchen with a dining area, along with three distinct terraces, including one with a large dining table that caters to 12 guests, a tranquil jasmine and wisteria-shaded terrace featuring a hammock and an open-air terrace adjacent to the living room that offers unobstructed views to the west towards the islands of Dokos and Spetses.

• Bedrooms: 4
• Amenities: Beach access/beachfront, WiFi, washer, window A/C unit, patio
• Location: In Kamini

This traditional stone house overlooking the small picturesque Kamini port features a comfortable living room with a stone fireplace, an open-plan kitchen equipped with porcelain dinnerware and two bedrooms with king-sized beds and spacious built-in closets. The stone-lined terrace hosts some of the best sunset views on the island. While the home is a scenic 20-minute walk to the center of Hydra (on a stone-paved, no car walkway), guests can also opt for a 3-minute water taxi ride that will pick you up and drop you off at the foot of the property.

• Bedrooms: 2
• Amenities: Shared beach access, private patio, washer, wifi, Pack ’n play/travel crib
• Location: In Kamini