Detailed Guide: Ferry From Athens To Hydra Island in 2025

Are you looking to add a Greek Island to your Athens itinerary? Hydra is a picture-perfect Greek Island just a quick ferry ride away from Athens’ Piraeus Port!

An ideal place to visit in one day, it promises a sweet escape from the hustle and bustle of the country’s capital city.

As an Athens local, I’ve hopped on that ferry countless times and I am here to guide you through every step for a hassle-free Hydra adventure.

Where is Hydra Located?

Never heard of Hydra? Hydra is an idyllic Greek island part of a small group of islands called the Saronic Islands!

This tiny cluster of islands is located in the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea off the Argolis peninsula on the eastern tip of the Peloponnese.

Hydra is my favorite island to make my base when visiting any of the Saronic Islands!

Here’s a fun fact about Hydra: no cars are allowed! The popular mode of transport is via donkey!

READ MORE: How You Should Spend One Day in Hydra

Transit Options to Hydra

There is no airport in Hydra, so the only way to reach the island of Hydra is by Ferry.

The ferry travel time from Athens to Hydra Island is a quick one, depending on which type of high-speed ferry, you should reach Hydra in 1 hour and 45 minutes.

On board, you can expect an assigned seat in a nice well-kept vessel! Enjoy the air-conditioned cabin and relax while cruising the Aegean Sea.

Pro Tip: If you get seasick easily, consider taking some pills for anti-nausea. There is a period of the trip when you will go ultra-fast and it can be quite bumpy.

Ferry Tickets to Hydra From Athens

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⛴️ Check Ferry Timetables & Get Tickets

Types of Ferries to Hydra

There are 2 types of ferry companies that provide service to Hydra, and honestly, it doesn’t matter which one you take.

Both ferry vessels offer the same great service. The prices will vary depending on the timetable and season you are traveling.

My advice is to book the ferry that makes sense for your schedule and budget. Most always the fastest ferry will be the more expensive one.

Ferry Operators

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The two main ferry operators that currently have routes between Athens and Hydra are Blue Star Ferries and Alpha Lines.

Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways are part of the same alliance group Attica. The ferries to Hydra are often operated by Hellenic Seaways.

IMPORTANT: I know it can be confusing if your ticket says Blue Star Ferries, but you board a Hellenic Seaways vessel.

Ferry option #2 is operated by Alpha Lines. From what I read, the better choice is Blue Star Ferries if you are looking for a more modern and comfortable boat.

Hellenic Seaways – Aero 1

I rode on the ferry, Aero 1 Highspeed, operated by Hellenic Seaways. It is a nice, modern, and clean vessel. You can purchase coffee and snacks via a vending machine.

Purchase your goodies before departure as you don’t want to be moving around when the boat is at high speed.

Blue Star Ferries & Hellenic Seaways

Even though my ferry ticket had Blue Star Ferries listed on it, it also had Hellenic Seaways.

You can look at your ticket, my ticket is pictured below, to get the information you need.

On the way back to Athens I rode back on the Flying Cat 5.

Maybe it was a calmer day at sea, but I noticed this ride was a lot smoother than my ride to Hydra.

Flying Cat 5

Where to Catch the Ferry From Piraeus Port to Hydra

The ferry to Hydra departs from the Pireaus port in Athens. The ferry gate is Gate E 8. You want to arrive at the ferry port approximately 1 hour prior to departure.

It was a little frustrating that there weren’t more signs for which ferry was which. I went to the kiosk and asked which boat I needed to board.

This is why getting there early is important, it will be less stressful if you get turned around and need to ask questions.

When visiting Athens in the summer, be prepared for the crowds. A much more pleasant time to visit Athens is in November.

Although the weather may be a little too cool to visit the islands.

Ferry Ticket Prices

Ferry ticket costs will vary on the season you book. To find the best price I recommend booking online.

You can use one of these ferry ticketing companies to see all the best prices and ferry timetables available.

The ones I recommend and use the most are:

• Ferry Hopper
• Ferries in Greece
• Ferries Direct

When To Book Your Trip to Hydra

It is best to book your ferry to Hydra as soon as you have planned the trip. I reserve my ferry as soon as I finalize my trip details.

If you aren’t visiting during high season (June, July, and August) there is more flexibility to wait, but I am just someone who likes to finalize the details as soon as I know my plans.

You don’t really want to visit Hydra between November and March. The island is open, but the museums and popular restaurants are not.

What are the Ferry Timetables to Hydra From Athens

Here are some of the timetables of ferry schedules available in the peak season to Hydra from Piraeus in 2025.

Getting to Piraeus From Athens City Center

If you are staying in central Athens, like 99% of the tourists do when they first visit Athens, you have 2 choices to reach the port.

You can take the subway if you are packing light! Or in case you have too many bags or can’t be bothered with public transport, you can take a taxi. Download the FREE Now app for taxis, it is one of the many Apps I recommend for Greece.

The metro is only going to cost you 4.20 euros for a 24-hour ticket and the best metro station to depart from is Monastiraki station.

A taxi is going to cost you a bit more, depending on where you are staying. Be advised, some taxis only take cash, so if you don’t use an app to book your taxi, ask when you enter the taxi if they take a card.

The average taxi cost is going to be around 20 Euros from the city center to the Port of Piraeus.

Athens Airport to Piraeus

If you aren’t planning for a couple of days in Athens, I recommend you book an airport transfer for when you arrive at Athens Airport.

I recommend this for two reasons. One reason is that Athens Airport is extremely busy and chaotic. Having a driver just waiting to receive you and your bags is priceless.

And the second reason is that it’s nearly the same price as a taxi, and it is nice to have it prepaid where all you have to do is show up and it’s all arranged.

How Many Days Should You Spend in Hydra?

After visiting Hydra, I would recommend you stay a minimum of 2 nights. I feel like I could have stayed another night and been really happy.

If you are on a tight schedule and are determined to visit this Greek island, you can see most of what the island has to offer in a full 6 hours.

Download my Map Below with all the pre-pinned places you don’t want to miss on the island!

Athens to Hydra Travel FAQs

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