Hydra on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Hydra is not a cheap island, but a careful day costs about €110 per person including the ferry (bed €45, food €30, sights €5, transport €30). Day trips from Athens or stays in the upper town keep it manageable.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €45 | €95 | €250 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €110 |
| Sights & tickets | €5 | €25 | €60 |
| Local transport | €30 | €35 | €45 |
| Per person, per day | €110 | €210 | €465 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Hydra day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk around the harbour and see the cannons and the clock tower of the Monastery of the Dormition
- Swim from the rocks at Spilia and Hydronetta
- The coastal path to Kamini and on to Vlychos
- The climb to the Monastery of Profitis Ilias and the convent of Agia Efpraxia (dress modestly)
- Sunset from the harbour cannons
- Wander the car-free lanes and mansions of the upper town
Cheap eats
- Spinach or cheese pie from a bakery, about €2.50–4
- Gyros pita in the town, about €4–5
- Amygdalota (almond sweets), Hydra's speciality, a few euros a bag
- Greek salad and a shared meze at a Kamini taverna, about €8–12 a dish
- Picnic from a mini-market eaten on the rocks
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in rooms in the upper town, a few minutes' climb from the port, at about €70–120 for a double (roughly €35–60 each when sharing). There are no hostels or campsites.
Getting around cheaply
Walking is free and the only land transport. Fast ferries from Piraeus cost about €30–45 each way; driving or taking a bus to Metochi in the Peloponnese and crossing by the short ferry is cheaper if you have a car.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Harbour walk and the Monastery of the Dormition (free)
- Lunch: Bakery pie and a coffee, about €7
- Afternoon: Swim at Spilia, then walk to Kamini (free)
- Evening: Sunset at the cannons, dinner in Kamini, about €20
- Total: about €110 including a shared upper-town room and the ferry share
More ways to save
- Come in May, June or September for warm sea and lower room rates.
- Book ferries early for summer weekends to avoid paying for more expensive departures.
- Carry water when walking; kiosks at the beaches cost more.
- Have your main meal at lunch at a taverna away from the harbour.
- Bring snorkel gear for the rocks and coves.
- Pack light: luggage carried by donkey or porter costs extra.
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Common questions
Can I visit Hydra on a budget?
Yes with care: about €110 a day per person, using upper-town rooms, walking and swimming from the rocks.
Is a day trip from Athens worth it?
Yes: fast ferries make a day trip possible, though staying overnight lets you enjoy the evening once day-trippers leave.
What is free on Hydra?
The harbour, the coastal path to Kamini and Vlychos, the rock swimming spots and the walk to the monasteries.