Is Hydra expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Hydra is one of the more expensive Saronic islands: a budget day is about €110 per person and a mid-range day about €210, including the ferry. It costs more than Aegina or Poros because the harbour is small and stylish, everything arrives by boat and there are no cars, so water taxis and donkey porters replace cheap buses.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| 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.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Fast ferry Piraeus–Hydra, one way | about €30–45 |
| Water taxi to Bisti or Agios Nikolaos beach, per boat | about €15–40 |
| Freddo espresso on the harbour | about €4–5 |
| Taverna main in the lanes above the port | about €12–20 |
| Cocktail at a harbour or rock bar | about €10–14 |
| Donkey porter with luggage from the port | roughly €10–20 |
| Rooms in the upper town, double | about €70–120 |
| Hotel near the port, double | about €130–250 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Accommodation is the main cost: upper-town rooms run about €70–120 a double, hotels near the port €130–250 and restored mansions €300–600, plus Greece's climate resilience fee per room per night. The ferry from Piraeus adds about €30–45 each way. Eating at the harbour is pricey, while tavernas in the lanes and at Kamini are better value. Sightseeing is cheap, as most of the island is walking, swimming from the rocks and small museums; water taxis are the main extra.
When it is cheaper
May, early June and late September to October are usually cheaper than July–August, often by roughly 20–40% for rooms, and midweek stays cost less than weekends, when Athenians arrive.
How to spend less
- Visit midweek: summer weekends fill with Athenian visitors and ferries sell out.
- Stay in the upper town, a few minutes' climb from the port, for lower room prices.
- Walk the coastal path to Kamini and Vlychos instead of taking water taxis.
- Swim from the free rocks at Spilia and Hydronetta rather than paying for beach clubs.
- Share water taxis to the remote beaches with other travellers, since the price is per boat.
- Buy ferry tickets in advance and compare fast ferries with the road-and-ferry route via Metochi.
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Common questions
Is Hydra expensive?
It is one of the pricier Saronic islands: about €110 a day on a budget including the ferry, and about €210 mid-range.
How much is the ferry to Hydra?
Fast ferries from Piraeus cost about €30–45 each way and take about 1.5–2 hours.
Are there taxis on Hydra?
No land taxis: water taxis run from the port, priced per boat at about €15–40 depending on distance.