Getting from Alonissos to Hydra

If you are heading to Hydra from Alonissos you are making your way from the most remote of the Sporades group to one of the most immediately compelling islands in Greece, a car-free island in the Saronic Gulf with elegant stone mansions, exceptionally clear water and a quality of silence unlike anywhere else within easy reach of Athens.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Alonissos to Hydra. The two islands are in completely different parts of Greece with no sea connection between them. Getting there means taking the ferry from Alonissos to Skiathos, flying to Athens and then taking the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Hydra, which takes around 1 hour 5 minutes to 2 hours with up to 12 daily crossings year-round. Alternatively, take the ferry from Alonissos to Volos and drive to Piraeus for the Saronic ferry.

Getting there by air

Hydra has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Alonissos has no airport either. Taking the ferry from Alonissos to Skiathos, flying to Athens and then taking the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Hydra gives a total journey time of around 5 to 6 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the ferry from Alonissos to Skiathos, fly to Athens and take the Saronic ferry from Piraeus to Hydra. The arrival into Hydra port, with the mansions rising above the waterfront and the donkeys waiting on the quayside, is one of the best in Greece. Note that Hydra is car-free so no vehicles can be taken to the island.