Getting from Andros to Hydra

If you are heading to Hydra from Andros you are making your way from the northernmost island in the Cyclades 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 Andros to Hydra. Getting there means taking the ferry from Andros to Rafina, which runs up to 11 times daily and takes around 1 to 2 hours, making your way to Piraeus and then boarding 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.

Getting there by air

Hydra has no airport. The nearest airport is Athens. Andros has no airport either. Taking the ferry from Andros to Rafina, 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 Andros to Rafina, 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.