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Why you should swap Santorini and Mykonos for this peaceful Greek island instead

Why you should swap Santorini and Mykonos for this peaceful Greek island instead

Independent12-05-2025
Stepping off the catamaran onto Hydra's ancient harbour feels like entering a living painting – an island caught between myth and a Mediterranean daydream. Unlike the high-energy crowds of Santorini or Mykonos, Hydra is calm, considered and blissfully car-free. On this diminutive island just 75 minutes from Athens, donkeys transport visitors' luggage, fishermen sit quayside mending their nets, and the island soundtrack features the gentle sound of water lapping the shore and the rhythmic clopping of hooves. This Saronic Island jewel delivers the charm of the Cyclades, without the chaos and crowds.
Even on my fourth visit, Hydra still waves her magic wand. I don't think I will ever tire of her hidden coves, whitewashed alleyways leading to bougainvillea-bright courtyards and the proud Neoclassical mansions standing testament to the island's naval history.
Hydra's magic is both aesthetic and visceral. A preservation order bans motor vehicles – only an ambulance, fire truck and refuse lorry are permitted. No motorbikes either. All goods, from groceries, building materials and household supplies, are transported by donkeys and mules.
The island is not just quaint; it's transformative. Hydra has the largest herd of working equines in the world, and the absence of engines lends a softness to life. Animals are relaxed, people are unhurried. Even the cats – Hydra is full of them – are mellow and happy to saunter over for a scratch rather than dash away.
With no traffic noise to contend with, the peacefulness seeps into your soul. I found myself breathing deeper, moving more slowly and absorbing Hydra's rare, undisturbed energy.
Artists have long been drawn to its shores, from Leonard Cohen, who lived here and whose song 'Bird on the Wire' was said to be inspired by the island, to Jeff Koons, whose 2022 exhibition transformed the Deste Foundation Project Space Slaughterhouse into a sunlit shrine to Apollo. This edgy, seasonal art venue is perched dramatically above the sea, crowned by a massive bronze and copper alloy sun.
For a more traditional side of history, visit the Historical Archive Museum of Hydra near the port. Inside its handsome Neoclassical mansion, I enjoyed the naval paintings and intricate ship models, and pored over handwritten letters that tell the story of Hydra's vital role in the Greek War of Independence.
While the port's charms are undeniable, Hydra invites you to explore further. You can saddle up and ride a horse through olive groves, past centuries-old chapels – there are over 300 to discover dotted across the island. You could also charter a boat to circle the island and discover secluded beaches only accessible by sea, or cross to nearby Dokos island to dive among ancient shipwrecks and underwater cliffs.
For a taster of authentic island life, try traditional line fishing experiences aboard wooden caiques run by local fishermen whose families have worked these waters for generations.
As travel fever once again grips popular Greek islands such as Santorini and Mykonos, Hydra offers a compelling alternative. No airport chaos, no hours-long ferry rides, no jostling for the perfect sunset snap. Ferries are expensive throughout Greece, and the 75-minute catamaran ride from Athens to Hydra is no exception, starting from €60 (£50) return. But then you are there, in a place that feels both preserved and alive, chic yet authentic.
Whether you're swimming beneath ancient cliffs, sipping wine on a sand-speckled terrace, exploring bold art installations, or simply watching the sunset from the harbour, Hydra has a way of making you slow down, breathe deeper and stay longer.
Yes, Mykonos has pulsing beach clubs and Santorini has its famous sunsets – but Hydra has soul. And that is the Greek island escape I'm chasing.
How to do it
Where to stay
The five-star Mandraki Beach Resort (from €280 per night) is set on Hydra's only sandy beach. Tucked into Mandraki bay – a 10-minute water taxi ride from the harbour, transfers provided until 11pm – this former 19th-century shipbuilding yard has been reimagined into a unique escape with just 17 suites decked out with natural materials, original stone archways and soft linens. The real treat is Captain M, the resort's open-air restaurant, where dishes such as cauliflower couscous salad and seabream with creamed potatoes are seasonal and rooted in Greek tradition with playful modern twists. I enjoyed dinner with a chilled glass of assyrtiko as the sun set over the Peloponnese.
Easyjet flies from London Gatwick to Athens from £90 return; catch the 75-minute catamaran from Athens to Hydra, from €60 (£50) return.
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17 of the best hotels with swim-up rooms in Turkey
17 of the best hotels with swim-up rooms in Turkey

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17 of the best hotels with swim-up rooms in Turkey

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I've found Europe's best sleeper train — and at just £62 you'll need to be quick
I've found Europe's best sleeper train — and at just £62 you'll need to be quick

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I've found Europe's best sleeper train — and at just £62 you'll need to be quick

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Amanda Holden pokes fun at daughter Lexi, 18, sharing a steamy smooch with her boyfriend on family holiday
Amanda Holden pokes fun at daughter Lexi, 18, sharing a steamy smooch with her boyfriend on family holiday

Daily Mail​

time8 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Amanda Holden pokes fun at daughter Lexi, 18, sharing a steamy smooch with her boyfriend on family holiday

Amanda Holden poked fun at her daughter Lexi sharing a steamy smooch with her boyfriend on their family holiday in Greece on Wednesday. Lexi, 18, posted the PDA-filled snap on her Instagram of the pair kissing during a luxury boat trip. It sparked Amanda, 54, to repost the loved-up snap on her Stories as she joked: 'Mmm I wonder what daddy will think... [laughing face emoji].' After her playful joke, the mother-of-two later expressed her love for the pair as she commented a heart emoji on Lexi's post. The lovebirds - who went Instagram official in January - rang in the New Year with her mother, father Chris Hughes and younger sister Hollie, 13, in Scotland. Amanda looked nothing short of sensational on Wednesday as she showed off her enviable figure in a yellow string bikini. The TV personality wowed fans as she struck a pose on a luxurious boat during her family holiday. In a snap shared to her Instagram Story, Amanda looked incredible in the skimpy two-piece as she posed by the steering wheel. She shielded her eyes with a pair of gold-framed sunglasses and accessorised with dainty jewellery. Amanda also re-shared a photo of the boat featuring everyone on board, with the caption: 'Captain @noholdenback.' It comes after Amanda revealed her youngest daughter Hollie, 13, has landed her first runway show, walking in London Fashion Week later this year. The radio presenter joked she is the new Kris Jenner as her two lookalike daughters are now following in her showbiz footsteps. Hollie will make her catwalk debut alongside model and university student sister Lexi, 19, who is already signed to Storm Models. When Amanda spoke with MailOnline at Claridge's hotel in London, she revealed that Hollie had 'no idea' that she had bagged her first modelling gig, as the presenter had 'literally only just heard' about it minutes before we sat down. The TV personality has been living it up on a luxurious boat during a family holiday in Greece She said: 'Lexi's good, she's sort of dipped her toe in and she's done a couple of photoshoots. She is loving university as well but what she doesn't like doing is taking time off, so I think she'll work it out but it's something she's enjoying. 'She's doing London Fashion Week again in September and we've actually just heard that Hollie is going to be doing it as well.' Amanda continued: 'It's definitely something I think Hollie is going to enjoy she's going to die when I tell her she's doing London Fashion Week this year. 'I literally just heard she got it and she's gone for the week with my mum in Cornwall so I'll have to ring her after.' She joked: 'With both girls doing it, I do feel like Kris Jenner now. We need our own reality show. Oh my god, yeah here we go, I could see that'. Despite the TV stars hopes of a family reality show, which could follow her daughter's nepo baby friends including Simon Cowell's son Eric and Alesha Dixon's daughter Azura, Amanda's daughter Lexi 'wouldn't want to be on camera'. She revealed: 'But one of my daughters would do [a TV show] but Lexi wouldn't want to be on camera, that's irony, whereas Hollie would, definitely.'

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