Aegina vs Hydra
Aegina or Hydra? Ferry times from Athens, beaches, prices and crowds compared side by side, with a straight answer on which of the two suits your trip.
Aegina
FamilyAegina (pronounced "EH-yee-na" in Greek, not "ay-JEE-na") is one of the islands Athenians travel to most, simply because it is so close. It is mainly famous for... its pistachios!
Read the guideHydra
RomanticNo cars, no motorbikes: just donkeys and boats. Perfectly preserved neoclassical architecture and international artists.
Read the guideThe short answer
On the fast boat from Piraeus, Aegina is the closer of the two: 40 min against 1 h 45 min for Hydra, a difference of about 65 minutes each way. On a short trip that gap is worth more than it looks, because it applies twice.
Hydra does not allow visitor cars, so you arrive on foot and get around by water taxi, mule or your own legs. Aegina does, and the ferry carries them.
Aegina has the better swimming, 3 out of 5 against 2 for Hydra. It also has more of them: 9 beaches covered here against 4.
For sights off the sand, Aegina is the richer of the two: 8 places and museums against 6 on Hydra.
Aegina is the cheaper base, around 65 euros a night against 130 on Hydra, roughly 100 percent more. Over a week that is about 455 euros of difference on the room alone.
The numbers
| Aegina | Hydra | |
|---|---|---|
| Fast ferry from Piraeus | 40 min | 1 h 45 min |
| Conventional ferry | 1 h 15 min | - |
| Ferry from | 10 EUR | 30 EUR |
| Departures per day | 14 | 5 |
| Beaches covered | 9 | 4 |
| Places and museums | 8 | 6 |
| Activities | 5 | 4 |
| Room per night from | 65 EUR | 130 EUR |
| Food per day | 25 EUR | 40 EUR |
| Recommended days | 2 | 2 |
| Population | 13,056 | 1,972 |
| Area | 87 km2 | 52 km2 |
| Visitor cars | Yes | No |
| Best season | Apr - Oct | May - Oct |
| Beaches | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Food | ||
| Nightlife | ||
| Connectivity |
Which one for your trip
Choose Aegina if
- Swimming is the priority and you want the better beaches of the two
- You are short on time and want the shortest crossing from Athens
- You are watching the budget
- You want to bring a car or need one for mobility reasons
- You are travelling with children
- You want museums, monasteries and ruins as well as a swim
Choose Hydra if
- A car-free island appeals and you are happy to walk or take a water taxi