Hydra vs Salamis
Hydra or Salamis? Ferry times from Athens, beaches, prices and crowds compared side by side, with a straight answer on which of the two suits your trip.
Hydra
RomanticNo cars, no motorbikes: just donkeys and boats. Perfectly preserved neoclassical architecture and international artists.
Read the guideSalamis
CulturalThe largest island in the Saronic Gulf and the closest one to Athens. Famous for the Battle of Salamis (480 BC), where Themistocles defeated the Persian fleet. Today it is a weekend destination for Athenians.
Read the guideThe short answer
On the fast boat from Piraeus, Salamis is the closer of the two: 30 min against 1 h 45 min for Hydra, a difference of about 75 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. Salamis does, and the ferry carries them.
On beaches the two are evenly matched, both rated 2 out of 5, so pick on character rather than on quality: Hydra has 4 beaches covered here and Salamis has 2.
For sights off the sand, Hydra is the richer of the two: 6 places and museums against 4 on Salamis.
Salamis is the cheaper base, around 45 euros a night against 130 on Hydra, roughly 189 percent more. Over a week that is about 595 euros of difference on the room alone.
Salamis is the quieter of the two. Both fill up at summer weekends when Athens empties into the Saronic, but Hydra carries more visitors through the season.
The numbers
| Hydra | Salamis | |
|---|---|---|
| Fast ferry from Piraeus | 1 h 45 min | 30 min |
| Conventional ferry | - | 30 min |
| Ferry from | 30 EUR | 2 EUR |
| Departures per day | 5 | 40 |
| Beaches covered | 4 | 2 |
| Places and museums | 6 | 4 |
| Activities | 4 | 1 |
| Room per night from | 130 EUR | 45 EUR |
| Food per day | 40 EUR | 18 EUR |
| Recommended days | 2 | 1 |
| Population | 1,972 | 36,000 |
| Area | 52 km2 | 95 km2 |
| Visitor cars | No | Yes |
| Best season | May - Oct | Mar - Nov |
| Beaches | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Food | ||
| Nightlife | ||
| Connectivity |
Which one for your trip
Choose Hydra if
- A car-free island appeals and you are happy to walk or take a water taxi
- You want museums, monasteries and ruins as well as a swim
- You want somewhere with a bit more going on after dinner
Choose Salamis if
- You are short on time and want the shortest crossing from Athens
- You are watching the budget
- You want the quieter island
- You want to bring a car or need one for mobility reasons
- You are travelling with children
- You only have a day and want an island that works as a day trip