Motor yacht to Hydra

Motor Yacht Charter Hydra

The Athens-set's discreet Saronic week. Two hours from Alimos, anchored off Hydra's car-free harbour, dinner ashore at Sunset.

Last updated August 2026

Why Hydra is the right Saronic motor-yacht week

Hydra is two hours from Alimos Marina by motor yacht. It's the closest serious charter destination to Athens, and the one the Athens shipping families use when they want a yacht week without the Cycladic transit-time. The island has no cars. Donkeys carry luggage from the harbour to the houses. The harbour itself is one of the great Mediterranean photographs - stone amphitheatre, two yacht-set restaurants (Sunset and Omilos), Leonard Cohen's house above the port. A motor yacht anchored off Hydra is the quintessential discreet Saronic image. A 5-night Saronic motor-yacht week is Athens → Aegina (Saint Nektarios monastery) → Hydra (2 nights) → Spetses → Athens. A 7-night week extends to Poros and the Argolic gulf (Porto Cheli, Ermioni for dinner). Both are sheltered, all-Greek-waters itineraries - VAT stays at the reduced weekly-charter treatment, crew don't have a long-passage week, charterers don't lose days to transit.

Best suited for

Athens-based weekenders extending a city trip to a yacht week
Discreet UHNW principals avoiding Mykonos and Cycladic crowds
First-time Greek charterers wanting the easiest format
Cultural-travel groups combining Athens (Acropolis, museums) with sea
Repeat charterers who've done Cyclades and want a different brief

When to book

June and September are optimal Hydra months - weather perfect, August Greek-domestic crowd not yet arrived (June) or already left (September), harbour atmospheric without being overrun. July and August are pleasant but the harbour fills with Athenian elite. May and October work for shoulder-season charters; the Saronic stays comfortable longer than the Cyclades.

George's insider notes

Anchor outside the harbour mouth, NOT inside. The inside fills with day-charter caïques. Tender in for dinner.
Sunset (the restaurant) at the western edge of the harbour books out 2 days ahead in season. Have the chef call.
Visit Leonard Cohen's house (now closed but exterior accessible) on the steep walk up from the harbour. Cultural pilgrimage.
Day-trip Porto Cheli on the mainland for the most-protected Saronic lunch anchorage. 1 hour west by motor yacht.
Hydra has no streetlights past the harbour. Return to the yacht by 23:00 or carry a torch up the cobbled paths.

Frequently asked

Questions we get about Motor Yacht Charter Hydra

How much does a Hydra motor yacht charter cost?

Weekly rates from €45K for 18-22m motor yachts, €80-150K for 26-32m, €250K+ for 40m+. Saronic charter is materially cheaper than Cycladic equivalent - shorter passages, lower fuel, less marina cost.

Is 7 nights too long for the Saronic?

No, 7 nights is comfortable with the Argolic Gulf added: Athens → Aegina → Hydra → Porto Cheli → Spetses → Poros → Athens. Plenty of swim time, all sheltered water, none of the Cycladic transit-time.

What's the best Saronic month?

September. Weather warm, Greek-summer crowd dispersed, all the restaurants still open. June is a close second.

Can we anchor inside Hydra harbour?

Possible but undesirable. The harbour fills with day-charter caïques during day, fishing boats overnight. Anchor in deep water off the harbour mouth and tender in.

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