Hydra and Porto Heli sit on opposite sides of a narrow strip of water at the southern end of the Argolic Gulf, and the ferry between them is one of the shortest crossings you'll find anywhere in the Saronic. You leave Hydra's harbour, with its stone mansions stacked up the hillside and donkeys still doing the heavy lifting since cars have never been allowed on the island, and within a little over an hour you're tying up at Porto Heli, a low-key resort town on the Peloponnese mainland with a long, sheltered bay that doubles as a natural yacht anchorage. Check the schedule box above for the latest confirmed dates before you travel.
Sailings run once a day during the season, which makes this an easy add-on rather than a route you need to plan a whole trip around. Because the crossing tucks in close to the coast and threads through a stretch of water shielded by the Peloponnese, it tends to sit calmer than the open runs further out into the Saronic and Aegean, though it's always worth a glance at the forecast if strong meltemi winds are forecast in high summer.
Useful Resources for Your Greek Island Trip
- Find accommodation in Greece – hotels, apartments and villas on Booking.com
- Book tours and activities in Greece via Viator
- Find guided experiences and day trips via GetYourGuide
- Compare car hire prices in Greece via DiscoverCars