Hydra and Spetses sit close together at the mouth of the Saronic Gulf, and the crossing between them is one of the shortest island hops in Greece. Hydra's harbour is the town itself -- boats tie up right below the row of stone mansions and cafés, and there's no need to find onward transport because no vehicles are allowed on the island beyond a few municipal exceptions; donkeys and water taxis handle everything else. Spetses is a little more relaxed about it, but the old harbour at Dapia is still only a short walk from where the ferry docks, so neither end of this route involves much faffing about with taxis or buses.
Sheltered by the mainland coast and the islands themselves, this stretch of water rarely gets rough, which is part of why it suits smaller high-speed craft as well as the larger conventional ferries. Sailings run several times a day for most of the year, dropping back to a lighter timetable outside the main season -- check the schedule box above for what's currently confirmed. It's an easy route for a day trip between the two islands as much as for onward travel to or from Piraeus.
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