From Athens: A dazzling Private Day trip to Hydra island

At the port of Piraeus, you'll board the Flying Dolphin for a quick and comfortable hydrofoil ride to the harbor town of Hydra. Once you reach the island you’ll be amazed by the local landscape that has made it a favored retreat of jetsetters and rock stars such as Maria Callas, Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Picasso and many more.

Then it's time to saddle up for a family-friendly ride through the town's different neighborhoods, because the best way to explore Hydra is on the back of a horse, the island's traditional means of transportation (no cars allowed!).

After your ride through town, you'll return to the harbor to board one of the island's famed water taxis, the easiest and the most exciting way to reach the island's best beaches. Foremost among these is Plakes Beach, equipped with sun-loungers and umbrellas, where you'll be heading for hours of fun in the sun and the crystal-blue sea, as well as a delicious lunch at the seafront taverna right at the water's edge.

Following lunch, it's back to Hydra Town for a second trip, this time on foot, down the maze-like side streets and by-ways where you'll spot artists' workshops, stylish boutiques, and a number of well-preserved historic residences, some of which, once owned by important figures in Greece's 19th-century struggle for independence, are now museums. Hydra has evolved to a cultural hub, where innovative exhibits, hip happenings and events with international appeal attract famous visitors from all over the world each summer.

Your stroll will end at a family-run pastry shop that's famous for the local sweet (made from almonds) known as amygdalota, and for its rich and delicious homemade ice cream. As you finish your treat on the shaded veranda of the pastry shop, you'll be ready to leave the island with more than just a sweet taste on your lips; you'll have the long-lasting memory of a special day spent on this little gem of an island.