Photo spot in Ύδρα
Hydronetta and the cannons
A bastion of old cannons on the western headland with swimming rocks below — the island's sunset seat, five minutes from the quay.
About Hydronetta and the cannons
Get directionsWalk west from the port for five minutes and the paved way passes a low bastion still lined with cannon, then drops to Hydronetta: bare rocks, ladders into deep water and a bar built into the cliff. It is the closest thing Hydra has to a viewpoint, looking back at the town on one side and straight out to the Peloponnese on the other.
The cannons give a foreground that reads instantly as Hydra, and the rocks below give height, layers and clean sea without a building in frame. This is where the low sun actually lands: the port itself faces north and goes flat in the evening, while the headland takes the last light head-on and holds it until it drops behind the mainland.
It is also where everybody else goes to watch that happen. In season the rocks and the bar terrace fill from about an hour before sunset, so a session either arrives before the crowd or works tight, using the cannon line and the cliff edge to crop the audience out. The rock is uneven and there are unrailed drops to the water — flat shoes, and no reversing towards the edge for a wider shot.
Best time to shoot
The last hour of light, arriving before the sunset crowd claims the rocks
Tips
Unrailed drops and uneven rock: flat shoes, and keep the couple a step in from the edge. Late arrivals shoot tight — the bar terrace fills an hour before sunset.
Other spots in Ύδρα
The harbour horseshoe
A tight oval of water enclosed by grey-stone shipowners' mansions, with fishing boats on the quay and no traffic anywhere behind them.
The coast path to Kamini and Vlychos
A stone path along the water to two small harbours, ending at an old arched bridge — twenty and thirty-five minutes on foot, and the island's golden-hour route.
The stone lanes above the port
Stepped alleys of white walls, blue shutters and bougainvillea climbing behind the harbour, with the sea appearing at the end of every one.
Ready to book?
Our concierge team will hand-pick 2-3 photographers who know Hydronetta and the cannons — free of charge.