Porto Hydra: Greece’s Majestic Little Venice

Porto Hydra Village, located in the Peloponnese, is a majestic place, a hidden paradise, and two hours away from Athens by car. Some call it Greece’s Miami; others call it Little Venice.

Situated quite close to the port town of Ermioni and just opposite Hydra island in the Argo-Saronic Gulf, Porto Hydra Village is a small community of over three hundred private villas and holiday homes.

The villas have magnificent gardens with palm trees and exquisite greenery, pools, tennis courts, and other amenities, all built around a canal network giving access to Hydra, Poros, and the Spetses islands by private boat while they are also accessible by car.

Canals run through the village

A unique characteristic of the village is that canals flow through it and connect to the sea. Most villas have their own piers to dock their speedboats. There are two beautiful beaches on the east and west side just minutes away on foot with a view of the island of Hydra.

Porto Hydra Village is being described as a magical landscape that stretches across a coastal area of silver olive groves. “Wander in the narrow streets next to the canals, in the gardens with the colorful bougainvilleas and the imposing palm trees. Cross the beautiful bridges, pass by the figurative Church and listen to the water in the fountain,” the official site of the village says.

“A one-of-a-kind and serene destination for those looking for a quiet vacation for the whole family or not. You can enjoy the tranquil landscape all year round, away from tourist trails, next to canals instead of roads,” it adds.

Summers are hot and winters are mild. Spring and Autumn are pleasant with enjoyable sunshine, but also occasional rains.

The village complex was the vision of Nikos Konstantinidis who started its development in the mid-1970s. Since then, the village has undergone impressive growth and beautification.

Only a few dozen people live there permanently. During the summer, the villa owners spend their holidays there, and the village attracts many visitors who want to admire this small Greek paradise.

Porto Hydra Village is run by a Board of Directors, who are voted for annually by the residents of Porto Hydra Village. The board is responsible for matters of finance, maintenance, and security, amongst others, and they are practically responsible for the village.

Only residents can vote during the elections, and they can also nominate themselves for a seat on the board of directors. The board of directors consists exclusively of residents.