The house that climbs the harbour

13 Guests

6 Bedrooms

6 Bathrooms

Sitting in a super-panoramic position above beautiful Hydra Port, Calthea rises proudly in local sandy-grey stone, testament to the grand mansions built by the island's shipping magnates in times gone by. With an abundance of terraces, and accommodation for 13 spread out over different levels, there's space and opportunity aplenty for large groups wishing to spread out, come together for convivial moments, and amble into Hydra's evocative, atmospheric capital.

Key Highlights

  • Walkable to beach/sea
  • Sea views
  • Hot tub
  • Walking distance to restaurant(s)
  • Walking distance to shop(s)
  • Breakfast (incl. ingredients)
  • Daily maid service
  • Barbecue

Gallery

Immersive virtual 3D tour of Calthea.

Aerial views of Calthea.

The enchanting views over Hydra Port are omnipresent.

The enchanting views over Hydra Port are omnipresent.

The first floor dining terrace.

The first floor dining terrace.

Yet another wonderful terrace.

Yet another wonderful terrace.

The wonderfully secluded hot tub.

The wonderfully secluded hot tub.

An early breakfast as the sun comes up over Hydra Port.

An early breakfast as the sun comes up over Hydra Port.

View all 50 photos
Calthea was the most amazing villa and location, close to everything. We would go back. Thanks for your help and efficient service with food ordering and help with organizing extra mule transfers and boat taxis to the beautiful St Nicholas Island.

– Tanya Singer, visited 2026

Overview

  • GuestsUp to 13
  • Bedrooms6
  • Double beds3
  • Flexible double/twin beds2
  • Triple beds1
  • Bathrooms6
  • En-suite bathrooms6 of 6

Features and Amenities

The property

  • Sea views
  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Geography

  • Walkable to beach/sea
  • Walking distance to restaurant(s)
  • Walking distance to shop(s)

Pool & Wellness

  • Hot tub

Services

  • Breakfast (incl. ingredients)
  • Daily maid service
  • Local knowledge and recommendations

Kitchen & Dining

  • Barbecue
  • Dishwasher
  • Microwave

Entertainment & Tech

  • Pool table
  • ADSL Wi-Fi Internet

Includes

  • IncludedThe Thinking Traveller's expertise to help you fine-tune the logistics of your trip and access to exclusive experiences
  • IncludedExclusive use of your private villa and grounds
  • IncludedEffortless trip sharing with your guests on our online platform
  • IncludedAward-winning local expertise throughout your stay

Excludes

  • Not IncludedFlights
  • Not IncludedCar hire
  • Not IncludedTransfers
  • Not IncludedMeals (except for breakfast)

Getting to and around

Athens Airport1h30 by ferry (or 3h drive) and 15 mins by sea taxi
Nearest shops, tavernas and amenitiesHydra Port - a few minutes' walk
Nearest beachesThere is a variety of small coves and sea access points within a 5-minute walk
Spetses1hr by hydrofoil
Porto Heli1h20 by hydrofoil

Bedroom details

Main House

  • Bedroom 1: double-twin (100x200cm), en-suite bathroom with shower attachment
  • Bedroom 2: double bed (180x200cm), en-suite bathroom with separate shower

Independent Rooms

  • Bedroom 3: three single bunk beds (90x200cm), en-suite bathroom with shower attachment
  • Bedroom 4: double-twin (100/200x200cm), en-suite bathroom with shower attachment
  • Bedroom 5: double bed (180x200cm) with kitchenette and shower room
  • Bedroom 6: double bed (180x200cm) with kitchenette and shower room

NB: A double-twin bedroom has two single beds that can either be joined together to create a double bed or left separate as two single beds.

Reduced Occupancy

During the shoulder seasons, Calthea has a reduced price for a group of up to 8 that only need up to 4 bedrooms. The bedrooms not required will be closed, but the rest of the villa, its amenities and its grounds will remain at the complete disposal of guests. Should you book the reduced occupancy rate, the main house and two more rooms of your preference will be prepared for you.
Read more

About the property

Inside

accommodation at Calthea is arranged over a main house on two floors and a series of externally accessed bedrooms on several levels. A class example of traditional Hydran architecture, the property features stone walls, alternating chessboard and hardwood flooring, lofty wood-beamed ceilings, artworks, and an eclectic mix of antique furniture and more modern pieces.

The main entrance leads in from an indoor-outdoor dining area to a well-equipped kitchen with a dumb waiter lift serving the first floor dining room (about which more anon). From here, a door leads into a central hallway, off which the remainder of the ground floor accommodation flows. A door opens into a snug sitting room with a sofa, a pair of easy chairs and French windows opening out onto a communal terrace. The views, typical of most rooms in the property, are magnificent, and take in the sea and the picturesque town of Hydra Port wrapping around its harbour.

A door to the left of the sitting room leads into the first bedroom, a double-twin with French windows accessing the communal terrace and an en-suite with marble-topped vanity unit and a tub with shower attachment.

Back in the central hallway, another door opens into a suite comprising: a generously proportioned double bedroom with a wall of bespoke wardrobes, a little sitting area, more of those wonderful views of Hydra Port, and access to the communal terrace; an en-suite bathroom with separate shower and tub; and a separate WC.

Back in the hallway once more, a staircase leads up to the first floor, most of which is taken up by a fabulously voluminous and panoramic open-plan living and dining area. A pair of sink-in sofas and a few armchairs are gathered around an impressive fireplace, intricately designed, double-height wood ceilings rise above, art enlivens the walls, an array of bibelots adds character, a sequence of French windows open out onto terraces, and a large dining table makes indoor dining hard to resist.

An opening to one side leads in to a snug reception room, where the dumb waiter lift arrives from the kitchen, which in turn accesses a guest WC, another panoramic terrace, and a study - the perfect spot for anyone who needs to combine their holiday with a little work.

Back on the ground floor, and following the communal terrace past the two bedrooms and the living room snug, one comes to two more bedrooms, each one accessed independently from outside. The first is the children's room, a triple with bunk beds and an en-suite bathroom with tub and shower attachment; the second is a double-twin, also with en-suite bathroom with tub and shower attachment.

Steps lead down from the main house to a lower terrace, which is home to the games room with a pool table (available upon request), kitchen and shower room, and then on down to another terrace, from which one may access the the remaining two bedrooms:
  • two identical doubles, each one spread over three levels: on the main level is a little sitting area; above is a mezzanine sleeping area with great views of Hydra Port; and below is a kitchenette and a shower room.

Outside

like the accommodation, Calthea's al fresco areas are wide-ranging and spread over a variety of levels. Each one offers tantalising views over Hydra Port and out to sea.

Wrapping around two sides of the main house's ground floor, and accessed from all the ground floor bedrooms, is the first of numerous terraces. Furnished with comfy outdoor furniture, it extends into the first dining area, an indoor-outdoor spot served by the kitchen.

The first floor of the main house also boast a pair of good-sized terraces, the most panoramic of all. Accessed from the voluminous open-plan communal space and from the second, smaller reception room, both are comfortably furnished , while the larger one also hosts a splendid dining area.

From the terrace outside the ground floor of the main house, steps lead down to several other levels, each one offering space in which to lounge, take the sun and read in the shade. Colourful flowers, climbers and trees rise from a liberal scattering of pots to enliven the atmosphere and perfume the air.

One of the lower terraces flows into a large stone-built pergola that's home to the hot tub, while another provides access to the games room.

Gates on several levels allow guests to pop into town with ease.

AMA: 00001618490

View Villa PDF

Read more

About the Area

Calthea looks out over charming Hydra Port, which is a few minutes' walk away. It's a pretty, unspoilt town that's enjoyable to spend time in. Its harbour-front tavernas and bars rub shoulders with grand mansions built by 19th-century shipping magnates, and there are plenty of independent little shops and a few museums and galleries to explore.

Hydra is the most southerly of the Saronic Islands after Spetses, and is located off the eastern tip of the Peloponnese. Measuring just 20km (west to east) by 5km (north to south), it is easy to discover in a week, as long as you rent a boat or travel by sea taxi - cars are not allowed on Hydra and there are very few roads.

The island boasts a good selection of beaches and idyllic bays, including those of Mandraki, Avlaki, Vlichos, Plakes and Molos on the west coast around Hydra Port, Bisti, Mpisti and Agios Nikolaos in the south, and Limnioniza in the southeast.

The island's mountainous hinterland is scattered with monasteries and crisscrossed by ancient mule tracks, making hiking an interesting proposition in the spring and autumn. One such leads straight out of Hydra Port up to the impressive Monastery of the Prophet Elias. Peaks rise up to over 500m before plummeting precipitously into the sea, especially on the south and east coast, creating a spectacular coastline.

Read more

Considerations

To make the journey up to Calthea more comfortable, you could "rent" a mule to take you up (the traditional way of getting around on this island without motorised vehicles). This option is great if you're looking to add a bit of authenticity to your trip.

As this villa is located on an island, we recommend extra caution when booking your flights to avoid problems or delays with ferries and hydrofoils. It may be advisable to arrive a day earlier and depart a day later. Please contact us for any information or advice.

Due to the nature of this property, children must be supervised at all times.

The number of steps that must be negotiated to get into and/or around this property might make it unsuitable for people with mobility problems.

Please note that due to the risk of wildfires, the use of fire pits and barbecues is restricted when the weather is windy or temperatures are high. This is particularly common in July and August. More information will be provided in your House Guide and via your local specialist.

Read more about our Health and Safety Policy here

Read more

Guest Reviews

Calthea was the most amazing villa and location, close to everything. We would go back. Thanks for your help and efficient service with food ordering and help with organizing extra mule transfers and boat taxis to the beautiful St Nicholas Island.

Tanya Singer, visited June 2026

What stood out about Calthea was the location and the standard of the villa.

RM, visited September 2025

We loved the Calthea, how could you not? It's a stunning villa with gorgeous views.

Verified guest, visited September 2025

Calthea is a wonderful home, comfortable, large, tastefully and comfortably furnished, clean and a spectacular view! Perfect for our large family. Great local specialist.

Verified guest, visited May 2024

We had an amazing stay, thank you. The staff was wonderful, as was breakfast every morning. We remain grateful to both The Thinking Traveller and the house owners for making an unforgettable place available for our family.

Solvi Finnoy, visited October 2023

Our stay at Calthea was absolutely wonderful. We will be coming back next year.

Roberta Benteler, visited June 2023

It was a perfect experience on the idyllic island of Hydra, Greece. We were so impressed with Calthea and its amenities. Our local concierge and the villa staff were awesome.

Janeese Jackson, visited June 2023

Calthea is of a very high standard, with beautiful views. The staff were very helpful. We loved the history, the food, the landscape and the clear waters of Hydra. A perfect stay.

Verified guest, visited August 2022

The wonderfully secluded hot tub.

Looking to know more about Calthea?

Our Specialists know Calthea first-hand. Having personally visited the villa, they can answer your questions, share insider details, and help you find the perfect dates for your stay.

Local Experiences

Boat Rental in Hydra

Boat Rental in Hydra

Boat trips in Hydra

Boat trips in Hydra

Guided tours

Guided tours

Similar Villas

Condé Nast Choice 2025

Extraordinary, Exclusive Villas

Our villas are only operated exclusively through us, ensuring award-winning quality of both properties and service. This exclusivity also guarantees secure, 24/7 online booking with real-time availability, meaning you can reserve with complete confidence.

Request Tailored Suggestions