Full of character, Bratsera Hotel is a boutique property on the island of Hydra, in close reach of Athens. The hotel resides in a UNESCO-protected building whose history as a sponge factory goes back from the 1970s to the 1860s. The personality and history of the property have been kept alive through the careful preservation of original details and use of traditional materials.
With just 25 rooms, the hotel has a homelike, boutique feel to it, and as a guest you can expect attentive service. Each room is different because it has to fit around the fabric of the original structure but, like the rest of the hotel, maintains the historical charm of the property. Rooms feature rough-hewn, wooden ceiling beams and whitewashed walls, and are decorated with historic maps, woven rugs, and antique furnishings.
Its UNESCO-protected status doesn鈥檛 by any means leave Bratsera looking dated or tired. It鈥檚 the only hotel on Hydra with a pool, which occupies the courtyard, surrounded by loungers and the hotel鈥檚 outdoor taverna.
OUR OPINION:
Few hotels we鈥檝e experienced have kept their historic charm like Bratsera, and we love it for this distinctive and characterful feel. The excellent location in Hydra Town and its outdoor swimming pool are added bonuses.
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Photos of Bratsera Hotel
Rooms
Each of the 25 rooms differs in layout and furnishings, but they all showcase original features that recall the historic nature of the building. Many rooms retain the original vaulted, beamed ceilings, and the soft, earthy smell of cedar wood pervades some of the rooms from cedar staircases leading up to mezzanine levels or cedar floor beams. Decoration comes from antique furnishings and historic pictures of the sponge factory in its heyday. Some rooms feature a small balcony, and they all have modern bathrooms fitted in marble.
Location
You鈥檒l find Bratsera nestled into the winding whitewashed lanes of Hydra Town. As is the case across the island, the hotel isn鈥檛 accessible by car. Instead, porters will meet you at the port when you arrive to assist with your bags. Boutique shops and local restaurants surround the hotel, and the port is just a few minutes鈥� walk away.
Food and drink
The hotel鈥檚 restaurant is a traditional-style taverna with white-cloth-covered tables and wicker chairs set up under a veranda overlooking the pool. Breakfast is served in the same location and there鈥檚 an indoor dining room for eating in cooler weather. The bar is a nautically themed affair, and it鈥檚 easy to imagine sponge divers holed up on the wood stools a century ago nursing an ouzo after a long day of work.
Facilities and activities
The hotel lays claim to the only outdoor pool in Hydra, which provides welcome relief in the hot Greek summers. The hotel doesn鈥檛 have a spa but will arrange massages on request.
Tour ideas in Hydra
Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at Bratsera Hotel as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.
Alternative places to stay nearby
Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.
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![Hotel Leto Hydra, Hydra]()
Hotel Leto Hydra
Hydra
Experiences while staying here
The following activities are designed to give you the most authentic experiences of the area where you're staying. We work with local guides, who use their knowledge and often a resident's eye to show you the main sights and more out-of-the-way attractions. Our specialists can also suggest outdoor pursuits and activities, such as cooking classes, that will introduce you to the traditions of the area's inhabitants.
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Hike to the monastery of Agia Matrona ![Views from the hiking trail, Hydra]()
Hike to the monastery of Agia Matrona
Hike to the monastery of Agia Matrona
Get off the beaten track in Hydra, walking with a private guide up to a remote monastery in the hills that offers expansive views across the land and sea, and a chance to get an insight into traditional life on the island.
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Hydra and nearby places
- Nafplio 40 miles away
- Cape Sounion 41 miles away
- Athens 47 miles away
- Monemvasia 52 miles away
- The Greek Islands 53 miles away
- The Peloponnese 60 miles away
- Milos 68 miles away
- Sifnos 74 miles away
- Syros 82 miles away
- Arachova 92 miles away