There are two areas of Mandraki Bay. The larger being in front of the the Miramare Hotel and the smaller below the Mandraki 1800 taverna. The main beach is operated by the hotel and is very busy with lots of umbrellas, sun-beds, bar on the beach that plays loud pop music and a restaurant.

The beach is of gritty sand that's not that clean by the end of the season. The smaller beach is of pebbles and is cleaner but not roped off and as water taxis pull in at the little jetty, it's not a safe area for adults to swim let alone children.

Mandraki Main BeachMandraki Bay is a 2km walk along the coast road from Hydra Harbour and is level with no steps the whole way so walking with a push chair is no problem. But there is very little shade along the coast road and it can be trechourously hot in the summer so take plenty of water and wear sunblock and hats. Alternatively water taxis take 3 mins to take you round and there is the large hotel boat that goes back and forth regularly during the high season.

Little beach below Mandraki 1800Mandraki beach is a well establish busy beach that has had organised water and beach sports on offer for years. The bar and restaurant associated with the hotel do a roaring trade in the high season especially with the younger set who like having something to do and also appeals to families with young children because there is a large shallow area of still water protected by a stone jetty so little ones can paddle very safely.

You jump of the seaward side of the jetty into deep water and from then on the bay gets really deep, more than deep enough for large yachts to get in close.

Ask at the bar to get in touch with the guys who run the water sports if you fancy water skiing or have a go on the tubes. And if there are enough of you, there's a large sandy area on the other side of the restaurant from the main beach that can be used for volley ball or beach badminton (you'll have to bring your own bats and stuff though).

The little beach below the Mandraki 1800 Taverna is a really nice spot if you want some peace and quiet without loads of kids and the convenience of somewhere decent for lunch and refreshments. Be very careful if you go for a swim and certainly don't go out too far, this is strictly, stay-in-the-shallows to cool off beach.