Shops on Hydra are concentrated on the harbour front and fairly limited to souvenirs and holiday paraphernalia as you might expect on an island that depends entirely on tourism for its industry. However, it could be said that Hydra "specialises" in jewellery as there seem to be a disproportionate number of gold shops to tempt you. You'll find plenty of retailers that sell the same as you'll find on other islands but there are one or two designers and a couple of workshops on the island that are well worth a visit.

Notably, Hydra is the home of Elena Votsi the designer of the medals for the Athens 2004 Olympics. Her shop in the centre of the harbour on the corner of Economou Street, showcases her latest designs and although most of the more important pieces retail for in excess of €2000, she does have a small selection to offer in the €100-€500 range of her unusual limited production pieces.

Konstandino

Just along from Elena in the centre of Economou Street is the recently opened shop of Konstantino