Metochi Secure Carpark on the Mainland
A place to securely park on the mainland, and take the passenger ferry to Hydra Island
What to expect at Metochi
Metochi is Hydra's equivalent to 'park and ride' schemes that you find in many towns these days!
Metochi is a small agricultural hamlet of a few homes. The car park and jetty for the passenger ferries and sea taxis to moor up at, is east of the area called Metochi. This is the closest point that you can get to Hydra by car before you have to take to the sea. If you are driving yourself with your own car, have a hire car or are being driven by taxi from Athens or elsewhere on the Peloponnese, this is where you will be dropped off for onward ferry connection with Hydra.
The jetty is about half a kilometre from the main road. There is a short service road between the jetty and secure car park with two ticket kiosks (1 for Hydra Lines, Freedom, and 1 for the Metoxi Express). There is a large rambling building that is leased from the church (Agios Haralambos), part of which is a basic provisions shop selling minimal goods such as ice-creams and refreshments.
There is no local accommodation to stay at if you arrive in the night so you would have to stop off at Galatas or Ermioni if you don't want to sleep in the car or aim to reach Metochi during daylight hours which is when the passenger ferries run.
Hydra Sea Taxis
Alternatively, Hydra's sea taxis work at night and you can pre-book most of them. You do need to give them warning though so get in touch a week before.
Secure Car Parking
The secure car park at Metochi is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and everyday of the year. The car park attendant has a small cabin with a reception, CCTV monitors and at the back a small bedroom for a nap - however when he is sleeping the gates are shut so people arriving have to press the bell - and in addition to CCTV and security gates there is also a very large dog who roams at will but he is so friendly that he seems to smile when he greets people. So even though customers park at their own risk and the car park does not insure or accept liability for any theft or damage, it's much more secure than parking on the road.
It costs €5 per day per car and operates on a first come first served basis if you want to get under the limited number of sun shades available. You can park all day and night for as many days as you want. Many Hydriots park here all year. Please note that the day is actually measured by whether the car is parked before or after midnight. So if you arrive at 14:00 and retrieve your car at 23:00 it will count as 1 day. If you arrive at 14:00 and retrieve your car after midnight then you will be charged for 2 days.
The car park is huge and there is no need to pre-book a parking space.
It's easy walking distance from the secure carpark to the end of the jetty, however most people drive their car to the passenger ferry waiting area, off load their luggage, then take the car back to the carpark. There's plenty of turning space and luggage left unattended for a while is perfectly safe (although I would leave handbags or laptop bags!)
Passenger ferries between Metochi and Hydra
There are two passenger ferry operators for the short 25 minute sea journey between Hydra and Metoxi. Hydra Lines, operate 4 ferries, Freedom I, II, III & IV, and the other operator has the Metoxi Express. Both have ticket offices on the Metoxi jetty which are generally manned during daylight hours. However on Hydra, you just get on the boat and buy your ticket when you have boarded. If the ticket offices are not manned on the Metochi side, again, just go to the end of the jetty, and pay on the first available boat.
