Hydra, Greece

Off the southernmost reaches of the Argolis peninsula, the island of Hydra is renowned as a boater’s paradise and a rare car-free destination. Hydra Town rises up the hillsides that surround the u-shaped harbor like an amphitheater, its aquatic stage flanked by cannons. Donkeys are the lone form of transportation up the steep cobblestone lanes, as even scooters and bicycles are banned. The waterfront area is the island’s center for shopping, dining, nightlife and maritime traffic. The town also features art, history and cultural museums housed in converted 18th-century stone mansions. But the main attractions are the seas and beaches that range from Hydronéta, tucked under the town bastions, to sandy Ayios Nikolaos, accessible only by water taxi or private vessel. Outside of town, the island is rugged, topped by Mount Eros, with only trails and footpaths crossing the mountainous interior.