What To Expect
Ina's House is a unique, and these days, rare and totally authentic Hydra house that the owners are happy to share when they are not at home, to give their guests a real experience of island living. I'm delighted to add this house to my list on Hydradirect because it truly fits my criteria of needing charm and distinction! In a way, it reminds me of the houses I was privileged to visit in the 80's & 90's before the mass growth of fixed-up airbnb properties. The garden is a magnificent example of multiple terraces imaginatively blended with huge slabs of mountain rock making the outside space a constant walk of discovery. Even though there are multiple rooms to use for sleeping, there's only one shower room, which is why the house is only suitable for a maximum of 4 guests. The kitchen/dining room in a separte building across the terrace opposite the entrance to the main house, as is the shower room. This delightful house, with its huge far-reaching views in every direction, is a gem that I highly recommend to you. Regards Kelsey ...
In The Owner's Words.
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Reservations & Enquiries
Contact: Thomas & Alexandra Boehler
Please use this secure form to contact us to inquire about availability. There is no booking fee.
Thomas and Alexandra speak fluent English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
HD20-03-2026
Directly Sent To Thomas Boehler
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In The Owners Words
Welcome to Ina’s house. Hydra is our happy place, where we met, and - now with two children - spend more and more time every year. Hydra became our second home and we are so proud to be a small part of it, and to be able to share our unique and wonderful home with you. We hope you enjoy and are inspired by it as much as we are. It has all that is needed for a uniquely memorable holiday or a longer stay on Hydra.
Thomas, Alexandra, Nora and Kieran Boehler
Description
Ina’s house was built in the 1730s. It is among the oldest captain’s houses on the island, strategically located, up on an airy hill, with perfect positioning for summer and winter, and with views to the port, around Hydra and even all the way to neighboring Dokos.
The house is a unique sanctuary, built on rocks, in a traditional way, the property consists of two separate houses - the main house with three large rooms downstairs and an incomparable master bedroom upstairs, and the kitchen house, with adjacent bathroom and shower.
The property is surrounded by a majestic, quirky garden, over many levels and floors, with 13 little basins, a number of olive, eucalypt, lemon and other trees, carefully curated and renovated by a previous owner since the late 1970s/early 1980s, Ms Ina, under whose name the property is still known among many locals today.
The house and its little gardens is defined by many carefully curated details - from little cats (including real ones!), to crystals, ornaments and statues. A place to truly get lost, to recenter and to regroup.
We do not advise families with children under the age of 8 to stay in the house given various potential risks in the garden and on the terrace.
Location and Neighborhood
Ina’s house is located on a small hill, close to the first school, a 10 minutes easy walk from the port, with about 160-200 steps, depending on the path you take. From there, you have an outstanding view over the port of Hydra. This neighborhood is very quiet, with mostly local families living here. It sees fewer tourists than other areas, and we ask renters to respect and help preserve this quiet atmosphere. A walking path to go to the monastery or towards the lighthouse starts almost right behind the house. The closest beach is in Avlaki, about 15 minutes walk through town.
Upper floor main house
A single room that extends over the entire length of the original house - aa room that Hydriots call the ‘Virani’. With windows in all directions, it has been transformed into a master bedroom, with plenty of space. Some of the windows were transformed into beautiful wooden cabinets. A local carpenter recently produced the double bed with six large drawers for your clothes. The front window is also the access to the tile covered terrace. The bedroom has a unique library with select English, German and French books at your disposal. Many of them from the 1970s and 1980s, but also several newcomers. The oak wood-staircase has also been recently renovated. Through the window in the west you can climb sixteen stairs to the ‘frog terrace’, from there stone stairs lead out along the house down to the sea terrace.
Lower floor main house
Two entrances, one from the back courtyard, one from the port-side courtyard, with a large entrance hall, a sitting/living room, with high ceilings and the traditional wooden beams, made of chestnut, an office room, (with a locked door to our storage room), and the 2nd bedroom with twin beds. (There's also a small room off the hall, which is locked and used for storage). The traditional architecture, high windows, and limited, but carefully selected decorative elements make the house light, airy, yet elegant. Under the entrance hall there is a large cistern, built - as usual on Hydra 250 years ago - from a mixture of lime and brick dust, which impermeable to water. It holds 80m3 and collects water from the roof and courtyard.
Kitchen and bathroom house
With ceramic, keramin red tiles, three steps down from the courtyard (opposite the main house entrance hall), is the traditional Hydra kitchen. It has elegant marble work spaces, a sink (no dishwasher!), filtered water connection, all you need for any kind of meal (or bakery experiment), as well as wood burning fire place (though we don’t allow its usage because of very strict fire rules on Hydra during most times of the year). The kitchen has access to the hill side terrace, which is a nice little corner where you can enjoy your breakfast. Next to the kitchen is the small bathroom house, with a shower, sink and toilet.
Garden
If it were not for the house already, the garden would set this property apart. Fully private, with many nooks and corners, areas that are shaded and outside furniture to sunbathe, the garden is truly a place to get lost. Over 900m2, it is set up around the house between rocks. The difference in height between the uppermost terrace and the lowest one in the south garden is about 20 meters. Scattered in between are 11 other terraces and a total of 136 stairs! There is a risk that you do not want to see the island, because you feel so at home in the garden. You can use the upper terrace or the front porch to do yoga or pilates. Off season, there is a lot of olive harvesting and trimming and pruning going on, to keep the stubborn bougainvilleas grow splendidly. We are very proud of this garden.