Highlights: spacious, private, and shady gardens and terraces, view of the valley down toward the port, gentle climb from the port

When renting a vacation house for the summer holidays on Hydra, the name of the game is plenty of shady outdoors space, and this home, with its large terraces and shady garden, provides the ideal spots for reading or lazing the afternoon hours away when you’re not out swimming or sitting in the cafes and browsing the shops along Hydra’s harbor.

A wooden door from the street enters into a completely private, walled-in courtyard and garden, with upper and lower terraces featuring shady eating/sitting areas. The seating area on the upper terrace is covered, while that on the lower, shaded by a large tree, looks onto the garden’s multicolored flowers and provides views down the valley toward the harbor.

Up the quaint cottage stairs lined with a thick cord banister, two sunny, fresh bedrooms sleep five, two in the master double bedroom and three in the second bedroom furnished with three single beds. Both bedrooms have ceiling fans, mosquito netting, and valley and mountain views from the windows.

On the ground floor guests can escape the heat of the day to relax in a cool sitting/dining area, with couch and chairs. A compact, fully equipped kitchen provides everything necessary to prepare full meals at home and a dishwasher to to the cleaning up!

There is a washing machine in the bathroom, and wireless Internet can be arranged. Children are welcome.

Conditions: 20 percent deposit to hold the booking, with the balance due four weeks before arrival.