This contemporary-cool beach resort on the Halkidiki peninsula of mainland Greece offers all you could possibly want from a sunny holiday. There's a golden sandy beach lapped by shallow warm waters; great for paddling or snorkelling amongst silvery fish. There's a big heated pool with a swim-up bar (don't miss the frozen cocktails), plus a splash pool for little ones. There's even an open-air theatre for entertainment under the stars. Lovely bedrooms are decked out in seaside-bright shades, with space for 2-4 people, and sea views if you splurge. And there are 4 different restaurants, plus snacks at the beach bar for laid-back lunches.
But the best thing about Eagles Palace is the tranquility and sense of space – there are over 150 rooms, but you'd never know it. Thanks to oodles of communal space, nowhere feels crowded, and the resort actually feels quite compact to stroll around. Staff are faultless – everything is done with big smiles. And whilst you can tear yourself away to visit the Mount Athos monasteries and Amouliani island, don't feel that you should. Take advantage of the superb childcare so you can slip off for a hot-stone massage or go wake-boarding, then have dinner as the sun descends into a blazing orange sky.
Highs
- A stunning natural location, but just 2 hours from Thessaloniki (direct flights from Europe)
- Wonderful staff run a tight ship and constantly surprise with sweet little gestures
- Gourmet-Greek flavours in the upmarket Kamares restaurant; think fish roe with carob-bread, shrimps and sea fennel
- A long, beautiful beach with calm clear waters and tiki-shaded loungers – there are lots more loungers than guests
- The awesome Kids Clubs: paddle-boarding and water-skiing for older children, cooking and collage for toddlers, and film nights for all at the open air theatre
Lows
- Larger than most i-escape hotels, with over 150 rooms – though they're nicely set amongst olive and pine trees; for more privacy, head up the hill to smaller sister resort Eagles Villas
- The cheapest rooms are quite small; for longer stays, we'd recommend a Suite or a Bungalow
- We found the food at Melathron, where you eat if you book half-board, less good than the other restaurants
- Drinks are expensive by Greek standards
Best time to go
The hotel is open from April to October. If you're coming as a couple or with pre-schoolers, we'd recommend the shoulder months of April, May, Sept and Oct: nicely warm, but not too hot. Be aware that, outside peak season, a couple of the restaurants are closed. If you're planning to come during school summer holidays, it does get very hot and busy; late-August to early-September is a bit quieter, if you can come then.
Our top tips
The Mount Athos monasteries are only open to male visitors and you'll need to apply for a visa 6 months in advance. Alternatively, you can visit the crumbling 10th-century monastery of Zygou, open to all, no pre-planning necessary!
- Boutique Palace
- 157 rooms
- Restaurants & bar (open daily)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pools
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Tennis Court
- Bicycles Available
- Open air theatre
Rooms
The rooms are spread over several wings of the building, and as you'd expect, the more you pay, the better they get in terms of space, location and view. As a general rule, expect whitewashed walls, oak furniture, and dashes of colour through geometric-design cushions and curtains: aquamarine, teal, mustard and mauve.
Double and Deluxe rooms are comfortable enough for 2-3 nights, but if coming for longer we'd go for something larger. Junior Suites have almost double the space, plus a sofa area. Family Suites are similar but with the bedroom and living area (with its double sofabed) separated by a sliding door. We were lucky enough to stay in an Deluxe Junior Suite Sea Front - dreamy sea views and smarter décor (a white leather sofa and contemporary lighting), plus a big balcony, so we were able to sit out and read then watch superb sunsets. Suites are even larger, and many have private pools. Bungalows are standalone rooms looking out to sea, with white louvered shutters and generous balconies - some have two bedrooms, some have private pools.
All have the same facilities, including air con, 2 types of bathrobe (yes - waffle and towelling!), fragrant olive-based toiletries and a Nespresso machine.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Bathrobes
- In-room treatments available
- Minibar
- Radio
- Safe box
- Toiletries
- TV
- WiFi
Eating
There are several restaurants on-site. We loved Armyra, a gorgeous casual bistro with white wicker chairs and candle lanterns. Tables spill out down towards the seafront, and are romantically lit at night. There's a daily seaside buffet, which includes huge fillets of seabass, plump king prawns and seafood paellas. Of the a la carte selections, we especially liked an asparagus risotto, and homemade bread served with local olives.
The other restaurants are much smarter. Kamares is headed up by Michelin-starred chef Alexandros Tsiotinis, a renowned Greek chef and Ferrandi Paris graduate. You dine on a wooden platform under pine trees, gazing out to sea - especially fabulous as the sun sets. Their gourmet Greek flavours are divine: stuffed squid with fennel and gruyere; cuttlefish ink pasta, then crispy baklava with pistachio ice cream. There's also an Italian restaurant, Vinum, and the peaceful lunch spot Patio Bistro which, sadly, we didn't manage to try.
If you book half-board, breakfast and dinner are served buffet-style in Melathron. The food is themed daily (Greek, Asian, Mediterranean), which provides variety; but we found it disappointing by comparison with the other restaurants, and there can be queues in high season, so we wouldn't recommend paying extra for half-board.
Wherever you eat, don't miss the local Mount Athos wines, whose grapes are grown, picked, stamped and bottled by monks. Ammos Beach Bar and Eagles Cafe both serve up snack food - souvlaki, burgers and sandwiches.
Features include:
- Bar
- Beach club
- Coffee maker
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Laze on the beach. There are 3 different sections and all have a different vibe - one quiet, one with background music, and one with Ammos Beach Bar and the watersports centre
- Active types can go diving, sailing, kayaking, wake-boarding, water-skiing and on pedalos (for a fee)
- Catch the boat to the secluded island of Drenia, where the Eagles Palace Island Club invites you to recline on a sun lounger on the stunning beach
- Book a sailing excursion to Amouliani Island or hire a motor boat and find your own sandy cove. Keep your eyes peeled for wild dolphins as you cruise
- Play tennis or take cookery lessons
- Start your day off smoothly with a complimentary beach yoga session
- Have a massage by the sea, or head to the Elemis spa for some dedicated pampering. The 5-hour 'Day of Tranquility' should do the trick
- Catch the free shuttle or hire bikes and cycle into Ouranoupolis, a charming village with a fishing harbour and fortified Byzantine tower. Traditional shops sell locally produced goods
- Day trip to the spectacular monasteries of Mount Athos - the men-only monastic republic established in 963, a Unesco site
- Sit back and relax at the open air theatre, which hosts movie nights, plays, kids' discos, and champagne nights at the pop-up bar
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cooking classes
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Historical sites
- Museums / galleries
- Private guided tours
- Sailing
- Scuba diving
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Well being
- Windsurfing
- Yoga
Kids
This is a paradise for families, with everything you need on-site for an easy holiday. For little ones, a sandy beach with warm shallow water and a playground. Watersports for older kids, and a heated pool plus a toddler pool. Family spa treatments. A choice of restaurants, including Melathron, which offers European buffet fare for half-board stays, and Vinum, serving Italian food. Baby equipment to borrow, excellent Kids Clubs and superlative childcare so you can have some adult time to read, do watersports or dine a deux. Their sister property, Eagles Villas, is also good for families; we think best for kids from 2 years and up.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
We stayed in a beautiful Junior Suite Sea Front, which was open-plan, but had the benefit of a large covered balcony, so we had somewhere to sit in the evenings while our daughter slept, plus somewhere cool for her to play in the heat of the day. Open-plan Junior Suites have a kingsize or twin beds, plus a sofabed in their sitting area. Family Suites are similar, but the bedroom and sitting are separated by a sliding door. Superior Rooms and Bungalows can all fit 1 extra child up to the age of 12, in a baby cot or rollaway bed. Children age 13+ will need their own room - or there are 2-bedroom bungalows and suites, though these are pricey.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
On request
Baby equipment:
Baby cots and high chairs
Remember baby and child equipment may be limited or need pre-booking
Creche/Kid's Club:
An excellent indoor littlies club with games, toys, arts and crafts for younger children (Globetrotters 4mo-2yrs, Adventurers 3-4 yrs). A sheltered garden area and playhouse combo for older kids, plus an Aqua Explorer's Club with daily watersports classes (Voyagers 5-7 yrs, Pioneers 8-13yrs). A varied activity schedule provided for all age groups. All open April-October, 10am-6pm Tuesday-Sunday, half day (10am-2pm/2-6pm) or full day sessions available, pre-booking essential
Kids Activities on site:
- Heated pool and kids' splash pool
- Playground
- Beach
- Eagles Spa has family spa treatment menu, including princess/prince facials and body massages
- Kayaking and pedalos
- Snorkelling and diving
- Sailing and boat trips
- Movie nights
- Tennis
Families Should Know:
The parasols on the beach cannot be moved, to provide shade for children. The pool is not fenced. There are lots of steps generally. If you book half-board, bear in mind that the restaurant doesn't open until 7.30pm
Distances:
- Airport: 2 hours' drive (Thessaloniki)
- Shops: 5 minutes' drive (Ouranoupolis)
- Hospital: 1 hour's drive (Polygyros)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Eagles Palace is just outside the village of Ouranoupolis (gateway to the monastic community of Mount Athos) on the 3rd peninsula of Chalkidiki (Halkidiki), mainland Greece. It’s about 2 hours' drive from Thessaloniki and its airport.
By Air:
Thessaloniki (129km away) is the nearest airport. It’s the hub for northern Greece and served by many international flights - click on the links below for a list of airlines. There’s also an airport at Kavala (211km away).
From the Airport
The hotel can arrange transfers (extra cost), or you can hire a car. The hotel has a car park.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Greece and getting around
Airports:
- Thessaloniki International 129.0 km SKG
- Kavala 221.0 km KVA
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 1.5 km
- Restaurant 1.5 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 2 independent reviews from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape