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; one reason why it has the Small Luxury Hotels stamp of approval. 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 May to October (sometimes in April depending on when Greek Easter falls). If you're coming as a couple or with pre-schoolers, we'd recommend the shoulder months of 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!
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