Art Hotel Panorama

The room was simple, but very clean and well maintained, and our balcony looked out across the bay. We loved watching the sunsets from there each evening. Art Hotel Panorama feels more like an artist’s home than a standard hotel. Vintage furniture, paintings, and little artistic touches fill the place, and a charismatic, unobtrusive gentleman was smoking in a corner when we arrived. That was Yorgos, the owner, artist, thinker, and riddler. The hotel sits above the charming little village of Pyrgadikia, in a peaceful spot that feels calm and restful. If you like art and nature, value your privacy, and don’t mind a 5-minute walk downhill and a 10-minute climb back up each day, it could be just right. We can’t wait to return.

Pyrgadikia itself is a lovely, bright place with good food, and we still had a great vacation. But after 10 years of visiting Greece, this was the first hotel I was eager to leave. The property is inexpensive and clean, and the view is lovely. Pets are allowed too. Those are the good things I can say about our stay. We often felt unwelcome, especially as a large group. Guests were expected to be extremely quiet. We were told that even dragging a child’s stroller or backpack made too much noise because of the wheels. The manager or owner, we couldn’t tell which, insisted we’d been noisy, so we apologized even though we weren’t sure it had been us or the other guests. Mister Yorgos embarrassed my friend in Bulgaria, who had helped me with the reservation, by complaining to her instead of contacting me. The quiet rule seemed unevenly applied. The morning after that complaint, a drilling machine made a great deal of noise while something was being fixed, waking the sleeping guests. That evening, an Italian couple talked loudly and made quite a bit of noise, but we didn’t complain. On our first morning, I waited over an hour for coffee because Mr. Yorgos was on the phone. He usually didn’t say hello, though guests were expected to be polite. The staff, on the other hand, were very friendly and cheerful. The bar had full ashtrays, and there was a strong smell because smoking is allowed inside. It wasn’t clear when we were supposed to pay for coffee. Sometimes he asked us for money, sometimes he didn’t. As he said, “My house, my rules.”

The host made the stay memorable, telling stories drawn from a rich life and speaking English and German. He was interesting, well-read, and had unusual taste in music. We’d be happy to return. We also hope he received our postcard. Greetings from Serbia. The hotel sits on a hill above a small Greek town that feels refreshingly unlike the country’s more touristy places. The locals were friendly and hospitable. With a car, the town center is very close. Without one, the uphill walk to the hotel takes some effort, though it’s manageable. Inside, it felt like walking into an art exhibition. The quiet, serene atmosphere and decor reminded me of the first half of the 20th century. It was unlike anywhere else I’ve stayed in Greece or elsewhere. P.S. Not a place for loud, rude people!

A humble, slightly old-fashioned hotel with artwork inside and a lovely position overlooking the village. It was clean and comfortable enough for a stay in Halkidiki. We had an initial misunderstanding, but I have a lot of respect for the owners and appreciate our time in Pyrgadikia. Kind regards, Ivan