After our two week road trip through mainland Greece we were looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Hotel Du Lac Congress Center & Spa is set on beautiful Lake Pamvotida in Ioannina, and was the perfect two night escape. Here’s everything about our stay at Hotel Du Lac. From a romantic dinner to 4 hour spa session, and so much more!
Getting to Ioannina Greece
As our last stop before getting to Ioannina, we spent three nights in the magical town of Meteora. Here we had 3 days of exploring, hiking to the famous monasteries, and sampling all the local specialties. Needless to say, we were ready for the resort life!
After a quick visit to the mountain village of Metsovo we made it to Ioannina. Arriving at Hotel Du Lac in the early afternoon allowed us to head into the city center before check-in.
The city on the lake is surrounded by the massive Mitsikeli Mountains which only adds to its allure. Aside from the stunning scenery, we quickly found there was so much to see an do! We went to the castle, walked along the water, and strolled through the busy streets of Old Town.
By the time we checked in at Hotel Du Lac Ioannina we were so excited for our relaxing weekend escape.
Hotel Du Lac Superior Lake View Room
We had the pleasure of staying in the Superior Lake View on our visit to Hotel Du Lac Congress Center & Spa. The large room had a king bed, cozy coach area, and overlooked Lake Pamvotida.
After unpacking and having a nice hot bath, we settled in and had a glass of wine on the balcony before dinner. The view of the water with the giant green mountains behind it felt like something out of a dream.
One thing you should know about Ioannina is that it gets quite a bit of rain. Yet, the way the clouds sit atop the mountains creates a fog that gives a certain mystique to the city.
→ Book Your Stay at Hotel Du Lac Ionnina Here!
Dinner at Du Sel Restaurant
Our first meal at Hotel Du Lac Ioannina would be at Du Sel. This is one of two restaurants on the property, with the second being the more casual La Buvette. Right away, we were loving the upscale atmosphere!
We always appreciate trying anything local and our server Constantine recommended a great bottle of wine. It is named Ampelones Glinavos and was a delicious taste of the local wine region.
To start we shared a spinach salad and the prawn saganaki. The salad was light and refreshing while the shrimp were absolutely delicious! The curry seafood flavor was different from everything we had been eating in Greece and a nice switch up.
For our main courses we ordered the giouvetsi and lamb. Giouvetsi is one of our favorite Greek dishes, so having it with beef cheeks was such a treat.
To finish off our meal, we had chocolate and traditional orange cake with ice cream. Du Sel Restaurant was the perfect option for a romantic dinner. It’s somewhere we would totally come back to eat even if we weren’t staying at Hotel Du Lac Ioannina.
Breakfast at Hotel Du Lac Ioannina
We woke up the next morning feeling refreshed after our first night. Although we couldn’t wait to explore more of Ioannina, the comfortable lake view room compelled us to sleep in and enjoy a coffee on our balcony. The clouds were mysteriously floating over the mountains again which was a joy to watch.
While it was hard to leave the room, we knew that Hotel Du Lac Ioannina is known for its amazing breakfast buffet. So around 9am we decided we should go so we didn’t miss out!
We walked through the underground passageway that connects the two main buildings to avoid the rain. This lower floor is also where the Hotel Du Lac Spa is which we would be heading to later.
When we arrived at breakfast we were overwhelmed with all the delicious options. One of our favorite stations was where you can build your own Greek yogurt bowls. It was filled with dozens of different mixed nuts, dried fruits, and flavored honeys.
The breakfast buffet had eggs prepared 5 different ways, endless meats & cheeses, and plenty of fresh fruits, bread, and pastry options. If you’re the type of person who loves to have a big and relaxing breakfast on holiday, then you’ll love the set up at Hotel Du Lac Ioannina.
Relaxing Afternoon at Spa Du Lac
Just before 2pm we made our way down to the Hotel Du Lac Spa. We couldn’t wait to spend the rest of the afternoon here! It was going to be so nice to get a massage, relax at the indoor pool, and enjoy the wide range of spa facilities.
For the first hour we simply laid by the heated pool and drank green tea. From there, we jumped between the hammam, jacuzzi, and sauna. Then before we realized it, it was time for our massages.
We went one at a time and both got the oriental massage. While we have stayed at many five star resorts with spa treatments, we couldn’t get over how good this massage was. The room was sprayed with a flora scent and the rub down was just what we needed after all our travels.
Dinner at La Buvette Restaurant
After such a pleasant afternoon, we were happy to have something easy planned for dinner. La Buvette is the main restaurant & bar of Hotel Du Lac Congress Center and Spa. The light menu is a mix of salads, pasta, burgers, and other scrumptious looking mains.
We started with the Burrata and Caesar salads which were both very tasty. For our mains, we got a burger and pasta. We were told that this was their new menu so it was awesome to get to try it.
The combination of Greek and Western cuisine was a nice change up from all the traditional food we had been eating so far on our road trip. It was the ideal casual meal we wanted after relaxing all day at the spa.
Checking Out of Hotel Du Lac Congress Center and Spa
On our final morning we woke up and realized we had yet to see all of Ioannina! To be honest, we enjoyed Hotel Du Lac so much that we had a hard time leaving the property. Luckily, we had a full day after checking out to see more of it.
We took our time eating breakfast before heading back into the city. One thing that’s great about the location is it’s just a few minutes walk to the ancient castle. This is also where the boats take off from to Ioannina Island which is worth visiting.
Two nights was great to truly immerse ourselves in the Hotel Du Lac resort and spa treatments. However, if you plan a 3 or 4 night stay it will give you more time to explore this unique city on the lake.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own experience at Hotel Du Lac in Ioannina Greece? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar!
This experience was made possible in partnership with Hotel Du Lac. As always, any opinions and recommendations remain our own.
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Greece Travel Planning
Explore all our Greece articles to help plan your trip! We cover everything from general travel tips to amazing destinations such as Santorini, Paros, Rhodes, Karpathos, Crete, Milos & more beautiful islands!
Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials!
When island hopping use FerriesinGreece to compare different routes, prices, and companies.
Flights: We always check Skyscanner and Kayak to search for cheap flights. That’s how we got from Crete to Athens for under $50 USD!
Accommodation: Compare multiple sites to get to the best deal such as Booking.com and Agoda! Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget.
Rental Car: You can book a rental car for around $20 a day in Greece! We use Discover Cars to explore the larger islands with a vehicle.
Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for activities in Crete Greece. You can find everything from taking a boat cruise to Balos Lagoon, to a guided tour of Knossos Palace, and Trekking Samaria Gorge.
Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without protection. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
