Belvedere

Belvedere Hotel is a small three-star base in the centre of Pythagoreio, suited to you if you want the town close at hand rather than a self-contained resort. The atmosphere is straightforward: air-conditioned rooms, free Wi-Fi, a library, and the practical comfort of being able to walk out for a coffee, a taverna or an evening wander.

The hotel dates from 1978, which gives it a little more history than the freshly minted blocks found elsewhere. It is the sort of place that works well for a simple island stay: come back, cool down, put your feet up, and decide whether the evening calls for a book or the town.

You stay at 6 Aisopou Street in Pythagoreio, on the south-eastern coast of Samos. The hotel sits in the town centre, so cafés, tavernas and the local streets are part of the practical picture rather than an excursion requiring transport.

Samos Town is 7.5 miles away. Glicorisa Beach and Patmos Port are among the places to explore around the hotel, giving you options beyond the immediate town when a change of scenery is in order.

The choice runs from standard to deluxe rooms, with views doing much of the sorting. You can opt for a garden outlook, water or sea views, and in selected categories a balcony. For a couple, the Deluxe double room with balcony and sea view is the obvious choice when the view matters as much as the bed; twin-bed categories suit two divers who prefer not to negotiate sleeping arrangements after a long day.

Practical equipment varies by room, so check the individual category before booking. Air conditioning appears in several standard and deluxe options, while selected rooms also have a fridge, safe, tea- and coffee-making facilities, wardrobe and television. A private bathroom and shower are available in the listed room categories, with single and triple options also available for different ways of travelling.

That mix makes the hotel more useful than a one-size-fits-all room block. Choose the simpler option if you mainly need somewhere cool and private to sleep; choose a balcony or sea-view category if you expect to spend time in the room with a coffee and the door open to the island light.

This is a town-based stay rather than a hotel built around a restaurant programme. Local food is found in the picturesque tavernas and cafés of Pythagoreio, which puts grilled dishes, island cooking and an unhurried evening within easy reach once you have showered and changed.

The hotel keeps the basics close by: tea- and coffee-making facilities, a kettle, and room service. Meal arrangements depend on the room rate you choose, so the booking details matter here. There is no named hotel restaurant or bar to plan the evening around; the town supplies that part of the day.

The library is the useful detail here. It gives you somewhere to switch off without having to find another café, particularly when the legs have had enough of walking and the weather is still doing its Greek-island impression outside.

Cultural excursions are also available as part of what the hotel offers around a stay in Pythagoreio. That suits a day away from the water: explore the town and its surroundings, then return to the hotel for air conditioning, a shower and a quiet hour with a book.

Check-in runs from midday to 20:30, with check-out by 11:00. If your arrival falls outside that window, arrange the details with the hotel before travelling rather than relying on luck and a tired airport transfer.

Free Wi-Fi, luggage storage and a safe are available, while air conditioning is part of the hotel’s facilities. The electrical supply is 230 volts with Type C and Type F sockets. Guests under 18 cannot stay alone, so younger travellers need an accompanying adult.

The address is 6 Aisopou Street, Pythagoreio, on Samos.