The World's Most Breathtaking Islands
There's something undeniably special about islands: though often barely a speck on a map, these remote destinations are so rich in character that the experiences they offer will stick with you long after you've left. Swallowed by the sea on all sides and framed, at times, with the most breathtaking natural structures you'll ever see, they're unlike any bucket-list spot on most people's lists. Whether you're drawn to turquoise lagoons, volcanic peaks, medieval villages perched on cliffsides, or infinite stretches of white sand and blue waves, these 20 islands prove that sometimes, the best things really do come in smaller packages.
1. Palawan, Philippines
Palawan is consistently ranked among the most beautiful islands in the world, and once you see its emerald limestone karsts rising out of crystal-clear water, it's easy to understand why. The island is home to the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Subterranean River, one of the longest navigable subterranean rivers on the planet. You'll also find some of the Philippines' most spectacular diving spots here, with reefs that are teeming with marine life in every direction.
2. Skye, Scotland
The Isle of Skye sits off the northwest coast of Scotland and offers some of the most dramatic highland scenery you'll encounter anywhere in the British Isles. Its rugged terrain includes the Cuillin mountain range, the Fairy Pools, and the striking rock formation known as the Old Man of Storr. Beyond the landscapes, Skye has a rich Gaelic heritage and a surprisingly vibrant food scene anchored by fresh seafood and locally produced whisky.
PaulT (Gunther Tschuch) on Wikimedia
3. Faroe Islands, Denmark
Tucked between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are an archipelago of 18 volcanic islands that feel refreshingly off the beaten path. The scenery here is jaw-dropping: sheer sea cliffs, cascading waterfalls, villages of brightly colored turf-roofed houses clinging to hillsides above the water. It's one of the few places in Europe where you feel like you've stepped away from the modern world entirely.
4. Procida, Italy
Procida is the smallest of the three main islands in the Gulf of Naples, and it's often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, Capri and Ischia. That's a shame, because this little island has a charm that's entirely its own, with pastel-painted fishermen's houses stacked along the harbor and streets narrow enough that you have to press against a wall to let a scooter pass. Procida was named Italy's Capital of Culture in 2022, a recognition that finally gave it the international spotlight it deserved.
5. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Few islands on earth have a reputation quite like Bora Bora's, and the reality truly lives up to the hype. The lagoon that surrounds the island is an almost unreal shade of turquoise, and the overwater bungalows perched above it have become one of the most iconic travel images in the world. Beyond the luxury resorts, Bora Bora also offers excellent snorkeling, shark and ray feeding tours, and views of Mount Otemanu that are worth the journey on their own.
6. Gozo, Malta
Gozo is Malta's smaller, quieter sister island, and it tends to attract visitors who want a more relaxed alternative to the busier main island. The landscape here is dotted with ancient megalithic temples, honey-colored stone villages, and rugged coastal cliffs that drop straight into some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean. The Azure Window, a natural limestone arch, once stood as Gozo's most photographed landmark before it collapsed in 2017, but the island has more than enough natural and historical beauty to draw you in regardless.
Berit Watkin from Redhill/Surrey, UK on Wikimedia
7. Moorea, French Polynesia
Located just 11 miles (17 kilometers) from Tahiti, Moorea is a volcanic island shaped like a heart when viewed from above, with two stunning bays—Opunohu and Cook's Bay—cutting deep into its mountainous interior. The snorkeling and diving here are world-class, with opportunities to swim alongside humpback whales during migration season between July and November. Moorea also has a much more affordable and laid-back atmosphere than Bora Bora, which makes it a great option if you want the beauty of French Polynesia without the premium price tag.
8. Hydra, Greece
What makes Hydra immediately distinctive is the fact that there are no motorized vehicles allowed on the island (not even bicycles!), so transportation is entirely by foot, donkey, or water taxi. The result is a remarkably peaceful and photogenic place where the only sounds you'll hear on the cobblestone streets are footsteps, the occasional bray of a donkey, and the distant lap of water against the harbor. Hydra has long been a haven for artists and writers, and the island's relaxed, creative energy is something you'll feel from the moment you step off the ferry.
9. Socotra, Yemen
Socotra is one of the most biologically unusual islands on the planet, with roughly a third of its plant life found nowhere else on earth. The most iconic of these is the dragon blood tree, an alien-looking species with an umbrella-shaped canopy and bright red sap that has been prized for centuries for its medicinal and artistic uses. Despite its remote location in the Arabian Sea, Socotra has become a growing destination for adventurous travelers drawn to its prehistoric landscapes and near-total isolation from modern development.
10. Sark, Channel Islands
Sark is one of the last feudal states in the world, a tiny island in the English Channel that still has no cars, no public streetlights, and a population of fewer than 600 people. Its complete lack of light pollution has earned it the status of the world's first Dark Sky Island, making it one of the best places in Europe for stargazing. The island is only accessible by ferry from Guernsey, and the combination of its medieval governance structure, dramatic cliff walks, and extraordinary night skies makes it one of the most fascinatingly singular destinations you'll ever visit.
11. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Fernando de Noronha is a volcanic archipelago off the northeast coast of Brazil that operates under strict environmental protections designed to keep its ecosystems intact. Only a limited number of tourists are allowed on the island at any one time, and visitors pay a daily environmental tax that increases the longer they stay, which keeps the beaches uncrowded and the water exceptionally clear. The diving and snorkeling here are considered some of the best in the Atlantic, with spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and reef sharks all regular sightings.
12. Lofoten Islands, Norway
The Lofoten Islands sit above the Arctic Circle and are famous for landscapes that look almost unreal: jagged mountain peaks rising straight out of the Norwegian Sea, traditional red fishermen's cabins called rorbuer lining the harbors, the sky lit up by the northern lights in winter. Despite their remote location, the islands have a well-developed tourism infrastructure that makes them surprisingly accessible, with excellent hiking trails, kayaking routes, and surf breaks. In summer, the midnight sun keeps the sky light around the clock, creating a surreal atmosphere that's unlike anything you'll experience elsewhere.
13. Île Saint-Louis, France
Île Saint-Louis is a small natural island in the Seine River at the heart of Paris, and while it's technically within the city limits, it has a character so distinct that it feels like its own separate village. The island is made up almost entirely of 17th-century architecture, with elegant stone mansions lining the quays and narrow streets filled with independent boutiques, galleries, and restaurants. It's the kind of place that encourages slow, aimless wandering, particularly on a sunny afternoon with a scoop of Berthillon ice cream in hand.
14. Aitutaki, Cook Islands
Aitutaki is a small atoll in the South Pacific that's often described as having one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world, and the lagoon here really is something to behold, glassy and ringed by tiny uninhabited motus that you can reach by boat in a matter of minutes. The island is far less developed than destinations like Bora Bora or the Maldives, which gives it a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere that's increasingly rare in tropical tourism. Snorkeling in the lagoon puts you in the company of giant clams, parrotfish, and turtles in water so clear it barely seems real.
No machine-readable author provided. Emeseee assumed (based on copyright claims). on Wikimedia
15. Capri, Italy
Capri sits in the Tyrrhenian Sea just off the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula and has been luring visitors since the days of the Roman emperors, who built elaborate villas on its clifftops that you can still visit today. The island's most famous natural attraction is the Blue Grotto, a sea cave where light filters through an underwater opening and turns the water inside an almost electric shade of blue. Outside peak season, when the day-trippers have gone home and the streets belong to the island again, Capri takes on an elegance and tranquility that explains exactly why it's been beloved for two millennia.
16. Zanzibar, Tanzania
Zanzibar is an archipelago off the coast of Tanzania with a history so layered that its architecture, cuisine, and culture are unlike anything you'll find on the African mainland. Stone Town, located in the island's historic capital, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a labyrinth of narrow alleyways, ornate carved wooden doors, and bustling spice markets. The beaches on the east coast are powder-white and face an Indian Ocean that turns from jade to deep blue as the reef drops away.
17. Ilha Grande, Brazil
Ilha Grande lies about 93 miles (150 kilometers) southwest of Rio de Janeiro and is one of those rare islands that has managed to stay mostly undeveloped despite being relatively close to a major city. It was once home to a prison that helped keep development at bay for decades, and today the island is part of a state park that protects its dense Atlantic Forest, 102 beaches, and miles of hiking trails. There are no cars on the island and no paved roads in most areas, which forces you to slow down and experience it properly, whether by foot or by boat.
Gabriel Fontes de Sousa on Pexels
18. Maafushi, Maldives
While much of the Maldives is synonymous with ultra-luxury resort islands, Maafushi offers a more accessible and community-oriented way to experience the archipelago's extraordinary natural beauty. It's one of the most popular local islands in the Maldives, with a range of guesthouses, dive centers, and water sports operators that cater to independent travelers on a reasonable budget. The house reef just off the island's sandbanks is easy to reach by swimming and filled with reef sharks, rays, and colorful fish that make every snorkel session feel like an event.
19. Borneo (Sabah), Malaysia
While Borneo is one of the largest islands in the world, the Malaysian state of Sabah, which occupies its northern tip, packs enough extraordinary experiences into a relatively compact area to make it feel like a destination unto itself. Sabah is home to the Kinabatangan River, where you can spot proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and orangutans from a riverboat without venturing far from your lodge. It also has some of Southeast Asia's best diving at Sipadan Island, a protected marine park that regularly appears on lists of the top dive sites on the planet.
20. Svalbard, Norway
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, roughly halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, and it's one of those destinations that seems almost impossible to believe is actually accessible to regular travelers. Polar bears have a major presence here; the winter months bring months of total darkness, and the summers deliver uninterrupted daylight, which means there's no neutral, unremarkable time to visit. Whether you're snowmobiling across frozen tundra, sailing through ice floes, or watching a walrus haul itself onto shore, Svalbard delivers the kind of raw, elemental travel experiences that are becoming increasingly hard to find anywhere else on earth.
