Island travel has become genre, which is the problem with it. The island experiences that work are those where the island delivers a distinct rhythm — not a beach resort that could be anywhere with palm trees, but a place with its own food, its own language, its own weather pattern. These twelve are the islands our editors send friends to when a specific kind of week is what they want. All have been visited by us; all reward a full week; all have honest tradeoffs.
The caldera volcano produces the geological drama that justifies the crowds. Stay in Oia (Canaves) or Imerovigli (Grace) for the view; eat in Megalochori for the quieter meals; do not do Santorini alone — pair with Milos (below) or Naxos. September-October or May are the sweet spots.
Our 10-day Greece itinerary →Not an island — an archipelago of 26 atolls. Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is our editor pick for the combination of marine life (manta ray aggregations at Hanifaru Bay June-November) and smaller resort density than the busier Malé atolls. Soneva Fushi is the editor cult pick; the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, the luxury benchmark.
Our Maldives cover feature →The quieter Santorini alternative, increasingly the 'Santorini of 2010' before mass tourism. Sarakiniko's white lunar rocks, Kleftiko's pirate coves, a dozen fishing villages with €15 octopus lunches. Much more varied beach experience than Santorini. Pair both islands in a single trip.
Sri Lanka as an island is huge, but the south coast (Mirissa, Weligama, Unawatuna, Galle) has the best beaches paired with the 16th-century Galle Fort's Dutch-colonial walled town. October-March is dry on the south coast; blue-whale watching from Mirissa (November-April).
The largest Greek island and the one most varied in landscape — the White Mountains to the south, Minoan archaeological sites (Knossos), the Chania old harbour, the Elafonissi pink-sand beach. A 10-day Crete trip combines mountains, archaeology, and beaches in a way most islands can't.
Our 10-day Greece itinerary →The Bali alternative. Kuta Lombok's quiet southern-coast surfing beaches, Mount Rinjani for trekking, the Gili Islands a 30-min speedboat away. Much less developed than Bali — which means fewer amenities but also fewer crowds. Suitable for 5-7 nights paired with the Gilis.
The art-island. Tadao Ando's Chichu Art Museum (entirely underground), the Benesse House (a museum-hotel), Yayoi Kusama's yellow-pumpkin pier sculpture. Ferries from Uno Port. A 2-3 night island stop within a broader Japan itinerary, not a standalone destination.
The chef island. Three Michelin-starred restaurants on a 35 sq mi island (Veya, Jacala, Straw Hat); the beaches (Shoal Bay East, Rendezvous Bay, Meads Bay) consistently on beach-ranking lists; no cruise ships anchor. Belmond Cap Juluca, Four Seasons Anguilla, or the smaller Frangipani Beach Resort.
The sandbar island off Mexico's Yucatán coast, 30-min ferry from Chiquilá. Cars-free (only golf carts). Genuine Mayan fishing village culture; whale-shark aggregation from mid-May through September is one of the underwater wildlife phenomena that remains, for now, visitable without over-regulation.
Volcanic thermal-spring island with green-cone craters (Sete Cidades, Lagoa do Fogo), whale-watching year-round, and a food scene that is only starting to be internationally discovered. Ponta Delgada, the capital, is compact and walkable. 4-5 night trip ideal.
Not to swim alone — the Komodo dragons (world's largest lizard) are the island's point. Permitted tours only; the PPL liveaboard boat circuit is the best way to combine Komodo National Park dragon tracking, the Pink Beach (sand coloured by red foraminifera), and Manta Point snorkeling.
Eighteen basaltic-rock islands between Iceland and Norway, which capped daily tourist numbers in 2019 and have remained quiet. Tórshavn (the capital) has 2 Michelin-starred restaurants (KOKS, Ræst). Hike the Slættaratindur, visit the Faroese sheep farms. Late April is the peak — no rain, long daylight, none of the summer tourist surge.
Our 7-day Iceland itinerary →Santorini (Greek, iconic) or Sri Lanka south coast (value + variety) for couples; Crete for families; the Maldives for honeymoons/anniversaries. Match the island to the trip, not the other way around.
Advertisement
