When you want to get away from it all, there’s one thing for it: a good island getaway. Whether it’s a weekend partying in Ibiza, a beach break in Sicily or a laidback trip to the Canary Islands, nothing screams a perfect summer holiday more than a little bit of sea, sand, sun and some sightseeing.
But which of Europe’s scenic islands is the best? Travel magazine Travel + Leisure asked its readers to weigh in on their travel experiences and rate their favourite island getaways based on stuff like natural attractions, things to see and do, restaurants, value for money and the people.
The results are in and the winner is… Madeira, Portugal! Birthplace of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, this Portuguese island is best known for its veradas and levadas that make for world-class hiking, stellar wine and pretty decent weather all year round.
With seven islands in the top 15, Greece is perhaps the real winner here. The usual suspects of Santorini, Crete and Mykonos feature on the list, with slightly-less-popular Paros awarded Greece’s best – all beautiful islands where ancient ruins meet Instagram-worthy beaches.
Trailing behind Greece with three islands on the list was, unsurprisingly, Italy. Popular summertime islands like Sicily, Sardinia and Capri made the list. But it’s not all summer hotspots: the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides put Scotland on the list at number two. The Scottish archipelago boasts winding coastlines, magnificent lochs and towering munros.
Here are the best islands to visit in Europe in 2023, according to Travel + Leisure.
1. Madeira, Portugal
2. Skye and the Hebrides, Scotland
3. Paros, Greece
4. Azores, Portugal
5. Rhodes and the Dodecanese, Greece
6. Hvar and the Dalmatian Islands, Croatia
7. Sicily, Italy
8. Santorini, Greece
9. Cyprus
= Milos, Greece
11. Crete, Greece
12. Sardinia, Italy
13. Mykonos, Greece
14. Corfu and the Ionian Islands, Greece
15. Capri, Italy
Now check out our guides to the best islands in Italy, Greece and the whole entire world.
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