The Best Islands to Visit for Turquoise Coves, Cliffside Villages, and World

There are an estimated 11,000 inhabited islands dotting the world's oceans, lakes, and seas—ranging from Scandinavia's rugged glacier-carved archipelagos to the lush volcanic chains of Hawaii and the western Pacific. For travelers, the very best islands to visit are idyllic enclaves where time slows and worries disappear, all stressors abandoned on the mainland. With diverse scenery spanning temperate beaches, tucked-away turquoise coves, lush rainforests, and scenic mountaintops, there's an island for every type of traveler, every month of the year. Below, we've curated the best islands to visit according to Condé Nast Traveler readers, who vote for their favorite destinations, hotels, cruises, and more during our annual Readers' Choice Awards (stay tuned, the 2026 results will be revealed in October). Whether you want to sunbathe, snorkel, whale watch, or hike, these 11 islands promise nothing less than paradise. Crete, Greece With stretches of olive groves and rolling countryside overlooking the vast Aegean Sea, there's no wondering why Crete was voted the best island in Europe by our readers. To experience Cretan lifestyle at its most laidback, consider staying in Kissamos on Chania’s northwest coast, where you can free dive off the shore, traverse coastal walkways, and sample the famous Med diet by way of mezedes and fresh seafood. Take a ferry to Balos Lagoon and wade in its shallow waters, or explore Falassarna’s pink-flecked sands. Though most flights to Greece’s largest isle connect in Athens, travelers may also opt for a seasonal summer ferry from Santorini or year-round ferry from Piraeus. Where to stay in Crete: - For a homey, hillside suite: Tella Thera - For an artsy bungalow off the beaten path: Minos Beach Art Hotel - For an inland stay: Kapsaliana Village Cape Breton, Canada Located at the northeastern tip of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton was voted the best Canadian island by CNT readers. Its winding coastal roads make for a bucket-list roadtrip: Go for the ever-scenic Cabot Trail, a 185-mile loop coursing through Cape Breton Highlands National Park with plenty of detours and hikes along the way, including the four-mile Skyline Trail that ends with cliffside views. Plan your visit in October for peak fall foliage or the start of summer to go whale-watching. To get there, fly into Sydney via Toronto or Halifax, or drive the Trans-Canada Highway 104 straight to Cape Breton Island. Where to stay in Cape Breton: - For golfing with ocean views: Cabot Cape Breton Galapágos Islands, Ecuador The Galapágos, voted the best island in Central and South America by CNT readers, is on nearly every traveler's bucket list. The incredibly biodiverse archipelago—which consists of 13 major islands located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador—is one of the world's original UNESCO World Heritage sites, with 97% of the archipelago protected as a national park. Thanks to those impressive conservation measures, the Galapágos Islands are considered one of the world's top eco-tourism and wildlife viewing destinations. Visitors can scuba dive with giant tortoises, spot rare penguin and iguana species, snorkel with sea lions, and even catch a glimpse of the blue-footed boobies’ “sky point” courtship dance. December through May is the wet season, while June through November is windier but attracts troves of birds and fish. One of the best ways to experience the Galapágos is by boat: Consider an eco-cruise like Lindblad’s National Geographic Islander II or andBeyond's Galápagos Explorer. If you’d like to station on a single island, however, fly into Ecuador’s gateway cities Quito and Guayaquil, then take a ferry to islands Santa Cruz or Isabela. Where to stay in Galapágos Islands: - For a breezy eco-lodge: Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel - For a tucked-away jungle retreat: Royal Palm Galapagos, Curio Collection Hotel by Hilton Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Voted time and time again by CNT readers as the No. 1 island in the United States, there’s far more to this low-country destination than its famous golf course. Mosey along the wetland boardwalks and walkways of 600-acre Sea Pines Nature Preserve, or go biking and bird-watching for egrets and herons at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, which straddles the mainland and Hilton Head. Although downtime along the island’s 12-mile coastline is most often enjoyed at bustling Coligny Beach Park, a five-minute drive south will take you to quieter Alder Lane Beach, ideal for lounging by waters that reach 80 degrees late May through October. Where to stay in Hilton Head Island: - For a country club classic with golfing: The Inn & Club at Harbour Town - For an amusement park without the crowds: Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort - For a sweeping beachside resort: Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort Bermuda CNT readers voted this tiny but mighty North Atlantic island the best in the Caribbean and Atlantic. Bermuda is one of the most easily accessible islands from the East Coast of the US, best known for its limestone caves, pink-sand beaches such as Horseshoe Bay, and a bevy of reefs and shipwrecks that double as dive sites. Plus, its culinary scene offers up dishes like wahoo ceviche and fish chowders that make a trip all the more worth it. To get there, take a 90-minute flight from New York into L. F. Wade International Airport. Consider vacationing in March or April to catch a glimpse of migrating humpback whales in low-humidity weather. If, unsurprisingly, jumping into those turquoise waters is your priority, after Bermuda Day (on May 24) and before Labor Day is the sweet spot for the best swimming conditions. Where to stay in Bermuda: - For classic chic appeal: The Loren at Pink Beach - For a convenient location and old-school charm: Rosedon Hotel - For unparalleled beach access: Pompano Beach Club Fiji With 300-plus islands, Fiji is ideal for isle hopping (and is our readers' top island of choice in Australia and the South Pacific). Fiji Airways offers direct flights from Dallas and Los Angeles to main island Viti Levu’s Nadi International Airport. From there, consider the Mamanuca Islands for world-class surf breaks; Yasawa Islands, a group of 20 islands for strolling across grassy hillsides; or Malolo for golden sands and luxury resorts. To dodge the cyclone season, visit from May through September, and find cloudless blue skies and still waters awaiting your arrival. Where to stay in Fiji: - For an all-inclusive on Viti Levu: InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa - For solar-powered respite on Malolo Island: Six Senses Fiji Phú Quốc, Vietnam Off the coast of Cambodia, Vietnam’s largest island Phú Quốc was voted the best island in Asia by CNT readers—who are clearly fans of its off-the-radar white beaches such as Bai Sao and Long Beach and world-class coral snorkeling spots. If you venture inland, consider riding the Sun World Hon Thom, a sweeping sea-crossing cable car, or explore the island’s 900-plus acres of black pepper plantations and spice harvesting with Duc Ninh Pepper Farm. A flight from Ho Chi Minh city takes an hour or so. Where to stay in Phú Quốc: - For a resort with fantastical design: JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort & Spa - For a villa at a reborn staple: Regent Phu Quoc Santa Catalina Island, California You'd be forgiven if you mistook Santa Catalina's sailboat-dotted coves for the Mediterranean coast—but this hidden gem is a quick boat ride away from Los Angeles. One of the five Channel Islands, Santa Catalina may be Southern California's best-kept secret. Good thing CNT readers are as savvy as they are, because this their pick for the best island in the Western US. Accessible by high-speed ferry from port locations like San Pedro, Long Beach, Dana Point, and Newport Beach, Catalina offers year-round 50- to 70-degree weather, making it an ideal West Coast getaway year-round. Visit the crescent-shaped Avalon Bay in the southeast or catch a staggering glimpse of Catalina from Mount Orizaba, the island’s highest peak. Where to stay in Santa Catalina Island: - For a Med-meets-SoCal stay: Hotel Atwater Andaman Islands, India Straddling the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, this 200-island archipelago was voted the Indian Ocean's finest by CNT readers. Begin your journey on Havelock Island, accessible by ferry to its namesake jetty, then lounge the day away on Radhanager Beach or Elephant Beach, tour the corridors of the Baratang Limestone Cave, and kayak through mangroves in the evening to spot vibrant bioluminescence. To get to the Andamans, take a direct flight from Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, or Vizag to Veer Savarkar Airport in the capital Port Blair. Where to stay in Andaman Islands: - For a hut nestled in the forest: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives This archipelago of 1,000-plus paradisiacal islands is our readers' top pick in Africa. With so many to choose from, consider Baa Atoll as your first stop—a UNESCO-protected biosphere since 2011 that's home to one of the largest coral reef groups in the Indian Ocean (the seventh largest in the world). From July to October, swim with manta rays and whale sharks, or save your trip for November through April to enjoy minimal rainfall, abundant sunshine, and high visibility for divers. Many of the atoll’s islands are privately-owned and accessible by boat or seaplane, home to some of the world's most beautiful over-water bungalows and luxury resorts. Where to stay in the Maldives: - For a beach-to-lagoon villa: .Here Baa Atoll - For a solo swims all to oneself: Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives Isla Mujeres, Mexico Home to the world’s greatest concentration of whale sharks and some truly stellar dive sites, this Caribbean island was voted one of the top islands in North America and is a go-to for divers and snorkelers alike. Get your fix of art, nature, and art-as-nature at Musa, a sweeping underwater museum with some 500 reef sculptures; shallow snorkel at Garrafon Natural Reef Park; or simply lounge on the crushed coral sands of Playa Norte. To get here, take the ferry from Puerto Juárez in Cancún, which is a roughly 20-minute ride to Isla Mujeres. Where to stay in Isla Mujeres: - For an all-encompassing retreat: Almare, a Luxury Collection Resort