If you’ve seen an island on a postcard, it’s probably on this list. Some grant access to beaches, bays, boulders and blowholes; others offer caves, coves, cliffs, culture, ruins, reefs, rainforests and rum. Whatever your version of paradise, these 20 islands across the world deliver eye candy galore.
Travel to Capri, Italy, for natural beauty and an unforgettable, elevated vista. Or visit Thailand and, at the same time, the former sets of Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond movies. Looking to be more immersed in island culture? Plan a trip to Samoa, and experience the “Fa’a Samoa” way of life. You also can’t go wrong with the Greek island of Paxos and its perfect representation of Greek culture and life.
Get ready to be blown away by the most beautiful islands in the world.
Capri, Italy
Who hasn’t been spellbound by images of Capri’s electric Blue Grotto? This glowing sea cave impresses even veteran globetrotters, and it’s only the beginning of one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Ash-white limestone cliffs, hidden slivers of beach, a towering natural arch — it’s no wonder Capri has been a tourist hub since ancient Roman times.
Tip: Climb up to the ruins of Emperor Tiberius’ Villa Jovis, circa 27 CE, for a heart-stopping vista.
Whitsundays, Australia
The delicate Great Barrier Reef is one of the earth’s most extensive coral-reef system, supporting more than 1,600 species of fish, whales, rays, octopuses, dolphins and more. Nestled in the heart of this world wonder are the 74 Whitsunday Islands, all but four of which are protected national parklands.
Bask in luxury at a high-end resort like Hamilton Island, and book a seaplane or helicopter flight to admire sights like Heart Reef and the swirling silica sands of Whitehaven Beach’s Hill Inlet at one of the best islands in the world.
Bali, Indonesia
What’s most stunning in Bali? Dazzling beaches like Nusa Dua, Seminyak and Jimbaran Bay? Ubud’s terraced rice fields, sacred forest and ancient monuments? Or the island’s 10,000 intricate temples, including Pura Empul (the one you bathe in) and Uluwatu sea temple?
Experience all of the above, and decide for yourself. The Land of the Gods also boasts a loveliness that is more than skin-deep, thanks to its warm people and ubiquitous, inclusive spirituality.
James Bond Island, Southern Thailand
A limestone spike rising dramatically from the emerald waters of Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island (Koh Tapu; “Nail Island” in Thai) earned its moniker from appearing in two 007 movies: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).
Excursions depart from the popular resort areas of Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi on photogenic lontail boats. On the tour, explore secret lagoons, craggy sea caves and a floating village at one of the most famous islands.
Kauai, Hawaii
Christened the Garden Island, Kauai’s splendor extends from its vermillion Waimea Canyon, plunging down 3,600 feet, to its rugged Napali Cliffs, stretching up 4,000 feet. Often dotted with dozing monk seals, Kauai’s Poipu Beach has appeared on Dr. Beach’s esteemed list of America’s Best Beaches.
Rivers, rainforests and waterfalls garnish the interior. Don’t miss a photo op of Wailua Falls, famously featured in the opening credits of Fantasy Island, on one of the prettiest islands in the world.
Bora Bora, the Islands of Tahiti
Every imaginable shade of blue manifests in the lagoon of Bora Bora, aka the Jewel of the South Seas. Coral motus ring the main island like a sandy sash, and, beneath the surface, dolphins, rays, sharks, turtles and colorful fish throng. Presiding over it all is the moss-green volcanic peak of Mount Otemanu where God descended to the island on a rainbow, according to local lore.
Timeless grass-skirted dancers and overwater bungalows round out the sublime scene on one of the most exotic islands.
Seychelles
The Seychelles’ towering beach boulders are a mainstay on computer desktops, but they’re more than merely aesthetic: They also fascinate geologists who have identified the Seychelles as the only mid-ocean islands formed of granite.
Other superlatives: The archipelago is the oldest on the planet, and it has the cleanest air. Naturally, celebrities flock here. If you want to vacation a la British royalty, stay on North Island, where Prince William and Kate Middleton spent their 2011 honeymoon.
Santorini, Greece
Possibly the location of the storied island of Atlantis, Santorini is the stuff of screensavers and wall calendars. Red-, black- and white-sand beaches rim its caldera lake — one of the largest in the world — while iconic whitewashed buildings stair-step up the hillside overlooking the Aegean Sea.
Photo ops abound, from centuries-old windmills and ancient ruins to blue-domed churches and colorful wooden fishing boats. Stay in a boutique cave hotel for the full experience.
St. Lucia, Caribbean
Nicknamed “The Helen of the West” (an allusion to the beauty of Helen of Troy), St. Lucia stuns with its signature feature: the UNESCO-listed twin Pitons. Reaching heights of about 2,500 feet, the voluptuous volcanic spires complement the island’s other attractions, including verdant jungles, sparkling silver-sand beaches, haunting sugar-estate ruins, and a mineral-rich natural mud bath.
Meanwhile, the island’s most famous resort, Jade Mountain, is an architectural gem in its own right.
Fiji
Drop-dead gorgeous Fiji is a filmmaker’s dream. Spy its Mamanuca island chain in Cast Away and Survivor; ogle its Yasawa archipelago in the 1980 version of Blue Lagoon. A dizzying amount of natural beauty — from mountains and mangroves to rivers and reefs — swathes Fiji’s 333 islands, and awe-inspiring wildlife (whales, sea turtles, dolphins, parrots) is the icing on the cake.
For scenery with a side of luxury and exclusivity, reserve a bure (villa) at one of Fiji’s numerous private-island resorts.
Big Island, Hawaii
The Island of Hawaii (i.e., the Big Island) contains 10 of the world’s 14 climate zones, the only place on the planet with so many condensed into one small region. Lush, tropical terrain rules the green, wet, windward side of the island (see Akaka Falls and Waianuenue/Rainbow Falls) while more arid beauty is on display at Hapuna Beach Park.
You can even enter an ice climate at the mystical summit of Mauna Kea volcano. Also, Lake Waiau is one of the highest lakes in the United States.
Maldives
Holding the largest number of overwater-bungalow resorts in the world (more than 75 and counting), the Maldives understands its best asset is the gin-clear, abundant waters of the Indian Ocean. When you’re not snorkeling, diving or gazing at the rich marine life through the floor windows of your water-top villa, continue enjoying the underwater display while dining at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant — or even while getting pampered in Huvafen Fushi’s submerged spa.
Palawan, Philippines
Described as the Philippines’ last frontier, Palawan boasts two UNESCO World Heritage sites: Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (don your dive gear) and the Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park (hop in a canoe for a guided tour).
Striking limestone formations, like Ugong Rock and Karst Mountain Elephant Cave, rise starkly from the rice fields of the interior. You can even find overwater bungalows on outlying islands, courtesy of El Nido Resorts.
Hvar, Croatia
With a history dating to the Stone Age, Hvar is as fascinating as it is beautiful. Thirteenth-century walls surround Hvar Town and its red-tiled roofs. The ancient stone ruins of Stari Grad Plain became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. A jaunt to the interior reveals rugged mountains, lush vineyards and fragrant lavender fields.
Embark on a boat trip to the Adriatic to snorkel, swim in sea caves and wander secret beaches and seaside hamlets.
Martinique, Caribbean
Dubbed the Isle of Flowers and crowned by 4,583-foot Mount Pelee, Martinique may be the Caribbean’s best-kept secret. Some exploration is required to uncover the island’s treasures, like the Balata Gardens’ Treetop Trail of suspension bridges, Saint-Pierre’s 18th-century theater ruins and the poignant Anse Cafard Slave Memorial.
Cocos Keeling, Australia
A group of 27 coral islands that form two atolls in the Indian Ocean, the Cocos Keeling Islands were virtually unheard of until beach activists Brad Farmer and Andrew Short named Cocos Keeling’s Cossies Beach as the best in Australia for 2017.
Called the continent’s last unspoiled paradise, the remote destination is as special for what’s not there (i.e., high-rise resorts, chain restaurants, crowds, traffic) as what is: pristine white sand and a turquoise lagoon that’s home to 30,000 sea turtles.
Paxos, Greece
Take everything you want Greece to be — olive groves and tavernas, fishermen and bakers leading quiet village lives, stone villas and cypress trees and brilliant bougainvillea — and put it on a tiny, Ionian island only reachable by boat: That’s Paxos.
On the western coast, sheer cliffs, rock arches and 40 sea caves put on a stunning show. Daytrip to the neighboring island of Antipaxos for powder sand and water so aqua, it rivals the Caribbean Sea.
Samoa
Known as the Cradle of Polynesia, Samoa is notable for its “Fa’a Samoa” way of life. It’s a 3,000-year-old social code that prizes family, tradition and the environment. Happily, the landscape is as lovely as the local culture.
On the main island of Upolu, a plunge into the To Sua Ocean Trench swimming grotto is a must. On Savaii, Samoa’s largest island, visit caves, waterfalls, blowholes and the Saleaula lava field, formed by a 1905 volcanic eruption that buried five villages.
Cook Islands
Glass-bottom boats with thatched canopies ply shimmering lagoons. Tanned locals in “pareus,” a local garb, play ukuleles. Ridged velvet-green mountains punctuate the skyline. Palm trees reach higher than any roof. This is reality in the Cook Islands, a 15-isle archipelago marooned in the South Pacific.
Go on a mountain safari on the main island of Rarotonga, or head to Aitutaki to stay in an overwater bungalow.
Guadeloupe, Caribbean
The so-called pearl of the French Caribbean, Guadeloupe is a butterfly-shaped archipelago of five main islands where volcanoes tower, and 200-plus beaches come in shades from black and white to red and pink. Basse-Terre’s tropical forest and the bay of Grand-Cul-de-Sac Marin were declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1993.
From there, island-hop to discover Grande-Anse Beach on Les Saintes; Marie-Galante’s rum estates; and La Desirade’s 900-foot plateau.
