20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (2024)

  • Travel Guides
  • Islands

ByErika Hueneke

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (1)

Levente Bodo/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

Travel to Capri, Italy, for natural beauty and an unforgettable, elevated vista. Or visit Thailandand, 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.

1. Capri, Italy

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (2)

Balate.Dorin/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

Tip: Climb up to the ruins of Emperor Tiberius' Villa Jovis, circa 27 CE, for a heart-stopping vista.

2. Whitsundays, Australia

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (3)

Caroline Brundle Bugge/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

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.

3. Bali, Indonesia

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (4)

Dkart/Getty Images

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?

Advertisement

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.

4. James Bond Island, Southern Thailand

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (5)

Theerawat.yy/Shutterstock

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).

Advertisement

Excursions depart from the popular resort areas of Phuket, Khao Lak, and Krabi on photogenic longtail boats. On the tour, explore secret lagoons, craggy sea caves, and a floating village at one of the most famous islands.

5. Kauai, Hawaii

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (6)

Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

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.

6. Bora Bora, the Islands of Tahiti

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (7)

Triggerphoto/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

Timeless grass-skirted dancers and overwater bungalows round out the sublime scene on one of the most exotic islands.

7. Seychelles

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (8)

ByDroneVideos/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

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.

8. Santorini, Greece

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (9)

Maglara/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

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.

9. St. Lucia, Caribbean

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (10)

fokke baarssen/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, the island's most famous resort, Jade Mountain, is an architectural gem in its own right.

10. Fiji

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (11)

7michael/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

For scenery with a side of luxury and exclusivity, reserve a bure (villa) at one of Fiji's numerous private-island resorts.

11. Big Island, Hawaii

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (12)

Juan Maria Coy Vergara/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

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.

12. Maldives

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (13)

Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

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.

Advertisement

13. Palawan, Philippines

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (14)

Kuen Lim/Shutterstock

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).

Advertisement

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.

14. Hvar, Croatia

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (15)

Darren Baker/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

Embark on a boat trip to the Adriatic to snorkel, swim in sea caves, and wander secret beaches and seaside hamlets.

15. Martinique, Caribbean

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (16)

Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock

Dubbed the Isle of Flowers and crowned by 4,583-foot Mount Pelee, Martiniquemay 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.

Advertisement

16. Cocos Keeling, Australia

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (17)

alybaba/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

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.

17. Paxos, Greece

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (18)

false/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

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.

18. Samoa

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (19)

Paulo Miguel Costa/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

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.

19. Cook Islands

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (20)

Svetype26/Shutterstock

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.

Advertisement

Go on a mountain safari on the main island of Rarotonga, or head to Aitutaki to stay in an overwater bungalow.

20. Guadeloupe, Caribbean

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (21)

Iryna Shpulak/Shutterstock

The so-called pearl of the French Caribbean, Guadeloupeis 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.

Advertisement

From there, island-hop to discover Grande-Anse Beach on Les Saintes; Marie-Galante's rum estates; and La Desirade's 900-foot plateau.

20 Most Beautiful Islands In The World - Islands (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Eusebia Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 6036

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Eusebia Nader

Birthday: 1994-11-11

Address: Apt. 721 977 Ebert Meadows, Jereville, GA 73618-6603

Phone: +2316203969400

Job: International Farming Consultant

Hobby: Reading, Photography, Shooting, Singing, Magic, Kayaking, Mushroom hunting

Introduction: My name is Eusebia Nader, I am a encouraging, brainy, lively, nice, famous, healthy, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.