Whether you’re in search of adventure, connecting with family and friends, or rekindling romance during your sandy sojourn, we’ve rounded up seven of the top European islands made for every type of travelers’ island-hopping escapes.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
For Solo Travelers — Mallorca
Many solo travelers take to Mallorca, even those who are working virtually (and can do so in the cafe-filled capital city Palma). Solo travelers will never feel alone on this beach-fringed Balearic Island.
After a visit to La Seu, the city’s enormous Gothic cathedral, follow your taste buds north to the tapas stalls in Mercado Gastronómico San Juan before wandering through the city’s labyrinth of medieval lanes crammed with galleries, boutiques, and cafés.
From Palma, an elegant, 1912-built train departs daily to Sóller, a pretty, rambling mountain village and home of the art museum Can Prunera.
For Adventurers — Malta
The translucent waters of the Blue Lagoon and limestone Baroque architecture of the ancient walled city of Mdina have drawn film crews and stunned travelers for decades. Movie-buff explorers will instantly recognize the city’s backdrops to “Troy,” “Gladiator” or “Game of Thrones.”
Adventurous visitors can discover underwater caves and shipwrecks at Buddies Dive Cove or navigate the coastline with Sea Kayak Malta.
From the main island of Malta, take the Channel Ferry Service to the stunning island of Gozo for a cliff-edge hike through donkey trails, citrus-scented groves, and the remains of a Bronze-Age temple.
For Food Lovers — Sardinia
Yes, Sardinia‘s crystal-clear blue waters and dazzling white sandy beaches are travel magnets, but food and wine aficionados will also value rich year-round harvests from the mountains and the sea, and astounding meals from famed chefs .
Coastal specialties include lobster (in season) and fritto misto di mare (mixed fried fish), while inland you’ll find a happening wine scene, and excellent fresh breads, fruits, meat, and sheep’s cheese (try the tangy pecorino Sardo). And no visit is complete without tasting mirto, a myrtle-berry liquor.
For Couples — Santorini
Nearly every sunset, Santorini’s skies ignite from indigo to scarlet over the island’s crescent-shaped bay. Find a cozy spot by a windmill high over the whitewashed village of Oia or aboard a catamaran to relish the phenomenon with your other half.
Daytime in Santorini brings its own romantic vibes; swim off Perissa Beach and lounge in its black volcanic sand or make your home base the Red Beach near Akrotiri village. As evening calls, savor the island’s rich grape harvest in Alati, a candlelit, 400-year-old wine cave serving excellent Greek classics at Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, Santorini.
For Friends — Ibiza
Europe’s party capital has an epic mix of clubs and rooftop cocktail bars with kaleidoscopic sunset views (such as Glow at W Ibiza on Santa Eulalia Bay) but it also offers many opportunities to slow down and savor time with friends.
Slow the pace with a ramble up the lamplit cobbled lanes of the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Dalt Vila — the island’s fortified old town — or linger at any of the many beautiful outdoor markets in Eivissa (Ibiza Town).
Enjoy some downtime at Cala Mastella, a pine-cloistered cove on the eastern side of the island. Or travel north to stroll through the island’s quiet, whitewashed villages.
For History Buffs — Crete
As the cradle of Minoan Civilization, Crete’s epic cultural and historical tapestry is equaled only by its extraordinary landscape. Drop by the Heraklion Archaeological Museum for a historical overview of the island before renting a car to visit the Palace of Knossos ruins to experience the epicenter of the Minoans’ 4,000-year history.
Travel close to the island’s Northern coast on your way to Malia Archaeological Site, which once held a grand palace, town centers, and a supposed necropolis. The old-town of Malia is also a must-see, with beautiful winding roads and stunning nearby beaches.
For Water Enthusiasts — Corfu
With its endless miles of beaches and cobalt blue waters, Corfu has harbored wayward mariners as far back as Homer’s Odyssey. Corfu’s vast olive groves, hidden sandy coves like Rovinia Beach on the west coast, and giant fortresses that appears to tumble down to the sea are easy to love.
Corfu is named after the wife of Poseidon, the Greek God of the sea, so predictably many of the adventures here center around water. Want to see the island from the water? Try a private sailing yacht cruise departing from Marina Gouvi, or take a kayak into the turquoise waters from the beach. Or, for thrills for the whole family, hit the waterpark Aqualand (near Agios Ioannis).
If you prefer total relaxation with your waterfront vistas, enjoy epic views of the Ionian seascape and direct access to the beach from the luxurious Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu.
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