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Travel + Leisure

These Are the Best Islands in the World—and No. 1 Has Postcard-worthy Blue and White Villages

Travel + Leisure readers' favorite islands for 2025 represent many continents, cultures, and climates—including colorful reefs, tropical beaches with sea-weathered rocks, temperate forests, and scrubby, sun-baked mountains. But no madaltter where the islands are located, you can count on at least one shared asset from them all: There is a unique and compelling connection to the water. Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 180,000 T+L readers completed the 2025 survey. A total of more than 657,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.). Islands were specifically rated on the criteria below: Natural attractions/beaches Activities/sights Restaurants/food People/friendliness Value For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. The most well-represented parts of the world on the list of T+L readers' favorite island destinations span popular regions like the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and the Mediterranean (where you'll find an impressive seven of the top 25 islands). There's also Southeast Asia, where the four winning islands include Bali (No. 3)—the only island to have made the list for the 11th year in a row. But a few of the top-voted islands and archipelagos are singular standouts in their respective regions. For example, the Maldives (No. 6) is the only island destination from South Asia on this year's list; survey respondents used words like 'heaven' and 'paradise' to describe its coral atolls and bright-blue water. And South America's only entry is the Galápagos Islands, the Ecuadorian archipelago that consistently attracts readers' interest, famous for its impressive density of endemic species. While some winners are small island nations in themselves, others are part of larger countries. That means some countries—Canada, Italy, Portugal, Thailand, and the United States—have a few winners on the list. And three winners can be found in Greece, where a few islands stood out among the thousands spread across the Aegean and Ionian Seas. For example, survey respondents loved Milos (No. 16) for its 'beaches, whitewashed buildings, and great food,' and what they described as a calmer atmosphere than some of the more touristed Greek islands. Another Cycladic island, just a short distance northeast of Milos, takes the top spot this year. 1. Páros, Greece Waterfront homes on Paros, Greece. There are 'surprises around every corner,' one reader wrote of this sunny island in the Cyclades. While it has a regular presence among T+L readers' favorite island destinations in the world, Páros rose from No. 24 last year to take the top spot for 2025. Readers praised the destination for its delicious food—it's known for its vibrant mushrooms, chickpeas, and seafood—and excellent shopping. They also loved the picture-perfect blue-and-white villages, like Naoussa, set on a wide bay on the north shore. Páros is home to many world-class resorts, including Parīlio, Cosme, and Summer Senses—but the real luxury is the sparkling Aegean, which you'll see almost everywhere you turn. Reader Score: 96.50 2. Palawan, Philippines Las Cabanas Beach in El Nido, Palawan. One of the Philippines' largest islands, narrow Palawan is strikingly beautiful and relatively undeveloped, beloved by travelers for its coral reefs, towering rock formations, and secluded white-sand beaches. One must-visit area is Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you'll find dramatic caves and old-growth forests. Reader Score: 93.60 3. Bali, Indonesia Terraced rice fields in Bali. This perennially popular island is known for its unique culture and religion, 10,000-plus temples, and fabulous places to stay, including the new Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, which recently made its way to T+L's It List. Though relatively small, Bali has many sides; on one trip, travelers can visit both seaside areas like Uluwatu and Seminyak, and the mountains and rice paddies of the interior. WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 93.25 4. Ischia, Italy Boats off the coast of Ischia. As one reader explains, 'Ischia is known for its spas'—dozens of them, in fact, built around its more than 100 natural hot springs. The island's warm mineral waters have been famed for millennia; these days, you can enjoy the springs at hotels like San Montano Resort & Spa or Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa. Reader Score: 93.25 5. Fiji Islands More than 300 islands make up the archipelago of Fiji. This island group has a well-deserved reputation as one of the world's most beautiful places, thanks to its white-sand beaches and ecological richness. But it's also a cultural hub in the region; Fiji's people and unique cuisine showcase the blend of Indian and Chinese influences. Reader Score: 93.20 6. Maldives A white-sand beach in the Maldives. Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure Most travelers come to these islands for sugar-sand beaches, aquamarine Indian Ocean vistas, and private island resorts. For a more varied trip, you can add some time in the so-called local islands where there's no shortage of things to do. You can support local businesses, join in for a traditional evening tea, and maybe learn a few words of Dhivehi, the Maldivian language. Reader Score: 92.65 7. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador Penguins at sunset in the Galápagos islands. Jacqueline Gifford/Travel + Leisure Voted No. 1 island in Central and South America for the 25th year, this island chain in the Pacific is known for its endemic flora and fauna, including Galapágos penguins, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and more than 600 indigenous species of plants. One of the best ways to explore the region? By boat, as it allows you to visit multiple islands for snorkeling and diving, nature walks, and wildlife spotting. Reader Score: 91.23 8. Hvar and the Dalmatian Islands, Croatia The town of Hvar, overlooking the Adriatic Sea. Coal Photography/Tourism in Hvar has boomed in recent years for its nightlife, yacht culture, and luxurious resorts like Maslina and Palace Elisabeth. The island's quieter side includes vineyards, olive groves, fields of lavender, and gorgeous Adriatic beaches—and it's just one of dozens of islands that run along this stretch of the Dalmatian Coast. Reader Score: 91.09 9. Madeira, Portugal Fajá dos Padres beach, on Madeira. Rodrigo Cardoso/Travel + Leisure The signature fortified wine isn't the only reason to visit this island in Portugal (though if you drink wine, don't leave without trying it). Located in the Atlantic west of Morocco, Madeira has a culture and terrain distinct from mainland Portugal; equipped with natural swimming pools along the coastline and the UNESCO-protected Laurissilva forest. Reader Score: 89.93 10. Mallorca, Spain A historic tram in Mallorca connects Palma de Mallorca with Port de Soller. Rodrigo Cardoso/Travel + Leisure Mallorca is a choose-your-own-adventure destination: You can explore beach clubs and nightlife in Magaluf and Michelin-starred dining in Palma, or head into the mountains to stay at one of the many serene finca hotels in the interior. If you have time, you can also take a day trip to the national park on nearby Cabrera. Reader Score: 89.54 11. Crete, Greece A view of Chania, Crete, from the water. Thomas Gravanis/Travel + Leisure Crete, Greece's largest island, was home to the first major civilization in Europe and has been an important Mediterranean island since antiquity. Its size and history make it especially rich as a travel destination, with towering mountains, secluded fishing villages, and archaeological sites that span millennia. In addition to its beaches, the largest city, Heraklion, is also worth a visit. Reader Score: 89.49 12. Phuket, Thailand Patong Beach, on the Thai island of Andaman Sea island may be known by savvy travelers for the nightlife, beaches, and affordable hotels, but T+L readers also appreciated that Phuket is 'full of history' if you look for it. Sites of note include historic temples like Wat Phranang Sang and the colorful Sino-Portuguese buildings of Phuket Old Town. Reader Score: 89.47 13. Vancouver Island, British Columbia Tide-pooling at Botanical Beach, on Vancouver Island. Grant Harder/Travel + Leisure Just a short ferry from the city of Vancouver, this island in British Columbia is home to both the provincial capital—Victoria, with excellent museums and English-inflected architecture—and some of the Pacific Northwest's most beautiful landscapes. No visit is complete without heading into the mossy temperate rainforest and walking the rocky, cliff-lined beaches. The luxe, eco-friendly lodges stand out, too. Reader Score: 89.31 14. Koh Samui, Thailand A view of the Gulf of Thailand from Koh Samui. Chayanee Chomsaengchun/Travel + Leisure You might have seen it on screen recently in 'The White Lotus,' but of course, the real-life version is more three-dimensional (literally and figuratively). Stay on the coast—the show was filmed mostly at the Four Seasons—but be sure to spend some time exploring Koh Samui's forested interior, too. Reader Score: 89.31 15. Anguilla Anguilla's Shoal Bay beach. 'There are 33 beaches on the island,' one survey respondent noted—'and they are among the most beautiful in the world.' The stunning shores are a major draw for visitors to this Caribbean territory, but T+L readers also voted Anguilla their regional favorite for the friendly hospitality, diverse food options, and incredible resorts, like Cap Juluca, A Belmond Hotel. Reader Score: 89.21 16. Milos, Greece Boats moored on the island of Milos, in Greece. Marco Argüello/Travel + Leisure Santorini and Mykonos get a lot of attention, but in 2025, T+L readers preferred another Cycladic island not far locationally from this year's No. 1. 'Milos is definitely a calmer part of Greece,' explained one respondent. The draws include the traditional fishing villages and distinctive, bright-white rock formations (though there are beach clubs, too, if you want the option). Reader Score: 89.11 17. Great Barrier Reef Islands, Australia An aerial view of Hill Inlet, on Whitsunday Island in the Great Barrier Reef. The islands scattered along the central and northern coast of Queensland—including rainforested Fitzroy Island and the white-sand Whitsundays—are some of Australia's most beautiful. A low-impact, reef-friendly visit is also one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the rich but vulnerable Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. Reader Score: 88.95 18. (tie) Azores, Portugal The Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro waterfall, on Flores island in the Azores. There are nine main islands in this remote North Atlantic archipelago, each with its own draw. To get to know the Azores better, travelers can hop between several during their visit—exploring the towns and hot springs of São Miguel, wine tasting on Pico or Faial, and hiking the lush mountains of Flores or Terceira. Reader Score: 88.89 18. (tie) Dominica Roseau, the capital of Dominica. 'Unlike any other Caribbean island,' one reader said of Dominica, a tiny country with an outsize mix of mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, rainforests, and beaches—many of which can be found in the UNESCO-protected Morne Trois Pitons National Park. Survey respondents also mentioned the outstanding creole cuisine and secluded resorts, like Secret Bay. Reader Score: 88.89 20. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia The Louisbourg Lighthouse on Cape Breton island. You might know Nova Scotia's largest island for its unique history and blend of ethnicities, with influences from the Indigenous Mi'kmaq, early Scottish colonists, and the Acadian culture that bloomed in Atlantic Canada. But it's also visually stunning—take it all in from the Skyline Trail in the highlands—with great dining to boot. Reader Score: 88.79 21. Maui, United States A drive in Maui's upcountry. Bailey Rebecca Roberts/Travel + Leisure Maui has nearly everything travelers love about the Hawaiian Islands, all concentrated in one place. You can visit iconic beaches like Wailea and Kapalua Bay, or see stunning scenery along the Road to Hana and at the volcano's edge in Haleakalā National Park. Reader Score: 88.26 22. Sardinia, Italy A secluded beach on Sardinia. The influence of historic trade routes found on many islands is palpable in Sardinia—just look at the cuisine, which includes saffron-laced ragù and cous-cous-like fregula pasta, often prepared paella-style. Travelers love the Costa Smeralda, the sand dunes of the Costa Verde (home of the recently opened Le Dune Piscinas), and archaeological sites like the historical Su Nuraxi di Barumini. Reader Score: 88.22 23. Bora-Bora, French Polynesia A view of Bora-Bora, seen from a plane en route from Tahiti to Raiatea. The Ingalls/Travel + Leisure The site of an important U.S. base during WWII, Bora-Bora became a legendary destination in the 1960s with the opening of its first major hotels—many of which are now known for their overwater bungalows. The volcanic cluster in the Society Islands is ringed by delicate coral reefs and sandbars that form its famous lagoon, with singularly clear, warm turquoise water. Reader Score: 88.11 24. St. Lucia Petit Piton rising above the Caribbean Sea on St. Lucia. Paola + Murray/Travel + Leisure 'History and culture were alive all over this beautiful island,' one reader wrote of this Caribbean nation, a favorite of epicurean travelers. St. Lucia is also known for its unique nature and romantic coastal resorts. 'Hearing the sounds of the waves crashing onto the sand in the morning was just breathtaking,' another respondent recalled. Reader Score: 87.56 25. Island Of Hawaii, United States Hiking across Kīlauea Iki, a pit crater in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Michelle Mishina Kunz/Travel + Leisure While other Hawaiian islands are more visited, the so-called Big Island has become a reader favorite in recent years for its incredible nature and small town vibes. Dining in Hilo, coffee in Kona, and the dramatic lava fields of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park were also standout assets of this destination. Reader Score: 87.37