A traveler’s guide to the top 30 islands in the world

While Zanzibar is known for being flat and sand-strewn, the neighbouring Pemba Island is the land of cloves and mangoes and hillocks lush with fruit and spice trees. Traditional dhows lie scattered across most of the coastline and fishing is a large part of Pemba’s culture. Pemba’s culture has been influenced by Arab traders from Oman and the original inhabitants who have lived on the island for centuries. Well-preserved ruins can be found on Pemba such as Qanbalu (a Muslim settlement from as early as the eighth century), while remnants of old voodoo rituals are practiced by the traditional witch doctors who call the island home.

The Island Conservation Society is responsible for managing the conservation of this tiny island. A beach of fine sand marks its 13-kilometer circumference. Originally called the Wood Island by the British owing to its dense tree vegetation, Desroches Island was split from the Seychelles to be added to the British Indian Ocean Territory in the year 1965. But the island went back to Seychelles, once independence was attained, in 1976. Populations of zebra doves and house sparrows adorn the area around the village.

Rodrigues is a delightful remote little holiday island 650 km east of Mauritius in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Measuring only 18 km in length and 8 km at its widest point Rodrigues is entirely surrounded by coral reefs offering world-class diving and snorkeling. Rodrigues Island, named after the Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues, is the smallest of the Mascarene Islands and a dependency of Mauritius. Rodrigues is a place that is strikingly beautiful. The island is hilly with a lot of flora and has a lot of beaches and tiny islands around it, such as Ile aux Cocos. It is also one of the world's most remote inhabited islands.

If you prefer quiet, almost empty beaches, you'll love Boa Vista. Stretching up to 55km, many of the beaches here are virtually untouched, with barely a soul in sight to share them with. Relax in the gorgeous sunshine or lounge by your hotel's pool, your one job in Boa Vista is to recharge. The easternmost island of Cape Verde, and the third-largest one, Boa Vista awaits visitors who want to experience the authentic island lifestyle. Slow paces, deserts of sand and scree, low mountain ranges, and miles of amazing beaches, bathed by turquoise waters are just some of the reasons to visit this place.

The best thing about Île Sainte Marie is that it contains all the ingredients for a great holiday and great travel. This is a very long, thin, lush, and relatively flat tropical island surrounded by beaches and reefs. The port of Ambodifotatra is the only sizeable town. The island was a popular base for pirates who plundered the Indian Ocean in the 17th and 18th centuries. Today, though, the one and only town, Ambodifotatra, is an undisturbed haven with a handful of cafés, a Catholic church, and a popular market.

Often referred to as the Galápagos of East Asia due to its vast untouched tropical rainforest with endemic species, the secluded Iriomote Island is a sight to behold. It has a diverse subtropical environment, with a mountainous jungle core giving way to mangrove forests and flashes of pristine sands at the coast. By day explore the heart of the island on a guided trek or kayak tour, at night enjoy cool coastal breezes and the crystal-clear night sky. It is Okinawa’s second largest island, but the vast majority of the landmass remains uninhabited and untouched. The island is one of four areas in Okinawa and Kagoshima that UNESCO added to its Natural World Heritage list in 2021. It is surrounded by a picture-perfect ocean, both from above and below with its colorful coral reefs, and attracts tourists with a spirit of adventure.

Siargao, a teardrop-shaped small island located on the northeastern coast of Mindanao, is known as the country's Surfing Capital. In 2019, Siargao was named by Conde Nast Traveler readers as the Best Island in the World. But more than that, Siargao also offers breathtaking scenes and thrilling activities for non-surfers. You’ll likely fall for this teardrop-shaped island’s pristine white beaches, coconut woodlands, the clearest waters you’ve ever seen, and the sensational towering waves, as soon as you set your foot there. But these Siargao tourist spots are only half of the spectacular picture. What lies on the other half is Siargao’s welcoming vibe and easy island lifestyle that has been enchanting visitors for years. What makes Siargao a perfect island destination and a respite from the city’s hustle and bustle is that it has remained unspoiled, remote, sparsely developed, and still relatively under the radar, making it even more appealing to travelers who are craving natural beauty and slower pace.

The main Langkawi island itself is known for its marvelous diving opportunities. And that’s not all! From an expansive Underwater World along the Pantai Cenang to the high-flying Cable Car in Pantai Kok, Langkawi continues to provide a new delight in every minute fragment. Langkawi also has excellent adventure sports facilities apart from its treasure trove of hidden gems dotted across the island. During the festival time the beaches are flocked by locals and tourists who want to soak into the electrifying vibe of the place along with cocktails.

Visiting the largest island in the Con Dao archipelago – a group of 16 mostly uninhabited picturesque islands in the South China Sea – is like stepping back in time. There are only peaceful empty beaches, and peak season means being just one of a dozen Westerners. Known as Southeast Asia's Devil's Island, Con Son was once a penal colony used to brutal and cruel effect first by French colonists and later during the Vietnam War. The French worked 914 men to death building the island’s jetty, while Vietnam War prisoners were kept in infamous "tiger cages", where actual or suspected Communists – were shackled to the floor of deep concrete pits with steel bars for a roof.

This emerald island of India is an intoxicating blend of beaches, nature, and water activities, all fitting in so beautifully with one another that you cannot decide where one ends and another begins. It is a scenic natural paradise with pristine white sandy beaches, abundant coral reefs, and lush green forest. Now known as Swaraj Dweep, Havelock Island receives the maximum footfall in the Andaman Islands owing to its pristine beaches and turquoise waters. It has also the best infrastructure for a number of water activities, thus ensuring an incredible experience for everyone. You can try scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and a lot more. The island offers a relaxed atmosphere with tropical vibes. Its beaches are dotted with PADI diving centers, cute cafes, and luxurious beachfront properties.

Hailed as The Most Beautiful Lagoon in the World, Aitutaki is truly a postcard of a tropical paradise. The main island is long, narrow, and fish-hook shaped, and is surrounded by a shallow aqua blue lagoon. Cruising into it, and out to the smaller surrounding islands, you are surrounded by the most vibrant blue water. Go here if you truly want to unwind, with hardly any distractions to take up your precious time. There are no nightclubs, no shopping centers, and in fact – hardly anyone around. The islands have been used as filming locations for the U.S and U.K versions of the adventure reality show Survivor owing to its wild ambience.

Niue is a Pacific Island paradise like no other, one of the smallest countries, and one of the largest raised coral atolls on earth. It is a place where it’s normal for complete strangers to wave at each other, all the time. It’s a place where nature hasn’t been broken… and things are 'the way they used to be’.

Great Barrier Island is a mesmerizing, untouched island to the northeast of Auckland. The east coast is so exposed so it has the best surfing beaches on this side of the island but also the strongest winds. The residents of this island are very welcoming and share a great passion for the environment. Its beautifully empty beaches and stripped-back lifestyle combine to create ideal conditions to relax and escape from the frantic nature of reality.

The lush natural paradise of Lord Howe Island is less than two hours by plane from Sydney and Brisbane but you will feel worlds away. With only 400 tourists permitted on the island at any one time, you can soak up the solitude or mingle with friendly locals, peppering your stay with indulging spa treatments, incredible food and wine, and adventures in the stunning natural landscape. With nothing but clean air and lush mountainous terrain surrounding you, you're in for a relaxing, nature-filled escape.

Tahiti and Bora Bora have long been the stars of French Polynesia, but Nuku Hiva basks in its own limelight as the second largest island in the country. It is also the capital of the Marquesas Islands, one of the most untouched archipelagos on our planet. With so much to see and do on the island, you don’t come to Nuku Hiva to recharge your batteries or lounge by the pool. If you’re looking for something off the beaten track, love the outdoors, and are curious about ancient cultures – Nuku Hiva is not to be missed.

The most westerly of all the nine islands in the Azores, this luxuriant piece of fertile land in the middle of the ocean was claimed by medieval historians to be a precious fragment of the lost continent, Atlantis. Its name derives from the profusion of flowers that carpet the island from one side to the other, most spectacularly in springtime and throughout the warm summer months.

Filicudi is a secret hideaway known to few. It is not an island for everyone, but those who love it love it passionately. Its unspoiled nature, the mule tracks scented by capers, the dolphins and sea turtles, the warm and clear waters, the cliffs, and the sunsets over the sea. Filicudi is listed among UNESCO World Heritage sites for its outstanding volcanic characteristics. In this respect, the Sicilian archipelago is indeed unique in the world. Filicudi is the first island to emerge from the waters in the eruption that 1 million years ago created the Aeolian Islands.

The island of El Hierro is all sharp, rocky cliffs hiding natural pools and ponds. The black volcanic earth that covers it increases the sensation of mysterious remoteness, of being the edge of civilization – which it was until the discovery of America. This geographical location, this orography, and this sparse population make the island of El Hierro a magical place. A unique journey – ideal for finding yourself.

Inis Meain Island is where you’ll find a more authentic escape from the modern world. With a population of 200 people, it is the less visited of the three islands. Visiting Inis Meain will give you the best chance to acquaint yourself in the precious sanctuary of Irish Cultural tradition. This island has a hilly landscape. It also features crystal clear views of the cliffs of Mohar and some interesting Celtic and Christian sites. This island was a retreat for Synge, one of the most famous playwrights to emerge from Ireland, and features a lot of artists.

A rural area where time just seems to pass a little slower than in most other places, many people refer to Gozo as “what Malta used to be like”. Sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the Gozo ferry as it sails away is strangely comforting. As you board the vessel you feel like you’ve shed an enormous weight off your shoulders, leaving the stress of everyday behind you. Gozo is magical, and the magic starts when you arrive at Mġarr Harbour, with its quiet marina and church sitting on the hilltop overlooking the harbour. The beaches and clear waters offer swimmers and divers something to remember.

Robinson Crusoe is the ideal place if you want to get away from the world and enjoy a new level of connection with nature. Swim in its crystal-clear waters, dive into its depths and discover its rich marine life. Surprise yourself by diving in the company of the friendly South American fur seal, a native species of this Biosphere Reserve. A Spanish sailor first arrived arrived here in 1574 – and the Juan Fernandez Archipelago, to which the island belongs, is named after him. The island’s endemic forests, plants, marine animals and birds evolved in isolation, so many species are only found here in the entire world!

Providencia, an eight-square-mile Colombian island off that country's northern coast, is a flashback to the Caribbean in the days of yore: a tiny undeveloped island where locals run the show. As part of Colombian territory, Spanish is one of the native languages, but English and Creole English are also spoken on the island. There is warm inclusivity that makes you feel like a kid again: Locals embrace their visitors by proudly recounting Providencia's history, with folktales of pirates and treasures.

Home to black sand beaches, sparkling lagoons, and misty highland peaks, the island of Floreana, on the Galápagos, has an extraordinary array of natural attractions. The sixth-largest island in the Galápagos Archipelago is a major draw for wildlife watchers, with biological wonders both on land and below the waves. Aside from its natural allure, Floreana has an intriguing history of human settlement, for which the island has acquired no small degree of infamy.

Wild, remote, and fiercely protected, Fernando de Noronha is a tiny island located far from mainland Brazil. If you make the long trek out into the blue waters of the Atlantic, you can snorkel among its abundant sea life, stroll through the tropical interior and laze on some of the world’s best beaches. Access and development are both strictly controlled to preserve the island’s untamed nature, which means you’ll find only a few other visitors and a handful of small hotels here. Much of the island, as well as all of the surrounding islets and waters, is encompassed by the Parque Nacional Marinho de Fernando de Noronha, Brazil’s first-ever national park.

Easter Island is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world and yet the island was home to one of the most amazing cultures, the Rapa Nui. The island is also known for its numerous monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapa Nui people. There is no other place like it in the world and if you are interested in the history or the mystery surrounding the moai, you should definitely visit Easter Island. With its volcanic landscape, untouched nature, and the remoteness of the island, you will be able to experience nature in its entirety here.

Fogo Island is not so much a place as a state of mind. With a long maritime history, the largest offshore island of Newfoundland and Labrador is a gentle world of bright-colored clapboard houses, sea-cliff footpaths, lush forest, and warm hospitality set against a striking coastline. Recently an inspired arts scene has brought new life to Fogo's struggling fishing communities.

Since Roatan is in the Caribbean, you will get tropical white sand beaches with turquoise water teeming with sea turtles, vibrant fish, and pods of squid. Roatan has amazing biodiversity, is safe and the way of life here is relaxed. It’s one of the most popular destinations around the world for solo travelers, families with kids, seniors, and backpackers alike. As the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras, wedged in between the Utila and Guanaja Islands, Roatan is the ideal location for quiet mornings, jam-packed afternoons, and romantic evening strolls along the beachfront.

Graham Island is the largest island in the Haida Gwaii archipelago, lying off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is separated only by a narrow channel from the other principal island of the group, Moresby Island. It has a population of 3,858 and is the 101st largest island in the world and Canada's 22nd largest island.

Sapelo is a state-managed barrier island, the fourth largest in the chain of coastal Georgia islands between the Savannah and St. Marys rivers. Accessible only by passenger ferry, Sapelo provides a number of public access recreational, educational, and lodging opportunities. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages the island. DNR operates the ferry service and serves as state liaison for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve, the University of Georgia Marine Institute, and the civilian Hog Hammock community, permanent home to about 70 full-time residents, many of whom are descended from the antebellum slaves of Sapelo's plantations.

The mostly-uninhabited island is about as far removed from the intensity of Los Angeles as anywhere you can get for a day or weekend trip. The town was established in the 1920s by William Wrigley and at one time was both a training ground for the Chicago Cubs and a destination for Hollywood royalty, who danced in the lavish ballroom at the iconic Catalina Casino. Lots of the old-school charm that made it popular in the roaring ‘20s still exists in the main town of Avalon, though updates over the past decade have helped bring it into the 21st century, meaning it’s a great place to chill, party, or explore the outdoors, depending on what your vibe is.