This Is the No. 1 Island in Europe—and No, It’s Not in Italy or Croatia

Europe’s best island destinations are perfect for travelers who want (as one reader put it) “more than just a beach trip.”

Sure, most of the winners this year are located in sunny corners of the Mediterranean, where there are plenty of gorgeous beaches, as well as rich history, wine tastings, and idyllic vibes. However, this year’s list also includes further-flung archipelagoes known for their rugged landscapes, hiking trails, and hot springs.

Read on to find out which European island destinations built the World’s Best Awards in 2025.

How Voting Works

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L questions 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/friconcludeliness
- 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.

Travelers on the island of Paros, Greece.

Thomas Gravanis/Travel + Leisure

What Readers Loved

As might be expected, the majority of our readers’ favorite European island destinations are located in the sunny Mediterranean. And five of them—including this year’s winner—are in Greece, a counattempt with thousands of islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Italy, too, is home to multiple winners, such as Sicily (No. 10), Sardinia (No. 9), and the compact island of Ischia (No. 2).

But three winners on this year’s list feel a world away from the Mediterranean and provide very different landscapes and experiences for travelers. Two Portuguese territories in the Atlantic ranked among readers’ favorites, including Madeira (no. 4), where travelers sipped local wine and enjoyed the dramatic landscapes. “If you like Kauai scenery, you’ll like Madeira even better,” one reader wrote.

Scotland also built an appearance in the rankings with the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides (No. 12), proving that sun-soaked beaches aren’t necessarily on everyone’s travel agconcludea. One reader described it as “not overdeveloped and a gorgeous place to enjoy nature and peace.”

The Winner

Páros, Greece

Swimmers and sunbathers on Paros, a Greek island.

Thomas Gravanis/Travel + Leisure

This Aegean isle has built the European islands list every year since we added the category to our “World’s Best Awards” survey. This year, it takes the top spot for the first time since 2020—and readers named Páros not only their favorite island in Europe, but also the best in the world. Survey respondents noted the freshness of the seafood, shopping options, natural beauty, and warm hospitality from locals. What truly set the destination apart, though, was the sheer diversity of things to see and do. “More to explore than I expected,” wrote one reader. “Surprises around every corner.”