World's Best

Travel + Leisure Readers' 15 Favorite Islands in Europe of 2023

The well-rounded Portuguese outpost of Madeira was chosen as readers’ favorite island in Europe in our annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2023.

By

Siobhan Reid

Published on July 11, 2023

When most people think of an island vacation, they picture a tropical paradise with velvety sands, turquoise-clear waters, and swaying palm trees. While Europe certainly has its share of destinations geared toward standard beach getaways, most travelers to islands like Sicily, Cyprus, and the Azores are in search for more than just sand and sun — namely, rich history, thrilling outdoor adventures, fabulous dining, and deep cultural immersion. One thing this year’s list of Travel + Leisure readers’ favorite islands in Europe proves? No swimsuit, no problem.

How Voting Works

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 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique 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.

Sailing boats at the harbor, Sitia, Crete — Nick Brundle Photography/Getty Images

What Readers Loved

As with previous years, Greece dominated this year’s list, with seven winning islands including Santorini (No. 8), Crete (No. 11), and Mykonos (No. 13). T+L readers had great things to say about Rhodes and the Dodecanese Islands (No. 4), where ancient ruins and history museums are located alongside picture-perfect beaches. “Awesome island with beautiful beaches and food,” shared one fan. Voters also loved Cyprus (No. 9), with one respondent calling it “one of the best trips” of their life.

The deep sense of history also won over travelers to Sicily (No. 7), which is experiencing a surge in interest after the second season of HBO’s The White Lotus. One traveler described their experience as being “like traveling back in time to the Roman Empire,” while another praised the cuisine, which blends Greek, Roman, Arab, Norman, and Italian flavors and influences. Several respondents recommended motoring around via scooter, discovering the sights of the capital city Palermo, the hilltop commune of Taormina (where White Lotus was filmed), the pretty harbor of Messina, and the ancient ruins of Syracuse. “I never even made it to the beach,” admitted one traveler.

While some travel for culture, others travel to get off the beaten track, immersing themselves in the wilds of places like the Azores (No. 4), a remote Portuguese archipelago where you can swim with wild dolphins, relax in natural hot springs, and hike along paths that weave along green pastures and volcanic peaks. “The coastline is wild and rocky and there’s so much to do if you love the outdoors,” gushed one respondent. Travelers had similar things to say about Scotland’s Skye and the Hebrides, which climbed 15 spots to secure the No. 2 spot on this year’s list. “This is nature at its best,” said one traveler, an avid hiker.

This year’s winner unseated Ischia, Italy to nab the No. 1 spot on this list. Find out what makes it so special below.

The Winner

Madeira: Portugal

"Stairs to heaven" - Breathtaking view at famous mountain footpath from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo on Madeira island. — Solovyova/Getty Images

Madeira jumped five spots on readers’ list of favorite islands in Europe to claim this year’s title. Travelers couldn’t believe the sheer number of things to see and do on the lush Portuguese island, which is best known for its rugged volcanic cliffs and the hundreds of miles of levadas, or irrigation channels, that make for world-class trekking. “The island is so diverse, from its rocky beaches to fog-shrouded mountains and botanical gardens,” marveled one traveler, who was quick to point out that Madeira balances off-the-grid nature excursions with other diversions like nightlife, dining, and even shopping. “We didn’t have a bad meal and the variety of shopping was great,” said the same voter. The hotel scene is also terrific, whether you’re looking for a sleek newcomer like Les Suites at the Cliff Bay or the island’s most glamorous address, Belmond Reid’s Palace, which has been welcoming guests to its stunning clifftop perch for over a century.