The best islands in the world: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards
The 2025 Readers' Choice Awards Survey is now live. Vote, share, and tell us all about your top destinations, hotels and more for the chance to win an ocean voyage with Viking.
When it comes to playing castaway, Bali, Maldives and Fiji were the obvious candidates for beach escapes, and in Europe, you gave the sands of Madeira the highest score. Hvar, surprisingly, was the only one of Croatia’s 79 islands to make the grade this year, but several Greek spots were clear favourites – with Paros, Rhodes and Crete top for scenery. Now, you can use the results to decide where you’re going next – these are the best islands in the world, as voted by our readers in this year's Readers’ Choice Awards.
Getty ImagesThe best islands in the Caribbean and the Atlantic
10. Cuba. Score 84.32
9. Antigua. Score 84.78
8. St Barts. Score 84.86
7. Barbados. Score 87.19
6. St Lucia. Score 87.65
5. Grenada. Score 88.71
4. Jamaica. Score 89.02
3. Bermuda. Score 90.20
2. Dominican Republic. Score 92.57
1. Bahamas. Score 99.51
Getty ImagesThe best islands in Asia
10. Lombok, Indonesia. Score 90.21
9. Sri Lanka. Score 90.34
8. Andaman Islands, India. Score 90.48
7. Koh Lanta, Thailand. Score 90.71
6. Phuket, Thailand. Score 90.83
5. Penang, Malaysia. Score 91.34
4. Langkawi, Malaysia. Score 94.21
3. Koh Samui, Thailand. Score 94.29
2. Phú Quoc, Vietnam. Score 95.36
1. Bali, Indonesia. Score 95.71
Getty ImagesThe best islands in Central and South America
5. Easter Island, Chile. Score 82.29
4. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Score 82.34
3. Islas Secas, Panama. Score 85.71
2. Ambergris Caye, Belize. Score 86.43
1. Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Score 95.24
Getty ImagesThe best islands in Australasia and the South Pacific
5. Moorea, French Polynesia. Score 92.57
4. Tasmania, Australia. Score 93.47
3. Bora Bora, French Polynesia. Score 93.65
2. Cook Islands. Score 94.29
1. Fiji. Score 96.51
Getty ImagesThe best islands in North America
10. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Score 86.87
9. Anna Maria Island, Florida, USA. Score 87.12
8. Oahu, Hawaii, USA. Score 87.29
7. Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island, USA. Score 89.56
6. Kauai, Hawaii, USA. Score 90.30
5. Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Score 91.43
4. Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Score 92.21
3. Big Island, Hawaii, USA. Score 92.48
2. Maui, Hawaii, USA. Score 95.71
1. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. Score 98.10
Getty ImagesThe best islands in the UK
10. Isle of Arran. Score 72.80
9. Lindisfarne. Score 73.52
8. Isle of Man. Score 74.29
7. Guernsey. Score 81.90
6. Shetland. Score 85.71
5. Hebrides. Score 88.33
4. Orkney. Score 90.95
3. Isle of Wight. Score 91.24
2. Isles of Scilly. Score 93.77
1. Jersey. Score 95.29
Getty ImagesThe best islands in Europe
20. Capri, Italy. Score 85.00
19. Canary Islands, Spain. Score 85.43
18. Santorini, Greece. Score 85.71
17. Corfu, Greece. Score 86.23
16. Ibiza, Spain. Score 86.25
15. Mallorca, Spain. Score 86.35
14. Hvar, Croatia. Score 86.49
13. Azores, Portugal. Score 86.61
12. Zakynthos, Greece. Score 86.62
11. Sicily, Italy. Score 86.67
10. Ischia, Italy. Score 86.72
9. Cyprus. Score 86.94
8. Corsica, France. Score 87.14
7. Rhodes, Greece. Score 87.62
6. Menorca, Spain. Score 88.05
5. Skiathos, Greece. Score 88.11
4. Crete, Greece. Score 88.55
3. Paros, Greece. Score 88.57
2. Sardinia, Italy. Score 89.29
1. Madeira, Portugal. Score 90.31
Getty ImagesThe best islands in Africa and the Indian Ocean
5. Réunion, France. Score 89.71
4. Mauritius. Score 89.97
3. Zanzibar, Tanzania. Score 91.06
2. Seychelles. Score 98.10
1. Maldives. Score 99.29