7 Under-The-Radar European Islands To Explore In 2026

Situated between Sicily and Tunisia (closer to the latter), this tiny and dramatic volcanic island is often called the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean because of its rocky, black landscape. With natural hot springs, fumaroles, vineyards and crystalline coves, so cinematic is the scenery that it backdropped Luca Guadagnino’s 2015 film A Bigger Splash. But the remoteness of this rugged island means it has stayed relatively off the radar of the crowds, who more regularly descend on its larger neighbor, Sicily.

Where to stay: An elegant retreat offset by the wild setting, Sikelia is built in the ancient, domed dammusi style of the region. The 19 serene suites are imbued with an artistic nature, while the menu in the Themà restaurant combines Sicilian cuisine with Arabic influences.

Sifnos is the kind of Greek island that reveals itself slowly. Long prized by Athenians for its food culture and ceramic heritage, it feels thoughtful and unflashy. Think: whitewashed villages, low hills and beaches that generally still belong to the locals. This is a quiet place where long, seafood lunches stretch into dusk and where design is hand-thrown rather than avant-garde.

Where to stay: As is the way with so many under-discovered regions, this is not a place with giant, built-up resorts. Boutique hotels and refined villas sit lightly on the land, often owned by families with deep roots on the island, such as Nós Hotel and Villas, which has its own restaurant on the property, or the Sigma Residences.

Šipan is Croatia at its most elegant and unhurried. The largest of the Elaphiti Islands, just a short boat ride from Dubrovnik, it feels like a private annex of the Adriatic. It’s a place of olive groves, stone villas and sleepy harbors. It’s an understated, authentic type of luxury, rather than resort heavy or party-focused. Unlike nearby Hvar or Dubrovnik, there’s no nightlife to speak of, which is precisely the point. You’ll while away the hours swimming, tucking into market-fresh lunches and taking long walks between the villages. If you’re canny, there are also a couple of excellent local restaurants to discover, such as Bowa, which offers a Dalmatian and Japanese culinary fusion, plus its own little bay and beach cabanas. Šipan is all the beauty of Croatia, without the crowds of merrymakers.

Where to stay: Once a summer retreat for Dubrovnik’s aristocracy, the island retains a sense of faded grandeur, now reinterpreted through beautifully restored private houses and intimate luxury villas, rather than hotels en masse.

Just off the coast of Hyères, but worlds away from the spectacle of the Côte d’Azur, Île de Porquerolles is a restrained, unsullied version of the French Riviera. A protected national park and largely car-free, the island is criss-crossed with sandy tracks leading to wild beaches, vineyards and pine forests. The mood is elegantly low-key. A place for unbuttoned linen, cycling lazily and rosé all day.

Where to stay: Heritage hotels and refined guesthouses lean into Provençal simplicity, rather than Riviera excess. Le Mas du Langoustier, built originally by the widowed Madame Fournier in the 1930s, is one of the island’s gems. Expect a charming courtyard, filled with lavender and bougainvillea, and elegant rooms with views of the pine forest that is located on a secluded peninsula of the island.

Part of the magical archipelago of the Aeolian islands north of Sicily, Salina offers a romantic slice of countryside and coast, with a lush, green landscape and slicks of pebble beaches. It has a scattering of charming villages, where Tyrrhenian Sea-perched trattorias serve fresh catches, and pretty roads from which tantalizing Sicilian street food can be discovered in tiny cafés. Salina’s twin peaks of extinct volcanoes give idyllic hiking trails, too, where spectacular views rivaling those of the Amalfi Coast and Italian lakes are revealed around almost every corner, minus the crowds. Make sure to book a boat trip to get a closer look at its neighboring islands, and take in the imposing sight of nearby Stromboli’s active volcanoes at sunset, too.

Where to stay: Principe di Salina is a delightful boutique hotel that gleams against the volcanic landscape. With only 12 rooms, it’s intimate and inviting, and the balconies and infinity pool are perfectly situated for soaking up the endless Aeolian vista.

The picture-perfect island of Lošinj is a peaceful locale in the Adriatic Sea, where the vivid array of color is a feast for the eyes – from the azure waters and flourishing pine forests to the multi-hued houses in the harbor and cinematic sunsets. The island has long attracted guests keen to experience the reportedly unique healing properties of its sea air, but there is more to it than its utterly spectacular natural surroundings, including scenic architecture, dolphin tours, plus the rich history and culture on display in the town of Mali. Those looking for a less conspicuous spot, however, should head for the beautiful village of Veli Lošinj and its neighboring fishing port of Rovenska.

Where to stay: Set on Čkat Bay, Boutique Hotel Alhambra & Villa Augusta comprises two villas linked by a modern building, where century-old architecture meets sophisticated, contemporary features; book a room with a balcony for mood-boosting sea views over the sea. Meanwhile, its Michelin-star Alfred Keller restaurant serves local Croatian specialties, and spa treatments are inspired by the surrounding environment.

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