The 20 Most Beautiful Islands in the World in 2020

There’s something about the idea of being a castaway on an island, away from everyone and everything, that has captured the imagination since ancient times. No wonder there are so many books, movies and TV series set on remote islands. These days, of course, many islands are actually pretty easy to get to but they still make for a very special kind of getaway. So, which ones should you visit? Well, it always helps if an island looks great on Instagram. Here is our choice of the 20 most beautiful islands in the world in 2020.

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Flatey Island, Iceland

Iceland is a breathtaking island in its own right and travelling its Ring Road is one of those trips to take when you can’t wait for retirement. If you want to get even more off the beaten path, though, venture out to Flatey Island off the country’s northwest coast in summer. The island’s name refers to its flat topography but who needs dramatic mountains if you can have traditionally painted Icelandic houses, sheep grazing the impossibly green grass, and puffins all under the midnight sun?

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Tanna, Vanuatu

Tanna is one of the 83 islands that make up the country of Vanuatu. It’s an adventurer’s paradise complete with an active volcano — Mount Yasur — along with excellent diving and snorkelling spots, the Blue Cave, hot springs, thick tropical vegetation and villages consisting of thatched huts. The people of Tanna still live their traditional way of life and in one village, the inhabitants worship a deity known to the rest of us as merely Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh.

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Inishmore, Ireland

Of course you can get one of the coziest sweaters for under $100 in Canada but wouldn’t it be so much more special to bring one back from your island vacation? Inishmore is the largest of Ireland’s Aran Islands, home of the Aran sweater. Mysterious ruins atop limestone cliffs, butterflies fluttering across an astonishing array of wildflowers, quaint little B&Bs and a very strong Irish culture are just some of the things that make Inishmore a must-visit island.

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Korčula, Croatia

Medieval churches and palaces aren’t usually things that you would imagine against the backdrop of sunshine on a blue, blue sea. However, this is exactly what you get in the town of Korčula on the island of the same name, off Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. Much of the rest of the island is covered in pine forests and because the package tourist hordes haven’t discovered this beauty yet, you’ll get to enjoy it in peace.

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Sable Island, Nova Scotia

Why would a windswept, fog-covered island that consists mostly of sand make our list of the most beautiful islands? After all, Sable Island doesn’t even have trees except for a single, small pine tree. This desolation is exactly what gives Sable Island its beauty, though, and making Sable Island National Park Reserve one of Canada’s best national parks to explore. Then there are the locals with their flowing manes: it would be hard not to fall in love with the Sable Island horses.

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Pemba Island, Tanzania

Zanzibar is famous for its cloves but did you know that most of these cloves are actually grown on Pemba Island, the second largest of the islands in the archipelago? Of course the smell of cloves alone isn’t enough to make an island beautiful but that’s what the beaches and crystal-clear waters are for. If you really want to be the envy of all your Instagram followers, you can even stay in an underwater hotel room with views of a coral reef.

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Madagascar

Madagascar is one of the world’s largest islands and this means that you can enjoy a variety of landscapes, from desert to tropical forests and from weird karst formations to white sand beaches. The island country is also home to many animals you won’t find anywhere else, like lemurs. A particularly breathtaking spot in Madagascar is the Avenue of the Baobabs, where you can watch one of the world’s most beautiful sunsets.

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Barbados

Those white, sandy, palm-fringed beaches are the stuff of the prettiest picture postcards. Beyond the beaches you’ll find historic plantation houses, lush gardens, sugarcane fields and more. While you shake your head in disbelief that local girl Rihanna gave all this up for pop superstardom, you’ll be happy to know that Barbados is one of the best places for Canadians to live abroad.

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Hiva Oa, French Polynesia

Hiva Oa is one of the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia. Its rugged landscapes and beautiful people inspired French painter Paul Gauguin, who spent his final years here. Only a few feet from his grave — in the local cemetery overlooking a blue bay – is that of another luminary who simply couldn’t tear himself away from such a stunning place: Belgian singer Jacques Brel.

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Prince Edward Island

The red sand beaches, rolling farmland, historic buildings: what’s not to love about Prince Edward Island? Canada’s smallest province is especially beautiful in the fall, when the colours of the leaves along the Confederation Trail make this one of the country’s best bike tours.

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Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

Seen from way up high, Basse-Terre forms the left wing of a butterfly shape with its neighbour, Grande-Terre, forming the right wing. While Grande-Terre is where you’ll find most of the beach resorts, Basse-Terre is home to one of the best Zika-free destinations that go beyond the beach. The three cascades of the Carbet Falls form a refreshing contrast to the sweltering green jungle covering the slopes of the La Soufrière volcano.

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Whitsunday Island, Australia

Imagine seven kilometres of beach with sand so white it will blind you if you don’t wear sunglasses, and so fine that you can use it to polish your jewelry. Now add water in varying shades of turquoise and blue and a backdrop of dark green vegetation and you can see why Whitehaven Beach consistently ranks among the world’s best beaches. You’ll find this breathtaking spot on Whitsunday Island in the archipelago of the same name off the coast of Australia. Part of the island’s charm is that it’s uninhabited and the only accommodation option is camping.

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Saint Lucia

The most famous landmarks on Saint Lucia inspired the design of the country’s flag but to see them in real life is something else. The Pitons are just a little taste of what the landscape of Saint Lucia looks like: a lush, green, mountainous interior fringed by sandy beaches and the obligatory palm trees. Saint Lucia is one of the best places to visit in August, since this is when the island country celebrates Chocolate Heritage Month.

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Big Major Cay, Bahamas

Big Major Cay, which is part of the Exuma Cays, isn’t really that much more beautiful than its neighbours except for its inhabitants: the cutest swimming pigs. While the northern parts of the Bahamas were devastated by Hurricane Dorian, the more southerly parts — including Big Major Cay, also called Pig Island — made it through unscathed. Visiting these islands will bring much needed income to help rebuild the country.

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Ishigaki Island, Japan

When most of us think of Japan, we think either of city lights or of tranquil temples and Mount Fuji. What we don’t think of is sunny, tropical beaches. This, however, is exactly what you’ll find on Ishigaki Island, which was one of the up-and-coming destinations for 2018. Ishigaki Island is not only different from the Japanese mainland in terms of climate and landscape but also in terms of culture, which shows Taiwanese influences.

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Mont-Saint-Michel, France

At low tide you can walk across the mud flats from the mainland but when the tide comes in, Mont-Saint-Michel turns into pure island. This is not the place to come to if you’re looking for beaches, though. What makes Mont-Saint-Michel so stunning is that it’s covered in medieval architecture, turning it into something straight from a fairy tale.

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Jamaica

Jamaica is the ultimate tropical island with its palm-fringed beaches, misty mountains and reggae vibes. Whether you stay in Kingston, Montego Bay or Negril — one of the best places to visit in June – you’ll be hard pressed to find a spot that isn’t Insta-worthy. You can make this place your home too: as a Commonwealth citizen you can register to vote in Jamaican elections and even serve in the country’s legislature.

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Baffin Island, Nunavut

Baffin Island may not have any tropical charm but who says an island has to have palm trees for it to be beautiful? Canada’s largest island is breathtaking no matter what time of year you visit. Just look at Mount Asgard and Mount Thor, two of the unusual places in Canada you won’t believe you can actually visit. How could a palm tree even compete?

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Bali, Indonesia

With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia has more than its fair share of beautiful ones but few come close to Bali. Here you’ll find everything from absolutely perfect beaches to dramatic mountains to exotic temples to rice terraces to waterfalls to gawk at. An abundance of spas and retreats makes this one of the most relaxing destinations if you’re stressed too.

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Ometepe, Nicaragua

It’s easy to forget that an island doesn’t necessarily have to be surrounded by ocean. The island of Ometepe lies in Lake Nicaragua and was formed by two volcanoes, giving it a shape like an infinity symbol. Much of the island is covered in lush, tropical vegetation and plantations with some of the best coffee you can imagine. You’ll also find plenty of waterfalls and ancient petroglyphs.

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