10 Breathtaking Small Islands in the Mediterranean

Caprera, Italy

Caprera is one of the most underrated Mediterranean destinations. It is a small, picturesque island and nature reserve in the La Maddalena Archipelago that can be reached via ferry from Palau on the northern coast of Sardinia. Not only does it boast one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful coves, Cala Coticcio, but it hosts multiple historic treasures, including Roman ships and the home of Giuseppe Garibaldi, one of the fathers of Italian independence. Garibaldi spent the last years of his life on this island, in a white house overlooking the sea. He lived here after the death of his wife Anita for 26 years until passing away in 1882, and today, his house is a museum, offering the chance to see not only the home but the very furniture, works of art and other objects that belonged to the general. A vintage watch hangs on the wall, still marking the time of his death.

Nisyros, Greece

Nisyros, part of the Dodecanese Islands, sits between Kos and Tilos and is still untouched by heavy tourism. Best-known for being the youngest volcanic island in Greece, the last violent eruption occurred in 1888, but you can still see steam seeping from gaps in the speckled stones and safely walk inside the craters and watch the boiling holes. The houses, castles and temples were all built using some component of the volcano, including black lava, red and white rust, and pumice. The volcanological museum, located at the edge of the caldera, offers a unique view and features a variety of volcanic exhibits, including the chance to learn about the volcanic activity of the area through 3D moving images.

But Nisyros offers a lot more than volcanic features, as a green enclave that’s ideal for nature lovers. The hidden harbors, blue-domed churches with elaborate frescoes, monasteries buried in caves and even ancient sites blanked by ash still yet to be unearthed draw artists, history buffs and adventurers of all types.

Lipari, Italy

One of Italy’s best-kept secrets, Lipari is just a one-hour trip via ferry from Sicily. Among the chain of tiny Aeolian Islands, of which it’s the largest, Lipari is often overlooked as nothing more than a transport hub, but there are many reasons to visit, including taking advantage of what so many others miss. The main town, of the same name, Lipari, has a laid-back vibe with a bustling main drag known as Corso Vittorio Emanuele, where locals and visitors enjoy their evening walk. It also boasts a number of beautiful beaches, like Porticello, Canneto, Papesca, and along its north coast are pumice and obsidian caves.

At the archaeology museum, Museo Archeologico Eoliano, a gorgeous collection of Lipartite urns await, along with galleries that feature pottery from the 4th and 5th century BC, a time when Greeks occupied the area.

Comino, Malta

Comino is very small, at just under 1.5-square-miles, but for its tiny size, it packs a big punch. Sitting halfway between the islands of Malta and Gozo, it’s officially home to just four residents, and most travelers that make it here arrive for just a day trip, though a few of the more adventurous camp overnight. It’s an ideal island for diving, snorkeling and hiking, with its highlight the famous Blue Lagoon. The unique topography of the area created a protected natural swimming pool, complete with submerged caves and crystal clear and azure-colored water. There are no tarmacked roads, and just a smattering of buildings, including one hotel that reviewers call “decent,” but “definitely not the Ritz.”

Bozcaada, Turkey

According to Homer’s Iliad, this island off the west coast of Turkey in the Dardanelles Strait is where the Greek fleet hid waiting for Odysseus’ signal to invade Troy. Undiscovered by most travelers until just recently, it offers an enchanting, peaceful change from those packed holiday destinations with stunning hidden bays that are filled with colorful marine life, a rich historical heritage and world-class grapes that produce fantastic wines. With the town center closed to vehicle traffic, the narrow, cobblestone streets are ideal for a romantic stroll, and its windy shores have become popular for kite surfing, particular on the long stretch of Cayir Beach, with its idyllic conditions giving birth to a kite surfing school and a festival. It’s the island’s dry, warm, and windy climate that provides an ideal setting for cultivating deliciously juicy grapes, which is why roughly one-third of it is covered with vineyards.

Panarea, Italy

Panarea can be reached in about two-and-a-half-hours via ferry from Milazzo in northeastern Sicily. This little Aeolian island with its classic white houses looks more like a Greek Island than one that’s in Italy. Although it’s home to less than 300 permanent residents, it’s unmistakably glamorous as a popular hangout for celebrities and the elite who want to get away from it all. Visitors can enjoy hiking trails that offer magnificent views of the sea, and pass through untouched parts of the island, as well as diving, with the surrounding waters renowned for their colorful sea life and a shipwreck lying just offshore that can be explored.

There are no cars on the island – locals get around on Italian three-wheelers known as Apes or golf carts. But you will find lots of upscale restaurants along with a handful of shops selling locally-made souvenirs.

Susak Island, Croatia

Less than 200 inhabitants welcome visitors to this tiny, just under two-square-miles island. Located on the northern Adriatic coast of Croatia, Susak Island falls under the radar as it’s relatively isolated and not easy to reach. Made entirely from golden sand, it boasts gorgeous beaches and picturesque coves along with interesting locals who don beautiful traditional costumes and speak a special localized dialect. There are no paved roads, hopping nightclubs or beach bars, though there are lots of hiking trails that connect the island villages. It’s the most distant island in the Kvarner Bay Archipelago, and to get there, the easiest way is via catamaran from Rijeka, located in western Croatia, roughly 80 miles southwest of the capital, Zagreb.

Milos, Greece

This volcanic Greek island is the southernmost island in the Cyclades. It’s known for its horseshoe shape and magnificent coastline, which boasts over 75 beaches of all types, as well as for being the place where the famous statue, the “Venus de Milo” was discovered. In addition to countless beautiful stretches of sand, the island offers glorious sunsets, white-washed Cycladic villages, a rich history, fantastic food and welcoming people. The “island of colors,” as it’s sometimes called, is noted as such as the sands are incredibly diverse from white to black, pebble- or shell-covered. The waters are always clear and come in a variety of shades: pale or deep blue, emerald or vibrant green.

Porquerolles, France

Porquerolles is the largest of the Hyères Islands, an island and nature reserve off the coast of Provence, France. The only way to get here is by boat, but that makes hitting the hiking trails or renting a bike and exploring the island on two wheels, all that more enjoyable with fewer tourists to share the roads with. Nearly three decades ago, Conde Nast Traveler called the island the “French Riviera’s Last Frontier,” and little has changed since. This unspoiled paradise is home to one tiny village with a yacht harbor, port area, eateries and cycle-rental shops, along with just a handful of hotels clustered on the Place d’Armes, a sandy square shaded by eucalyptus trees.

Gozo, Malta

Maltese flee to the ruggedly beautiful shores of Gozo on weekends to escape the hustle and bustle of the main island, lounging away the time soaking up the sun on golden sand beaches and feasting on fresh seafood. If you visit in the spring, you’ll enjoy warm but not too hot weather, the colorful flowers in bloom, and enjoy the beaches practically all to yourself. You can also enjoy exploring the fossils of hundreds of sea creatures that are easily spotted on the exposed rock around Dwejra Bay and the Azure Window, the island’s most famous attraction.