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 cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated islands according to their activities and sights, natural attractions and beaches, food, friendliness, and overall value.
Ischia Porto seen from the ferry boat leaving the Island, Italy. Photo by LeoPatrizi/Getty Images/Canva
IN THE EYES OF Travel + Leisure readers, the best islands in the world promise much more than aquamarine waters, dramatic coastlines, and pristine beaches. All are evidence that we are not only enthusiastically exploring again but re-examining what an ideal island experience might entail.
The majority of the most popular islands offer crystalline sands and thriving marine life that can be explored by divers of any level. Cases in point: the Maldives (No. 2), Bali in Indonesia (No. 3), or Thailand’s Phuket (No. 7). Readers also flocked to isles with rich culture and food, from the ancient ruins and unsurpassable food of Mílos, Greece (No. 4) to nightlife on Ibiza, Spain (No. 17).
Readers’ enthusiasm for Vietnam’s Phu Quoc (No. 14) has earned it a place on this list thanks to its white-sand beaches and delectable food. The island is renowned for its production of fish sauce and peppercorns, as well as its coral reefs and dense tropical forest.
But this category, according to T+L readers, has a new winner this year. Read on to discover why Italy‘s Ischia took the title of the No. 1 island.
T — INDICATES A TRUE TIE
* — ON THE LIST FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS
1. Ischia, Italy
Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, a one-hour ferry ride from Naples, Ischia has attracted more attention among travelers after featuring prominently in Elena Ferrante’s novel “My Brilliant Friend,” which HBO recently adapted into a series. It earned the top spot thanks to its picturesque villages, thermal springs, and unspoiled beaches, which include Le Fumarole and its geothermally heated sand. One reader added praise for the “very nice and helpful” locals. While there are myriad villas to rent, there’s also the full five-star hotel experience of the grande dame Regina Isabella and newcomer Mezzatorre, run by Pellicano Hotels.
Score: 94.61
2. Maldives
Score: 94.44
3. Bali, Indonesia *
WBA Hall of Fame honoree.
Score: 92.51
4. Mílos, Greece
Score: 92.50
5. Fiji Islands
Score: 92.38
6. Galápagos Islands, Ecuador
Score: 92.00
7. Phuket, Thailand
Score: 91.90
8. Dominica
Score: 91.00
9. Boracay, Philippines
Score: 90.89
10. Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Score: 90.88
11. Palawan, Philippines
Score: 90.81
12. Páros, Greece
Score: 90.62
13. Azores, Portugal
Score: 90.48
14. Phu Quoc, Vietnam
Score: 90.25
15. Moorea, French Polynesia
Score: 90.24
16. Cebu, Philippines
Score: 90.12
17. Ibiza, Spain
Score: 89.89
18. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Score: 89.79
19. Madeira, Portugal
Score: 89.78
20. Maui, Hawaii *
WBA Hall of Fame honoree.
Score: 89.55
21. Anguilla
Score: 89.43
22. Crete, Greece
Score: 89.40
23. Mackinac Island, Michigan
Score: 89.10
24. Island of Hawaii
Score: 88.53
25. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Score: 88.49
For more World’s Best Awards 2022 lists of your favorite hotels, resorts, cities, islands and more, visit: travelandleisureasia.com/trending/worlds-best-awards.
By Travel+Leisure Editor
