Top luxury island resort destinations in Europe
Top luxury island resort destinations in Europe
Asia is home to the destination most people picture first when they think of luxury island travel, along with several others that have built strong reputations of their own.
The Maldives remains the global benchmark, with overwater villas set above clear lagoon water and entire resorts built on their own private atoll. Thailand and Indonesia both offer a different style, with islands like Phuket, Koh Samui and Bali mixing high end resorts with a broader mix of restaurants, spas and nightlife beyond the hotel grounds. The Philippines has quietly built a reputation of its own too, with private island resorts in Palawan among the most exclusive and hard to reach in the region. Prices and privacy both climb the further a resort sits from a major airport.
The destinations on our list for Asia reflect that same range, from world famous overwater villas to quieter, harder to reach island escapes.
Lists by region
Island in Spain
Menorca
Tranquil Island of Hidden Beaches
Since October 1993 the island has held UNESCO biosphere reserve status. It covers about 269 square miles. Monte Toro, its highest point, rises to 1,171 feet. Mahón became the capital in 1722 under British rule, partly for its natural harbour. Cala Galdana and Arenal d'en Castell are among its beaches.
Island in Italy
Capri
Mediterranean Elegance and Natural Beauty
Villa Jovis preserves the ruins of Tiberius's main villa. He moved to Capri in AD 27 and governed the Roman Empire from the island until AD 37. Upscale hotels, shops and restaurants fill the four square mile island. Monte Solaro rises to 1,932 feet above Anacapri.
Island in Spain
Ibiza
Mediterranean Energy, Timeless Charm
Bass from the original clubs Pacha, Amnesia and Es Paradís still pulses after dark. The Renaissance walls of Ibiza Town earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999. Daily ferries link Ibiza Town and Santa Eulària with Formentera. Hï has won DJ Mag's best club award four years running.
Town in Greece
Oia
Sunsets Over Whitewashed Cliffs
Wealthy ship captains built neoclassical mansions in Oia during the 19th century. Many simpler seamen's houses were carved into the caldera edge. Some have since become guest houses and hotels. The village stretches almost 1.2 miles along the rim. Crowds gather each evening to watch the sunset.
Island in Greece
Mykonos
Whitewashed beauty and wild nights
Islanders have elected successors since the death of Petros the Pelican, the official mascot for over 60 years. He settled on the island after a storm in 1954. International jet set tourists arrived in the 1960s. Little Venice has fishing houses with balconies over the sea. Delos lies 1.2 miles away.
Island in Spain
Mallorca
Mediterranean Magic: Beaches & Mountains
The largest of the Balearic Islands covers about 1,405 square miles. UNESCO inscribed the Serra de Tramuntana as a World Heritage cultural site in 2011. Frédéric Chopin and George Sand spent the winter of 1838 and 1839 in Valldemossa. Palma airport handled 33.3 million passengers in 2024. That ranked it third busiest in Spain.
Island in Greece
Santorini
Breathtaking Views and Blue Domes
Akrotiri, a Bronze Age Minoan town buried by volcanic ash, is often compared to Pompeii. Excavations began in 1967. The eruption occurred about 3,600 years ago. Caldera cliffs drop more than 980 feet at their highest. Assyrtiko grapes produce extremely dry white wines with citrus and mineral aromas.
Island in Italy
Sardinia
Turquoise seas and ancient secrets
Costa Smeralda, the Emerald Coast, stretches about 12 miles along northern Sardinia. A consortium led by Prince Karim Aga Khan financed development from 1961. Porto Cervo and other towns follow a detailed urban plan. The Sardinia Cup regatta runs each September, with polo near Arzachena from April to October.
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