Canary Islands and Croatian Isles Top New Ranking of Europe's Best Islands for Nature and Weather

A new ranking by British travel company Saga highlights the top 10 European islands based on weather, green spaces, and food and drink availability, rather than popularity or tourist satisfaction. The list evaluates 80 islands across Europe, focusing on central archipelagos popular with British travelers. The scoring weights green areas at 45%, weather conditions at 35%, and food and drink options at 20%. This approach favors islands with lush nature and pleasant climates over the most famous or accessible destinations.

Tenerife, the largest Canary Island in Spain, ranks first with a score of 95 out of 100, praised for its sunny weather, volcanic landscapes, green spaces, and dining options. La Palma, another Canary Island, comes second with 94 points, noted for its UNESCO biosphere reserve and rich greenery. Madeira, Portugal, is third with 93 points, recognized for its mountains, cliffs, and laurel forests, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Croatia has a strong presence with four islands in the top ten: Korčula (4th, 92 points), Mljet (5th, 90 points), Lošinj (7th, 88 points), and Brač (8th, 87 points). These islands are valued for their natural beauty, lower tourist density, and green landscapes rather than commercial appeal. Mallorca, Spain’s well-known Balearic Island, ranks sixth with 89 points, benefiting from its Mediterranean climate and developed tourism infrastructure but scoring lower on nature.

Gran Canaria (9th, 86 points) and La Gomera (10th, 85 points), both Canary Islands, complete the top ten. Notably absent from the list are some of the most famous Mediterranean islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Sicily, and Sardinia, which did not make the top ten due to the ranking’s emphasis on green space. However, in the food category, Capri, Sardinia, and Santorini lead, showing that different criteria highlight different islands’ strengths.