Italy’s 5 most beautiful islands

There are approximately 350 islands dotted around Italy’s boot-shaped coastline, offering everything from pine tree-covered volcanoes to crystalline waters.

And here are the five of the best, according to global travellers.*

Elba

Known as Napoleon’s place of exile, Elba is a verdant, mountainous island that lies off the coast of Tuscany. Here, you’ll find sparklingly-clear waters, sheltered beaches with fine, white sand, fragrant pine forests, and bougainvillea sprouting up everywhere. For active types, mountain biking, hiking and snorkelling are popular pastimes. Those looking for sheer relaxation can bask in golden sunsets, stuff themselves with local antipasti and gelato, and stroll around the pretty white marina of the capital, Portoferraio. Enjoy prime Portoferraio harbour views from your suite at B&B La terrazza sul mare.

Favignana

The butterfly-shaped, charismatic Favignana is the largest of Italy’s Aegadian Islands, an archipelago just a short ferry ride from the west coast of Sicily. The water here is impossibly blue, calmly lapping the rocks of each quiet cove, and the island is tiny, so you can easily hire a bike and cycle along the dusty paths from beach to beach. Cala Rossa is the most famous bay, where pillars of eroded limestone frame the ocean and coral reef. Finish up the day with a traditional local tuna dish; before the days of tourism, tuna-fishing was how Favignana residents made their living, so the tuna couscous is an absolute must. Le Ancore Luxury Apartments provides sea views, lemon trees galore and a 3-minute stroll to the beach.

Procida

The pocket-sized island of Procida is a relatively undiscovered delight in the Bay of Naples, and its sun-drenched scenery was the setting for films including Il Postino and The Talented Mr Ripley. Life here takes on the gentle rhythm of sipping morning espressos alongside locals (try the island’s popular ‘lingua’, too – a lemon-flavoured and cream-filled pastry), beach days and evening aperitivos. You can walk pretty much anywhere; from the pastel-coloured main port, Marina Grande, to Terra Murata, the fortified medieval hilltop village built to defend the island against pirates. To appreciate the island’s natural beauty, wander the lemon grove-covered countryside, cobbled streets lined with bougainvillea and jasmine, and discover the coastline’s volcanic black sand beaches. Enjoy breakfast on your private patio overlooking the sea at La Casa di Titina.

Ischia

Celebrated for its mineral-rich thermal waters and its soft, golden sandy beaches, the volcanic island of Ischia is a little-known beauty in the Bay of Naples. Its contoured landscape of hairpin bends and vineyards is most beguiling around the 789-metre Monte Epomeo, a dormant, pine-tree covered volcano on the north coast whose peak provides remarkable sea views and the opportunity for lunch at La Grotta da Fiore, a superb restaurant carved into the rocks. Hire a boat in Forio, a town on the northern coast, and spend the day anchoring in secluded spots along the coastline, before mooring in Ischia Porto or Ischia Ponte for a fresh seafood dinner and a shot of rucolino (a local liqueur made from rocket leaves). On the south coast, the white-washed fishing village of Sant’Angelo is a must-visit, with car-free streets, piazzas filled with restaurant tables and the pretty Chia di Rose beach, near the marina. Check into a suite with a sea-facing balcony and mosaiced floors at Sant’Angelo’s Hotel Casa Celestino.

Lipari

A wildly beautiful volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands are characterized by craters, mud baths, peaceful coves and deep orange sunsets. The biggest of these islands, Lipari, forms the industrial centre, with pumice quarries and a year-round population making it the liveliest, too. Check out the 15th-century Lipari Castle that stands on a rocky outcrop by the sea above the old town, where Baroque churches are filled with frescoes and Renaissance artwork. And be sure to walk the coastal footpath between the Terme di San Calogero and the kaolin quarry at Bagnosecco, for sensational views and air filled with the scent of rosemary, capers and hibiscus. Stay in the historic, cream-coloured Hotel Villa Meligunis, with views of the harbour and the castle.

**These destinations were the most highly rated in Italy for ‘islands’ by Booking.com customers.