Forget the Mediterranean – these 6 European islands deserve your attention

Scenic view of Nusfjord Village & Resort in Norway

In summer, weeks in the middle of the Mediterranean come into their own – but there are plenty of other European island escapes worth exploring. From the Norwegian fjords to a diving hotspot off Portugal, here are some of our favourite alternative trips…

For more travel inspiration, check out our picks of 8 lesser-known Italian islands worth visiting and the best UK islands for food lovers to visit.

Lewis and Harris, Scotland

Lewis and Harris is the largest island in the Outer Hebrides and home to one of Britain's most captivating landscapes. It offers a striking contrast to the Scottish mainland – huge white-sand beaches, peat moorland and soaring cliffs create a rugged landscape that’s accessible by air (Stornoway has an airport) or sea.

One of the island’s draws is its long history. Its most celebrated landmark, the Calanais Stones, predates Stonehenge by thousands of years and is one of Britain's most important prehistoric sites. This summer sees the opening of a long-awaited museum and visitor centre. Elsewhere, the restored Gearrannan Blackhouse Village offers a fascinating insight into traditional Hebridean life, even as crofting communities continue to shape the island's cultural identity.

Much of the island’s charm revolves around nature. Inland from its sweeping beaches, coves and towering sea cliffs, you'll find freshwater lochs and moorland. There’s an abundance of wildlife throughout, from golden eagles and red deer to seals, otters and dolphins. At the island's northern tip, the Butt of Lewis delivers some of the Hebrides' most spectacular coastal scenery and is a great place to go whale watching or try surfing at nearby Eoropie.

The island's main town, Stornoway, is the cultural heart of the Outer Hebrides. Here, Scottish Gaelic remains widely spoken, traditional music is woven into everyday life, and local produce takes centre stage, from freshly landed seafood to the island's famous black pudding. The best places to try include The Boatshed in Stornoway and Uig Sands Restaurant, a family friendly seafood-focused restaurant in the north of the island. Mollans in Shawbost, on the west coast, is the place for fish and chips on the beach.

Where to stay: For something immersive, Gearrannan offers a series of restored crofting cottages. For a design-led stay, Hebrides House looks out over Uig Sands and can host two, eight or ten guests in its various configurations.

Aerial of white sand and turquoise water at Bosta Beach, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK

Lofoten Islands, Norway

In the Norwegian Sea, above the Arctic Circle, lies one of Europe's most spectacular archipelagos. Defined by granite peaks, sheltered fjords and white-sand beaches, the Lofoten islands combine wild scenery with photogenic fishing villages, making them one of Norway's most beautiful destinations. And that’s before you consider that the islands are perfectly placed for both midnight sun and the northern lights, depending on the time of year.

Despite their remote location, the Lofoten Islands are remarkably accessible. Colourful waterfront villages such as Reine, Henningsvær and Nusfjord are connected by one of the world's most scenic driving routes, where every turn reveals another mountain backdrop, sheltered bay or traditional red rorbu – the former fishermen's cabins that have become some of Norway's most sought-after places to stay. For those who like a history lesson, don’t miss the Lofotr Viking Museum in Borg.

Life here still revolves around the landscape. Hiking, kayaking, fishing and wildlife watching are all popular, while beautiful beaches such as Haukland and Uttakleiv are renowned for their clear waters and pristine surroundings. Along the coastline, galleries and cafés reflect the region's growing creative scene – make sure to stop in for a cinnamon bun at Hansines Bakeri.

Fresh seafood is central to the local cuisine, with Arctic cod (which, when dried, is called stockfish) shaping the islands' economy for centuries. You can learn about this at the Lofoten Seafood Centre, which is 100 times more exciting than it sounds – visitors can even book in for a night water safari tour and dinner. Elsewhere, an increasing number of contemporary Nordic restaurants are championing seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Some of our favourites include Anita’s Seafood in Reine and Maren Anna, a traditional Norwegian restaurant in Sørvågen.

Where to stay: Svinøya Rorbuer in Svolvær and Hattvika Lodge in Hattvika are hotels set in a series of those lovely red rorbu. For something contemporary and expansive, look to Nusfjord Village & Resort.

Gotland, Sweden

In the Baltic Sea, Gotland is Sweden's largest island and one of Scandinavia's most wholesome summer destinations. Best known for its medieval architecture and a coast lined with standing rocks, it combines centuries of history with a lively creative scene. At its centre is the UNESCO-listed town of Visby, where cobbled streets, church ruins and rose-covered cottages sit within remarkably well-preserved medieval walls. Beyond the town, the island opens out into beaches, pine forests, limestone sea stacks and farmland, offering plenty of opportunities for walking, horse riding, cycling and swimming on the shores of picturesque fishing villages.

Food is central to the Gotland experience. Restaurants celebrate seasonal Nordic produce, with fresh seafood, lamb, artisan cheeses and foraged ingredients featuring prominently on menus. Farm shops, bakeries and independent cafés are scattered across the island, while a growing collection of boutique hotels and thoughtfully restored guesthouses reflect Gotland's reputation as one of Sweden's most design-conscious destinations. In Visby, we suggest booking a table at Lilla Bjers, a farm-to-fork restaurant that serves seasonal dishes in its gardens, and having fika at Själsö Bageri, a bakery in a former fisherman’s hut. In Lärbro, Furillen’s head chef Luqaz Ottosson cooks breakfast, lunch and dinner over fire, using foraged ingredients.

Where to stay: For self-catering options, we like the look of Landfolk’s selection of holiday homes across the island. For something new and impressive, there’s Sibbjäns, a former 19th-century horse farm that’s been transformed into 22 individually designed rooms with a natural pool and Viking wellness programme.

- 12 September, 2025: drone panorama cityscape of Visby with the medieval city wall and landmark cathedral at sunset — Visby, Sweden

The Azores, Portugal

Nine hundred miles off the coast of mainland Portugal, the blue hydrangea-drenched Azores are an archipelago of nine volcanic islands scattered across the Atlantic Ocean. Featuring emerald-green crater lakes, eye-catching coastlines and geothermal hot springs, they offer a striking alternative to southern Europe's more traditional beach destinations.

The largest island, São Miguel, is often the first stop for visitors, thanks to its international airport, crater lakes, black-sand beaches and botanical gardens. Highlights include the twin crater lakes (one blue, one green) of Sete Cidades and the steaming vents of Furnas. Also on the eastern side, the island of Santa Maria is famous for its sandy beaches.

Elsewhere across the archipelago, visitors will find vineyards, hiking trails, natural swimming pools carved into volcanic rock and some of Europe's best whale and dolphin watching. These natural elements combine to make the waters a hotspot for divers. Some of the best dives are off the islands of Faial and Pico, where manta rays and blue sharks can be spotted.

The islands' rich soil shapes both the landscape and the cuisine. Fresh seafood, tropical fruit, artisan cheeses and wines produced from volcanic vineyards all feature prominently on menus, while Furnas' famous cozido, a slow-cooked stew prepared using geothermal heat, remains one of Portugal's most distinctive dishes. The best places to try it are Miroma and Tony's (both in Furnas itself).

Where to stay: Faial island’s first five-star hotel, The Book Hotel, opened this summer. The hotel is the result of a seven-year restoration project that has brought new life to a 19th-century building overlooking the Atlantic in the charming maritime town of Horta.

Jungle path through the trees in the Azores

Pellinge, Finland

Pellinge – sometimes written as Pellinki – is a collection of small islands just over an hour from Helsinki. Connecting to the capital by bridges and short ferry crossings, it’s easy to extend a city break into a summer escape in one of Finland's most beautiful landscapes, where pine forests, granite outcrops and inlets define the scenery.

Life in Pellinge revolves around the outdoors. Visitors can kayak between islands, swim from smooth rock formations, cycle along coastal roads or explore woodland trails, with the Baltic Sea a constant backdrop. You can book a boat trip to explore the cliffs and skerries further out using Seasport.

As well as beauty, these islands have a deep cultural heritage. Pellinge was home to Finnish author and artist Tove Jansson, creator of the Moomins, who spent almost 30 summers on the nearby island and nature reserve of Klovharun. During the summer months, her cottage serves as an artist residency, except during visiting week at the end of July, when guests can arrange to see Jansson’s home.

Restaurants and cafés here celebrate the region's seasonal produce, with Baltic fish, wild berries, mushrooms and foraged ingredients taking starring roles on menus. Harbourside Benitas Café has been running as a kiosk since the 1970s. Today, it also has a sauna, mini golf and live music nights as well as serving summer-ready burgers, salmon soup and sandwiches on its decking. Kafe Skolan offers sandwiches, freshly baked pastries and coffee in the cosy atmosphere of an old school at Österbyvägen 40. And Pellinge Meny is a cooperative that comes together to cook up menus using local ingredients.

Where to stay: There are no fancy hotels here. Instead, you can rent one of the traditional red wooden cottages or contemporary cabins that dot the islands. Pellinge Cottages is a good place to start.

Faroe Islands, Denmark

Halfway between Scotland and Iceland in the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands are an archipelago of 18 volcanic islands made up of soaring cliffs, grass-roofed cottages and some of Europe's most theatrical coastal scenery. Improved air links and a growing collection of boutique hotels have now made them one of the Nordic region's most exciting destinations.

The islands are remarkably easy to explore thanks to an extensive network of bridges, tunnels and undersea roads linking the main ones. Visitors can hike to panoramic viewpoints, discover towering waterfalls and explore colourful villages such as Gjógv (home to a striking sea gorge) and Tórshavn (one of the world's smallest capitals), where contemporary cafés, independent boutiques and historic timber buildings sit side by side. Meanwhile, puffin colonies, sea stacks and fjords provide a spectacular backdrop for hiking, boating and wildlife watching.

Food has become another big draw. Local chefs have transformed the islands into an unlikely culinary destination, championing hyper-seasonal ingredients including freshly caught seafood, lamb, seaweed and wild herbs. Traditional preservation techniques sit comfortably alongside modern Nordic cooking, while several acclaimed restaurants have helped establish the islands on the international food map. One of these was two-Michelin-starred Koks, which is now closed. Instead, the team runs seafood bar Roks, which serves the likes of sea urchin and langoustine, and Raest, where tasting menus focus on fermentation. For Michelin-level dining, book a table at Paz. All three restaurants are in Tórshavn.

Where to stay: For a luxe stay, look to grass-roofed Hotel Føroyar, which is a 15-minute walk into the capital. We love the sound of its two-night Reset package, which includes treatments and plenty of time in its heated pool that looks out towards the sea.