This Italian island was voted the second best in Europe in Condé Nast Traveller's Readers' Choice Awards

When it comes to idyllic Mediterranean islands, it's not surprising to see the constant battle between Italy, Greece and Spain. Last year, Greece took the first position with the gorgeous island of Naxos, but Crete, Corfu, Rhodes, Skiathos, Mykonos, Folegandros and Santorini were also in the top twenty – meaning that the country of Socrates occupied nearly half of the list.

This year, Greece has dominated the list once again. But while Naxos is still in the top three, it lost first place and dropped to third place, while other islands have made their debut. For 2026, the best island in Europe in this year's Readers' Choice Awards is Hydra, a serene, car-free island close to Athens. Sifnos, Paros, Santorini, Mykonos and Crete – as well as Naxos – are the other Greek islands in the list.

Although Greece still got the top spot, Italy managed to sneak onto the podium, earning a well-deserved second place with Sardinia, as well as a fifth place slot with Sicily. As an Italian, I'm saddened not to see some of the smaller islands around Sicily, like Favignana, Filicudi, and Alicudi – but there is always next year.

Italy is blessed with so many beautiful islands that picking a favourite can feel almost treacherous, but it's easy to see how Sardinia managed to climb its way to the top. Crystal-clear waters, unique and flavourful cuisine, archaeological sites – Sardinia is all of this and more. For decades, some corners of this vast island have been for Italy what St Tropez is for France: one of the rich and famous' favourite playgrounds. But just like Ibiza is not just a party destination and St Tropez has more to it than its glamorous reputation, Sardinia has a lot more to offer than yacht spotting and lavish dinners.

The island is still rough around the edges, having preserved its wild nature and ancient traditions, and is a perfect destination for those looking to immerse themselves in nature. If cove-hopping around the Gulf of Orosei, trekking and canyoning in Su Gorropu, and relaxing on the white sand beaches of San Teodoro sounds like something you might like, book your trip and get a taste of what it would be like to live in the Blue Zone.

For Italians, like me, Sardinia has always felt almost like a foreign destination. While now budget airlines have democratised holidays on the island, when I was growing up, travelling to Sardinia was more arduous and expensive than holidaying elsewhere in Italy – something reserved for the elite. The island is still glamorous and attracts just as many of the rich and famous today, but people are discovering that there is more to this eclectic land than Porto Cervo and Costa Smeralda.

A bit like Ibiza, Sardinia needs to be explored to be fully appreciated. A road trip is the best way to move around and reach the small inland villages, like the historic village of Santu Lussurgiu or Mamoiada. The latter is particularly interesting to visit during the winter for the festival of Sant'Antonio Abate, which marks the start of the spectacular Sardinian carnival – a unique experience to see the famous Mamuthones, mysterious traditional masked figures whose origins are thought to stretch back centuries. If you are going to the island looking for sun, Sardinia's beach season stretches well beyond the peak summer months and you can enjoy the coves with fewer crowds in spring and autumn – unmissable are Cala Coticcio, Cala Spinosa and Cala Mariolu.