10 of Europe’s Most Dazzling Isles

The world’s third largest European island is popularly known as the Emerald Isle, and for good reason. It is covered by lush greenery throughout, with rocky coastlines and rolling green hills dotted by ancient castles and flocks of roaming sheep. While Ireland’s aesthetic is enough to warrant a visit, it’s the lyrical nature of the Irish people, whose warmth and hospitality can be found at every turn, that will keep you coming back.

Visit on our Ireland Bike Tour

Aptly named l’Isle de Beauté, Corsica is France’s mountainous Mediterranean island. With its striking mountain scenery and beautiful seascapes, Corsica is nothing short of paradise. Its lush forests and sandy Mediterranean beaches only add to its pristine beauty, further supporting the popular moniker by which it is known.

Visit on our Corsica Bike Tour

Hvar holds many Croatian titles: it’s the most luxurious island, the sunniest place in the country, and (along with Dubrovnik) the most popular tourist destination. The interior of the island hides abandoned ancient hamlets, towering peaks, and verdant, largely uncharted landscapes. Whether you are breathing in the lavender from the fields, sipping champagne on an exclusive yacht party, or cycling the rugged coast on a day trip, Hvar is sure to impress.

Visit on our Croatia Bike Tour

A stunning island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily brings Italian culture with its own unique spice. Its marvelous examples of Baroque architecture are set against a rugged landscape shaped by millennia of seismic activity, largely from Mount Etna: the tallest active volcano in Europe. To experience the juxtaposition of sea, volcano, and mountain is to understand why Sicily is one of Europe’s most alluring destinations.

Visit on our Sicily Bike Tour

Separated from the mainland by a narrow strait, Korcula is the most populated of all the islands in Croatia. The island’s ancient capital, also named Korcula (and nicknamed “Little Dubrovnik”), is among the most beautiful towns on the Croatian coast and is known for its unique architecture. Oenophiles take heed! Arguably the best of all Croatian whites is produced from the posip grape, which is primarily grown on Korcula.

Visit on our Croatia Bike Tour

Occupying the northern third of the Great Britain, this island nation is made up of more than 790 individual islands. From the North Sea to the Atlantic and up to the Highlands, discover ancient castles, quaint fishing villages, and wild landscapes. Indulge in local cuisine like Haggis and scotch eggs, and wash it down with a pint of craft beer or a fine scotch whisky. While it isn’t a terribly large island, Scotland boasts many treasures: open landscapes with spectacular wildlife, superb seafood, and exceptionally warm, down-to-earth residents.

Visit on our Scotland Bike Tour

Santorini, one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, was devastated by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, forever shaping its rugged landscape and villages. With multicolored cliffs soaring above the drowned caldera, Santorini’s landscape is unparalleled. The whitewashed cubist homes and buildings clinging to cliffs are mesmerizing, especially at sunset when the reflection of the sun washes everything in sight in a glowing bath of orange and red.

Visit before or after our Greek Isle Yacht + Bike Tour

The perplexing combination of fabled beauty and hedonism is what has charmed visitors of Capri since the ancient Roman emperors. One of its best-known natural sites is the Blue Grotto, a dark cavern where the sea glows electric blue, the result of sunlight passing through an underwater cave. Wander beyond the classic tourist attractions and you’ll discover along the sun-bleached peeling stucco that the island retains an allure not easily replicated elsewhere.

Visit before or after our Puglia Bike Tour

Always the star of the Mediterranean, Mallorca has a sunny personality thanks to its illustrious beaches, remote mountains, and soulful hill towns. Dive off snow-white beaches in the south, or scout the deserted coves of the east. No matter where you are on the island, you are surrounded with the opportunity of exploration. By enjoying sundown beach strolls to the buzzing of cicadas, devouring seafood at restaurants with roofs open to the heavens, and relaxing in a room overlooking the cerulean sea, you’ll soon understand that indulging in coastal living could be exactly what you need.

Visit on our Mallorca Bike Tour

Control of Rhodes was hotly contested between Turkey and Italy, and it’s easy to understand why. With tall peaks that overlook the coast of Asia Minor and the rest of the Dodecanese island chain, Rhodes is a refuge of ancient ruins, evergreen forests, and crystalline coves. Its UNESCO World Heritage Old Town was a hub of Classical learning – even Julius Caesar once studied there. Today, you can wander its medieval streets bordered by the Aegean Sea or drink your fill of Greek coffee in the al fresco cafés called tavernas.

Visit on our Greek Isle Yacht + Bike Tour