Beyond the familiar names like Bali and Santorini, there are a whole host of incredible islands you’ve likely never considered.
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These five underrated island destinations offer something rare: authenticity, beauty, and room to breathe.
Bornholm
Denmark
Bornholm is a sun-soaked Danish island floating in the Baltic Sea that somehow manages to fly under the radar. The island is made of fishing villages with cottages that give way to pine forests and cliffs. The white-sand beaches which you can walk in for miles without the water reaching your neck are popular with travellers. Bornholm is also an artisan’s paradise with ceramic studios and glassblowers where you can make your own souvenirs. The artistic atmosphere adds to the island’s natural calm. You can rent a bike and cycle past medieval round churches. If you’re a fish-lover, make sure to stop for smoked herring in Svaneke and breathe in the crisp, clean air of Nordic island life.
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Galápagos Islands
Ecuador
The Galápagos Islands remain one of the least commercialized archipelagos you can visit. Thanks to strict environmental protections with only a limited number of visitors allowed at once. You won’t find crowds or resorts, just breathtaking landscapes and wildlife that doesn’t flee when you approach. All the wildlife on the island live in harmony. Each island in the region has a unique ecosystem. Some look like deserts, others like tropical jungles, all shaped by volcanoes that are still active today.
Samothrace
Greece
Samothrace is Greece at its most mythical and untamed. The landscape is made of dense forests that blanket Mount Saos, waterfalls the flow into natural stone pools and ancient ruins can be found in groves. This island doesn’t offer luxury in the traditional sense, but its magic lies in solitude and discovery. The island is a haven for hikers and nature-lovers.
Fun fact for mythology lovers: Samothrace is where Zeus supposedly watched the Trojan War unfold and where the Winged Victory of Samothrace was discovered.
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Rodrigues
Mauritius
About 600 km east of Mauritius, Rodrigues is a place where Creole culture thrives and time doesn’t seem to matter. Surrounded by the largest lagoon in the Indian Ocean, Rodrigues is perfect for snorkeling, kite surfing and exploring uninhabited islets by kayak. Its volcanic origin created dramatic inland ridges and caves, including Caverne Patate, a limestone cavern full of stalactites and prehistoric fossils. Locals speak Kreol Rodrigé and live by rhythms shaped more by the ocean than the clock.
Savai’i
Samoa
Savai’i is the largest and most traditional island in Samoa, known as the “Cradle of Polynesia.” It’s one of the most volcanically active places in the South Pacific and its vast lava fields from the 1905–1911 Mt. Matavanu eruption still cover entire villages. Some of those islands remain uninhabited today. You’ll sleep in beach fales (open-air thatched homes with no walls), eat fresh breadfruit and coconut straight from the fire and swim in beautiful turquoise waters. The island’s warmth isn’t just in the sun. It’s in the people.
Best time of the year to visit:
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Bornholm: June–August
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Galápagos: December–May (for calmer seas)
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Rodrigues: April–November
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Samothrace: May–September
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Savai’i: Dry season from May–October
General Travel Tips
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Flights: Some islands require connecting flights or ferries so check logistics in advance.
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Connectivity: A few of these spots have limited cell service and internet. Download maps and essentials ahead of time.
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Sustainability: Respect local communities and ecosystems. Travel light and leave no trace.
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