UK travellers seeking something new are being pointed toward 17 barely visited islands across Spain, Italy, France and Greece, offering alternatives to crowded hotspots like Corfu and Tenerife. These four European countries attract millions of visitors annually, but they also hide many beautiful places that remain under the radar. The Express has compiled a list of hidden-gem islands worth visiting for those wanting to get away from tourist crowds or explore somewhere new.
El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain
This island is considered the most remote, least visited, and most westerly and southernmost of the main Canary Islands, making it ideal for a peaceful getaway. El Hierro, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is home to over 500 open volcanic cones and 300 more buried under newer lava flows. Visitors will also find incredible diving sites centred mostly around the southern fishing village of La Restinga and the protected Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve.
To get there, you must fly to a major Canary Island hub, such as Tenerife or Gran Canaria, and then take a connecting domestic flight or a ferry to El Hierro Airport (VDE) or the port of La Estaca / Valverde.
Cabrera, Balearic Islands, Spain
Cabrera is an uninhabited island in the Balearic Islands, located just off the southern coast of Majorca. It is the largest island of a small archipelago that includes Estells de Fora, L'Imperial, Illa de ses Bledes, Na Redona, Conillera, L'Esponja, Na Plana, Illot Pla, Na Pobra and Na Foradada. Declared a National Park in 1991, it has an abundance of flora and fauna, with more than four hundred botanical species, two hundred types of fish, molluscs, crustaceans, marine birds and raptors, reptiles and some terrestrial mammals living on the land.
While visitors cannot stay overnight, day trips are possible for hiking and snorkelling. Access is by flying to Majorca and then taking an authorised excursion boat, chartering a private boat, or sailing with your own boat.
Isla de Ons, Galicia, Spain
The Ons Island is the main island of a small archipelago in the Ria de Pontevedra in Galicia, Spain. This quiet destination features gorgeous white sand beaches, five marked hiking trails, and the Ons Lighthouse offering panoramic views. To get there from the UK, you need to fly or travel to Galicia, make your way to a mainland coastal port, obtain a mandatory visitor permit, and take a short ferry crossing.
La Graciosa, Canary Islands, Spain
La Graciosa is a small volcanic island north of Lanzarote, home to approximately 730 residents, with most living in the fishing village of Caleta de Sebo. The island has no paved or asphalted roads, with streets made of unpaved sand and motor vehicles banned. Licensed 4X4 taxis are available, but most people and visitors rely on walking or e-bike rentals as their main modes of transport, emphasising the slow-paced nature of the destination. Being one of the least visited islands in the Canary Islands, holidaymakers can enjoy a serene experience away from buzzing crowds.
UK travellers must take a flight to Lanzarote and then catch a short ferry from the northern tip of Lanzarote.
Pantelleria Island, Sicily
This volcanic Italian island, located southwest of Sicily and east of Tunisia, is known as the “Black Pearl of the Mediterranean”. Pantelleria combines Sicilian and North African cultures, making it a unique destination for travellers who value heritage. As a volcanic island, it has dramatic lava rocks, sea-filled rock pools, and crystal-clear coves rather than traditional beaches — a haven for swimmers.
A notable mention goes to its Specchio di Venere (Mirror of Venus), a sparkling, heart-shaped green-blue volcanic crater lake with natural hot springs and mineral-rich mud baths. It also houses a natural rock-hewn steam cave called the Grotta Benikulà, used as a free open-air sauna. To get there, you can take a flight to Palermo or Trapani in Sicily, then travel to the port of Trapani on the western coast of Sicily to take a ferry or hydrofoil to the island.
