A new study by Saga Holidays has named Tenerife the most beautiful island destination in Europe for 2026, with the Spanish Canary Island beating 80 rivals across the continent.
The ranking was based on three factors: green space (45 per cent), weather (35 per cent), and food and drink availability (20 per cent). Tenerife scored highest for its natural scenery, fresh produce and plentiful sunshine. The island is home to Mount Teide, a volcano over 3,000 metres high and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In second place is La Palma, another Canary Island known as La Isla Bonita. It was praised for its rich natural environment and focus on sustainable development. The entire island has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 2002 and hosts the world's largest telescope, the Gran Telescopio Canarias.
Portugal's Madeira took third place. The island is the birthplace of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and contains the Laurissilva forest, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. Two Croatian islands, Korčula and Mljet, completed the top five. Mljet, nicknamed 'Croatia's greenest island', is largely covered in pine and oak forests and is relatively undiscovered compared to Dubrovnik and Split.
However, overtourism remains a challenge, especially in the Canary Islands. The archipelago received over 7.8 million international visitors in the first half of 2025, leading to local protests against unregulated mass tourism and short-term holiday lets.
