Malta is evidence that you don't need palm trees or daiquiris to be one of the world's most tantalizing islands. Limestone cliffs are dotted with baroque churches, crumbling castle walls, and fortresses.
10. Malta —
Malta is evidence that you don't need palm trees or daiquiris to be one of the world's most tantalizing islands. Limestone cliffs are dotted with baroque churches, crumbling castle walls, and fortresses.
Travel + Leisure
The Great Barrier Reef is a vast,1,600-mile sweep of coral reef. It's a magnet for divers with more than 400 species of marine life spanning from the great baleen whales to thorny urchins.
9. Great Barrier Reef Islands (Australia) —
The Great Barrier Reef is a vast,1,600-mile sweep of coral reef. It's a magnet for divers with more than 400 species of marine life spanning from the great baleen whales to thorny urchins.
Travel + Leisure
Kauai is the oldest Hawaiian Island, formed when lava bubbled up from the ocean floor 5 million years. Top sights include Pali Ke Kua, or Hideaways beach, kept secret by towering black lava walls, as well as the Waimea Canyon and Na Pali Coast, both banded by scenic hiking trails and switchbacks.
8. Kauai (Hawaii) —
Kauai is the oldest Hawaiian Island, formed when lava bubbled up from the ocean floor 5 million years. Top sights include Pali Ke Kua, or Hideaways beach, kept secret by towering black lava walls, as well as the Waimea Canyon and Na Pali Coast, both banded by scenic hiking trails and switchbacks.
Travel + Leisure
Maui mixes buzzy cosmopolitan neighborhoods and ultra-chic resorts with breathtaking natural sights. Highly recommend are sunrise bike rides to the 10,023-foot volcanic crater of Haleakala, or the white-knuckle scenic drive to Hana.
7. Maui (Hawaii) —
Maui mixes buzzy cosmopolitan neighborhoods and ultra-chic resorts with breathtaking natural sights. Highly recommend are sunrise bike rides to the 10,023-foot volcanic crater of Haleakala, or the white-knuckle scenic drive to Hana.
Travel + Leisure
The less-visited sister island of Bora Bora, Moorea, offers coconut-strewn beaches and an intoxicating aroma of vanilla, grapefruit, and Tahitian gardenia, as well as luxury thatched bungalows.
6. Moorea (French Polynesia) —
The less-visited sister island of Bora Bora, Moorea, offers coconut-strewn beaches and an intoxicating aroma of vanilla, grapefruit, and Tahitian gardenia, as well as luxury thatched bungalows.
Travel + Leisure
Highlights of Santorini include the black sands of Perissa Beach, the richly preserved, prehistoric Akrotíri settlement, best known as the "Minoan Pompeii," and the postcard-worthy sunsets over Oia, the cliff-top village that is one of the most photographed spots in the world.
5. Santorini (Greece) —
Highlights of Santorini include the black sands of Perissa Beach, the richly preserved, prehistoric Akrotíri settlement, best known as the "Minoan Pompeii," and the postcard-worthy sunsets over Oia, the cliff-top village that is one of the most photographed spots in the world.
Travel + Leisure
Tasmania's 600,000 acres of pristine coastal wilderness. Despite its remote location, Tasmania has a freestyle culinary scene, thanks to local ingredients like handpicked sea lettuce, local game like opossum, and organic Tassie wine.
4. Tasmania (Australia) —
Tasmania's 600,000 acres of pristine coastal wilderness. Despite its remote location, Tasmania has a freestyle culinary scene, thanks to local ingredients like handpicked sea lettuce, local game like opossum, and organic Tassie wine.
Travel + Leisure
Maldives is the world's lowest-lying nation with land no more than six feet above sea level. Many hotels are built directly over the sparkling azure waters.
3. Maldives —
Maldives is the world's lowest-lying nation with land no more than six feet above sea level. Many hotels are built directly over the sparkling azure waters.
Travel + Leisure
Bali outshines all of the Indonesian islands with its rice paddies, ornate Hindu temples and rocky headlands. Visitors can take cooking classes, peruse contemporary Balinese art, and participate in a traditional blessing ceremony for complete immersion in local heritage.
2. Bali (Indonesia) —
Bali outshines all of the Indonesian islands with its rice paddies, ornate Hindu temples and rocky headlands. Visitors can take cooking classes, peruse contemporary Balinese art, and participate in a traditional blessing ceremony for complete immersion in local heritage.
Travel + Leisure
Topping the rankings is the wildlife-filled archipelago of the Galápagos Islands. The exotic spot has long tempted thrill-seekers and photography enthusiasts with its pods of sea lions, flightless cormorants, the world's only seafaring lizards, and short-feathered penguins. For more of Travel + Leisure's 2015 World's Best Awards, which cover everything from hotels to airports, click here: <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.travelandleisure.com%2Fworlds-best%3Fxid%3DPS_CNNI" target="_blank" target="_blank">www.travelandleisure.com</a>.
1. Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) —
Topping the rankings is the wildlife-filled archipelago of the Galápagos Islands. The exotic spot has long tempted thrill-seekers and photography enthusiasts with its pods of sea lions, flightless cormorants, the world's only seafaring lizards, and short-feathered penguins. For more of Travel + Leisure's 2015 World's Best Awards, which cover everything from hotels to airports, click here: www.travelandleisure.com.
Travel + Leisure