Sardinia has been voted the second-best island in Europe in Condé Nast Traveller's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, losing out only to Hydra, the car-free Greek island near Athens. Naxos, last year's winner, slipped to third, while Sicily gave Italy a second spot on the list at number five. Greece still dominates the rankings with Sifnos, Paros, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete and Naxos all included.
But Sardinia's podium finish is no surprise to anyone who has been. The island pairs some of the Mediterranean's clearest water with a distinct cuisine, ancient archaeology and a wild interior that feels far removed from its glitzy reputation. Yes, the Costa Smeralda and Porto Cervo have long drawn the yacht crowd — Sardinia has been Italy's answer to St Tropez for decades. But that's one narrow slice of a big, rugged island.
The outdoor side is the real draw. The Gulf of Orosei is made for cove-hopping, with beaches like Cala Mariolu and Cala Coticcio among the most striking in the Med. Inland, the Su Gorropu canyon offers serious trekking and canyoning, while San Teodoro's white-sand beaches sit on the northeast coast. And since budget airlines started flying in, the island is no longer the pricey, tricky getaway it once was for mainland Italians — a shift that's opening up the interior villages to more travellers.
That's where Sardinia gets interesting. A road trip is the best way to see it, reaching historic inland towns such as Santu Lussurgiu or Mamoiada. Time a winter trip to Mamoiada for the festival of Sant'Antonio Abate, which kicks off Sardinia's carnival season, and you'll catch the Mamuthones — eerie traditional masked figures with origins believed to stretch back centuries. It's one of Europe's more distinctive festival experiences and a world away from the beach clubs.
Timing is flexible, too. Sardinia's beach season stretches well beyond July and August, and spring or autumn visits mean the same coves with a fraction of the crowds. If you're plotting a European island trip for 2026 and want more than a lounger and a cocktail, the readers have made a decent case for Sardinia — with Sicily as a compelling follow-up.
For the full ranking, see the original article.
