The Italian island of Sardinia is considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world. (Getty Images)
Of course, US News and World Report is known for its “Best Colleges” and “Best High Schools” lists. But travel editors also produce rankings, such as a list of the world's most beautiful islands. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Appreciate the clarity of the turquoise water, the softness of the sand and whether snorkeling is the most difficult of the recreational possibilities.
The recently released 2024 list features 24 stunning destinations, starting with the Philippine archipelago of Palawan, where beckoning beaches, abundant marine life and coral reefs attract divers and snorkellers. Madagascar's wildlife diversity earns her the world's fourth-largest island her sixth place, while its dizzying combination of sandy beaches and ancient ruins earns Cyprus her seventh place.
This is a globe-circling list that includes French Polynesia (Tahiti, Bora Bora), Europe (Sardinia, Santorini), the African coast, and the Caribbean. And the Hawaiian island of Kauai is the only U.S. representative at No. 24 (not that we're disputing that; Alcatraz is pretty spectacular, but this isn't Zanzibar).
Check out the top 10. See all 24 islands, along with all the reasons why they should be on the once-in-a-lifetime list, at https://travel.usnews.com/rankings/. There they can also vote on whether their selection should be included in the list.
Top 10 islands in the world
1 Palawan Island, Philippines
2 Sardinia, Italy
3 Zanzibar, Tanzania
4 Mauritius
5 Santorini, Greece
6 Madagascar
7 Cyprus
8 Tahiti, French Polynesia
9 Whitsunday Islands, Australia
10 Bora Bora, French Polynesia
