Places · Island Nations
Island Nations
Island nations are sovereign states whose territory lies entirely on islands. Some are world-famous (Japan, New Zealand, UK, Ireland). Others are micro-states you could fly over without noticing (Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu). Every sovereign island country in the world is listed here.
39 countries in this list
Antigua & Barbuda
North America
Antigua & Barbuda is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Australia
Oceania
Australia is continental travel. Sydney Harbour, Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Great Ocean Road, Tasmania's wilderness, and wine country at Margaret River. Distances are American-scale.
Bahamas
North America
Bahamas is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Bahrain
Asia
Bahrain is a destination in Asia known for its cultural identity: local traditions, music, crafts, and a distinctive regional character that differs from its neighbors.
Barbados
North America
Barbados is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Cape Verde
Africa
Cape Verde is a destination in Africa with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Comoros
Africa
Comoros is a destination in Africa known for its cultural identity: local traditions, music, crafts, and a distinctive regional character that differs from its neighbors.
Cuba
North America
Cuba is Havana's 1950s cars and crumbling facades, Viñales tobacco valley, Trinidad's cobbled old town, and Varadero's resort beaches. With restrictions on US travelers.
Cyprus
Asia
Cyprus is a destination in Asia with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Dominica
North America
Dominica is a destination in North America where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.
Fiji
Oceania
Fiji is 330 Pacific islands. Yasawas and Mamanucas for beach-bungalow travel, Taveuni for rainforest, and some of the friendliest welcomes on the planet.
Grenada
North America
Grenada is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Iceland
Europe
Iceland is raw geology. Golden Circle waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, and the Blue Lagoon. Packed into a country you can circle in a week.
Jamaica
North America
Jamaica is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Japan
Asia
Japan balances neon-dense Tokyo, temple Kyoto, Osaka food alleys, Hiroshima peace memorials, and the rural snow country with remarkably punctual infrastructure. A two-week first trip writes itself.
Kiribati
Oceania
Kiribati is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Madagascar
Africa
Madagascar is a destination in Africa where the landscape is the point. National parks, coastlines, forests, or mountain travel anchor most itineraries.
Maldives
Asia
The Maldives is resort travel at its most refined. Atolls of overwater villas, some of the world's clearest water, and bioluminescent beaches. Local-island guesthouses now offer cheaper alternatives.
Malta
Europe
Malta is a destination in Europe with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Marshall Islands
Oceania
Marshall Islands is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Mauritius
Africa
Mauritius is an Indian Ocean destination with lagoons, Creole food, and volcanic interiors. Best paired with slow travel rather than island-hopping.
Micronesia
Oceania
Micronesia is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Nauru
Oceania
Nauru is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
New Zealand
Oceania
New Zealand is hobbit-country for real. Milford Sound, Queenstown adventure, Lake Tekapo's stars, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, and some of the best hiking infrastructure on earth.
Palau
Oceania
Palau is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Philippines
Asia
The Philippines is 7,000 islands with some of Asia's best beaches. Palawan for limestone seascapes, Siargao for surf, Bohol for chocolate hills, Cebu for whale sharks. English is widely spoken.
Samoa
Oceania
Samoa is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
São Tomé & Príncipe
Africa
São Tomé & Príncipe is a destination in Africa known for its cultural identity: local traditions, music, crafts, and a distinctive regional character that differs from its neighbors.
Seychelles
Africa
The Seychelles is a scatter of 115 islands across the Indian Ocean. Granite beaches on Mahé and La Digue, rare flora in the Vallée de Mai, and some of the world's clearest water.
Singapore
Asia
Singapore is the most efficient city-state in the world. Hawker centers with Michelin stars, Gardens by the Bay, Chinatown heritage, and a spotless public transport system.
Solomon Islands
Oceania
Solomon Islands is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
St. Kitts & Nevis
North America
St. Kitts & Nevis is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
St. Lucia
North America
St. Lucia is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
St. Vincent & Grenadines
North America
St. Vincent & Grenadines is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Taiwan
Asia
Taiwan is a destination in Asia worth planning meals around. Regional dishes, markets, and local producers are a reason to visit rather than a side activity.
Tonga
Oceania
Tonga is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Trinidad & Tobago
North America
Trinidad & Tobago is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Tuvalu
Oceania
Tuvalu is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Vanuatu
Oceania
Vanuatu is a destination in Oceania with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Other lists