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Travelers' interest in island getaways is rising in 2026, with searches for destinations on Expedia's latest Island Hot List up an average of 55% year over year.
The numbers are even bigger for a few destinations. Searches for St. Lucia rose 125% year over year, followed by Porto Santo in Madeira, Portugal, at 85%, Praslin in the Seychelles at 80% and Syros, Greece, at 60%.
Expedia based its 2026 Island Hot List on global flight searches made from Sept. 22, 2025, through March 22, 2026, for travel in 2026, compared with the same search period a year earlier for 2025 travel. Social media mentions related to island travel also increased 20% year over year, according to Expedia.
The list goes well beyond the classic beach vacation, with everything from Caribbean escapes to the mountains, fjords and fishing villages of Norway’s Lofoten Islands.
St. Lucia
St. Lucia leads the list, with flight searches up 125% year over year. Expedia named the Caribbean island best for romantic escapes, but there’s plenty to do here even if a honeymoon isn’t on the calendar.
Jeff Bell, managing editor and operator of The Broke Backpacker, recommends kayaking out of Marigot Bay, which gives travelers access to snorkeling spots along St. Lucia's volcanic coastline that many visitors don't reach.
“The water clarity caught me off guard the first time, and I've been recommending it to budget travelers ever since,” Bell said.
Bell said St. Lucia doesn't have to come with a luxury resort price tag. He recommends staying in a hillside studio near Marigot Bay, where travelers can get views of the Pitons without the resort markup.
Expedia's own pricing gives travelers an idea of what a short trip might cost. At the time of its report, a three-night package from Nov. 9-12 started at $880 per traveler, including a stay at Villa Beach Cottages and nonstop round-trip JetBlue flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Porto Santo, Portugal
Porto Santo saw an 85% increase in searches. Part of Portugal's Madeira archipelago, the island has 5.6 miles of golden sand and a quieter feel than its better-known neighbor. Expedia ranked it No. 2 and highlighted it for wellness and relaxation.
Justin Crabbe, CEO and founder of Jettly and a commercial pilot and travel expert, recommends renting an e-bike or e-scooter and exploring beyond the beach. The island’s small size makes it easy to cruise between secluded coves, tidal pools and coastal viewpoints. Travelers can also kayak through sea caves, snorkel around volcanic rocks or dive to nearby shipwrecks.
Food is another reason to linger. Crabbe recommends freshly grilled fish, limpets and traditional Madeiran flatbread, ideally eaten by the sea with your feet in the sand.
His biggest tip is simple. Don’t leave too quickly. While many travelers visit Porto Santo as a day trip from Madeira, Crabbe recommends spending at least one night.
Staying over means watching the beach change color at dusk, having a leisurely dinner by the water and waking up to a much quieter island before the next round of day-trippers arrives.
Praslin, Seychelles
Praslin ranks third, with flight searches increasing 80% year over year. Expedia named the Seychelles island best for nature lovers.
One of its most unusual attractions is the Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the coco de mer palm grows naturally. Its enormous seed, which can weigh more than 40 pounds, is the largest in the plant kingdom.
Jozef Verbruggen, founder and director of luxury travel company Untamed Traveling, has traveled extensively throughout the Indian Ocean and counts the Seychelles among his top island recommendations. He also recommends Mauritius, Pemba Island, Mafia Island and Fanjove Island, all of which he said can be paired with a safari through Eastern or Southern Africa.
That makes a trip to the Seychelles easy to turn into something bigger than a beach vacation. Travelers can spend a few days exploring Praslin and then head to the African mainland for a completely different wildlife experience.
Syros, Greece
Syros comes in fourth, with flight searches rising 60%. Expedia named the Cycladic island best for food and charm.
Jason Stevens, CEO of bespoke travel company Wayfairer Travel, has traveled to Syros and said the mix of culture and nature was his favorite part of the island. He spent one morning exploring the historic port town of Ermoupoli, then headed to the beach for an afternoon of swimming in the Aegean Sea and napping on the sand.
Stevens said Syros has the beautiful Aegean scenery travelers expect from Greece's Cyclades islands, but without the crowds found in some of the region's better-known destinations.
Food also left an impression. Stevens recommends trying psari sto alati, fish baked in a salt crust, a dish he called "truly life-changing." He also suggests spending an evening in Ano Syros, where visitors can settle into the island's slower pace and lively local atmosphere.
Six More Islands Made the List
Expedia’s remaining six destinations cover a lot of ground.
No. 5, Lofoten Islands, Norway, up 50%, best for Arctic adventures
No. 6, Palawan, Philippines, up 40%, best for natural wonders
No. 7, Culebra, Puerto Rico, up 35%, best for water adventures
No. 8, Sanibel Island, Florida, up 25%, best for family escapes
No. 9, Phu Quoc, Vietnam, up 25%, best for affordable luxury
No. 10, Fiji, up 15%, best for multigenerational value
The Lofoten Islands may be the biggest surprise on a list of island vacations. Forget palm trees. This Norwegian archipelago is known for towering mountains, fjords, fishing villages and a rugged coastline.
The destinations on Expedia’s list don’t have much in common beyond being surrounded by water and attracting more attention this year. Travelers can snorkel along a volcanic coastline in St. Lucia, eat fresh fish with their feet in the sand in Porto Santo or head north of the Arctic Circle in search of puffins and the midnight sun. For anyone daydreaming about their next island vacation, that’s a pretty good place to start.