Your Guide to the Best Island Breaks this Summer

For those who lead hectic, busy lives throughout the rest of the year, the thought of escaping to an island when on holiday has to be a thoroughly appealing one. Island breaks offer the promise of sunshine and seclusion and this is a guide to some of the best such places to pick for your holiday this summer.

Skiathos, GreeceThe Greek island of Skiathos can be found in the Aegean Sea, where it is the smallest Sporades Island. However, despite this it offers wonderful beaches for lazing on and gorgeous landscapes to wander through. If you want to stay somewhere with more amenities, stick to the south coast, where Koukounaries and capital Skiathos town offer towns with shops and restaurants – as well as boat trips and monasteries or churches to explore. If you want uninhabited, the north will offer freedom and seclusion.

Mallorca, Spain

Mallorca is the biggest Balearic Island and offers guaranteed blue skies, oceans and warm sunshine. It was colonised in the 8th century BC and became a hotspot for tourists during the 1950s, with significant redevelopment since then. However you can still visit beautiful sights like the Catedral, which offers stunning Gothic architecture and interiors by Gaudi and Barcelo. The Ca’n Prunera gallery is another Mallorca standout, with works by artists like Cezanne, Man Ray, Klimt and Joan Miro, which is why it’s featured on Ladbrokes online travel roulette wheel of places worth visiting.

Madeira, Portugal

This island has won awards for its brilliance as a holiday destination and offers plenty besides sun, sea and sand. Those travelling there in late summer could take in the Madeira Wine Festival at the end of August or visit the Story Centre – located in the lovely Old Town – to learn more about the island’s fascinating history. Madeira has been an autonomous region of the country since the mid-1970s and you can learn about this here through interactive exhibits. Alternatively you could just explore Madeira’s wonderful flora and fauna.

Malta, Malta

Malta is a dream for anyone who loves beautiful architecture, and even has a National Museum of Archaeology dedicated to it. This features everything from the Sleeping Lady sculpture to the Ta Hagrat temple model. Alternatively you could stroll through the backstreets of the picturesque Vittoriosa, with its charm and beauty. Malta has a remarkable history, including a pivotal role in World War Two that saw the island awarded the George Cross for the collective bravery of its inhabitants.

Corsica, France

Located in the Mediterranean Sea, this is one French island where warm weather is guaranteed. Calvi in the west attracts a lot of visitors, with its spectacular beach, glorious citadelle and Scandola nature reserve. Another option is Ajaccio, where Napoleon was born and which offers boulevards lined with trees and cafes where you can sit outside on the pavement. Corsica may sometimes have a somewhat fraught history with mainland France, but it remains part of the country and has a distinctly Gallic feel.

Any one of these islands will be a great place to spend a few weeks this summer.