We Asked 5 Travel Experts Their Favorite European Island Destination-and They Picked These 3 Spots

""When clients ask me for 'quieter, but not boring,' I send them here," Jennifer Johnson, a travel designer at Tribù Travel, shared about Menorca. "It's the place where I actually slow down-no agenda beyond a swim, a simple lunch, and a good walk. I go for scouting and end up staying an extra night more often than I should." As for what makes it a top must-see, Johnson noted the island's "softer rhythm" and natural charms."

""You reach many beaches on footpaths that smell like warm pine; the sea is the kind of clear that makes adults behave like kids; and dinner tends to be whatever grilled fish looked best at the market that morning," she said. "There's culture without fuss-historic Ciutadella glowing at dusk, a tiny art center you reach by boat in Mahón's harbor, and old farmhouses turned into small, design-forward hotels.""

Menorca offers a slower, softer rhythm where days center on swims, simple lunches, and walks along footpaths scented by warm pine. Clear seas invite playful swimming and dinners commonly feature the market's freshest grilled fish. Cultural touches include historic Ciutadella at dusk, a tiny art center accessible by boat in Mahón's harbor, and renovated farmhouses operating as small, design-forward hotels. Shoulder-season travel in May, early June, and September provides fewer crowds. Sardinia combines incredible beaches with a rugged, mountainous interior, supporting both agriturismo-style rural stays and unapologetic glamour for varied Mediterranean experiences.

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