However, Brits needn’t travel too far to find peace. St Martin’s, the third-largest of the Isles of Scilly, ranks fifth in the index. The quietest island in the United Kingdom has no main roads, no airport and just 135 residents. Reachable by ferry or via a short flight from Cornwall to St Mary’s, then a boat, this dreamy isle with its 12 beaches is the ultimate day trip for a reset.
It’s not the only British gem in the top 20, either. Scotland’s Isle of Skye ranks 11th, where more than 1,600 square kilometres of moor and mountain is shared by just 10,000 people. There’s one hub and several smaller villages and hamlets scattered along the coast, with an otherworldly landscape popular among nature lovers and hikers during the summer months.
However, it’s New Zealand’s third-largest and lesser-known island, Stewart Island, that claims the title of the quietest island in the world. The world’s southernmost International Dark Sky Sanctuary is almost entirely untouched and virtually free of artificial light. The Greek island of Anafi is second, with a tiny population and no airports or main roads.
Here, we’ve rounded up the 20 quietest islands in the world right now, so you can plot your next adventure and relax like never before.
The quietest islands in the world 2026
20. Palawan, Philippines
19. Vis, Croatia
18. La Digue, Seychelles
17. Mljet, Croatia
16. Salt Spring Island, Canada
15. Boa Vista, Cape Verde
14. Herm, Channel Islands
13. Magnetic Island, Australia
12. Isla Holbox, Mexico
11. Isle of Skye, UK
10. Santa Catalina Island, USA
9. Havelock Island, India
8. Koh Rong, Cambodia
7. Koh Chang, Thailand
6. Tioman Island, Malaysia
5. St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly, UK
4. Lord Howe Island, Australia
3. Ilha Grande, Brazil
2. Anafi, Greece
1. Stewart Island, New Zealand