15 Remote European Islands for Peace and Privacy
Europe’s islands aren’t all beach clubs and buzzing crowds. Hidden between well-known tourist spots are remote gems where silence still dominates, and nature sets the pace. These 15 islands skip the mega-resorts and cruise ship terminals in favor of quiet trails, empty beaches, and the kind of peace that’s hard to find. Some require effort to reach a ferry, a hike, maybe even a boat ride but the reward is privacy, authenticity, and a deep breath of fresh air. Whether you’re after a digital detox, slow travel, or soul-soothing views, these tranquil escapes prove that solitude is still out there if you know where to look.
1. Colonsay, Scotland
Remote and poetic, Colonsay is one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets, with fewer than 150 residents and an abundance of quiet. Golden beaches stretch without footprints, moorlands sway in the breeze, and forests echo with the call of curlews and owls. There are no chain stores, no traffic lights just time, space, and a deep connection to nature. It’s the kind of place where a single day can feel like a weekend. Hike to ancient ruins, collect shells on Kiloran Bay, or sip tea as the tide rolls in. Colonsay doesn’t offer distractions, it offers stillness, making it the perfect escape for anyone craving peace.
2. Tilos, Greece
Tilos is Greece at its most peaceful, no booming clubs, no big resorts, just nature, history, and quiet pride. This small Dodecanese island runs largely on solar power and serves as a model for sustainable living. Its commitment to wildlife protection means you’ll share trails with rare birds and find beaches free of noise and crowds. Wander through pastel-colored villages where time slows down, hike past ancient monasteries and medieval castles, or swim in coves where the only sound is the sea. Tilos doesn’t ask for attention, it simply exists, gently, inviting you to slow down and breathe.
3. La Graciosa, Spain (Canary Islands)
Just north of Lanzarote, La Graciosa feels like the Canary Islands before tourism took hold. With no paved roads and fewer than 800 residents, the island swaps traffic for sand paths and replaces city noise with the lull of ocean waves. Volcanic hills rise behind untouched golden beaches, and bikes are the main way to get around. There’s no rush here just salty air, wide skies, and enough silence to hear your thoughts. Swim in clear coves, hike to wind-sculpted peaks, or do absolutely nothing. Even in high season, La Graciosa offers something rare space, stillness, and a rhythm entirely of its own.
4. Iž, Croatia
Tucked quietly in Croatia’s Zadar archipelago, Iž is where even locals retreat when they need to slow down. There’s no nightlife to chase just olive groves, pine forests, and the soft rhythm of waves lapping at stone piers. Cars are rare, and the island’s two villages move at a pace shaped by sunrises and sea breezes. You can kayak between hidden coves, stroll through sleepy harbors, or chat with ceramic artisans who’ve shaped clay the same way for generations. Iž isn’t flashy, and that’s its charm. It invites you to unplug, sink into the quiet, and savor a version of Croatia few tourists ever see.
5. Kalsoy, Faroe Islands
Kalsoy, one of the wildest of the Faroe Islands, feels like a windswept secret carved from the North Atlantic. Its moody cliffs, mist-shrouded hills, and the solitary Kallur Lighthouse create an atmosphere both haunting and beautiful. A narrow road winds through quiet villages where turf-roofed homes blend into the landscape, and sheep easily outnumber humans. Hike the legendary Kallur trail and you’ll likely have the dramatic views all to yourself, save for the occasional puffin perched on a cliff edge. Kalsoy isn’t just remote, it’s otherworldly, offering silence, solitude, and raw northern majesty.
6. Susak, Croatia
Susak is unlike any other Croatian island, a sandy anomaly where everything feels softened by time and sea air. Its footpaths are made of fine sand, its houses painted in pastel shades, and its local dialect so distinct that even mainland Croats struggle to understand it. There are no cars here, no buzzing nightlife just the hum of cicadas, the whisper of the Adriatic, and the rustle of sea grass in the breeze. Life unfolds slowly, whether you’re wandering the vineyards, lounging on the quiet beach, or sipping wine with locals who still remember when the ferry brought only letters, not tourists. Susak is quiet in the best possible way.
7. Inishbofin, Ireland
Inishbofin “Island of the White Cow” is a windswept gem off Ireland’s west coast where the Atlantic roars and time seems to stall. Its rugged cliffs and sea-spray beaches invite long, thoughtful walks, while loop trails wind past ancient forts and wildflower meadows. You’ll find no flashy hotels just cozy B&Bs, local pubs, and the occasional fiddle session that spills warmth into the cool night air. The island’s small population lives in tune with the tides, offering visitors an authentic rhythm of Irish island life. Inishbofin doesn’t demand anything from you just that you slow down and breathe it all in.
8. Astypalea, Greece
Shaped like a butterfly and kissed by Aegean breezes, Astypalea floats far from the bustle of Greece’s more famous islands. Its whitewashed Chora winds uphill to a crumbling Venetian castle, with sleepy cats and sea views at every turn. Down below, quiet coves and sun-bleached beaches stay blissfully empty even in summer. There’s no thumping nightlife here, just warm light, slow meals, and stars that seem close enough to touch. On Astypalea, days stretch out, silence feels sacred, and your thoughts finally have room to breathe.
9. Sandoy, Faroe Islands
Sandoy is one of the Faroes’ gentler souls flatter, greener, and wrapped in a hush that feels almost sacred. Its wide hills roll into glassy lakes, and turf-roofed cottages sit quietly under the northern sky. With few visitors and even fewer cars, you can walk for hours without seeing another soul. The island is a haven for birdwatchers, offering glimpses of puffins, oystercatchers, and skuas along its cliffs. Here, time stretches out, the wind carries only birdsong, and the pace of life slows to a comforting lull. Sandoy is not dramatic, it’s quietly extraordinary.
10. Eriskay, Scotland
Eriskay may be connected by a causeway, but it feels a world apart. This Hebridean gem charms quietly with windswept hills, rare pink-tinged beaches, and a herd of wild ponies that roam freely near the shore. The island holds stories in its stones, including the legendary SS Politician shipwreck that inspired Whisky Galore! Sip a pint in the local pub, listen to Gaelic murmurs, and watch the sunset cast gold over the bay. With few visitors and even fewer distractions, Eriskay invites you to slow down and savor a softer, saltier rhythm of life.
11. Gökçeada, Turkey
Once known as Imbros, Gökçeada is where the Aegean feels timeless. Tucked near the Turkish coast, the island blends Greek and Turkish heritage in stone-built villages, Orthodox chapels, and family-run tavernas. Olive groves stretch across gentle hills, and quiet beaches wait at the end of winding dirt roads. There are no big hotels or party scenes just fresh bread in the morning, cicadas at noon, and stars at night. It’s a place where you can disconnect fully and let slow, rural rhythms guide your day.
12. Hrisey, Iceland
This small island off northern Iceland is a true sanctuary where seabirds outnumber people and silence is part of the charm. HrÃsey offers walking paths through flower-dotted meadows, peaceful fjord views, and hot spring baths that feel extra soothing thanks to the journey it takes to get here. Whale sightings are common from the cliffs, and the lack of cars adds to the stillness. In summer, the midnight sun casts a soft glow over everything, making even a simple stroll feel timeless and sacred.
13. Nisyros, Greece
Nisyros may be built around a sleeping volcano, but the vibe is pure calm. Whitewashed houses and narrow lanes wind through villages like Nikia and Emporio, perched right on the edge of the caldera. Walk down to the steaming, cracked crater floor and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet, one that hums, softly, beneath your feet. Few tourists make the journey, which means you’ll often have the trails, hot springs, and village squares nearly to yourself. It’s an island of deep silence and slow power raw, rare, and quietly unforgettable.
14. Isola di Capraia, Italy
Off the Tuscan coast and accessible only by ferry, Capraia is a rugged escape with windswept charm and hardly a crowd in sight. Once home to a penal colony, its old prison buildings now sit silent, reclaimed by nature. Wild myrtle and lavender scent the air as trails wind through volcanic cliffs toward hidden coves with emerald waters. There are no big resorts, just a fishing village, a few trattorias, and plenty of space to roam. It’s Tuscany’s wilder, saltier cousin untamed, romantic, and perfect for travelers who crave solitude over spectacle.
15. Ulko-Tammio, Finland
Uninhabited and thick with forest, Ulko-Tammio sits in Finland’s Eastern Gulf and offers true digital detox in a national park setting. With limited access and no permanent population, it’s one of Europe’s quietest escapes and it’s even being promoted as a phone-free zone. In summer, campers pitch tents along pine-fringed shores while seabirds soar overhead and waves lap gently against the rocks. There’s no Wi-Fi, no cars, and no distractions just pure Nordic stillness. If you’re searching for solitude that borders on the spiritual, Ulko-Tammio might be the perfect final frontier.
