5 alternative European islands to explore this summer

Europe's islands have long lured travellers, from Homer's Odyssey across Mediterranean isles to the remote Scottish outcrop said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's 19th-century classicTreasure Island, a break from the mainland promises escapism and discovery. Though modern tourism has brought crowds unimaginable in Stevenson's day, there are still undiscovered isles to be found. From an Italian wine haven to a serene Scandinavian archipelago, these are five of Europe's best secret islands.

1. Pantelleria, Italy

Sitting between Sicily and the Tunisian coast, Pantelleria's volcanic landscape earned it the nickname the 'Black Pearl of the Mediterranean'. Strategically located, the island was fought over by the Phoenicians, Byzantines, Arabs and Spanish in turn. Today, the setting is one of tranquillity: hidden coves and fishing harbours give way to an interior peppered with vineyards and lava-rock dammuso — domed homes with Arab origins — some transformed into boutique hotels.

Viticulture was introduced when the Phoenicians brought the aromatic zibibbo grape to the island's mineral-rich soil. Producing dry whites and rich passito dessert wine, growers follow the Unesco-protected vite ad alberello method — cultivating vines in small hollows. Many vineyards offer the chance to take part in the August and September harvest (book in advance), with tastings and tours available throughout the summer. Donnafugata winery in the northeastern village of Khamma is particularly scenic — its vines clinging to volcanic terraces cascading towards the sea.

How to get there: Flights depart Rome and Milan for Pantelleria in the summer, as well as from Sicily's Palermo and Trapani airports year-round. Ferries depart from Trapani, with the fastest direct crossing taking two-and-a-half hours.

2. Barra, Scotland

Arriving in Barra is its own adventure — the airport's runway formed from a stretch of white-shell sand on Traigh Mhòr beach. Its turquoise shores are often compared with tropical climes, but the brisk breeze rushing off the Atlantic will quickly remind you of your Outer Hebridean location. The weather doesn't put the wildlife off, with the Gaelic-speaking isle among the best places in the UK to spot marine mammals and seabirds.

Part of the multi-island Outer Hebrides Birds of Prey Trail, Barra's section criss-crosses crofting villages and heather-dashed moorland, with the skies above the domain of golden and white-tailed eagles. The trail continues with a 40-minute ferry to the neighbouring island of Eriskay. En route, watch for peregrine falcons and a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins known locally as the 'Barra Boys'. Elsewhere, spot lounging grey and harbour seals at aptly named Seal Bay or hop on a sea safari with an operator like Hebridean Sea Tours to jet around the southern shores — home to puffins, as well as migrating minke whales between June and September.

How to get there: Ferries depart Oban for Barra daily, with the fastest crossing taking under five hours. Alternatively, flights run daily between Glasgow and Barra in August and September, and less frequently the rest of the year.

3. Serifos, Greece

As the ferry trundles into the village harbour at Livadi, it's hard not to let out a relaxed sigh at the first sight of Serifos's sand-pebble beaches and whitewashed tavernas. With no big resort chains or airport, the western Cycladic island remains relatively unscathed by mass tourism. Instead, it's a place where Athenians come to escape the bustle and artists seek solace — nowhere more so than on its 40 beaches, though locals will tell you there are dozens more.

A car is best for navigating the island's rocky terrain, which, according to Greek mythology, was caused by Perseus returning to Serifos with the head of Medusa — turning the landscape to stone. As well as Livadi, visitors tend to base themselves in and around the hilltop town of Chora — its chalk-white lanes, domed-roof church and windmills the epitome of Cycladic charm. Golden hour is best spent at one of the town's rooftop bars, like Gaidaros, as the sun's orange haze dips behind the Aegean.

How to get there: Ferries depart Athens for Serifos multiple times daily, with the fastest crossing taking two hours.

4. El Hierro, Spain

With the wild Atlantic to one side and the African coast to the other, El Hierro stands as one of Europe's last outposts. The second smallest of the Canary Islands, it has some of the most beautifully wild, wind-lashed shores in Europe. A Unesco World Biosphere, the island was formed by a volcanic eruption over a million years ago, resulting in near-mythical landscapes carved out for off-the-beaten-path exploration.

To the west, the 4.7-mile La Llanía pathway weaves through laurel forests shrouded in Atlantic mist before reaching El Golfo, a 9.3-mile-wide natural amphitheatre created by a colossal prehistoric landslide. Further west, wander the contorted ancient juniper trees of El Sabinar, sculpted by ocean winds; or head south to the lunar-like terrain of the El Lajial lava field. At the island's southern tip lie the crystalline waters of the Mar de las Calmas Marine Reserve — a submerged world almost as dramatic as that on land. Join a licensed outfitter such as Buceo el Bajón to float among underwater mountains, volcanic towers, turtles and stingrays.

How to get there: Flights depart Tenerife for El Hierro Airport multiple times daily, year-round.

5. Fasta Åland, Finland

Resting slightly closer to Sweden than Finland in the Baltic Sea's Gulf of Bothnia, the Swedish-speaking Åland archipelago spans 6,700 granite islands studded with conifer forests, clapboard villages and rocky bays. The main island, Fasta Åland, makes the ideal jumping-off point to explore.

Scandinavian sauna culture is big here, and many holiday cottages come with their own. If not, there are plenty of other options, from sprawling out in a traditional Finnish smoke sauna at Ekströms Stugor resort, to cruising the inner archipelago on a sauna raft rented from Saunax in the main island hub of Mariehamn. Kayak rentals are also a serene way to explore hidden corners, available in town from outfitters like Paddelboden. Afterwards, cool down at Degersand Beach — a sweep of soft sand on adjoining Eckerö island. To truly switch off, book a night at the 'hermit hut' on nearby Sviskär. The electricity-free log cabin has its own wood-fired sauna, while the deserted shoreline is perfect for watching the sunset by candlelight.

How to get there: Flights depart Stockholm and Helsinki for Fasta Åland. Alternatively, the fastest ferry crossing takes two hours from Grisslehamn, Sweden