El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain

Endorsed by Condé Nast as one of the “10 best places in Europe to visit” in 2021, El Hierro nonetheless remains one of the least visited – and most pristine – of the Canary Islands, with no buildings higher than two stories, no elevators and only one set of traffic lights. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, El Hierro’s remarkably transparent waters and vibrant undersea life make it a scuba diver’s paradise. What the tiny island lacks in sandy beaches it more than makes up for with its plentiful natural tidal pools, perfect for a relaxing swim in vivid turquoise waters embraced by striking rock formations. With its peaks and plateaus, volcanic cones and plunging gorges, arid deserts and humid woodlands, this magical island welcomes travelers to not so much another country as another world.