Europe's beautiful remote island with 'no queues or crowds' named top 2026 holiday spot

A beautiful island in a European country known for its popular holiday destinations has been named one of the best places to visit in 2026. Vis Island in Croatia is located in the Adriatic Sea, off the Dalmatian Coast and boasts stunning turquoise waters, rolling hills, and sun-swept beaches.

Holiday experts Intrepid Travel included the island on its annual Not Hot List, which highlights 10 lesser-known destinations ready to welcome more visitors next year. According to the firm, the island has no cruise stops or airports and features "modest, locally-owned accomodation" with visitor bumbers a far cry from what's seen at Croatia's world-famous travel hubs.

Vis saw 27,518 visitors last year, while Hvar - which is well-known getaway spot among European jetsetters - saw a whopping 195,000 arrivals.

But the Croatian Tourist Board is keen see more people enjoying its lesser-known spots through its "Find your Pomalo" campaign, based on a phrase that means enjoying the moment and have a more relaxing time.

One of the quiter destinations it highlights to travellers is Komia, a coastal town on Vis' western coast, a picturesque settlement known for its stone houses, and rich fishing history.

It's one of a number of beautiful towns and villages on the island, including Vis Town, one of the country' oldest settlements.

And while there aren't any UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the and surrounding islands as of yet, Vis and surrounding islands form the Vis Archipelago UNESCO Global Geopark, hailed by the organisation as one of the "last Paradise Oases in the Mediterranean".

Duje Dropuljic, Inrepid's assistant product manager for West Europe says the island "invites travellers to slow down and experience the Adriatic at a different pace".

"It's free from long queues and heavy crowds, removing the stress that often comes with popular destinations," the travel expert added.

"The food scene is shaped by local farms and fresh ingredients and I urge visitors to try the famous traditional pie - Viška pogaa."

Dropuljic says while some may be put off by how remote it is, it's what makes the island "so special".

However, it's reasonably close to the major Croatian holiday destination Split, and can be reached by ferry or catamaran in around one to two hours.