Affordable Mediterranean Islands

Ischia over Capri

Capri costs a fortune and runs out of room. Ischia, the larger volcanic island in the same gulf, has thermal springs, six towns, vineyards on the slopes of Mount Epomeo, and prices that have stayed within reach. Forio is the best base for sunsets, Ischia Porto for the bus connections, Sant'Angelo for a quiet seaside week.

The thermal parks (Negombo and Poseidon are the two best) are an only-in-Ischia experience. Pair an Ischia week with a day on Procida, which is small, photogenic, and reachable in 20 minutes by ferry.

Vis over Hvar

Hvar has become a party island with prices to match. Vis, the next major Croatian island to the southwest, was a closed military zone until the 1990s and stayed off the mass-tourism map. The two towns, Vis and Komiža, are still working harbours. The interior is hilly and vineyard-covered. The Stiniva cove was voted Europe's best beach a few years ago and still requires a 20-minute scramble down a gorge to reach.

Gozo over Malta

Malta gets crowded and built up. Gozo, the smaller sister island, is rural, slow, and cheap. Stay in a stone farmhouse, swim at Wied il-Mielaħ or San Blas, dive at Dwejra, eat fresh octopus salad on the harbour at Marsalforn. A week works perfectly. Use Comino as a day trip for the Blue Lagoon at dawn before the boats arrive.

The Egadi Islands (Sicily)

Off the western tip of Sicily, Favignana, Levanzo, and Marettimo are the kind of small Mediterranean islands that were everywhere in the 1980s and are increasingly rare. No big resorts. Bicycles instead of cars. Tuna fishing history. The clearest water within easy ferry reach of mainland Italy.