10 Most Romantic & Beautiful Island Cities in the World

Mixi November 01, 2021 | 07:11

Island cites as wonderful holiday destinations, with nice sandy beaches and crystal clear water. Check out right below the list of the 10 most romantic and beautiful island cities in the world that KnowInsiders collected!

Romantic & Beautiful Island Cities in the world. Photo: KnowInsiders

Speaking of islands, there are several big, important cities around the world that have islands you can dream of or in some areas in the world there are even entire island – completely urbanized islands – that are not just impressive, but very attractive for both people seeking out to move in such a place or those who only want a getaway.

These islands were once uninhabited too, but after being settled became so heavily urbanized that the built-up areas eventually took over the entire island, forming island cities. These romantic and beautiful islands right below are home to a lot of breathtaking sights, worth visiting once in your lifetime.

Which are the 10 Most Romantic and Beautiful Island Cities in the World?

1. Venice

2. Manhattan, New York

3. Tromsø, Norway

4. Malé, Maldives

5. Trogir

6. Nesebar, Bulgaria

7. Flores

8. Isola dei Pescatori, Italy

9. Corfu, Greece

10. Lindau, Bavaria, Germany

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List of 10 Most Romantic and Beautiful Island Cities in the World

1. Venice

Photo: Baophapluat.vn

World famous for its canals, Venice is built on an archipelago of 117 islands which are connected by 455 bridges. In the old center, the canals serve the function of roads, and almost every form of transport is on water or on foot.

The island city is slowly sinking however and during the high tides in autumn and winter, the Piazza San Marco, the lowest area of the island, becomes totally flooded with water. Over the last 1,000 years, it has sunk by around 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) for every century, while recent reports have stated that in the last century alone, the city of Venice has lowered by around 24 centimeters (9.4 inches). This may have more to do with the rising of the sea levels in the Adriatic than with Venice sinking into its own foundations. One proposed solution is to lift the city to a greater height above sea level by pumping water into the soil underneath the island city.

2. Manhattan, New York

Photo: Báo Thanh Niên

Yes, Manhattan is actually a borough of New York City, but locally it is often referred to simply as The City, and we just had to include it in this list.

With a history dating back to 1683, Manhattan is widely considered the economic and cultural centre of the United States and the most densely populated part of America. It’s no wonder given its huge tall skyscrapers which are part of the identity of Manhattan Island and New York City.

With landmarks such as the Times Square, Central Park, Wall Street, the UN Headquarters, Broadway, Manhattan attracts over 50 million visitors every year, making it on

3. Tromsø, Norway

Photo: PandoTrip.com

Also known as the capital of the Arctic, Tromsø is one of the main attractions in the Arctic Circle. It is also one of the best places to admire the Aurora Borealis, that can be visible up to 6 hours per day! Visitors find a vibrant music scene here, a ski track and a ski jump, dishes made of fresh sea food and lively Christmas markets in December.

The city of Tromso sits on an island in the Fjordland of northern Norway in the Arctic Circle. Surrounded by Fjords, lakes, and mountains, Tromso is an amazing place to visit all year round, winter or summer.

It’s the perfect place to reconnect with nature, enjoy the amazing landscapes that surround it, and get a taste of northern Norwegian culture and see how life in the Arctic Circle really is.

Things To Do In Tromso In Summer

During the summertime in Tromso, the sun never sets, it’s 24-hour daylight which gives rise to some amazing things to do whilst you’re there. Here are some of the best

See The Midnight Sun

The Midnight Sun can be seen in Tromso during the months of May, June, July, and August and it’s a few golden hours late in the evening when the sun sets and rises in one motion, never actually going over the horizon. This means you get to see all the beautiful colors of a sunset and a sunrise all in one session and it can give rise to some of the most spectacular skies you will have ever seen.

You can see the midnight sun whilst having a picnic on the beach, from the rooftop of your apartment, or while enjoying some camping in the mountains, but one of the best ways is on a sailing boat.

Sailing The Fjords With The Midnight Sun

There is nothing quite like watching the sunset or sunrise whilst sailing out on the ocean and for a very reasonable price, you can hop on board a large catamaran in Tromso that will take you sailing around the fjords for 3 hours whilst the sun sets and rises.

The boat leaves at 10:30 pm from the center of the city and as you sail you can see the beautiful mountains and fjords, seals, and arctic birds, whilst the water and landscapes are all lit up by the beautiful colors of the midnight sun. It truly is the best way to see the midnight sun in my opinion.

Visit The Arctic-Alpine Botanical Gardens

The Tromso Botanical Gardens are the most northern botanical gardens in the world and are open during summer 24 hours per day. They are filled with plants and flowers from across the world that only live in the northernmost part of the northern hemisphere.

The botanical gardens are full of stunning flowers that only survive in Alpine regions. It’s free to enter and they also play host to exhibits and events during the summer so it’s worth keeping an eye on their website to see if anything is happening during your stay.

Inside the gardens, you’ll also find the lovely Hansine Hansen cafe which is set inside an old house. They serve delicious coffee and pastries, it’s a very peaceful place to hang out. You can sit amongst the flowers if the weather is nice or get cozy inside.

The garden is about an hour’s walk from the center of Tromso and sits just outside of the University of Tromsø Campus. If you’re not up for a walk or want to walk just one way, there are lots of buses that follow the route.

Hang Out On Bukta Beach

The area around Tromso is blessed with white-sand beaches and Bukta Beach is just a 30-minute walk from the center of Tromso. It’s very popular with the locals during the summer and it’s the perfect place to hang out on a sunny day, have a picnic, enjoy the midnight sun, and have a very chilly swim.

The beach is geared up for bonfires and BBQs. You’ll find picnic tables, grills, bathrooms, and even a beach volleyball court. The views across the sea are absolutely stunning and it’s the perfect place to have a dinner bbq with some drinks, build a fire, and watch the midnight sun do its thing.

There are no cafes in the area, it’s just white sand and forest, so make sure to bring your own food and drinks to the beach.

4. Malé, Maldives

Photo: Reddit

Malé is the capital city of Maldives. It is also the most populous city in the Maldives. There are over 100,000 people crowded onto the small island. All infrastructures have to be built in the city itself because there is no surrounding countryside.

Desalinated groundwater is used as a water source while the electric power is generated in the city using diesel generators. Solid waste is used to fill in lagoons located in the nearby islands. In this way, the nearby larger airport island was built.

5. Trogir

Photo: Viator

Trogir is located close to the city of Split. It is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. Hidden restaurants and eye-catching galleries are revealed by the tiny medieval streets winding through the mesmerizing island city.

A wide seashore promenade snakes around the town, which culminates in a charming port full of sailboats. The city features a pleasing blend of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. A spectacular Venetian Cathedral of St. Lawrence, a town hall and a medieval fortress is some of the famous destinations of Trogir.

6. Nesebar, Bulgaria

Photo: Visit Bulgaria

The island of Nesebar is a part of Bulgaria with a history that spreads over more than 3000 years, showcasing a unique mix of all the civilizations that passed through it.

Called the Pearl of the Black Sea, Nesebar is an ancient city and the town with the largest number of churches per capita, most of them built in the Byzantine tradition of the Eastern Orthodox confession. It’s also one of the biggest seaside resorts on the Black Sea Coast in Bulgaria and a prominent tourist destination.

7. Flores

Photo: majilan

Flores is a located on Lake Petén Itzá and connected to land by a causeway, on the other side of which lie the twin towns Santa Elena and San Benito. It was here, on the island of Flores, that the last independent Maya state held out against the Spanish conquerors. Their city, Noh Petén (literally “City Island”) was eventually destroyed in 1697 when the Spanish attacked by boats.

For many tourist, the main reason to visit Flores is its proximity to the famous Maya ruins of Tikal. But the island city itself is a great destination, filled with colonial, red-roofed buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, a historic church and many hotels and restaurants. Most will find that this island city is more than just a take-off point, but a memorable attraction in itself.

8. Isola dei Pescatori, Italy

Photo: Italian Ways

Translated to English as Fishermen’s Island, Isola dei Pescatori is a very tiny island on the Lake Maggiore in the north of Italy, inhabited all year round by a population of… 32. Yes, 32, there’s no zero at the end, nothing. On the island there’s only a narrow street with cobblestone alleyways and a promenade circling the whole island.

With a length of 375 meters and a width of 100, you could consider it a square of a large city. The main occupations of the inhabitants are, as you would expect, fishing and tourism. Yes, to your surprise, they’ve got hotels, restaurants, gift shops and boutiques. So don’t miss it.

9. Corfu, Greece

Photo: Greek Boston

The unique blend of cultures adds a distinct charm to Corfu. With British, French, and Venetian influences, it’ll be hard to take your eyes off of the remarkable architecture, fortresses, churches, and temples. You’ll quickly see that some of the landscape is dominated by Corfu’s rugged mountains, and they’re perfect for hikes and walks. Obviously you can’t visit an island without going to the beach, so if you only make it to one beach during your time in Corfu, be sure that it’s Canal D’Amour so you can experience the mineral-rich mud for yourself.

10. Lindau, Bavaria, Germany

Photo: Fine Art America

Founded on the island in Lake Constance, Lindau was first mentioned in the historic documents in the 9th century! The city is located next to the Swiss and Austrian borders: Austria’s Pfänder mountain can be seen in the background. Lindau is a popular tourist destination because of its natural surroundings, as well as historic center, boasting many Medieval buildings and streets.

With its appealing gardens that charm travelers and locals alike in spring and summer, a beautiful architecture with old streets and aged gables that make you feel you’re still in the medieval times, this lovely little island city is amazing, which is why it’s the most popular tourist attraction in the South of Germany.

Getting to Lindau is easy done via a mainland bridge or by railway and once there, you won’t have a lack of things to do, with lots of cycling, sailing, hiking, swimming or camping opportunities awaiting for you there.