The smallest islands in the world are proof that bigger isn’t always better
10 of the Smallest Islands in the World
Updated on May 12, 2025
Corvo Island, Azores
Where it’s located: Macaronesia; North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal
Size: 6.8 square miles
Approximately 850 miles west of mainland Portugal in the North Atlantic Ocean sits a chain of nine islands known as the Azores. Corvo Island is the smallest and northernmost island in the archipelago, and it’s a ruggedly beautiful, serene and isolated destination that revels in its relative obscurity. Corvo Island is a 7-square-mile spit with just 430 inhabitants, three restaurants and five accommodations, though you can possibly find lodging in a local’s private residence.
Corvo is a favorite destination for hardcore birdwatchers (corvo means “crow” in Portuguese) and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Despite its small scale, Corvo Island delivers ample adventure, and the green, rolling volcanic landscape invites endless exploration. Hike the Caldeirao, an extinct volcano crater, then visit Corvo’s lone town, Vila do Corvo, and navigate a seemingly endless maze of interconnected and narrow canadas (cobblestone streets). You’ll see tiny houses with gleaming white walls and facades made from black lava in the traditional Azorean architecture and style. The houses have wooden locks on their doors—a remnant of Azorean traditions.
Corvo celebrates Espirito Santo (a series of festivities revolving around the Holy Spirit) every year, and if you visit in August, get ready for the many house parties and feasts surrounding Corvo’s largest celebration, the Festival of Our Lady of Miracles.
Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands
Where it’s located: South Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Argentina
Size: 3.5 square miles
Located in the South Atlantic Ocean 185 nautical miles from the southeast tip of Argentina, the Falkland Islands are the definition of remote. And Sea Lion Island, the southernmost inhabited island in the Falklands, takes remote to another level. A prime spot for wilderness tourism and designated a National Nature Reserve in 2017, this 3.5-square-mile dot boasts an abundance of wildlife—including five species of penguins, elephant seals, giant petrels, killer whales and, yes, sea lions—but only a handful of permanent (human) residents.
Indeed, what makes Sea Lion Island one of the best micro-islands worth visiting is its diverse wildlife. Sea Lion Island is full of wetlands that sustain various types of waterfowl: At least 40 bird species thrive on the island, mainly because there are no pesky rodents to feast upon them. Some birds that call the island home are Cobb’s wrens, Southern rockhoppers, giant petrels and even penguins.
Before you schedule your next trip to Sea Lion Island, know that it requires a minimum of three flights to reach the island from the mainland. (Thankfully, there’s a cozy lodge to spend the night.) Alternatively, plan a guided excursion from nearby East Falkland—or take a multi-day cruise.
Bishop Rock, Isles of Scilly
Where it’s located: North Atlantic Ocean southwest of Cornwall, the U.K.
Size: 8,000 square feet at low tide
Rising from the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean, four miles west of the Isles of Scilly, Bishop Rock is the most southwesterly point in Britain. Measuring a measly 0.0003 square miles, or about 8,000 square feet at low tide, it is one of the smallest land masses on earth.
The only structure on the island, the Bishop Rock Lighthouse, was built in 1858 to warn seafarers of the dangerous and rocky archipelago they were approaching. (At least 900 shipwrecks have occurred off the coast of Scilly over the centuries.) Known in Cornish as Men Epskop, Bishop Rock held the title of the “smallest inhabited island” until its famous lighthouse was converted to automatic operation in 1992. These days, Bishop Rock is still the smallest island with a building on it, according to Guinness World Records.
Even though you can’t stay on this tiniest of tiny islands, the St. Mary’s Boatmen’s Association runs regular trips out to Bishop Rock during peak season. Visitors can spot sand eels and multiple bird species, including puffins, razorbills and guillemots, that call the rocks surrounding the lighthouse home.
Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Where it’s located: Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Cancún
Size: Less than 2 square miles
Sitting at the convergence of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, Isla Mujeres (Spanish for “Island of Women”) feels blissfully removed from the booze-fueled debauchery and hard-partying antics of nearby Cancún. This sleepy little isle trades nightclubs for breezy beach bars and boasts a low-key yet vibrant downtown area that the locals call Centro.
Like other remote small islands, Isla Mujeres promises sandy shores, casual seafood eateries and excellent snorkeling. Perhaps less common: It has a turtle sanctuary!
Getting around is easy. Since it’s only five miles long and half a mile wide at its widest point, a car isn’t necessary (or even recommended). Once you’re on Isla Mujeres, travel the island by golf cart, moped, bicycle or your own two feet. The best times to visit are in September and October, when the island is less populated, the weather is pleasant and prices are more affordable.
Little St. Simons Island, Georgia
Where it’s located: Atlantic Ocean; barrier island on the Georgia coast
Size: 11,000 acres
Think you need a passport to go on an island getaway? This sliver of unspoiled paradise on one of the smallest islands in the world is closer than you realize. Little St. Simons Island is a private 11,000-acre barrier island off the coast of the Peach State. Widely touted as one of the most beautiful and least developed of Georgia’s fabled Golden Isles, this domestic treasure tempts travelers with seven miles of unblemished beaches, giant cedar trees and diverse wildlife. The sole accommodation, The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island, has six quaint cottages. It also offers a wide array of naturalist-led activities, such as bird watching and guided nature walks.
Fox Island, Alaska
Where it’s located: Resurrection Bay, Alaska
Size: Approximately 3 square miles
Alaska has 2,760 islands, more than any other U.S. state, and Fox Island, located 12 miles off the coast of Seward, is widely regarded as the crown jewel of Alaska’s Resurrection Bay. Envision imposing mountains, pebble beaches, sheltered coves, lush forests and glimmering glaciers. Outdoor adventure comes with the territory, and the raw beauty of this 3.4-mile-long parcel has inspired many visitors, who must take a boat to reach Fox Island.
This gorgeous micro-island worth visiting has three mountain peaks that beckon hiking enthusiasts. Sea kayaking, salmon fishing and wildlife peeping are also popular pastimes—especially in late spring and early summer. Starting in mid-May, humpback whales feed on herring in Resurrection Bay for almost a month. Soon thereafter, pods of orcas claim the clear waters for mating.
Just Room Enough Island, New York
Where it’s located: Thousand Islands, New York
Size: 3,300 square feet
Part of the Thousand Islands archipelago between New York and Ontario, Just Room Enough Island covers a mere 3,300 square feet—making it the smallest inhabited island in the world. It also ranks among the smallest landmasses on earth, sharing the tiniest islands list with the Bishop Rock Lighthouse. So what could possibly fit on a plot that’s the size of a tennis court? Well, one-thirteenth of an acre is just enough room for a cozy cottage, a tree, some shrubs and an itsy-bitsy beach.
While you can’t actually step foot on this privately owned secret escape, ogling one of the smallest islands in the world from a boat while cruising along the Saint Lawrence River is fair game.
Simping Island, Indonesia
Where it’s located: South China Sea, off the island of Borneo, Indonesia
Size: 1.2 acres
Indonesia consists of a staggering 17,508 volcanic islands of various shapes and sizes. Simping Island (previously called Pulau Kelapa Dua, and part of Singkawang Selatan sub-district), in the province of West Kalimantan, is the smallest, with a total area of 0.5 hectares, or 1.2 acres.
At first glance, it appears to be nothing more than a mound of sand, stone and trees bobbing in calm waves. Many visitors swim in the surrounding waters, and tourists can get a great panoramic view of the ocean. Recognized by the United Nations as the smallest island in the world, Simping Island’s diminutive proportions haven’t deterred visitors from going there to pray at a shrine located on the tiny, rocky island.
A few brave souls once called Simping Island home, until a massive sea abrasion forced them to bigger and safer shores. Today, visitors access one of the world’s tiniest islands by crossing a bridge that connects Simping Island with the mainland.
Dangar Island, Australia
Where it’s located: New South Wales, Australia
Size: 72 acres
Situated just north of Sydney, Dangar Island is a 29-hectare (approximately 72-acre) stretch of land in the Hawkesbury River that’s almost entirely forested. Roughly 300 people live on this leafy little gem that’s beloved for its car-free roads, waterfront houses, beaches, aboriginal rock carvings, gorgeous views and laid-back vibe.
A ferry connects Dangar Island to Brooklyn, a suburb of Sydney, but the island’s residents bike and take their belongings in wheelbarrows to get around on the island. Dangar Island is home to more than 100 animal and bird species and 90 flora species, and the island played a key role in the building of roads and railways along the Hawkesbury River coastline. Dangar Island is also home to many historic sites, and though most residents would probably prefer the many charms of Dangar Island to remain under wraps, holidaymakers and urbanites have taken notice. As such, the number of inhabitants surges during peak season, when many folks hop on the ferry to trade city life for more peaceful, pastoral pleasures.
Saba, Netherlands Antilles
Where it’s located: West Indies, Caribbean Sea
Size: 5 square miles
The smallest island in the Netherlands Antilles, Saba measures a mere five square miles and has a population of around 2,000, so it tends to fly under the radar. And unlike most of its Caribbean neighbors, Saba doesn’t have picture-perfect beaches—but it is one of the world’s tiniest islands, and the least crowded.
Located 28 miles southwest of St. Maarten, the island of Saba has four villages: The Bottom (the capital), Windwardside, St. John’s and Zion’s Hill (formerly called Hell’s Gate). Tourists frequent all four villages, praising them for their pretty gingerbread houses, picture-perfect gardens, old Caribbean charm and clean and orderly streets.
But what this pyramid-shaped isle lacks in size and sandy shoreline, it more than makes up for in lush rainforests. The chance to trek Mt. Scenery, a dormant volcano and the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is another major selling point. Favor aquatic adventures? Turquoise tides and colorful marine life provide incredible opportunities for scuba diving.
Visitors can find lodging at Saba’s many hotels or cottages that are available to rent, and numerous museums, restaurants and shops dot the island.
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Sources:
- Alaska Collection: “3 Days on Fox Island: An Unforgettable Coastal Alaskan Adventure”
- Azores Getaways: “Discovering the Charm of Corvo: Life on the Azores’s Smallest Island”
- Expedia Group: “Unpack ‘25: The Trends in Travel”
- Explore Georgia: “Little St. Simons Island”
- Falklands Conservation: “Sea Lion Island”
- Geeky Explorer: “Corvo Island: The Remote Gem of Azores”
- Indonesia-Tourism: “Simping Island in Singkawang City, West Kalimantan Province”
- Isla-Mujeres: “Discover Isla Mujeres”
- Little St. Simons Island: “The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island”
- NSW Government: “Dangar Island”
- Saba Dutch Caribbean: “About Saba”
- Sea Lion Island: “Sea Lion Island National Nature Reserve”
- World Atlas: “Saba”
- Atlas Obscura: “Bishop Rock”
