The Lofoten island group — including the town of Reine — tied with two other destinations for third place among 111 islands rated on their record of sustainable environmental and cultural practices.
“The weather is often rotten, but the beauty of the sea, rocks, and houses is awe-inspiring,”said one of the 522 experts judging the islands.
Like many of the list’s top-scoring islands, the Lofoten archipelago in the Norwegian Sea has avoided excessive tourism partly because its nippy climate doesn’t draw the beach-party set. Lofoten won praise for its“deep, placid fjords,”and“jagged, rocky peaks.”
Still,“cruising tourism is a threat,”cautioned another expert ranker.
Azores, Portugal
These islands—including Flores—lie about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) west of continental Portugal.
The Azores are home to green volcanic mountains and picturesque towns—attributes noted by one of 522 experts who helped judge 111 islands for National Geographic Traveler magazine.
The archipelago was ranked second because the Azore’s strong culture and healthy ecosystems are likely to last, especially since the islands’“capricious climate probably impedes the flow of tourists,”according to another expert participating in the ranking.
Faroe Islands, Denmark
Part of Denmark, this self-governing North Atlantic archipelago is home to a population one expert called“unified and resolutely Faroese, not Danish.”