Where to find Maldivian magic... in Europe
Sugar sands, turquoise seas and overwater hammocks minus the long-haul flight? Indian Ocean-style escapism could be closer than you think. Elizabeth Winding reveals where…
05/03/2025
Greece
For overwater-hideaway vibes
Why? Nothing says the Maldives like a villa on stilts lapped by the Indian Ocean, with a plunge pool on the deck and a hammock swaying in the breeze. Channel those vibes at the Olea All Suite Hotel, on the Greek island of Zakynthos, whose hillside suites edge a tiered, lagoon-like pool flanked by silvery olives. A swim-up superior water suite is the one to book: a cool, beautifully minimalist cube with a private waterfront terrace, and access to a little pontoon and dreamy cushioned daybed. With a ban on younger children, days here are serene, whether you’re padding to the sand-floored bar surrounded by the water or losing track of time in the holistic spa (think red-clay masks and yoga-inspired facials). Just like the Maldives, Zakynthos is known for its water sports. Try kayaking in the Gulf of Laganas or snorkelling by Kalamaki beach.
Plan B: Over on Crete, the grownups-only Stella Island has swim-up suites and overwater bungalows with low-slung hammocks over the lagoon.
The Glénan Archipelago
For double-take seascapes
Why? Welcome to the Maldives’ most unlikely doppelganger: a string of idyllic islands off the Breton coast, whose impossibly white sands and glinting, blue-green shallows should easily fool your socials. If the islands remain under the radar, it’s thanks to their remote location: from Nantes, it’s a few hours’ drive along the coast, followed by a shortish boat ride, looking out for dolphins on the way. On arrival, stroll the wooden boardwalks that weave between wildflower-dotted dunes, snorkel or kayak the clear waters, then picnic on the sand. Back on the mainland, Hôtel le Cornouaille is family-run and friendly, with an indoor pool, while Hôtel Kermor couldn’t be more charming, with its blue shutters and shipshape, sea-view quarters.
Plan B: Even closer to home, Pedn Vounder is a beauty of a beach, tucked below the Cornish cliffs (just note that it’s a favourite with naturists, too, and a steep scramble to get there). Stay in nearby Penzance, checking into the Artist Residence or art-scattered Chapel House.
Comporta, Portugal
For glorious indolence
If a stay in the Maldives means doing very little, with zero guilt attached, the same could be said of Comporta and its surrounding stretch of coast. This is where Lisbon’s creative crowd head when they need to unwind. Flanked by pine forests and rice fields, it’s a barefoot, beach-fronted escape that’s only around an hour’s drive from the city. Farmers’ stalls piled with watermelons and tomatoes line the roadsides, while much of the region is a protected nature reserve. Life proceeds at a contemplative pace in its hideaway hotels, from the serene Sublime Comporta to the budget-friendly B.Hostel. Lounge on a suitably dreamy beach, drop in on a winery or settle in for a very long lunch at the beachside O Diniz. Found you’ve forgotten what day it is? That’s the magic of Comporta.
Plan B: Forget to-do lists of sights and museums and take yourself to Agistri, a tranquil, pine-covered island an hour’s ferry-ride from Athens, where the biggest decision of the day is which unspoilt beach to bask on.
The Maltese archipelago
For standout snorkelling and diving
Why? The scenery is spectacular under the waves in the Maldives’ warm waters, edged by coral walls and otherworldly reefs. For undersea adventures closer to home, consider the Maltese islands, fringed with seagrass beds, atmospheric wrecks and underwater caves and tunnels. Comino’s Blue Lagoon is the place for turquoise waters (go early to beat the crowds), or make for a quieter spot on Malta, such as the rocky cove at Għar Lapsi. On Gozo, the Blue Hole is an iconic diving spot, while snorkellers floating above the Coral Gardens might be lucky enough to spot schools of damselfish and turquoise-striped ornate wrasse. If diving’s your thing, or you’re keen to learn, consider the Westin Dragonara Resort, on Malta’s northeastern coast. Its grounds are home to a standout dive centre, offering everything from discovery sessions to specialist wreck-diving courses.
Plan B: Hit the sheltered bays and coves of Crete. Snorkel around the rocks at the dreamy, pink-tinged Elafonisi beach, or scope out a wartime wreck in the shallows near Falasarna.
Mallorca
For dazzling sands
Why? The Maldivian palette couldn’t be simpler or more striking: white coral beaches framed by cerulean seas. If you’re craving soft sands between your toes, Mallorca’s are much closer. The island is fêted for its fine, white-sand beaches, from the family-friendly Alcúdia to the dune-sheltered Es Trenc. On the north coast, meanwhile, is the beautiful Playa de Muro, which scored fourth place in a survey of the world’s whitest beaches. Its sun-warmed wooden jetties couldn’t be more photogenic, while Ponderosa beach remains the in-spot for lunch: a hip chiringuito with tables in the sand and superb local squid on the menu. Stay close to the action at the Iberostar Waves Playa de Muro, a pine-flanked, sustainably minded resort mere metres from the sands.
Plan B: On the Greek island of Kos, Marmari beach also made the top ten of whitest sands, while the sea is a blinding blue. The nearby OKU Kos is a romantic, adults-only retreat.
Formentera
For barefoot luxury
Why? ‘No news, no shoes’ is the mantra in the Maldives, and the same applies in Formentera, Ibiza’s pocket-sized neighbour. Scattered with whitewashed villages and edged with dune-backed sands, the Balearics’ sun-bleached little sister has a boho, anything-goes vibe. Who needs an Indian-Ocean lagoon when there are beaches like Ses Illetes, where the sea is a brilliant blue and the soft sands are powder-white? A new generation of hotels, meanwhile, has upped the style stakes, while staying true to the island’s unhurried pace. Dunas de Formentera is an excellent case in point: an eco-luxury hideout in the dunes behind Migjorn beach. Wake up late in a sea-view suite, then laze by the saltwater pool, snack on carabinero prawn croquetas at its wood-fired restaurant or drift down to the beach in time for a perfect, pink-streaked sunset.
Plan B: Swap out coconut palms for rustling pines and head to Sardinia, whose string of white-sand beaches have seen it dubbed the Maldives of Europe.
