Dubbed the “Hawaii of Europe” thanks to its black-sand beaches, volcanic landscapes and subtropical climate, Madeira has been crowned the world’s number one trending destination for 2026, reports the Daily Mail.

The rankings were based on 12 months of consistently strong reviews submitted throughout 2025, with travellers praising Madeira’s dramatic scenery, mild year-round weather, striking architecture and wide range of outdoor activities.

The island is famed for its deep valleys, towering mountains, lush Levada walking trails and miles of golden and black-sand beaches, making it a paradise for nature lovers, adventure seekers and holidaymakers craving something different.

Its popularity is also being fuelled by improved flight access, with a 17 per cent increase in UK flight capacity between March 2025 and March 2026.

London remains a key hub, with regular services from Gatwick, Luton and Stansted, while regional airports including Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle are also expanding connections.

Located just 500km from Morocco, Madeira is closer to Africa than mainland Europe, giving it mild temperatures and moderate humidity throughout the year — averaging 25C in summer and around 17C in winter.

Home to just 260,000 people, the island is also affordable and easy to reach, with three-and-a-half-hour flights from London starting at just £43 with Ryanair.

Along the coast, visitors can enjoy whale and dolphin watching, sunbathe on golden beaches like Calheta and Machico, or visit the dramatic black-sand Praia do Porto do Seixal, famous for its volcanic sand, turquoise waters, green cliffs and cascading waterfalls.

Food lovers are also well catered for, with Madeira offering world-class gastronomy, blending fresh Atlantic seafood, rich meats, tropical fruits and unique specialities such as Espetada.

It is also one of the only places in the world where banana trees grow alongside vineyards.

Beyond its natural beauty, Madeira boasts a packed cultural calendar, including Carnival in February, the Atlantic Festival in early summer and the Madeira Wine Festival in September.

Elsewhere in the Tripadvisor awards, London was named the world’s best food city for 2026.