Discover the Top 20 Largest Islands in the Mediterranean Sea

Almost completely enclosed by land, yet still connected to the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea is a large body of water surrounded by Southern Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. There are more than 3,300 islands in the Mediterranean, many of which are small. Some are of volcanic origin. Check out this list of the top 20 largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea and learn about their countries and square miles.

Cres

The island of Cres is the 20th-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It resides in Croatia and is one of the northern islands in the Kvarner Gulf. Cres is 405 square kilometers and features several small villages.

Zakynthos

Zakynthos is 156 square miles and features a coastline of 76 miles. It is part of Greece and sits in the Ionian Sea, an elongated bay of the Mediterranean. This island is popular among tourists for its beautiful beaches and lush landscape.

Naxos

This Greek island is the largest of the Cyclades, an island group in the Aegean Sea. Naxos features an area of 170 square miles (430 square kilometers) and is famous for its abundant emery, a granular rock used to make abrasive powder.

Samos

The island of Samos is a Greek island in the Eastern Aegean Sea, an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean. Samos was once rich and powerful and known for its vineyards and wine production.

Lemnos

Lemnos, or Limnos, is a Greek island part of the North Aegean region and is the 18th largest island in Greece, with 184 square miles (477 square kilometers). This island is rich in unique cheeses, fruits, and vegetables.

Djerba

Djerba is a Tunisian island and the largest in North Africa, measuring 198 square miles (514 square kilometers). Due to its rich ancient history, the island of Djerba was designated a World Heritage Site in 2023.

Ibiza

The Spanish island of Ibiza is off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula and is the third-largest of the Balearic Islands, an archipelago in the Western Mediterranean. Ibiza is famous for its nightlife and electronic dance club scene.

Corfu

The Greek island of Corfu is in the Ionian Sea and its several islands make up the northwestern frontier of Greece. This island has a rich history beginning in Greek mythology with many stories of battles and conquests.

Menorca

Menorca belongs to Spain and is one of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean. This island is famous for its large natural port in Mahon and for its indication of very early human activity.

Cephalonia

Cephalonia, also known as Kefalonia, is a Greek island and the largest of the Ionian Islands. It is also the sixth-largest island in Greece, featuring a total land area of 303 square miles. The island has rich biodiversity and lies in an active earthquake zone.

Chios

As the tenth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Chios is 325 square miles (842 square kilometers). It is also the fifth-largest Greek island and sits in the Northern Aegean Sea. The island of Chios is famous for its tourist attractions, such as its medieval villages and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Rhodes

Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese Islands of Greece, a group of islands in the Southeastern Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. The island was once home to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a statue of a Greek Titan god.

Lesbos

Lesbos, or Lesvos, is a Greek island in the Northeastern Aegean Sea. It is 631 square miles (1,633 square kilometers) and contains around 250 miles of coastline. Lesbos is often called the “Island of Poets,” as it was home to the ancient Greek poet Sappho. This island is the third largest in Greece and the eighth largest in the Mediterranean.

Mallorca

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands, an archipelago in the Western Mediterranean. This island belongs to Spain and encompasses 1,405 square miles (3,640 square kilometers), making it the seventh largest in the Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca is a popular holiday destination for its beautiful scenery and lively culture.

Euboea

As the second-largest Greek Island, Euboea is 1,422 square miles (3,684 square kilometers). It is long and narrow, about 110 miles long and 3.7 miles wide. Along with beaches and island towns, Euboea contains a mountain range that runs northwest to southeast.

Crete

The island of Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands and the fifth-largest in the Mediterranean. It resides nearly 100 miles south of the mainland and encompasses 3,260 square miles (8,450 square kilometers). Crete has a long history and was one of Europe’s first advanced civilizations.

Corsica

Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France and the fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. This island has a total area of 3,368 square miles (8,722 square kilometers) and a single chain of mountains make up a large portion of the island.

Cyprus

Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula. While this country is technically in West Asia, it is considered a European country. As the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus has a total area of 3,572 square miles (9,251 square kilometers). Its highest point is Mount Olympus.

Sardinia

Sardinia is a region of Italy and the second-largest island in the Mediterranean. It resides west of the Italian Peninsula and north of Tunisia. This large island is 9,300 square miles (24,090 square kilometers) and contains mountains, plains, woods, and rocky coasts.

Sicily

With a total area of 9,927 square miles (25,711 square kilometers), Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a region of Italy and contains 4.8 million people. It sits in the central region of the sea and contains Mount Etna, the tallest active volcano in Europe. Humans have inhabited the island of Sicily since 14,000 BC and had dozens of Greek colonies by 750 BC.

A Summary of the 20 Largest Islands in the Mediterranean Sea