The European island with a ‘floating forest’ and 22°C weather in October

A place of pure storybook magic (Picture: Roussel Aurelien / Shutterstock)

Replete with turquoise waters, pine forests, and sun-drenched vineyards, this tiny island gem is one of the most authentic in Europe.

Porquerolles is a croissant-shaped wisp of land on the French Riviera. At three kilometres by seven, it is small enough to explore by bike or on foot.

Lucky, that, because there are no cars and no public transport.

Just 20 minutes by boat off the Côte d’Azur, this island is a stunner, with sweeping white beaches, olive groves and eucalyptus trees. Not to mention 22°C weather in October.

The French often describe it as a ‘floating forest’.

With a population of 200 at last count, Porquerolles has managed to fly under the radar and remains one of Europe’s best-kept secrets for an autumn getaway. Here’s how to make the most of it.

Vogue has described Porquerolles as the Nantucket of the Mediterranean (Picture: Yann Guichaoua-Photos /Getty Images)

Beeline to the beach

If you’re only visiting for a day, it would be sensible to head straight to a beach.

Plage Notre-Dame in the Port-Cors National Park consistently ranks among Europe’s finest. It was recently named in The Economic Times top seven French beaches for 2026.

Other must-visits are Plage d’Argent, a beach near the harbour with shallow, clear water and sugar-white sands, and Plage de La Courtade, a spacious beach lined with eucalyptus trees and spectacular sunset views.

The island has a limit on construction to protect the environment (Picture: Shutterstock / D.Bond)

Vineyards

Porquerolles has three estates producing distinctive Côtes de Provence wines, a famous French style of pale, crisp rosé.

As well as the most famous Domaine de la Courtade, the island is home to two more vineyards: Domaine Perinsky and Domaine de L’Ile.

Our pick is Perinsky, which opened right in the island’s main village in 1993 and doesn’t take reservations. Perfect for holiday spontaneity.

Porquerolles is a great place for wine lovers (Picture: Andrea Izzotti/Getty Images)

Cuisine and culture

Fort Sainte Agathe, built in the 16th Century at the order of King François I, boasts the best view in town with a 360° view of the island that overlooks a patchwork quilt of olive groves and vineyards.

From there, drift on to the Fondation Carmignac Museum, which hosts rotating photography exhibitions. Then it’s time for dinner.

It may be home to just 200 people, but Porquerolles has some fabulous restaurants and one that even features in the Michelin Guide: La Pinède.

Porquerolles has a retro vibe and laidback charm (Picture: David C Tomlinson/Getty Images)

Hidden in an out-of-the-way hotel connected to the village by shuttle bus, this laidback restaurant is only open at lunchtime.

The menu is all about the best of Mediterranean and Provençal: think grilled crayfish and pistou soup.

For dinner with a view, try La Fringale. Featured in the 2026 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards, this relaxed restaurant serves up hearty French cooking, with prices ranging from €9 to €29.

A small island with huge appeal (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Or, if you prefer to eat where the action is, check out Villa Sainte Anne, right in the town square.

There’s outdoor seating that’s great for people-watching.

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