Most people think of Europe as a cluster of countries so small and neighborly that they've done away with border checks. But did you know that there are actually European islands all over the world? No matter what continent you're on and no matter what ocean you're floating in, chances are that somewhere nearby you'll find a Frenchman selling croissants for a Euro.
The Azores are a collection of seven volcanic islands around 1,000 miles west of mainland Portugal. They are truly mid-Atlantic. This makes them top spots for water sports including windsurfing, surfing, kitesurfing and diving. This archipelago is also supremely rich in marine life with many species of whales and dolphins.
Each Summer, there are hundreds of Tourada à Corda events, where bulls on long ropes run down residential streets. Unlike the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Azorean men run at the bull and try to tap it on the forehead. Aside from the bulls on ropes, endless festivals keep the Azoreans and visitors occupied throughout the Summer.
Way over in the Pacific, New Caledonia is a tropical island belonging to France. Located just over 1,000 miles east of Australia, New Caledonia is made up of a group of islands and uses the CFP Franc, a currency tied to the Euro.
With mountains, jungles, savannahs, and a huge lagoon, New Caledonia is a geographic marvel. Add to that a vast barrier reef and a climate that ensures 68°F to 86°F all year round and you've got an extraordinary holiday destination.
Far closer to Africa's coast than Spain's, the Canary Islands have been popular tourist destinations for decades. Despite this, many people only stick to a couple of the islands. In fact, the Canary Islands are comprised of seven main islands and a further six much smaller ones.
The Canaries are so popular because of their abundance of things to do. Windsurf on Fuerteventura, whale and dolphin watch on Gran Canaria, head to the snowy top of Mount Teide on Tenerife, or sunbathe anywhere!
This far away island in the Indian Ocean seems as divorced from France as you could get, but it is actually French and part of the Eurozone. This makes it the furthest away part of the EU!
Just off Madagascar's coast, Réunion is a volcanic island with two volcanoes. One volcano, Piton de la Fournaise, likes to erupt with alarming frequency, having done so most recently in 2015.
Martinique is the perfect cross between France and the Caribbean. Located in the midst of the West Indies, this tropical island has jungle, beaches, reefs, and rum distilleries galore.
With direct flights from Paris every day, the supermarkets are full of fresh European food as well as delicious local fruits and alcohols. This has got to be one of the best places to eat, drink, and sunbathe in the Caribbean.
Another French-owned island (the French really got around, eh?), Saint Barthélemy is better known as St. Bart's, the celebrity hangout. Tiny and tropical, this cultured island has French fashion houses just a minute's walk from palm-lined beaches and clear water.
As French as Paris, each spring St. Bart's hosts an incredible yacht race and you'll see some of the world's most famous super yachts competing for the cup. Here you can spend the Euro, practice your French, and order a fresh coconut with a straw.
Phew, the French love their tropical islands! French Polynesia is slap bang in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and made up of 118 islands. This sprawling archipelago includes the remote Tuamotu islands and the Gambiers.
Popular with circumnavigating sailors, French Polynesia has many uninhabited islands and atolls as well as the islands so many of us associate with true paradise: Tahiti and Bora Bora.
The Cayman Islands are south west of Cuba and east of Central America. They consist of three islands, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. They are some of the best islands in the world for diving.
Owned by Britain, the Caymans have a rich history and a culture all to their own. With an abundance of sea life, endless palm tree beaches, and seriously good shopping, this trio of islands is much more than somewhere to do your offshore banking.
It's said that long ago a Frenchman and a Dutchman got pretty tipsy and set off from the pond in the middle of the island, one walking north, one walking south, and set where they met up again as where the two countries would agree to divide the island from the pond to avoid a war.
There are variations of this legend but suffice it to say, the French got a little more and now the island is a bizarre mix of the two nations. The French side has patisseries and pretty towns while the Dutch side has duty free shops, casinos, and strip clubs — sorry — gentlemen's clubs.
Without a doubt the coolest place to be on this island is Maho Beach on the Dutch side. This beach is directly at the start of the island's only runway and you can stand on the sand with jumbo jets passing just feet above your head.
Far out in the middle of the South Atlantic, the Ascension Islands are as far from the Caribbean islands and mainland Europe as you can get and still be in the same ocean. But this remote island group is far from a wilderness.
Another British Overseas Territory, these three islands are some of the most remote parts of Britain. Incredibly, you get there by taking a trip on a Royal Mail Ship! Your only other option of arrival to Ascension proper is by flying in a military plane from an RAF base in the UK, making this a pretty exciting place to visit.
