20 Weird, Strange Islands Of The World You Should Visit In 2024

Islands are cute little havens, surrounded by water with picturesque landscapes, and greenery; sometimes flaunting kaleidoscopic fauna, sometimes mesmerizing with their quiet and peace. Wondering what can be strange about them?

Well, you can’t be more wrong! There are many strange islands of the world that will make you question your idea of the picture-perfect islands. The following islands are simply strange. They offer desolation and goosebumps. Let’s scroll, buddy.

Top 20 Strange Islands Of The World

We have created a list of the top strange islands of the world you should visit. Have a look and see which one of these steal the show for you. The following list consists of some weird islands with their weird names so read on why there are such strange island names.

Rapa Nui or Easter Island, Chile
Ilha de Queimada Grande or Snake Island, Brazil
Socotra Island, Yemen
Ōkunoshima Island or Rabbit Island, Japan
Sable Island, Nova Scotia
Palmyra Island, North Pacific
La Isla de las Muñecas or The Island of the Dolls, Mexico City
Vulcan Point, Philippines
Christmas Island, Australian territory in Indian Ocean
The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Tashirojima Island, Japan
Deer Island, New York
Howland Island, Pacific Ocean
Hashima Island, Japan
North Sentinel Island, Andaman
Poveglia Island, Italy
Ramree Island, Burma
Izu Island, Japan

1. Rapa Nui or Easter Island, Chile

Image Source

Littered all over the island, there are 887 strange statues, over 3 stories tall, famous as Moia statues. And they weigh crazy 14 tons and measure huge 13 feet! Strange is the question of how did early Polynesian inhabitants accomplish such monumental task with their fairly primitive tools. They had no carriages or cranes to pick and drop the large stones out of which the statues are carved. There is no answer though, Well now you know why this is the first one of all the weird islands on the list.

Specialty: 887 strange statues

Suggested Read: 25 Most Haunted Places In The World

Looking To Book An International Holiday?

Book memorable holidays on TravelTriangle with 650+ verified travel agents for 65+ domestic and international destinations.

2. Ilha de Queimada Grande or Snake Island, Brazil

Image Source

Ohk, think of venom, so powerful that its single drop is capable of melting human flesh. Now think of a snake which is full of such venom. Now, about an island full of just these snakes.

Scary, right? Yes, Snake island is full of 5000 Golden Lanceheads, one of the most dangerous and venomous snakes in the world. These snakes slurp and surf the island like kings as they are the sole inhabitants of the island, sparing a tourist or two, here and there.

Specialty: full of snakes

3. Socotra Island, Yemen

Image Source

Just a glance at its pictures, showcasing its biologically unique to the world flora and fauna, says a lot. Just for the record, there are over 300 plants, 27 reptiles and six bird species which are unique to this island. And if you come across its pictures these are not something that’s cooked but absolutely real. Thus, its listed under the category of strange island names.

Specialty: multiple plant species and several reptiles

4. Isola La Gaiola, Italy

Image Source

The beautiful island, lined with picturesque cobblestone streets, is said to be cursed. Actually, a set of two islands linked together with a rusty bridge, the island is said to bring extreme bad luck to its owners; sometimes, even resulting in untimely deaths. Sudden suicides, heart attacks, brutal murders, commitment to mental hospitals, downfall from the riches, or being overthrown in jail. Obviously categorized as an island with weird island names.

Specialty: a cursed land

5. Ōkunoshima Island or Rabbit Island, Japan

Image Source

This strange island of the world was once home to several poisonous gas factories. Now it has transformed to a rabbit hub with thousands and thousands of rabbits hopping on the island. Some believe them to be the descendants of the group which was brought there to test poisonous gases. While others claim them to be somehow descended from heaven to pay homage to the original lot. Quite strange, eh?

Specialty: a hub of rabbits

Planning your holiday but confused about where to go? These travel stories help you find your best trip ever!

Real travel stories. Real stays. Handy tips to help you make the right choice.

6. Sable Island, Nova Scotia

Image Source

Also known as “The Graveyard of the Atlantic”, Sable Island houses multitudes of shipwrecks and hundreds of wild horses. The peculiar eeriness of over 490 dilapidated shipwrecks adorning the island while more than 450 wild horses gallop around, is definitely not lost on us.

Specialty: meet the shipwrecks and wild horses

7. Palmyra Island, North Pacific

Image Source

Stunning coastline, palm trees, shimmering water, gorgeous sunsets, colorful corals, mesmerizing dawns, and peaceful vacations. Quite a charmer, right? OR NOT.

The picture is tainted with tragic deaths, bizarre happenings, pirate attacks, buried treasure, secret military use, cursed land, and gruesome murders. All these strange happenings have forced even the best of rationalists to wonder about the curse being true.

Specialty: tainted with tragedies and is cursed

8. La Isla de las Muñecas or The Island of the Dolls, Mexico City

Image Source

The former resident of the island, Don Julian, used to claim that a little girl had drowned in the back canals of the island, whom he failed to save. Since that day, various dolls and dismantled body parts of dolls started washing ashore to the island.

Now now, thousands of dolls, hanging from trees or various objects, some mangled, some wrapped in cobwebs, some with body parts missing, some just beheaded!

Specialty: the mystery of thousands of dolls

9. Vulcan Point, Philippines

Image Source

Vulcan Point is known to be the geographical equivalent to the 2012 movie, Inception. You ask why. Okay so, Vulcan Point is an island, which is in a lake, which in turn is on an island, which is within a lake, which is on an outer island which is located in Pacific Ocean. Phew..

Got it? Or do you need to go through it once again?

Specialty: an island in a lake that’s on an island which is in a lake and on an outer island

10. Christmas Island, Australian territory in Indian Ocean

Image Source

The island is named so, as it was discovered on Christmas day in 1643. Populating the island are 14 species of crabs, who scramble to leave their inland burrows during the rainy season to spawn in the sea. Nearly 140 million crabs make this month long treacherous five-mile journey to the ocean, albeit all the hurdles of dehydration, dangerous plains, squashing under the vehicles and crazy herds of yellow ants.

Specialty: multiple species of crabs

11. The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca, Peru

Image Source

These floating man-made islands are quite strange and wondrous in their own way. They are indeed woven mats made out of floating totora reeds which are fastened together with ropes. Locals use these islands as settlements to avoid disruptions with neighboring tribes regarding the territories.

Specialty: used to eschew conflicts between neighboring tribes

12. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Image Source

Now this doesn’t qualify as an island until you consider the size of this garbage patch. It measures to be twice the size of whole continental US. And what makes it more strange and sad is that it is made up of debris and particles that have been dumped in the water over the years. All of which have come together by the oceans strong currents and high waves. Strangeness to its height.

Specialty: it measures to be the double size of the whole US

13. Tashirojima Island, Japan

Get ready to spot thousands of cats at this strange place

Also known as “Cat Island”, this small island in Japan has barely 100 human residents but a large cat population. In order to keep the mouse population under control, it is believed that cats were introduced in the 1850s. If you plan on visiting the island, make sure you stay in a cat-like cabin for a different experience altogether. It is available for overnight stays between April and November.

Specialty: more cats less humans

14. Deer Island, New York

One of the American Thousand Islands, Deer island lies in the town of Alexandria, close to Alexandria Bay in New York. It majorly looks like any old island. Here, you can find the infamous Skull and Bones undergraduate secret society of Yale University. And to your surprise, many former politicians and presidents were members.

Specialty: bones and skulls

15. Howland Island, Pacific Ocean

Located in the Central Pacific Ocean, Howland Island is an uninhabited coral island. This one of the most strange islands of the world is perhaps best known where Amelia Earhart was supposed to land on her around-the-world journey but never reached. Since then the island has been under critical observation. No time zone has been specified on the island since it is uninhabited.

Specialty: Amelia Earhart was supposed to land here but never reached.

16. Hashima Island, Japan

Bird eye view of the abandoned Hashima Island in Nagasaki region of Japan

Commonly called Gunkanjima, this abandoned island at one point in history was the most densely populated places on the planet. The abandoned concrete buildings are the highlighting feature of the island. It is gaining international attention and discussion about the ruins has become a frequent thing now. Well, you might have guessed by now that visiting the island can be quite a spooky experience.

Specialty: Abandoned concrete buildings

17. North Sentinel Island, Andaman

North sentinel Island of Andaman in Bay of Bengal

North Sentinel Island is one of the Andaman Islands. Home to the native Sentinelese, it is one of the most dangerous islands in the world. The island belongs to the South Andaman administrative district. The entry to the island is strictly forbidden due to the chance of visitors getting attacked by the Sentinelese people.

Specialty: Entry is strictly prohibited because there are high chances of Sentinelese people attacking the visitors

18. Poveglia Island, Italy

Bird eye view of the abandoned Poveglia Island in Italy

Poveglia Island is a small island used as a dumping ground for the diseased and the sick. This practice started with the Romans and later in 1922 a mental hospital was built on the island. Many crazy experiments took place here. But guess what, today the island is uninhabited and none of the locals have the guts to visit.

Specialty: a dumping ground for diseased

19. Ramree Island, Burma

Another most strange island in the world is Ramree island. Infested with saltwater crocodiles, there were around 500 Japanese troops eaten alive here during WWII. This incident is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Presently, the region does not support a viable population of crocodiles.

Specialty: Listen in the Guinness Book of World records for its exceptional historic incident

20. Izu Island, Japan

The air on the Izu island contains the highest concentration of sulphur on earth due to the volcanic activity. The inhabitants are required to carry gas masks with them at all times if they plan on visiting the island. Due to this reason, for a visitor it can be one of a kind experience.

Specialty: Contains a high percentage of sulphur

Further Read: 16 Hidden, But Beautiful Islands In India For A Memorable Escape To Bliss

What do you think about this list of 20 strange islands of the world? Do you think they are worth visiting? If yes, Book your world trip right away. We promise you won’t regret it.

Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Strange Islands Of The World

Are Islands witnessing tourists during Covid-19?

Yes, most of the islands are open for tourists to enjoy. But while touring these gorgeous places make sure you strictly adhere to the precautionary measures given by the government for Covid-19. Read the latest updates and follow social distancing as much as you can.

What is the weirdest island in the world?

Some of the weirdest islands in the world include: -The Isola La Gaiola, Italy -Okunoshima Island, Japan -Sable Island, Nova Scotia -Christmas Island, Indian Ocean -The Island of the Dolls, Mexico City -Vulcan Point, the Philippines -Ilha de Queimada Grande (“Snake Island”), Brazil -Deer Island, New York

Why is it called Mistake Island?

While many think the island’s name is a joke, “Mistake” here is actually a corruption of the word “Moosabec”. People believe that “Moosabec” is more or less an Abenaki word that could mean “moose head”.

Why is it called Disappointment Island?

It is believed that when the British explorer John Byron had visited Napuka Atoll as well as Tepoto Atoll, the natives on these islands had a hostile disposition toward him because of which he started calling them “Disappointment Islands”.

Can I live on Disappointment Island?

No one can possibly live on Disappointment Island since there is no source of freshwater on this island.

What is the most dangerous island in the world?

Some of the most dangerous islands in the world include Izu Islands in Japan, Saba in the Netherlands, Gruinard Island in Scotland, Ramree Island in Burma, Ilha da Queimada in Brazil, North Sentinel Island in Andaman, and the Farallon Islands.

Is it illegal to go to North Sentinel Island?

Yes, visiting North Sentinel Island is strictly forbidden due to the chances of visitors getting attacked or a threat of life to the native Sentinelese people (according to past incidents of both).

Is there fresh water on North Sentinel Island?

Yes, North Sentinel Island would most certainly have freshwater since it supports and sustains human and animal life, and that is not possible without freshwater sources.

Who owns Palmyra Atoll?

The Nature Conservancy, Inc. is the rightful owner of the Palmyra Atoll in the United States Minor Outlying Islands. It manages it as a nature reserve.