"The Tale of the Unknown Island" (Portuguese: O conto da ilha desconhecida) is a short story by Portuguese author José Saramago.

It was published in Portuguese in 1997, and in English translation by Margaret Jull Costa in 1999.

A man requests the king of his country to give him a boat so he can go in search for "the unknown island".

This debate concludes with the king granting him a boat.

An adaptation was staged at the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill in September/October 2017.