Maldives travel guide | Discover the top picks personal experience
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Hi, how are you? I am Jobair. Welcome back to Dreamy Travelers World. Today, we’ll be exploring the Maldives Travel Guide.
The Republic of the Maldives is an island state in the Indian Ocean, consisting of 1,196 islands. These islands are spread out over 871 kilometers from north to south and are formed by 26 natural atolls. The islands are either inhabited by natives, the location of hotel resorts, or uninhabited.
The islands are only one meter above sea level, and the highest natural elevation is 2.4 meters. This makes the Maldives particularly vulnerable to the rising sea levels caused by global warming.
Most hotel resorts occupy an entire island and therefore create a unique holiday experience that takes place almost exclusively in one resort. Since 2009, there has been the option for tourists to visit and stay on islands inhabited by natives. These hotels are much simpler but also a lot cheaper.
For most, the Maldives Travel Guide is essential as the Maldives is a once-in-a-lifetime destination due to the expensive nature of the resorts. If you’re planning your trip, our Maldives Travel Guide will help you explore the best options for a perfect getaway.
Key Takeaways
- Island Nation: The Maldives consists of 1,196 islands spread across 26 natural atolls in the Indian Ocean.
- Low Elevation: With an average height of just 1 meter above sea level, the Maldives is highly vulnerable to climate change.
- Luxury Resorts: Most hotel resorts occupy an entire island, offering a unique, all-inclusive holiday experience.
- Budget-Friendly Stays: Since 2009, tourists can stay on local islands with more affordable accommodation options.
- Dream Destination: Due to the high cost of luxury resorts, the Maldives is often considered a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
- Rich Marine Life: A paradise for snorkeling and diving, offering vibrant coral reefs and diverse sea creatures.
- Plan Ahead: A Maldives Travel Guide is essential for finding the best islands, activities, and accommodations.
Maldives Travel Guide: Budget & Essentials
For a small budget, but no need to worry! With our Dreamy Travelers World. Maldives travel guide, we will make sure you’re perfectly prepared for your trip and can enjoy your holiday to the fullest.
Make sure you have a valid passport before embarking on your trip. Injections are not necessary for visiting the Maldives.
When packing for the Maldives, it is important to remember the essentials, as the islands don’t offer many shopping opportunities.
The most important things to bring are some protection products, such as sun cream and something to cover your head, as well as longer clothing since appropriate attire is required in public. Of course, remember to pack light summer clothes and swimsuits.
You will probably arrive by plane at the airport in the capital of the Maldives, Malé. The first stop at the airport is immigration, where there are often very long queues.
Wait time: Maldives Travel Tips, You should fill in the immigration form on the plane and be sure to exit the aircraft quickly. Importing alcohol, drugs, and pornographic material is strictly prohibited in the Maldives, and they may also check your hand luggage.
Changing money at the airport is not recommended, as most resorts don’t require cash and use U.S. dollars as their currency. It is a good idea, however, to change a few U.S. dollars in advance, which can then be used for tips.
Usually, there will be a representative of your resort waiting for you past the baggage area. Alternatively, there are numbered booths for each travel company and resort further along, where someone will be able to help you and show you where to go.
From here on, you will be directly transferred to your resort. Depending on how close your hotel is, you will either be picked up from the airport by boat or by an island water plane.
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Details
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Budget Travel
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No need to worry! Our Dreamy Travelers World Maldives Travel Guide will prepare you for your trip.
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Passport & Injections
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Ensure a valid passport; no injections required for visiting the Maldives.
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Packing Essentials
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Bring sun protection (sun cream), something to cover your head, long clothing for public areas, light summer clothes, and swimsuits.
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Airport Arrival
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Arrive at Malé International Airport, first stop at immigration. Expect long queues.
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Maldives Travel: Resorts, Transfers & Tips
The speedboat trips are a lot of fun but can often make people seasick. The TMA water airport is on the other side of the airport island. You have to check in your luggage at the international airport, and it will then be transported to the water airport. Shuttle buses then take you to your plane from the water airport.
Some hotel resorts have their own lounge at the water airport where you can relax and freshen up until it’s time for your flight. The water planes don’t operate on a fixed timetable but instead fly by demand. The wait is usually no longer than a couple of hours.
Due to the fact that the hotel runways are not lit up, it’s only possible to land during the day. Therefore, there are no flights past 5 p.m. or during bad weather conditions. This could mean you have to stay overnight in Malé.
Make sure you plan your international flight in a way that you land early enough so that you can then catch your water plane if necessary. The water planes are an amazing experience, allowing you to fly over so many shades of blue. It’s absolutely stunning. You will then land in a small lagoon, where a boat will pick you up and take you the last stretch to your hotel. Most likely, you will spend your holiday in a resort.
In comparison to other holiday resorts, most of your trip will be spent on one small island that can be walked around completely in about 20 minutes. The entire resort staff also lives on the island in a separate area. Every island has its own island doctor and small shops where you can purchase necessities, but they mainly sell souvenirs.
- Choosing Your Accommodation
- Overwater Villas & Suites
- Luxury & Optional Extras
- Small Island Experience
- Sun Protection is Essential
When booking a villa, make sure you don’t risk burning in the afternoon sun. A high-factor sun cream, such as SPF 50, is the most important thing you will pack. Another important booking decision is the type of board. You can choose between bed and breakfast, half board, full board, or all-inclusive.
Maldives Travel guide: Dining, Activities & Snorkeling Tips
All-inclusive is only worth it if you plan on drinking many cocktails or other alcoholic beverages, as these are very expensive in the Maldives. This also applies to minibar purchases. The normal cost of a beer is between five and eight dollars.
For every type of board, there is free drinking water in the rooms. Our dreamy travel team chose the bed and breakfast option and then decided what to eat each day. You can ask about meal prices at the main restaurant beforehand. Most islands have a buffet restaurant and one à la carte restaurant.
Buffet restaurants offer many different options and the opportunity to try a variety of dishes. Many hotels also offer themed evenings, such as Italian or Indian nights. Often, there are also snacks available in the afternoon if you’re feeling puckish.
The food quality is excellent without exception. The hotel our dreamy travelers team stayed at even had its own small island where the resort grew its own food. This made the journey from farm to table very short, ensuring the food was exceptionally fresh. There was even an opportunity to visit the plantation and hydroponics area during a private boat tour.
So, what can you do all day in the Maldives? The Maldives is the ideal place to do absolutely nothing—relax, read, and simply be together. However, there are also plenty of exciting activities to enjoy.
In most cases, the islands have beautiful sandy beaches that are perfect for swimming and splashing around. Since the Maldives is located on coral reefs, you will definitely need beach shoes. The corals are very hard and sharp, making it a painful experience if you misstep.
It is also highly illegal to take corals, shells, or other marine items home from the Maldives.
The Maldives’ stunning underwater world is best explored by snorkeling. For snorkeling, you need a snorkel mask, a snorkel, and ideally, fins. We would advise bringing your own, as renting snorkeling gear on the islands is often very expensive.
Maldives Tourism Guide: Underwater Adventures & Water Sports
To help preserve the already endangered underwater world, you should avoid touching anything underwater. This is also for your own safety, as some marine creatures can be very dangerous. Some species, such as cone snails, lionfish, and moray eels, can become aggressive if you get too close. However, contrary to popular belief, reef sharks are quite tame. For more helpful and interesting information on the underwater world of the Maldives, make sure to watch our underwater special.
If you plan on spending a lot of time in the water, be sure to get a UV-protected suit to avoid the danger of extreme sunburn.
There is also the option of diving. Pretty much every hotel island has a dive shop that offers boat trips to all the best dive spots in the area. The underwater world in the Maldives has faced many challenges in recent years, but it is still a beautiful and unique experience.
There are many small reef fish, and if you’re lucky, you may also see sharks, turtles, and larger fish.
As a beginner without a certificate, you can do an accompanied dive. Getting a diving certificate in the Maldives is certainly a great experience in one of the best places to dive, but it is also one of the most expensive.
To find out more, check out our underwater special.
In addition to swimming and snorkeling, there are many other activities in the water sports area. The hotels offer various options, including jet skis, kayaks, windsurfing, and stand-up paddleboarding, so there’s something for everyone.
Maldives Resorts: Sports, Spa, & Entertainment
There for everyone to protect the underwater world and preserve the relaxed and calm atmosphere, these offers are not unlimited and without restrictions, so just be sure to talk to a member of staff in advance. Every resort additionally offers other sporting activities outside of the water. In most cases, there is a gym with essential equipment, which is also air-conditioned.
If you prefer doing sport outside, there are often tennis and volleyball courts, jogging routes, or the option to do yoga in the shade. Some resorts offer special sport and gymnastic courses for a more relaxing experience or as a reward after all the activities. There’s the option to relax in the spa on offer at each resort.
Massages are only some of the treatments they offer, next to facials, skin treatments, hairdressers, and nail care.
There is even a specific treatment on offer to take care of a sunburn. If you happen to have a sunburn, try and avoid strong massages or body peelings, even if it’s just a slight burn. The staff consists of well-qualified masseuses and beauticians who will go to every length to make sure your session is as comfortable as possible. Be sure to plan your treatments in advance and reserve in time.
Most resorts have a varying day and nighttime entertainment programmed. This is different for each resort. The Sun Aqua Villa Reef, for example, offers a devilfish feeding session in the afternoon, where guests can watch and take fantastic pictures.
Not only are devilfish attracted by this, but also reef sharks and various other sea creatures come much closer to the beach than usual. In the evenings, the hotel bar has a happy hour and is the location of the evening entertainment programmed.
Afterwards, there are many different things on offer, from quizzes, DJs, and live music to traditional Maldivian dances. If you’re visiting the island with your better half, be sure to check out the romantic date options that are available.
They may not be cheap, but a private beach dinner, couples photo shoot, or romantic champagne cruise are memories that will certainly last a lifetime. There are also many day trips available. The most commonly done trips are the boat trips on offer by the resorts.
Maldives Adventures guide: Dolphin Cruises & Island Visits
Whether it’s to go fishing, snorkeling, or a sunset cruise, the captain and crew will take you to the best-suited and most beautiful spots. This kind of trip should be booked at least a day in advance. Be sure to bring enough sun cream and drinking water with you. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to see dolphins while you’re out and about.
This is a common occurrence in the Maldives, especially during a sunset cruise. Do remember that luck is still a factor, and even if you specifically book a dolphin cruise, you may still end up coming back disappointed. On the other hand, you can often see dolphins very close to your resort, so keep your eyes peeled.
A very special experience is a trip to a native island. Our dreamy travelers team visited the island of Bandidos and found out a lot of interesting facts about the Maldives. Bandidoo has about 950 inhabitants, and their main sources of income are fishing and working in the resorts. Fishing can earn you up to $500 a week, which makes it a decent way to make a living.
The islands have an exceptionally low crime rate, and the Maldivians are friendly and peaceful people. Walking around the island is interesting, and you learn a lot about the locals and their lifestyle, but you shouldn’t expect too much of a program. There are people crafting, working, or cooking on every corner. Some of the women, for example, make ropes out of coconuts, which can then be used for roofs. The houses all look different and are often made of coral lime.
Perhaps you will also have the opportunity to visit the capital of Malé, either passing through or as a day trip. Malé is reachable in 15 minutes by public ferry for a reasonable price from the airport island. Nowadays, there is also a bridge between the two islands where pickup vehicles operate.
A third of the Maldives’ population lives on the main island. There are over 200,000 people in only 5.7 square kilometers. Depending on where you go in Malé, it can be quite tight, crowded, dirty, and smell bad. The island is a traffic nightmare, with thousands of motorbikes and scooters that are very hard to maneuver through and around. You need to be alert when on the street.
Exploring Malé: Culture, Markets & Attractions
It is most certainly not recommended to actively participate in the traffic. Everything is reachable on foot, and if not, there are taxis that are accustomed to the traffic situation, and you will reach your destination safely. Remember to wear light but long clothing in public. Your clothes should cover your shoulders and knees.
Due to the lack of tourists in Malé, you will be easily spotted and encouraged to enter overpriced restaurants and shops—simply ignore these requests.
The best way to explore the city is by yourself, without a guide. Guides tend to lead you to overpriced areas and tourist shops, which should certainly be avoided because Malé is actually not expensive.
The official currency in the Maldives is Rufiyaa. If you would like to shop in normal shops and markets in Malé, then you will need to pay in local currency. It is recommended to withdraw money from an ATM rather than exchanging money at a booth, as ATMs will give you a fairer exchange rate.
So, what are the main attractions in Malé? The most important site to see is the city’s symbol, the Grand Friday Mosque. This mosque can hold up to 5,000 people and is the religious center of the Maldives and one of the largest mosques in Southern Asia. The mosque can be visited from 9 am to 5 pm. Outside of praying times, women must cover their ankles, shoulders, and head.
One of the calmer and most beautiful places in Malé is the Sultan Park. The park is like a little oasis amid the hectic city. Tourists over 18 must pay the equivalent of five dollars to enter the park. The park area is very pretty and well taken care of.
Various plants, trees, and green areas separate the park from the rest of the city and create lovely shaded areas over benches— a great place for a calming walk or to simply relax. Children are especially well cared for here, with swings, a large climbing net, and a play structure with a bridge and slide. We definitely recommend mosquito spray when visiting Sultan Park.
Our highlight was definitely the visit to the fruit market, Omali Local Market, in the north of the island. The atmosphere there reflects the day-to-day life and culture of the locals in a very special way.
Malé: Markets, Culture, and Relaxing Spots
Various herbs, food, and especially fruit can be bought here for a small amount of money. Be sure to haggle with the vendors, or else you could end up paying more than you should. You can also always ask to try the merchandise. Not far from here is the fish market, which is also worth a short visit.
It’s a great place to see all the interesting types of fish on offer and watch the local people in their element, but the fish market is certainly not a place for those with a weak stomach. A good spot to meet up for a short break is Republic Square. Many pigeons reside here, there’s space to move around, and there is a lot going on. The square is right on the shore, where the presidential jetty is located.
On the western edge of Sultan Park is the National Museum. Here, you can learn about the history of the Maldives, but you should not have too high expectations, as the exhibit is rated average and quite expensive. The Presidential Palace, also known as Muliaaj, can be found in the historical center of Malé and is an important part of Maldivian history.
It is a one-story colonial-style building, artistically decorated and surrounded by a beautiful garden, which was a wheat and vegetable plantation during World War II, saving many locals from starvation. Today, the palace is used for important receptions and meetings. You are not allowed to enter or visit the palace but can admire the beautiful facade or have your picture taken in front of its impressive and colorful entrance gates.
A great place to sit and eat is the Seagull Café, in the shade of some beautiful trees. You can choose a nice meal from an international selection. You can also purchase delicious cakes and ice cream here. This was definitely a favorite spot to eat due to the calming atmosphere, taking you out of the hectic city for a moment. It is very hot in Malé, so be sure to drink enough water to avoid dehydration.
Our team stayed at the Sun Aqua Villa Reef hotel when creating this travel guide. If you would like to find out more about this stunning resort and the available rooms, check out our hotel special.
Making the Most of Your Maldives Travel Information
If you’re curious about the underwater world and are interested in coral reefs, we have created an underwater special for you, where you can find out more about sea life, fish names, and dos and don’ts when swimming in the reef.
Thank you for joining us on this short trip to the Maldives. We hope you found the important information you needed, and we hope you have a fantastic time when you make it there.
The website is especially helpful for trip preparation, packing, and is a great companion during your travel. So be sure to bookmark it on your phone. To be part of Dreamy Travelers World and not miss out on any new locations, subscribe to our channel. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you in the Maldives!
Thank you, and that wraps up maldives travel guide. Do you agree with the places we chose, or is there somewhere you visited that you feel should be on the list? leave us a comment.
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frequently asked.
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
The best time to visit is between November and April, during the dry season. The weather is sunny with low humidity. The wet season (May to October) brings more rain but also fewer tourists and lower prices.
Do I need a visa to visit the Maldives?
Tourists from most countries receive a 30-day visa on arrival for free. You need a valid passport, proof of onward travel, and a confirmed hotel booking.
What is the official currency? Can I use US dollars?
The official currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), but US dollars are widely accepted in resorts, restaurants, and tourist shops. It’s best to withdraw local currency for shopping in Malé and local islands.
What kind of accommodation options are available?
You can choose from:
- Beach Villas – Direct beach access, private areas
- Garden Villas – More central, surrounded by nature
- Overwater Villas & Suites – Built on stilts, luxury experience with ocean views
What are the best places to visit in Malé?
- Grand Friday Mosque – Largest mosque in Southern Asia
- Sultan Park – A peaceful green escape
- Fish Market & Omali Local Market – Great for fresh seafood and tropical fruits
- Republic Square – A lively central meeting point
