Maldives

Unrivaled luxury, stunning white-sand beaches and a dazzling underwater world make Maldives an obvious choice for a true holiday of a lifetime.

Best Time to Visit

Best Places to Visit

Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Old Friday Mosque
Male
This is the oldest mosque in the country, dating from 1656. It’s a beautiful structure made from coral stone into which intricate decoration and Quranic…
Dhigurah
Ari Atoll & Around
Dhigurah is a charming, clean and friendly local island with about 600 inhabitants and around ten guesthouses. It's a very long island, with an absolutely…
National Museum
Male
Maldives' National Museum may be a ferociously ugly building gifted by China, but it nevertheless contains a well-labelled collection of historic…
Utheemu Ganduvaru
Northern Atolls
This small palace – now a museum – was the childhood home of Maldivian national hero Mohammed Thakurufaanu, who, alongside his brothers, overthrew…
Thulusdhoo
North Male Atoll
Thulusdhoo has traditionally been an industrious island, known for manufacturing of bodu beru (big drums), for its salted-fish warehouse and for its Coca…
China-Maldives Friendship Bridge
Male
This incredibly impressive piece of engineering connects Male to the airport island of Hulhule, but unlike most of the causeways connecting islands…
Himmafushi
North Male Atoll
Himmafushi is famous for its main street selling some of the least expensive souvenirs in the country, such as carved rosewood manta rays, sharks and…
Fish Market
Male
Although the squeamish may well object to the buckets of entrails or the very public gutting of fish going on all around, the Fish Market should not be…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

The 10 best things to do in the Maldives that go beyond the villa

Curated by Emma Sparks

Huraa
North Male Atoll
The island of Huraa is well used to tourists visiting from nearby resorts, but it retains its small-island feel. It is now home to several guesthouses,…
Old Friday Mosque
Male
This is the oldest mosque in the country, dating from 1656. It’s a beautiful structure made from coral stone into which intricate decoration and Quranic…
Gili Lankanfushi
North Male Atoll
Astonishingly impressive Gili Lankanfushi is the original pioneer of barefoot luxury in Maldives, where the 'no shoes, no news' philosophy reigns supreme…
Huvafen Fushi
North Male Atoll
Huvafen Fushi set a new standard for stylish, sophisticated luxury when it opened in 2005 and has inspired countless imitators elsewhere in Maldives and…
Cheval Blanc Randheli
Northern Atolls
Want to know where the one per cent really holiday? It's at this ultra-top-end hotel run by the French LVMH group (that's short for Louis Vuitton Moët…
Fish Market
Male
Although the squeamish may well object to the buckets of entrails or the very public gutting of fish going on all around, the Fish Market should not be…
Artificial Beach
Male
A sweet little crescent sand beach has been crafted from the breakwater tetrapods here where locals can swim and enjoy a day on the beach. There’s a whole…
Vaadhoo
Southern Atolls
In the south of Huvadhoo Atoll, only about 20km from the equator, the island of Vaadhoo has two hawittas (stone prayer mounds) and a mosque that dates…
Soneva Fushi
Northern Atolls
Rightly one of the most famous resorts in the country, ecofabulous Soneva Fushi is the place to get back to nature in style. The personal creation of…

Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

The Maldives takes luxury to new heights, but venture beyond your sunbed and you’ll find cultural wonders and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters.

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Transportation

From public buses to private seaplanes and luxury yachts, here’s how to get around in the Maldives.

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Visa Requirements

Traveling to the Maldives' 1200 islands and sandbars is a breeze, thanks to a tourist-friendly system of visas on arrival. Here’s what you need to know.

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Money and Costs

Guesthouses in Maldives have paved the way for independent travelers on a budget to explore this once prohibitively expensive destination.

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Best Road Trips

Heading to the Maldives? Our guide will help you pick your ideal island, whether you’re searching for affordable options or five-star resorts.

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