Hulhumalé
Man-made island beside the airport, built to ease crowding in the capital. It has a beach, parks, cafes and guesthouses, and is a convenient first or last stop when passing through the airport.
North and South Male Atolls (Kaafu)
Good spots for surfing and snorkelling, short speedboat transfers and the largest number of resort beds are all found in this atoll around the capital.
Attractive locations
Thulusdhoo
Local island in the North Malé Atoll, home to a soft-drink bottling plant and to well-known surf breaks. A relaxed place to see fishing-village life and swim off the beach.
Himmafushi
Local island in the North Malé Atoll, popular with surfers for nearby waves. Visitors can walk through the small village, and dress modestly away from the designated beach.
Huraa
Small inhabited island in the North Malé Atoll with quiet lanes, a village mosque and a beach. Surf breaks lie close by, and it works well for a calm introduction to local island life.
Dhiffushi
Inhabited island in the North Malé Atoll with a long white beach on one side and sandy village lanes on the other. Guesthouses and small cafes make it a simple option for a beach stay.
Airports
Velana International Airport MLE
It is about 25 km in a straight line from North and South Male Atolls (Kaafu).
Dharavandhoo Airport DRV
It is about 92 km in a straight line from North and South Male Atolls (Kaafu).
Villa International Airport Maamigili VAM
It is about 129 km in a straight line from North and South Male Atolls (Kaafu).
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Maldives page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan27.3 °C50 mm
- Feb27.5 °C33 mm
- Mar28.1 °C47 mm
- Apr28.6 °C95 mm
- May28.7 °C190 mm
- Jun28.3 °C156 mm
- Jul27.9 °C168 mm
- Aug27.8 °C192 mm
- Sep27.6 °C183 mm
- Oct27.6 °C182 mm
- Nov27.4 °C228 mm
- Dec27.4 °C180 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: May, Aug, Nov.
Costs
Prices here are about 51% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 119. Ambulance 102. Fire 118.
local government
Maldives Police Service - Tourist Police
Helps with: Police unit set up in 2009 to protect visitors. It helps tourists with disputes, fraud and safety concerns and patrols airports, resorts and guesthouses. Its page gives a 24/7 assistance line.
Who qualifies: Tourists and other international visitors in the Maldives.
Phone: +960 979 0070
ngo
Maldivian Red Crescent
Helps with: The national Red Crescent society. It responds to emergencies, supports recovery, and teaches first aid, with volunteers in local units across the islands.
Who qualifies: People in the Maldives who need its emergency response, first aid or community services.
Phone: +960 3341009
Email: info@redcrescent.org.mv
Address: Maldivian Red Crescent Building, 2nd Floor, Hithigasmagu, Hulhumale'
local government
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
Helps with: The Maldives' national disaster authority. Its site lists 115 as its emergency hotline and shares disaster preparedness information and help for people affected by incidents.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the Maldives affected by a disaster or incident.
Phone: 115
Address: Ameenee Magu, Male 20060, Maldives
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Maldives
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in the Maldives since 2013. It supports migrants, displaced people, returnees and host communities.
Who qualifies: Migrants and other people on the move. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +960 7757 646
Address: H. Fehi Aabadh, 9th Floor, Abadhah Fehi Magu, Male, Republic of Maldives