Maldives: Travelling

Means of Transport Recommended in Town

Recommendation

Several bus lines are available in the capital Malé. Taxis are available everywhere within the city, whereas there is no metro.
Ferries are the main mean of transport from one atoll to the other.
For the schedule of buses and ferries, visit the MTCC website.

Maps of Urban Networks

Maps of the Maldives
Google Maps - Malé

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Male Velana International Airport (MLE)	4km/2.5miles	USD 4	USD 1	Not available	approx. 15 min

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Rail Companies

There is no railway system in the Maldives

Airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Travelling By Yourself

Recommendation

As 90% of the territory’s surface area is made of water and land rises to only a couple of meters above sea level, the road network in the Maldives is rather limited. According to the latest figures available from WorldData, the Maldives' network of roads and highways has a total length of 93 km. Due to the small size of the islands, renting a car and driving on your one is generally not necessary, and most tourists prefer to use boats or taxis to move around.

Road Maps

Via Michelin - Malè road map
Mapsland - Malè city

Find an Itinerary

Google Maps

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

Historical sites include the Victory Monument in Malè, which was made to commemorate the victory of the 1988 terrorist attack by Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers; the Hulhumale Mosqu; the Tsunami Monument in Malé, and the Mulee-Aage Palace, also in the capital.
Another interesting place is the Utheemu Ganduvaru palace on the island of Utheemu. It was the birthplace and home of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu, one of the most important heroes in Maldivian history.

Cultural

The main cultural highlights include the National Centre for the Arts and the National Museum, both in Malè.

Nature

Aside from its stunning beaches, the most prominent natural attractions of the Maldives are the Addu Nature Park - which is home to the second largest wetlands area in the country - and the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve - which hosts a high diversity of reef species, including 1,200 reef-associated marine species, 250 species of stony and soft corals and populations of marine turtles, manta rays, whale sharks and seabirds.

Religious

The main religious sites in the Maldives are the Hukuru mosque(the oldest mosque in the country), the Grand Friday Mosque (the main one in Malè), the Aasaari mosque on the island of Nilandhoo, and the Kalhu Vakaru mosque (the only structure in the Maldives to have been dismantled and re-built in another island, from Malé to Furanafushi).

Thermal

The Maldives have no natural hot springs; however, SPA centres are available in many luxury hotels throughout the islands.

Beach

The Maldives is blessed with some of the best beaches in the world. Some of the most beautiful include Mudhdhoo Beach (which has the Unesco protection status, as part of the surrounding Baa Atoll’s biosphere reserve); Digurah island; Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru; Bikini Beach in Maafushi; and Fulhadhoo island.

Winter Sports

Due to its climate, no winter sports can be performed in the Maldives.

Outdoor Activities

The Maldives is home to plenty of water sports. It is a particularly renowned destination for surfing, as well as for diving and snorkelling.
Fishing tours are also available.

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

No specific vaccination is required. For further information, consult the dedicated page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

Fit to Travel - Maldives
UK Gov Foreign Travel Advice - Maldives
Maldives Ministry of Tourism

For Further Information on Safety Conditions

Safety and Security advice - UK Government

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Male (GMT+5)

Summer Time Period

The Maldives enjoy hot weather throughout the year; however, the nation enjoys the best weather between November and April with full days of sunshine. The South West monsoon season usually begins between April and May and lasts until October or November.