Malé

Understand

thumb|Malé refers to both the city and the island Malé is home to over 250,000 people, on island only long and wide. By some measures, it is the world's densest city. The new island of Hulhumalé, built (as the name says) between Malé and Hulhulé (the airport island), has been reclaimed from the sea to provide some much-needed extra space.

The neighbouring islands Hulhumalé (artificial) and Villimalé are served by frequent and very cheap public ferries and provide much quieter get-aways from the capital city. To see the "real" Maldives (i.e. the ones familiar from postcards) you have to get further away, of course.

Get in

Most visitors to the Maldives are met by travel agent representatives right outside customs, who then whisk them away to their resorts by speedboat or seaplane. If your destination is the city itself, turn left and head for the public ferry dock. Ferries (MVR15, 10min) leave the airport every 15min from 06:00 to 20:30, and every 30min until 00:00; in the opposite direction they run from 05:30 to 23:00. Another option is to take a taxi or bus. There are fixed rates for taxis ranging from MVR70-90 based on distance (i.e. Malé, Hulhumalé Phase I, or Hulhumalé Phase II).

Get around

Malé is small enough to walk around in an hour, and almost all sights are concentrated on the north shore, within a 15-min walk from the airport ferry.

Public transportation in Malé City is available in taxis, which charge a fixed rate of Rf 30, Rf 70 Malé to the airport, Rf 80 Hulhumalé phase 1 to the airport, Rf 85 Hulhumalé phase 2 to the airport, Rf 85 between Malé and Hulhumalé phase 1, Rf 100 between Malé and Hulhumalé phase 2, Rf 40 between Hulhumalé phase 1 and phase 2, Rf 5 extra between 00:00 and 06:00. No charge for trunk usage. Taxis can be booked via Avas Ride and Malé Taxi Line mobile app.

MTCC Greater Malé Bus operates metro bus service between Malé, Hulhumalé and within Hulhumalé and Malé, shuttle bus service between Malé, Hulhulé and Hulhumalé, Hulhulé, which charges Rf 10 to main routes, Rf 5 within Hulhumalé, Rf 7 within Malé, Rf 15 between Hulhumalé phase 2, Malé and Hulhulé. You could pay directly with contactless Visa/Mastercard/Amex, or a touchlink card which can be purchased for Rf 20. MTCC bus tickets can also be bought via Raajje Transport Link (RTL) website and mobile app. Metro buses are not able to hold luggage.

Expect the buses to be crowded during rainy weather, and take the timings as a rough estimate, since traffic density weighs down heavily on them.

MTCC ferries run between Malé and Hulhumalé from Henveiru ferry terminal (same building as the airport ferry) every 1h (MVR10, 20min), departing 07:30-23:30 from Malé and 07:00-23:00 from Hul…

See

thumb|Jumhooree Maidhaan (Republic Square), the heart of Malé thumb|Hulhumalé Hulhumalé is in a short bus or boat ride away. Boats leave from their own terminal, next to airport ferries (upstairs of the terminal building is a good restaurant with great harbour views!). Hulhumalé is an artificial island where new buildings are rising rapidly. There is also a nice looking beach on the other end of the island from the jetty. There are restaurants and cafes on the island. Villimalé is in a short boat ride away. It's the fifth ward of Malé (counts as part of the city) and was once a resort. When arriving by ferry, turn immediately left to come to the beach and some old bungalows. Beaches on the other side of the island feature strong currents, so beware, casualties are reported there every year. Compared to the bustle of Malé, this ward is much more relaxed. There are two PADI dive centers on the island: Diver's Lodge Maldives and Moodhu Bulhaa Dive Centre. Moodhu Bulhaa is also a PADI Instructor Development Center. Frequent ferries run from the Villimalé Ferry Terminal on the western end of Malé (MVR3.25, 10min).

Do

There is a small artificial beach on the east coast, about a ten-minute stroll from the airport ferry. It's not much compared to other beaches on the Maldives, especially as most locals bathe fully clothed, but there is some excellent surfing if you're experienced enough, including the southeast corner of Malé near the Sinamalé Bridge.

Eat

During Ramadan, many cafes and restaurants are closed, or only open after sunset. The restaurant at the Nasandhura Palace Hotel (see Sleep) is open during the day.

Drink

No alcohol is available on Malé, even at the hotels, with the solitary exception of the Hulhulé Island Hotel.

Sleep

Many visitors to the Maldives end up spending a night on Malé City out of necessity, as transfers to more far-flung resorts are generally only available during daylight hours. Malé's guesthouses are targeted primarily at travelling locals and may not provide air-conditioning. The price starts at US$20. Guesthouses can be rented through Airbnb and iBay.

Hotels in Malé City cost about US$40 to US$240 per night. You will find many hotels on the artificial island Hulhumalé which tend to be cheaper, and you may expect a beachfront room for US$31 or a bit more. It's a good idea to book before arriving in the Maldives as immigration will want to know where you are staying. If you are a tourist, tourist tax is added to the price.

Respect

Dress respectfully if visiting Malé. Men should wear at least T-shirts and shorts below the knee, while women should keep their shoulders and legs covered.

Stay safe

Anti-government protests often turn into riots that are sometimes brutally suppressed by the government. Avoid participating in protests or political activism.

The narrow roads can become traffic-congested, and often flood during the two monsoon seasons.

Crime rates in Malé are low, although some advise not walking around alone after dark.