Maldives Travel Guide — Visas, Climate & Attractions

Maldives Travel GuideA necklace of 1,192 coral islands draped across the Indian Ocean — where overwater villas hover above impossibly turquoise lagoons, whale sharks glide through warm channels, bioluminescent beaches glow under starlit skies, white sand dissolves into gin-clear shallows, and every atoll is a private universe of reef and palm.Key Facts

Capital: Malé

Currency: MVR (Rufiyaa)

Language: Dhivehi

Time Zone: UTC+5

Top Places to Visit

North Malé Atoll — The most accessible and developed atoll, home to the capital and dozens of luxury resorts.

South Ari Atoll — The best place in the Maldives for year-round whale shark encounters.

Baa Atoll — A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the site of Hanifaru Bay, where up to 200 manta rays gather in a feeding frenzy.

Malé — One of the most densely populated cities on Earth, with the colourful Fish Market and the Old Friday Mosque.

Vaadhoo Island — Famous for its bioluminescent beach where phytoplankton create an ethereal blue glow at night.

Local Food

Garudhiya — The national soup — a clear, fragrant broth made from fresh skipjack tuna, cooked with curry leaves and chilli.

Mas Huni — The quintessential Maldivian breakfast — shredded smoked tuna mixed with grated coconut, onion, chilli, and lime.

Hedhikaa — Maldivian savoury snacks served with tea — bajiya, gulha, keemia, and masroshi.

Fihunu Mas — Whole reef fish marinated in chilli and spices, then grilled over coconut husks.

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