Where to stay · Maldives
Where to stay in Maldives
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alexey Potov - Noblige, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in North Malé Atoll. Resorts within a short speedboat ride of the airport, plus the surf island of Thulusdhoo. Best alternatives — families: Hulhumalé; budget: Malé.
Key facts
- First visit
- North Malé Atoll
- Families
- Hulhumalé
- Budget
- Malé
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | North Malé Atoll | Resorts within a short speedboat ride of the airport, plus the surf island of Thulusdhoo |
| Families | Hulhumalé | Reclaimed island next to the airport with a long public beach and transit hotels |
| Couples | North Malé Atoll | Resorts within a short speedboat ride of the airport, plus the surf island of Thulusdhoo |
| Budget | Malé | Dense, compact capital of mosques, markets and motorbikes |
| Luxury | North Malé Atoll | Resorts within a short speedboat ride of the airport, plus the surf island of Thulusdhoo |
| Solo travellers | Hulhumalé | Reclaimed island next to the airport with a long public beach and transit hotels |
| Quiet stays | Addu Atoll | The southernmost atoll, with a former RAF base, causeways and wreck diving |
| Beach | Ari Atoll | Whale sharks, manta points and large resorts west of Malé |
Maldives neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for budget and culture
Malé
Malé packs most of the country's urban life onto a small island: the Old Friday Mosque, the fish market, the National Museum in Sultan Park and narrow streets full of motorbikes and tea shops. A night here suits travellers with late arrivals or early departures and those who want a taste of Maldivian city life before heading to the atolls.
- Good
- Real Maldivian city life; Inexpensive cafés; Ten minutes from the airport by bridge
- Watch out
- No real beach for swimming in a bikini; Crowded and noisy; No alcohol
- Nearby
- Velana International Airport, Hulhumalé, Maafushi
$$ · Best for budget, solo travellers and families
Hulhumalé
Built on reclaimed land beside the airport, Hulhumalé has a long, palm-lined public beach, wide streets and many small hotels and guesthouses. It is the most practical place to spend a night before or after a seaplane transfer, which only runs in daylight.
- Good
- Minutes from the airport; Public beach and cafés; Good-value hotels
- Watch out
- Modern and somewhat soulless; Modest dress required away from the hotel
- Nearby
- Velana International Airport, Malé
$$$$ · Best for first-timers, families, couples and luxury
North Malé Atoll
North Malé Atoll holds many of the oldest and newest resorts, most reached by speedboat in 15–60 minutes, which saves the cost and timing limits of seaplanes. Dive sites such as Banana Reef and Lankan Manta Point are close by, and the local island of Thulusdhoo is a surf base with famous breaks.
- Good
- Short, cheaper speedboat transfers; Arrive at any hour; Wide choice of resorts
- Watch out
- Some resorts have views of Malé or the airport; Busier waters than remote atolls
- Nearby
- Banana Reef, Lankan Manta Point, Thulusdhoo
$ · Best for budget and solo travellers
Maafushi
Maafushi was one of the first local islands to open guesthouses after the 2009 rule change, and now has dozens of them, plus a designated bikini beach, dive centres and daily excursions to sandbanks, snorkelling spots and resort day passes. It is about 30–45 minutes from the airport by shared speedboat.
- Good
- Lowest-cost stays near Malé; Easy excursions every day; Local island life
- Watch out
- Built-up for a small island; No alcohol on the island; Bikinis only on the designated beach
- Nearby
- South Malé Atoll, Guraidhoo, Fulidhoo
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and beach
Ari Atoll
North and South Ari are among the best diving atolls in the country, with sharks at Maaya Thila and Fish Head and whale sharks around Dhigurah and Maamigili in the South Ari Marine Protected Area. Resorts are reached by seaplane or by a domestic flight to Maamigili and a boat, and Dhigurah has local guesthouses on a long sandy island.
- Good
- World-class diving and whale sharks; Wide range of resorts; Local-island option on Dhigurah
- Watch out
- Seaplane transfers are costly; Popular dive sites can be busy
- Nearby
- Maaya Thila, Dhigurah, South Ari Marine Protected Area
$$$$ · Best for luxury, couples and families
Baa Atoll
Baa Atoll was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2011, and its resorts run trips to Hanifaru Bay when plankton draws large numbers of manta rays, usually between June and November. Transfers are by seaplane or a domestic flight to Dharavandhoo plus a short boat ride.
- Good
- Manta season at Hanifaru; Healthy, protected reefs; Quiet, upmarket resorts
- Watch out
- Longer, more expensive transfers; Few budget options
- Nearby
- Hanifaru Bay, Dharavandhoo, Thulhaadhoo
$$ · Best for quiet stays, solo travellers and culture
Addu Atoll
Addu, south of the equator, is linked to Malé by flights of about 70 minutes to Gan International Airport, a former British air base. Causeways connect several islands, making it possible to cycle between villages, and divers come for the British Loyalty wreck and manta cleaning stations.
- Good
- Different feel from the central atolls; Cycle between islands; Fewer tourists
- Watch out
- Extra flight from Malé; Fewer resorts and restaurants
- Nearby
- Gan, Hithadhoo, British Loyalty wreck
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Malé | $$ | Velana International Airport, Hulhumalé, Maafushi |
| Hulhumalé | $$ | Velana International Airport, Malé |
| North Malé Atoll | $$$$ | Banana Reef, Lankan Manta Point, Thulusdhoo |
| Maafushi | $ | South Malé Atoll, Guraidhoo, Fulidhoo |
| Ari Atoll | $$$$ | Maaya Thila, Dhigurah, South Ari Marine Protected Area |
| Baa Atoll | $$$$ | Hanifaru Bay, Dharavandhoo, Thulhaadhoo |
| Addu Atoll | $$ | Gan, Hithadhoo, British Loyalty wreck |
Getting to your hotel
Velana International Airport (MLE) occupies Hulhulé island beside Malé. Resort representatives meet guests in arrivals; speedboats leave from the airport jetty and the seaplane terminal is on the far side of the airport island. Malé is about 10 minutes away by bus or taxi over the Sinamalé Bridge, and domestic flights leave from the same airport to Gan, Dharavandhoo, Maamigili, Kadhdhoo and other regional airports.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Maldives for first-time visitors?
North Malé Atoll. North Malé Atoll holds many of the oldest and newest resorts, most reached by speedboat in 15–60 minutes, which saves the cost and timing limits of seaplanes.
+Where should families stay in Maldives?
Hulhumalé: Minutes from the airport.
+Which area of Maldives is best for a budget stay?
Malé ($$): Dense, compact capital of mosques, markets and motorbikes.