Male City Travel Guide: What to Do, Where to Stay, and More in the Maldives Capital

If you’re planning a trip to the Maldives, chances are you’ll have a day (or at least a few hours) in Male City. Instead of jumping on a speedboat to your resort, take some time to check out the Maldivian capital  – there’s so much cool stuff to do in Male!

Not sure what to do in Male? Is there a ferry from Male to Maafushi? What are the cheapest hotels in Male? I have all the information here – keep reading and you’ll find out how to get to Male Island, what to do, where to eat, and where to stay. Let’s go!

 🇲🇻 MALE CITY GUIDE  🇲🇻 

Perfect for …
A starting base to your Maldives trip – a peek into local life – delicious food – Maldivian culture

Did you know Male is one of the most densely-populated cities in the world? Instead of scaring you off, this is actually an opportunity to explore all that Male has to offer: there are dozens of amazing restaurants, museums, and interesting attractions. Male is also the perfect introduction into the life of a typical Maldivian and their culture, especially if you visit the National Museum or strike up a friendship with a local. If you have an extra day or two, I recommend adding Male City to the beginning or end of your trip- you’ll be glad you did. ;)

How many days do I need in Male?

Although Male is jam-packed, there aren’t that many “touristy” things to do, and 2 days should be more than enough. You could see the entire city in 1 full day if you really wanted to – check out the Things To Do section below for a full-day tour in Male.

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 HOW TO GET TO MALE

Since Male is an island, you only have two feasible choices to get here: either by plane or boat.

 PLANE 

The majority of tourists will fly into the Maldives’ main airport, MLE (Velana International Airport, also known as Malé International Airport). There are so many ways to get here, but the most popular routes with flights to Male are the following (many are direct flights!):

The Middle East (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi)
India and Sri Lanka (Mumbai, New Delhi, Kochi, Colombo)
Asia (Hong Kong, Seoul, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok)

If coming from other Maldivian islands, you can also arrive by private seaplane, which will cost you a few hundred dollars per transfer. They usually start at $130 USD.

 BOAT 

To get to Male from other islands in the Maldives, you can either take a public ferry or speedboat transfer. The public ferry is cheap (usually a few dollars) but takes longer, while the speedboat is a faster but pricier (starting at around $20/person) option.

There are also a handful of cruises that go to the Maldives.

 

 TRANSPORTATION & GETTING AROUND MALE 

Male is a little more than a mile wide. It would take you only around 30 minutes to walk from one end of the island to the other – maybe more if you get stuck in “traffic.” ;)

WALKING

Thanks to the compactness of the island, Male is extremely easy to get around on foot. We walked the entire time while we were there, and only took a car twice: Once when we landed and had a complimentary hotel shuttle transfer (there are plenty of accommodations that offer this bonus – just check on Booking or Agoda!) and the second time when we took a taxi to the ferry station.

TAXI

Taxis are surprisingly cheap in Male, and shouldn’t cost more than one or two dollars (about 20 to 30 MVR) to get to most places on the island. However, make sure to know the rough cost of your fare before getting into the cab – some taxi drivers like to take advantage of tourists and quote them overpriced fares!

 

 HOW TO GET OUT OF MALE 

When you’re ready to leave Male, you have three options: ferry, speedboat, and seaplane. Seaplanes are normally used only to transfer to resort hotels, while ferries and speedboats are used by both locals and tourists.

FERRY
Male is the biggest hub for ferries, and you can easily catch one that will take you to your next island. It’s the most budget-friendly variant, with most tickets costing less than $10USD – ours from Male to Maafushi was only $2.

SPEEDBOAT
As mentioned above, you can go between Male and the surrounding islands by private or public speedboat. There are a few companies that offer this service, such as Atoll Transfer and iCom. Prices start at $20/person.

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Source: Booking.com 

 🏨 WHERE TO STAY IN MALE / ACCOMMODATIONS IN MALE 🏨

Male might seem small, but there are plenty of highly-rated and reasonably-priced accommodations scattered around the island. Here are some of the best:

Male Hostels

Napcorner / Nap Corner ($) – Although there aren’t many hostels in Male (or, heck, even the Maldives), they do have this cool futuristic pod hostel! Prices start at only $20/night.

Agoda || Booking.com  

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Male Hotels

LVIS Boutique Hotel ($$) – Thank goodness that this was the first hotel that we stayed at during our Maldives trip – the staff were so helpful, especially when I tried to figure out the transfer between Male and our resort hotel (they even called the other hotel to finalize the time!). Rooms are comfortable and come with all amenities. Close to the main street and they have delicious juice for breakfast. :)

Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com || HotelsCombined

Somerset Inn ($$)

Sister to the Somerset Hotel, the Somerset Inn is a smaller and more boutique-like accommodation that we stayed in during our last day. The front desk staff is extremely organized and helped us with so many things (where to eat, arranging an airport transfer, etc.). The breakfast buffet is delicious and has many options. Just like their website states, it’s a “boutique experience on a budget.”

Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com || HotelsCombined

Sala Boutique Hotel ($$$)

*Boutique Hotel* Centrally located, Sala is a boutique hotel that’s decorated with the theme of Thailand – even the rooms are named after famous cities, like Chiang Mai! Their restaurant, Sala Thai, is next door (check out more info below) with ingredients flown all the way from Thailand.

Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com || HotelsCombined

Samann Grand ($$$)

 Newly opened, Samann Grand is already getting raving reviews. Although I personally didn’t stay here, one of the couples from our cruise only had positive things to say about this hotel – they loved the decor and continental breakfast.

Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com 

Hotel Jen Male ($$$) 

Part of the Shangri-La brand, Hotel Jen is one of the most luxurious hotels on Male Island. It’s close to all of the major tourist sites (National Museum, Beach, Mosque) and ferry terminals; offers complimentary airport transfer; and has a stunning infinity pool on the roof!

Agoda || Booking.com || Hotels.com || HotelsCombined

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Male Resorts

Although there aren’t any all-inclusive resorts in Male City (too crowded!), there are plenty around the atoll.

We stayed at the Adaaran Prestige Vadoo, but you can check out all of the resorts on Booking or Agoda!

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 WHERE TO EAT IN MALE 

Apart from the all-inclusive resorts, Male is the best place to eat in the Maldives! There are hundreds of restaurants, cafes, teahouses, and eateries packed into this small island with dozens of different cuisines – especially Indian, Malay, American, and, of course, Maldivian. Here are a few that I recommend:

Royal Garden Cafe – Although it looks unassuming from the outside, Royal Garden Cafe is actually a ganduvaru (nobleman’s house) with fancy woodwork and a cozy environment. It’s the perfect spot for a quick coffee break or a full meal.

Symphony – After being persuaded by a local to try out another restaurant (which turned out to be awful, not to mention a tourist trap), we found Symphony on Google Maps and gave it a try. Besides the delicious and fairly-priced food, there were mostly locals here – which is always a good sign! I recommend the drinks (try the Watermelon Cooler!), fruit platter, and grilled dishes.

 

 

Salt Cafe & Restaurant – Recommended by our local tour guide (check him out in the What To Do section below), we stopped to have lunch at Salt. Aside from the modern design and friendly service, there’s also an amazing rooftop terrace where you can dine and enjoy the weather. It’s also close to the shore, which means delicious seafood – you can’t go wrong with the Mixed Seafood Basket or Catch of the Day ;)   

Sala Thai – One of the best Thai restaurants on the island, with a lively outdoor garden where you can sit and enjoy the food. The Thom Yum soup was my favorite dish here.

Seagull Cafe House – A very cute (and popular!) cafe with a huge variety of options. If you’re craving a burger, wrap, salad, curry, or seafood dish, this is the place to eat. Don’t forget to check out their crazy desserts, like the banana split above.

Calorie Counter Maldives – I was surprised to see a “healthy food” restaurant in Male, and it didn’t disappoint! The juices and wraps were my favorites.  

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THINGS TO DO IN MALE

When I was chatting about our stay in Male to a couple in our resort, one of them looked at me, very surprised, and asked something like, Two days? What is there to do in Male for such a long period of time??

I get it: Most travelers see Male as a “transit city,” one that you fly into for a few hours before transferring to a resort or another island, and don’t take the time to properly explore. While I agree that it’s probably going to get boring after the second day, that doesn’t mean that Male should be skipped. In fact, there are a few interesting things to do on the island!

We started off our trip with a full day Male walking tour to get acquainted with the island. If you’re short on time and want to see as much of Male as possible, I highly recommend this tour! Our guide took us to the most important sites like the Friday Mosque, Medhu Ziyaariay, and President’s Palace; to the local market and fish market; and a lunch break at two different cafes. Since we had an extra hour, we even took a ferry to another island and explored it.

If you prefer to plan your itinerary by yourself, here are some of my recommendations for what to see in Male City:

 

National Museum of Maldives

A can’t miss if you’re interested in learning more about Maldivian history! It’s a 2-story museum that has over a hundred artifacts from different periods in Maldives history, such as ancient stones, clothing that the royal family wore, and an exhibit on the Maldivian language.

You can walk around the museum in about an hour – and if you have extra time, definitely don’t miss the police museum in the back. It’s a small little museum, but the worker there gave us such a detailed tour and was really passionate about the history. :)

COST: 100 MVR (6 USD) per person and $1 USD to take photos.

 

Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiiy)

The oldest mosque in the Maldives (it’s over 400 years old!) with some amazing architectural details.

 

Grand Friday Mosque

Old Friday Mosque may be the oldest, but the Grand Friday Mosque is the largest – it can hold up to 5,000 people! You can’t miss it if you’re walking around the center, and it’s a gorgeous building – definitely on my list of most beautiful mosques around the world. You can see it above. 

 

Victory Monument

A short walk from Sultan Park and the Grand Friday Mosque, the Victory Monument is an interesting monument dedicated to a turbulent period in Maldivian history. Did you know that a group of locals tried to overthrow the government 30 years ago? Check out the Coup of 1988 on Google and you’ll know why this monument is so important.

Sultan Park

A lovely sprawling garden full of trees, fountains, and flowers. The entrance fee is around $5 USD, but it’s worth it if you need a place to relax and take a break from walking around.

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SHOPPING IN MALE CITY

Whether you’re looking for a simple fridge magnet or a one-of-a-kind hand-painted scarf, the stores in Male have your back! You can find small artisanal boutiques, souvenir stores, and huge malls in the capital.

I recommend starting from one end of the main road (Majeedhee Magu) and making your way to the other side. Since it’s the busiest road, you’ll find plenty of stores selling souvenirs, electronics, food, clothing, children’s things, and more. Here are a few other recommendations:

Male Fish Market & Local Market – These are actually two separate markets, but I’ve combined them together because they’re next to each other. I highly recommend visiting both because you’ll see how locals live (check out the guy who cuts fish!) and you can get some delicious fruits for a later snack.

S.T.O Trade Centre – Huge supermarket that has a souvenir section with fair prices.

Island Bazaar – A stylish boutique with a great selection of handmade items.

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HOW TO SAVE MONEY IN MALE, MALDIVES

– If the prices in Male are a little too expensive, try staying at one of the neighboring islands such as Hulhumale (it’s literally the next one over!) Instead of paying $75 for a decent room in Male, you’ll only pay half of that. Rooms start at $30 – you can check out a list of hotels in Hulhumale here.

– Don’t worry about taking a taxi – the entire island is easily walkable (unless it’s 40C outside and you don’t want to get heatstroke)!

– Avoid buying juice and fruit drinks at cafes and restaurants, as they tend to be overpriced (Usually starting at 60 MVR / $4USD) for some reason. Most places will give you one bottled water for free when you sit down.

– There are plenty of supermarkets scattered around the island, where you can buy snacks and cheap bottles of water. Some of them even sell cheap souvenirs ;)

 

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That’s it for my Male travel guide! Have you been to Male or the Maldives? Let me know if this guide was helpful, and as always, happy travels!

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