UltimateGuide Maldives
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An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the Maldives Water villas on stilts over a turquoise lagoon A manta ray gliding over the reef in the Maldives Malé, the capital, filling its island

The city guide to the Maldives, Indian Ocean

Best of the Maldives

Undersea dining rooms, overwater bars and private islands, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari and the busy little capital, Malé.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to the Maldives

The Maldives is more than one long beach: a capital on a single island, a new city on reclaimed land by the airport, and coral atolls stretching across the equator, each with its own resorts, reefs and local islands. We’ve checked every listing against its own website or an official source. One thing to know before you go: alcohol is served only at resorts, safari boats and licensed hotels such as the Hulhulé Island Hotel on the airport island, so our bars and nightlife are mostly on resort islands.

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant

Undersea dining

Dinner five metres below the sea

Rangali Island · Alif Dhaal (South Ari) Atoll·Undersea tasting menus

Ithaa opened in 2005 and started the Maldives’ love of undersea dining. Today you can also book SEA in Baa Atoll, 5.8 in Lhaviyani and H2O in Raa.

Plan your visit

Start here: planning your Maldives trip

New to the Maldives? Begin with the essentials, then choose your atoll.

A seaplane on the water in the MaldivesPlanBefore you goTransfers, alcohol, dress and hospitalsWater villas on stilts over a turquoise lagoonStayResorts by atollFrom the airport to LaamuA manta ray gliding over the reef in the MaldivesSeeMantas & whale sharksThe big marine encountersA traditional Maldivian dhoni boatTravelGetting aroundSeaplane, flight or speedboat?

Dig deeper: the back stories

Our in-depth guides to the seasons, the atolls, the food, the reefs and Malé’s history.

An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesPlanWhen to goThe two monsoons explainedWater villas on stilts over a turquoise lagoonStayChoosing an atollAnd the right resortUkulhas, a local island in North Ari Atoll, seen from the jettyStayLocal islandsGuesthouses and island lifeA manta ray gliding over the reef in the MaldivesSeeMantas & whale sharksHow to dive and snorkel responsiblyMas huni with roshi flatbread, a Maldivian breakfastEatMaldivian foodTuna, coconut and chilliHukuru Miskiy, the old Friday Mosque in MaléHistoryMalé’s historyCoral stone and sultansOverwater villas in a Maldives lagoonFestiveChristmas & New YearGala dinners and island weatherA seaplane on the water in the MaldivesPlanBefore you goEntry rules, alcohol and dress

The Maldives atoll by atoll

From the capital and the airport to the southernmost atoll.

Malé, the capital, filling its islandCity guideMaléThe capital on one islandKurumba island in North Malé Atoll, close to the capitalAtoll guideNorth Malé AtollResorts a speedboat awayBolifushi, a resort island in Kaafu Atoll, from the airAtoll guideSouth Malé AtollCROSSROADS and calm islandsIslands and reefs of Baa Atoll from the airAtoll guideBaa AtollMantas and a UNESCO reserveA green island edged with surf in Raa AtollAtoll guideRaa AtollArt, wellbeing and historyIslands, lagoons and a sandbank in Lhaviyani Atoll from the airAtoll guideLhaviyani AtollQuiet reefs and turtle rescueKudafari island in Noonu Atoll, ringed by reefAtoll guideNoonu AtollPrivate islandsA whale shark swimming near the surfaceAtoll guideSouth Ari AtollWhale sharks and IthaaA white beach and turquoise lagoon in Dhaalu AtollAtoll guideDhaalu AtollSurf, play and SubsixIslands of Laamu Atoll from the airAtoll guideLaamu AtollThe deep south’s big islandsA beach on FuvahmulahIsland guideFuvahmulahTiger sharks and two lakesBoats moored by a palm-lined shore in Addu AtollAtoll guideAddu CityThe southernmost atoll

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftopsCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide The ramparts of Galle FortOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide

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    Hanifaru Bay

    This week's pick

    Hanifaru Bay

    Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve·Manta-ray gathering

    Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and Hanifaru Bay is where its manta rays gather. Visits are arranged through licensed operators and the resort dive centres.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    The Maldives by island and atoll

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1Ithaa Undersea RestaurantRangali Island · Alif Dhaal (South Ari) Atoll · Undersea tasting menus
    2. 2SEA Underwater RestaurantAnantara Kihavah · Baa Atoll · Undersea fine dining & caviar
    3. 35.8 Undersea RestaurantHurawalhi Island Resort · Lhaviyani Atoll · Undersea tasting menus
    See all 21

    Cafés

    1. 1Faru Coffee HouseHulhulé Island Hotel · airport island · All-day café
    2. 2Shell BeansMalé · Café & all-day kitchen
    3. 3The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, HulhumaléHulhumalé · Central Park beachfront · Coffee house
    See all 10

    Bars & Lounges

    1. 1Champs Bar & Champs DeckHulhulé Island Hotel · airport island · Sports bar & open-air deck
    2. 2Overwater Bar, Gili LankanfushiGili Lankanfushi · North Malé Atoll · Overwater bar
    3. 3Chill BarSix Senses Laamu · Laamu Atoll · Overwater bar
    See all 20

    Nightlife & Beach Clubs

    1. 1SubsixNiyama Private Islands · Dhaalu Atoll · Underwater restaurant (and former nightclub)
    2. 2Beach Club at KandimaKandima Maldives · Dhaalu Atoll · Pool bar & DJs
    3. 3SAii Beach ClubCROSSROADS Maldives · South Malé Atoll · Beach club
    See all 7

    Resorts & Hotels

    1. 1Hulhulé Island HotelHulhulé · airport island · Airport hotel
    2. 2Soneva FushiBaa Atoll · Barefoot-luxury resort
    3. 3Cheval Blanc RandheliNoonu Atoll · Luxury resort
    See all 22

    Attractions & Excursions

    1. 1Hanifaru BayBaa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve · Manta-ray gathering
    2. 2Whale sharks of South Ari AtollSouth Ari (Alif Dhaal) Atoll · Whale-shark swims
    3. 3Tiger-shark diving, FuvahmulahFuvahmulah (Gnaviyani Atoll) · Shark diving
    See all 21

    Art Galleries & Museums

    1. 1National MuseumMalé · Museum
    2. 2National Art GalleryMalé · Art gallery
    3. 3Hukuru Miskiy (Old Friday Mosque)Malé · Historic mosque
    See all 21

    Spas, Gyms & Wellness

    1. 1Underwater spa at Huvafen FushiHuvafen Fushi · North Malé Atoll · Spa
    2. 2JOALI BEINGBodufushi Island · Raa Atoll · Wellbeing island
    3. 3COMO Shambhala, COMO Cocoa IslandSouth Malé Atoll · Holistic spa
    See all 15

    Hospitals & Clinics

    1. 1Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH)Malé · Government hospital
    2. 2ADK HospitalMalé · Private hospital
    3. 3Tree Top HospitalHulhumalé · Private hospital
    See all 20

    Places to Shop

    1. 1Malé Fish MarketMalé waterfront · Market
    2. 2Duty Free MaldivesVelana International Airport · Hulhulé · Duty free
    3. 3The Marina @ CROSSROADSCROSSROADS Maldives · South Malé Atoll · Marina shopping
    See all 10

    Luxury Lifestyle

    1. 1Velaa Private IslandNoonu Atoll · Private island
    2. 2Kudadoo Maldives Private IslandLhaviyani Atoll · Private island
    3. 3Soneva in AquaBaa & Raa atolls · Private yacht
    See all 12

    Property

    1. 1What foreigners can and can’t buy in the MaldivesMaldives · In depth: property rules
    2. 2Housing Development Corporation (HDC)Hulhumalé · State developer
    See all 2

    Getting Around

    1. 1Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA)Velana International Airport · Seaplanes
    2. 2Manta AirMalé · Seaplanes
    3. 3Maldivian (Island Aviation Services)Malé · Domestic airline
    See all 17

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