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Travel guide · Turquoise atolls

Travelling to the Maldives

Atolls of turquoise water, overwater villas, manta rays and whale sharks. We tell you when to go, where to stay and what to know.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • Best time: April and from November to January
  • Where to eat: the island’s hotaa (local café)
Photo: Unsplash

Maldives in 30 seconds

  • The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Maldives are April and from November to January.
  • Speedboat or seaplane.
  • To eat like a local: the island’s hotaa (local café). Don’t leave without trying: Garudhiya, Mas huni, Hedhikaa.

Maldives in November

Yes: November is a good time to travel to the Maldives. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

More destinations for November

When to travel to the Maldives

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Maldives are April and from November to January.

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb with warnings
  3. Mar with warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with warnings
  7. Jul with warnings
  8. Aug with warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct with warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings

More destinations for those dates: where to travel in January · where to travel in April · where to travel in November · where to travel in December

  • February, March

    Ramadan (approximate dates)

    During the day many restaurants close or open less and museum and shop hours change. The evenings, with iftar, are very special.

    What to do: Out of respect, don’t eat or drink in the street during the day; book dinner for after sunset.

  • from May to October

    Southwest monsoon

    From May to October there’s more rain, wind and choppy sea; prices drop too.

    What to do: It’s still a good option: choose accommodation with free cancellation and have indoor activities as a back-up.

    Best time: December to April

What to see in the Maldives

The cities and areas most worth your time, with their highlights. Open each one for all the places, where to stay and its day trips.

  • Malé
    North Malé Atoll

    Malé

    One of the smallest and most densely populated capitals in the world, the country’s gateway.

    • Fish market
    • Friday Mosque
    • Artificial Beach
    • Hulhumalé
    Malé guide
  • North Malé Atoll
    North Malé Atoll

    North Malé Atoll

    The atoll closest to the airport, with resorts and good surf spots.

    • House reef
    • Sandbank
    • Dolphins
    • Overwater spa
    North Malé Atoll guide
  • Maafushi

    Maafushi

    The best-known local island for visiting the Maldives on a guesthouse budget.

    • Bikini beach
    • Sandbank trips
    • Snorkelling
    • Fishing trips
    Maafushi guide
  • Ari Atoll

    Ari Atoll

    A diving paradise, with manta rays and whale sharks all year round.

    • Whale sharks
    • Manta rays
    • Resorts
    • Local islands
    Ari Atoll guide
  • Baa Atoll

    Baa Atoll

    A Biosphere Reserve, famous for Hanifaru Bay and its manta rays.

    • Hanifaru Bay
    • Biosphere Reserve
    • Resorts
    • Arrecifes
    Baa Atoll guide

Day trips and activities

What’s most worth booking from each city. We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

From Malé

From North Malé Atoll

From Maafushi

From Ari Atoll

From Baa Atoll

Some links are affiliate links: if you book through them, Bagintravel may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

What to eat in the Maldives

To eat like a local: the island’s hotaa (local café), and order mas huni for breakfast or tuna curry. And don’t leave without trying:

  • Garudhiya

    Tuna broth with rice, lime and chilli.

  • Mas huni

    Tuna with coconut and onion, the breakfast dish.

  • Hedhikaa

    Fried snacks for afternoon tea.

  • Fish curry

    Made with coconut milk.

  • Roshi

    A flatbread to go with it.

  • Bondibaiy

    Rice pudding with coconut milk.

The typical dish of the Maldives, at home

Garudhiya
Photo: LittleT889 · CC BY 4.0

Garudhiya

The clear tuna broth that is the backbone of Maldivian cooking: tuna simmered with water, salt and curry leaves, eaten with rice, lime, chilli and onion.

  • Serves 4
  • 45 min

Ingredients

  • 800 g fresh tuna in pieces (ideally on the bone)
  • 2 l water
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
  • A few curry leaves
  • 1 red onion
  • Green chillies
  • Limes
  • White rice

How to make it at home

  1. Put the tuna in a pot with the water, salt and curry leaves.
  2. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for about 30 minutes, skimming off the foam.
  3. The broth should be clear and full of flavour.
  4. Chop the onion and chillies.
  5. Serve the broth and fish with rice, lime, chilli and onion for everyone to mix as they like.

The trick: Maldivian tuna is caught one by one with pole and line: a sustainable tradition.

The typical food of each city, with a recipe

Curious facts about the Maldives

What guidebooks don’t tell you and will help you understand the country better.

  • It’s the lowest-lying country in the world: its highest point is less than three metres above sea level.
  • It has around 1,200 islands in 26 atolls.
  • Many resorts take up an entire island.
  • Since 2009 there have been inhabited islands with guesthouses, cheaper than the resorts.
  • Alcohol isn’t sold on local islands.
  • You reach the resorts by speedboat or seaplane.

Traditions of the Maldives

Customs and celebrations that will help you experience the country like a local.

  • Bodu beru

    Drum music and dance.

  • Date varies Ramadan

    Fasting from sunrise to sunset.

  • 26 July Independence Day

    A national holiday.

  • Pole-and-line tuna fishing

    A centuries-old sustainable tradition.

What not to do in the Maldives

First-trip mistakes that are easy to avoid.

  • Don’t wear a bikini on local islands outside the tourist beaches (bikini beaches).
  • Don’t touch the coral or the turtles.
  • Don’t pack alcohol in your luggage: it’s confiscated at customs.
  • Don’t book a seaplane at night: they only fly in daylight.
  • Don’t forget reef-safe sunscreen.
  • Don’t underestimate the cost of resort transfers.

Before you go

Entry requirements depend on your passport and change: always check them with official sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions about the Maldives

What people search for most before travelling to the Maldives.

What’s the best time to travel to the Maldives?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to the Maldives are April and from November to January.

What to see in the Maldives in a week?

The essentials of the Maldives: Malé, North Malé Atoll, Maafushi, Ari Atoll and Baa Atoll. How many places fit into your days, and in what order, depends on your dates and how you get around: the Bagintravel app plans your trip day by day in a minute.

What to eat in the Maldives?

Garudhiya, Mas huni, Hedhikaa, Fish curry, Roshi, Bondibaiy. To eat like a local: the island’s hotaa (local café).

What is the typical dish of the Maldives?

Garudhiya. The clear tuna broth that is the backbone of Maldivian cooking: tuna simmered with water, salt and curry leaves, eaten with rice, lime, chilli and onion.

What should you not do in the Maldives?

Don’t wear a bikini on local islands outside the tourist beaches (bikini beaches). Don’t touch the coral or the turtles. Don’t pack alcohol in your luggage: it’s confiscated at customs.

Is it worth travelling to the Maldives in November?

Yes: November is a good time to travel to the Maldives. Our data shows no weather or seasonal warnings that month.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Seasonal data, places and areas: the same ones the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.

Photos: cover, Unsplash. Malé, Shahee Ilyas (CC BY-SA 3.0). North Malé Atoll, Genet (Diskussion) (CC BY-SA 3.0 de). Maafushi, Nicolai Edgar Andersen (CC BY-SA 4.0). Ari Atoll, Martin Falbisoner (CC BY-SA 4.0). Baa Atoll, Frédéric Ducarme (CC BY-SA 4.0).