Paradise distilled to its essence — a flat nation of coral atolls where every overwater bungalow faces a different shade of turquoise, whale sharks cruise the channels, and the night sky reflects on lagoons.
- Capital
- Malé
- Population
- 515,132
- Area
- 300 km²
- Languages
- Maldivian
- Currency
- Maldives Rufiyaa (MVR)
- GDP
- $7,480M
Good to know
Driving side
Left
Annual visitors
555,000 (2020)
Safety
Very low (0.62/100k)
Avg temp
28.1°C
Religion
Islam
Coast
Coastal
☎ Police 119 · Ambulance 102 · Fire 999
Travel guide
The Maldives (Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ Dhivehi Raajje) are an archipelago in the Indian Ocean with picture-perfect beaches, strikingly blue water, and luxury resorts. There are 200 inhabited islands and 165 islands with tourist resorts. Just under the surface of the beautiful blue ocean, there's a wealth of wildlife to see: over 2000 species of fish in all colours of the rainbow roam the clear waters around the islands.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Maldives
Best time to visit
November–April is the dry season with brilliant sunshine and calm seas — the best time for diving and snorkeling. June–October is monsoon season with rougher weather. Whale sharks are present year-round around South Ari Atoll.
Visa
All nationalities receive a 30-day tourist visa on arrival, free of charge. No advance visa required for any nationality. The Maldives is one of the world's most open destinations.
Book your trip to Maldives
We may earn a commission when you book through these links.