A tiny and densely populated island, Malé is not an obvious backpacker or tourist destination on its own merits. Most visitors come here on their way to or from one of the hundreds of resorts on other Maldivian islands, so there really isn’t much to see or do here.
The Maldives is known as home to most of the world’s water villas, and about 10 of those resorts are within a speedboat ride of the airport. Those start at about US$300 per night in low season.
| Population | 100,000 |
| Area | 100,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+5 |
| Currency | Maldives Rufiyaa |
| Airports | Male International Airport (MLE) |
Food in Malé is reasonably priced, especially if you follow locals into a restaurant that doesn’t mainly cater to tourists. On the nearby island of Hulhumalé there are better hotels and some nice tourist restaurants, so it’s a better choice for an overnight visit for most people.
| Budget breakfast | Most hotels include breakfast. If not, there are a few cafes nearby. | $2.07 - $3.23 |
| Budget lunch | There are a few cheap restaurants along the waterfront by the ferry port and at the airport. | $2.72 - $4.53 |
| Budget dinner | Malé isn't overloaded with tourist restaurants, so options are limited. | $3.56 - $6.47 |
| Beer (.33l bottle) | The only bar near Malé is at the Hulhule Island Hotel near the airport. No alcohol is available anywhere else. | $5.17 - $8.09 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84 | 77 | 4.5 |
| February | 84 | 79 | 1.5 |
| March | 86 | 81 | 2.9 |
| April | 88 | 81 | 4.8 |
| May | 86 | 79 | 8.6 |
| June | 84 | 79 | 6.6 |
| July | 84 | 79 | 5.9 |
| August | 84 | 79 | 6.9 |
| September | 84 | 77 | 7.8 |
| October | 84 | 77 | 7.6 |
| November | 84 | 75 | 9.1 |
| December | 84 | 77 | 8.5 |
As it’s not far north of the equator, the weather in Malé is nearly the same all year round. The wet season goes from May through December, but most storms are over quickly. In June and July it can rain for most of a day on occasion. It’s very hot every day and only a bit cooler at night.
| 21 Mar | 6:10am | 6:16pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:57am | 6:19pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:56am | 6:02pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:08am | 6:01pm |
If you aren’t on your way to or from a resort island, it’s important to ask yourself why you might want to visit Malé. There are no hostels and the hotels are fairly expensive for what you get. There is also no alcohol in Malé, except for at one hotel near the airport.
Room rates at Malé hotels are lowest in June and July when there is occasional rain, but aside from that the rates are usually steady year round. Christmas week is peak season with the highest rates.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 48.00 - 60.00 |
| 70.00 - 100.00 |
| 86.00 - 140.00 |
| 156.00 - 285.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | - |