Places to visit in

Maldives

Malé is the densely populated capital and commercial heart of the Maldives. As the political, economic and cultural centre, it hosts the Presidential Palace, the Grand Friday Mosque, government buildings, museums and major marketplaces. Historically it has been the main settlement and trading hub in the atoll region, shaping national identity and modern Maldivian governance.

Hulhumalé is a purpose-built, reclaimed island developed by the Government of Maldives to address population pressure, housing shortages and climate change-related sea-level rise. Launched in the late 1990s and progressively developed since the early 2000s, it represents a key example of modern Maldivian urban planning and coastal engineering. The island combines residential, commercial and recreational zones and acts as a strategic extension of the Greater Malé urban area.

Villingili (Villimale) is an inhabited island in Kaafu Atoll, close to Malé (the capital). It serves as a residential, recreational and green-space complement to the densely populated Malé. The island is important for its role in providing leisure spaces, local community life, and urban greenery that contrast with Malé's urban density. Villingili has been the focus of development plans aimed at increasing housing, tourism facilities, and parkland while preserving local community character.

Maafushi is an inhabited island in Kaafu Atoll known for pioneering budget guesthouse tourism in the Maldives. It offers a unique blend of local island life and easy access to rich marine environments, making it important both culturally—showcasing Maldivian daily life, traditional music (Boduberu), and fishing practices—and naturally, for its surrounding coral reefs and abundant marine wildlife.

Thulusdhoo is an inhabited island in Kaafu Atoll (North Malé Atoll) known for its vibrant local community, traditional fishing heritage and easy access from Malé. The island plays an important role in local tourism as a popular, budget-friendly base for surfers and travelers seeking an authentic Maldivian island experience outside private resorts. Its natural importance includes healthy house reefs and nearby world-class surf breaks that attract international visitors.

Ukulhas is a small inhabited island in Alif Alif (North Ari) Atoll, Maldives, notable for its well-preserved natural environment and community-led sustainable tourism efforts. The island is known for its vibrant coral reefs and marine biodiversity close to shore, making it a popular low-impact snorkeling destination. Culturally, Ukulhas retains traditional Maldivian island life with local fishing, crafts and community events that offer insight into everyday life outside resort islands.

Dhigurah is an inhabited island in Alif Dhaal (Alifu Dhaalu) Atoll of the Maldives known primarily for its natural importance: a long sandy shoreline, accessible house reef and proximity to the South Ari Atoll whale-shark aggregation. The island combines traditional Maldivian village life with marine biodiversity that makes it a popular base for snorkelling and diving. Its length and continuous beach make it one of the more distinctive inhabited islands in the central Maldives.

Fulidhoo (Vaavu Atoll) is a small, inhabited Maldivian island that showcases authentic local island life away from large resort development. Culturally it is known for strong community traditions—especially live Bodu Beru drumming and dance—and for fishing-based livelihoods. Naturally, Fulidhoo sits close to vibrant coral reefs and popular dive channels of Vaavu Atoll, making it important for snorkeling, diving and marine biodiversity appreciation.

Rasdhoo is an inhabited island in the Alif Alif (North Ari) Atoll of the Maldives. It serves as the administrative capital of Rasdhoo Atoll and is valued for its close-knit local community, traditional fishing culture, and easy access to world-class marine habitats. The island is a popular base for divers and snorkelers exploring nearby channels, thilas (submerged pinnacles), and cleaning stations frequented by manta rays and reef sharks.

Huraa is an inhabited island in North Malé (Kaafu) Atoll, representative of traditional Maldivian island life. The island maintains strong ties to fishing, boat-building traditions and local crafts, offering insight into community-based living outside resort enclaves. Its natural importance comes from a fringing house reef, sheltered lagoons and nearby sandbanks that support diverse marine life and provide classic Maldivian coastal scenery.

Himmafushi is an inhabited island in Kaafu (North Malé) Atoll known for its long-standing fishing and seafaring traditions, and for serving as a convenient gateway to popular surf and dive sites in the North Malé Atoll. The island blends local Maldivian culture with tourism through small guesthouses, local workshops, and dive centres, offering visitors an accessible taste of everyday island life outside resort enclaves.

Gulhi is a small inhabited island in Kaafu (South Malé) Atoll of the Maldives, notable for its authentic local island atmosphere close to the capital. It offers visitors a chance to experience daily Maldivian life, traditional fishing communities, and well-preserved natural coral reefs and lagoons that showcase the Maldives' marine biodiversity.

Guraidhoo (Kaafu Atoll) is an inhabited island in South Malé (Kaafu) Atoll known for its authentic local island life, easy access from Malé and proximity to rich marine environments. The island is representative of Maldive daily life, fishing traditions and community-based guesthouse tourism that has grown since liberalization of the guesthouse sector. Its location close to popular dive and surf sites makes it important for recreational tourism as well.

Thoddoo is a populated island in the Maldives known for combining traditional island life with fertile agricultural land and vibrant marine environments. Unlike many Maldivian islands that focus purely on tourism, Thoddoo supports successful farming (notably watermelons, vegetables and fruits) which supplies produce to Malé and tourist resorts. Its beaches, lagoons and coral reefs make it a compelling destination for nature lovers and those interested in local culture.

Vaadhoo (Raa Atoll), Maldives is best known for the natural phenomenon called the "Sea of Stars" — nightly bioluminescence caused by microscopic plankton. The island is part of the Maldives' network of inhabited islands that showcase traditional Maldivian island life, fishing culture, and coral reef ecosystems. Ecologically, the bioluminescent displays are indicators of plankton presence and local ocean health and have become important for low-impact nature tourism that supports local guesthouses and conservation awareness.

Utheemu is a historically important island in the northern Maldives (Haa Alif Atoll). It is best known as the birthplace and home of Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanu Al Auzam, the 16th-century national hero who led the successful resistance to Portuguese rule. The island's Utheemu Ganduvaru (the traditional wooden palace) and nearby historical sites make it a focal point for Maldivian history and identity. Culturally, Utheemu retains traditional island life, architecture, and crafts, offering insight into Maldivian customs outside the resort circuit. Naturally, the island features coral-fringed beaches, clear seas, and nearby reefs rich in marine life.

Hanimaadhoo is an inhabited island in the northern Maldives that serves as an important local hub for the surrounding northern atolls. It is notable for its strategic location near productive fishing grounds, a long-standing local culture rooted in seafaring and fishing, and for housing Hanimaadhoo Airport (IATA: HAQ), the main air gateway to the far northern atolls. The island plays a role in regional meteorological and communications networks and functions as an administrative and service center for nearby smaller islands.

Fuvahmulah is a unique single-island atoll in the Maldives known for its distinct natural environment and strong local culture. It stands out because it is an entire atoll made up of one island, with freshwater lakes, wetlands, and vegetation that differ markedly from typical coral islands in the country. The island supports diverse birdlife and endemic species and has a long tradition of fishing, boat-building and local crafts.

Addu City (Hithadhoo) is the southernmost urban area of the Maldives, located in Seenu Atoll. Hithadhoo is the largest and most populous island of Addu City and serves as an administrative and cultural hub. The atoll has historical significance due to its role as a strategic British Royal Air Force base on Gan Island (mid-20th century), which influenced modern infrastructure such as Gan International Airport and causeway links between islands. Naturally, Addu is noted for its unique lagoon system, rich coral reefs, mangrove habitats and high marine biodiversity, distinct from central Maldivian atolls.

Gan (Addu Atoll) is one of the Maldives' most historically and strategically significant inhabited islands. It served as a major British Royal Air Force station during the mid-20th century, leaving behind military architecture and relics that reflect the island's role in WWII and the Cold War. Culturally, Gan is part of Addu City's unique island communities with distinct southern Maldivian traditions, language dialects, and communal life. Naturally, Gan is bordered by rich coral reefs and clear channels that support diverse marine life, making it an important spot for reef conservation and diving.