Dec → Feb
28°
nights 26 to 27°
- 12 rainy days · 113 mm
- 10.7 h of sun
- sea 28°
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
In short: January to April, during the north-east monsoon (iruvai): this is the dry season, with 45 to 75 mm of rain a month in Malé from January to March and a calm sea. From May to November, the south-west monsoon brings showers (272 mm in May in Malé), but also the whale sharks of Hanifaru Bay and the best waves for surfing.
- Beaches and lagoons in the dry: From January to March, the driest and sunniest months of the year, with only 45 mm of rain in February in Malé.
- Whale sharks and manta rays at Hanifaru Bay: From May or June to October or November in Baa Atoll, when the south-west monsoon concentrates plankton in the bay.
- Whale sharks of South Ari: All year round in the South Ari marine protected area, one of the rare encounters possible whatever the season.
- Surfing: From mid-February to November on the reefs of North Malé and Huvadhoo, with the best swells from March to May and from September to November.
Best avoided: May, the wettest month in Malé (272 mm over 25 days) as the south-west monsoon arrives; from May to November, however, the showers remain brief and broken by sunny spells.
Sources: meteorology.gov.mv, visitmaldives.com, visitmaldives.com
- Jan28°recommended
- Feb28°recommended
- Mar29°recommended
- Apr29°recommended
- May29°not recommended
- Jun29°fair
- Jul29°fair
- Aug28°fair
- Sep28°fair
- Oct28°fair
- Nov28°fair
- Dec28°fair
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Maldives, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28° | 27° | 10.9 h | 75 mm | 10 d | 28° | ✓ |
| February | 28° | 27° | 11.1 h | 45 mm | 8 d | 28° | ✓ |
| March | 29° | 27° | 11.2 h | 71 mm | 11 d | 30° | ✓ |
| April | 29° | 27° | 11.2 h | 119 mm | 17 d | 31° | ✓ |
| May | 29° | 27° | 9.6 h | 272 mm | 25 d | 30° | |
| June | 29° | 27° | 10.7 h | 94 mm | 15 d | 30° | |
| July | 29° | 27° | 10 h | 162 mm | 18 d | 30° | |
| August | 28° | 27° | 10.1 h | 183 mm | 17 d | 30° | |
| September | 28° | 26° | 10.1 h | 206 mm | 20 d | 30° | |
| October | 28° | 26° | 10.1 h | 219 mm | 21 d | 30° | |
| November | 28° | 26° | 9.7 h | 261 mm | 22 d | 30° | |
| December | 28° | 26° | 10.2 h | 219 mm | 19 d | 29° |
The four seasons in the Maldives, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Malé and the capital) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Mar → May
29°
nights 27°
- 18 rainy days · 154 mm
- 10.7 h of sun
- sea 30°
Jun → Aug
28 to 29°
nights 27°
- 17 rainy days · 146 mm
- 10.3 h of sun
- sea 30°
Sep → Nov
28°
nights 26°
- 21 rainy days · 229 mm
- 10 h of sun
- sea 30°
Book early for January to April
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
What to do in the Maldives, month by month
EventsManta ray gathering at Hanifaru BayAugust to NovemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
Beach & swimming: good conditions all twelve months.
Diving & snorkelling: good conditions all twelve months.
- Hiking: February
- Towns & culture: January, February, March
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Maldives, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. Exact dates change from year to year, so check them before you book.
- August to NovemberManta ray gathering at Hanifaru Bay
Dozens of manta rays circle in groups to feed in this bay in Baa Atoll, which can be visited with fins and mask only.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Recommended28°27° at night
- 75 mm · 10 d
- 10.9 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
February
Recommended28°27° at night
- 45 mm · 8 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 28°
High season, book early
March
Recommended29°27° at night
- 71 mm · 11 d
- 11.2 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended29°27° at night
- 119 mm · 17 d
- 11.2 h
- sea 31°
Busy, without the crush
May
Not recommended29°27° at night
- 272 mm · 25 d
- 9.6 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
June
Fair29°27° at night
- 94 mm · 15 d
- 10.7 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
July
Fair29°27° at night
- 162 mm · 18 d
- 10 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair28°27° at night
- 183 mm · 17 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 30°
Busy, without the crush
September
Fair28°26° at night
- 206 mm · 20 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
October
Fair28°26° at night
- 219 mm · 21 d
- 10.1 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
November
Fair28°26° at night
- 261 mm · 22 d
- 9.7 h
- sea 30°
Low season, lower prices
December
Fair28°26° at night
- 219 mm · 19 d
- 10.2 h
- sea 29°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. 28 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Expect 10 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
February. 28 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (45 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 28 °C, a proper swim. High season: book early.
March. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (71 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Frequent rain: 119 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 31 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
May. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. A very wet month, 272 mm of rain over 25 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.6 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
June. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Frequent rain: 94 mm over 15 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. 29 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Frequent rain: 162 mm over 18 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
August. 28 °C in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. Frequent rain: 183 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 206 mm over 20 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
October. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 219 mm over 21 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.1 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 261 mm over 22 days. Plenty of sunshine: 9.7 h a day on average. The sea is at 30 °C, a proper swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. 28 °C in the afternoon and 26 °C at night. Frequent rain: 219 mm over 19 days. Plenty of sunshine: 10.2 h a day on average. The sea is at 29 °C, a proper swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
January to April, during the north-east monsoon (iruvai): this is the dry season, with 45 to 75 mm of rain a month in Malé from January to March and a calm sea. From May to November, the south-west monsoon brings showers (272 mm in May in Malé), but also the whale sharks of Hanifaru Bay and the best waves for surfing.
Which month should you avoid in the Maldives?
May, the wettest month in Malé (272 mm over 25 days) as the south-west monsoon arrives; from May to November, however, the showers remain brief and broken by sunny spells.
What is the hottest month in the Maldives?
March, with 29 °C on average in the afternoon and 27 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Malé and the capital).
What is the coldest month in the Maldives?
January, with 28 °C at best during the day and 27 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Malé and the capital).
What is the driest month in the Maldives?
February: 45 mm over 8 days of rain, against 272 mm in May, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the Maldives?
March, with 11.2 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in the Maldives?
The water never drops below 22 °C: from 28 to 31 °C depending on the month (warmest in April), measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast (Malé and the capital).
When is the best time to hike in the Maldives?
February: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Malé and the capital), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Maldives guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Amaia Garcia / Pexels · Anna Zviahina 🇺🇦 / Pexels · Ceylon Frames / Pexels · Maahid Photos / Pexels · Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels · Sarita Mittal / Pexels