The Maldives itinerary, day by day

From Malé to the affordable local island of Maafushi, then out to an atoll resort and its overwater villas, day by day: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 3, 7 or 14 days📍 3 stops☀️ Best time: January to April

Malé · Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

The Maldives in 3 days

2 stops · 12 things to do · boat

1Malé

Day 1

One of the most densely built capitals in the world, packed onto an island about two kilometres long. The golden dome of the Grand Friday Mosque stands over the fish market and the harbour.

🎟️ Worth booking

Malé walk and the fish market2h · from €15
The coral-stone Old Friday Mosque of 1658, the market stalls and the harbour where the tuna boats unload in the afternoon.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Reef snorkelling tripHalf day · from €45
A short boat ride to a nearby reef for a first look at the fish of the atolls.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Grand Friday Mosque and its golden dome · The busy harbour front · The local fruit and fish market · The artificial beach, where Malé swims

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Champa Central Hotel (€60 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Hulhumalé (€120 a night) · Luxury: Kurumba Maldives (€350 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Only BLU Under Ocean Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.8 · 203 reviews
M6M Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.8 · 171 reviews · €€€€
Lazeez Gourmet ↗ ★ 4.7 · 1092 reviews · €€
Hard Rock Cafe Maldives ↗ ★ 4.7 · 818 reviews
Manhattan Fish Market Malé ↗ ★ 4.7 · 535 reviews

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

⛴️ Speedboat · 1h30 · 27 km

2Maafushi (local island)

Days 2-3

One of the first inhabited islands to open guesthouses to visitors, after a 2009 rule change that ended the resort-only model and made the Maldives affordable.

🎟️ Worth booking

Wreck and ray divesHalf day · from €60
Dives in the channels between atolls, where the current brings in rays, and on wrecks already covered in coral.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sandbank and dolphin tripHalf day · from €40
A boat out to a bare sandbank, with spinner dolphins often riding the bow on the way back.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Bikini Beach, the one beach where swimwear is allowed · Snorkelling straight off the beach · Sunset from a traditional dhoni · Daily life in a Maldivian village

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Stingray Beach Inn (€50 a night) · Mid-range: Arena Beach Hotel (€130 a night) · Luxury: Kaani Grand (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Navio restaurant ↗ ★ 4.8 · 1350 reviews · €€
Island Catch ↗ ★ 4.8 · 371 reviews
Caviar Cafe and Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.7 · 1260 reviews
Semili's Restaurant Maafushi ↗ ★ 4.7 · 510 reviews
Fish Island Restaurant ↗ ★ 4.7 · 332 reviews

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

The Maldives in 7 days

3 stops · 18 things to do · boat & seaplane

1Malé

Day 1

One of the most densely built capitals in the world, packed onto an island about two kilometres long. The golden dome of the Grand Friday Mosque stands over the fish market and the harbour.

🎟️ Worth booking

Malé walk and the fish market2h · from €15
The coral-stone Old Friday Mosque of 1658, the market stalls and the harbour where the tuna boats unload in the afternoon.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Reef snorkelling tripHalf day · from €45
A short boat ride to a nearby reef for a first look at the fish of the atolls.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Grand Friday Mosque and its golden dome · The busy harbour front · The local fruit and fish market · The artificial beach, where Malé swims

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Champa Central Hotel (€60 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Hulhumalé (€120 a night) · Luxury: Kurumba Maldives (€350 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

⛴️ Speedboat · 1h30 · 27 km

2Maafushi (local island)

Days 2-4

One of the first inhabited islands to open guesthouses to visitors, after a 2009 rule change that ended the resort-only model and made the Maldives affordable.

🎟️ Worth booking

Wreck and ray divesHalf day · from €60
Dives in the channels between atolls, where the current brings in rays, and on wrecks already covered in coral.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sandbank and dolphin tripHalf day · from €40
A boat out to a bare sandbank, with spinner dolphins often riding the bow on the way back.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Bikini Beach, the one beach where swimwear is allowed · Snorkelling straight off the beach · Sunset from a traditional dhoni · Daily life in a Maldivian village

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Stingray Beach Inn (€50 a night) · Mid-range: Arena Beach Hotel (€130 a night) · Luxury: Kaani Grand (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

🛩️ Seaplane · 40 min · to the atoll

3Atoll and resort

Days 5-7

One island, one hotel: villas on stilts over the lagoon, and a house reef a few fin strokes from the beach.

🎟️ Worth booking

A night in an overwater villa1 night · from €350
A villa built on stilts over the lagoon, with steps straight down into the water.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Swimming with whale sharksFull day · from €120
A day out to see the largest fish in the sea, harmless filter feeders, most reliably found year round in South Ari Atoll.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The turquoise lagoon · The house reef, from the shore · The ocean view from the spa · A private sandbank

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: TME Retreats Dhigurah (€110 a night) · Luxury: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (€900 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

You & Me Maldives ★ 4.8 · 1222 reviews
LUX South Ari Atoll ★ 4.8 · 1064 reviews
Only BLU Under Ocean Restaurant ★ 4.8 · 204 reviews

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

The Maldives in 14 days

4 stops · 24 things to do · boat & seaplane

1Malé

Days 1-2

One of the most densely built capitals in the world, packed onto an island about two kilometres long. The golden dome of the Grand Friday Mosque stands over the fish market and the harbour.

🎟️ Worth booking

Malé walk and the fish market2h · from €15
The coral-stone Old Friday Mosque of 1658, the market stalls and the harbour where the tuna boats unload in the afternoon.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Reef snorkelling tripHalf day · from €45
A short boat ride to a nearby reef for a first look at the fish of the atolls.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Grand Friday Mosque and its golden dome · The busy harbour front · The local fruit and fish market · The artificial beach, where Malé swims

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Champa Central Hotel (€60 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Hulhumalé (€120 a night) · Luxury: Kurumba Maldives (€350 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

⛴️ Speedboat · 1h30 · 27 km

2Maafushi (local island)

Days 3-7

One of the first inhabited islands to open guesthouses to visitors, after a 2009 rule change that ended the resort-only model and made the Maldives affordable.

🎟️ Worth booking

Wreck and ray divesHalf day · from €60
Dives in the channels between atolls, where the current brings in rays, and on wrecks already covered in coral.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sandbank and dolphin tripHalf day · from €40
A boat out to a bare sandbank, with spinner dolphins often riding the bow on the way back.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Bikini Beach, the one beach where swimwear is allowed · Snorkelling straight off the beach · Sunset from a traditional dhoni · Daily life in a Maldivian village

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Stingray Beach Inn (€50 a night) · Mid-range: Arena Beach Hotel (€130 a night) · Luxury: Kaani Grand (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

🛩️ Seaplane · 40 min · to the atoll

3Atoll and resort

Days 8-13

One island, one hotel: villas on stilts over the lagoon, and a house reef a few fin strokes from the beach.

🎟️ Worth booking

A night in an overwater villa1 night · from €350
A villa built on stilts over the lagoon, with steps straight down into the water.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Swimming with whale sharksFull day · from €120
A day out to see the largest fish in the sea, harmless filter feeders, most reliably found year round in South Ari Atoll.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The turquoise lagoon · The house reef, from the shore · The ocean view from the spa · A private sandbank

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: TME Retreats Dhigurah (€110 a night) · Luxury: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island (€900 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

You & Me Maldives ★ 4.8 · 1222 reviews
LUX South Ari Atoll ★ 4.8 · 1064 reviews
Only BLU Under Ocean Restaurant ★ 4.8 · 204 reviews

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

🛩️ Seaplane · 40 min · back to the airport

4Malé

Day 14 · return

One of the most densely built capitals in the world, packed onto an island about two kilometres long. The golden dome of the Grand Friday Mosque stands over the fish market and the harbour.

🎟️ Worth booking

Malé walk and the fish market2h · from €15
The coral-stone Old Friday Mosque of 1658, the market stalls and the harbour where the tuna boats unload in the afternoon.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Reef snorkelling tripHalf day · from €45
A short boat ride to a nearby reef for a first look at the fish of the atolls.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Grand Friday Mosque and its golden dome · The busy harbour front · The local fruit and fish market · The artificial beach, where Malé swims

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Champa Central Hotel (€60 a night) · Mid-range: Hôtel Hulhumalé (€120 a night) · Luxury: Kurumba Maldives (€350 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Asad Photo Maldives / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Mas huni: shredded tuna with grated coconut, onion and chilli, eaten with flatbread at breakfast.
Garudhiya: a clear tuna broth, served with rice, lime and chilli.
Mas riha: tuna curry in coconut milk, the everyday dish.
Hedhikaa: small fried and baked snacks, fish cakes and samosas, laid out at teatime.
Black tea, taken sweet and several times a day.

⚠️ What to avoid

On local islands, cover shoulders and knees away from the designated bikini beach.
Alcohol is served only on resorts and liveaboard boats, and bringing any into the country is forbidden.
Do not touch or stand on coral when snorkelling.
Confirm seaplane and boat transfers before you land: seaplanes do not fly after dark.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Maldives guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit the Maldives, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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