The Maldives consists of a total of 1190 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. Only 185 among these islands are inhabited, and the rest are used for tourism and agriculture. Everyone wishes to visit this beautiful archipelago starting from its capital, the Island of Male. Before going to the different islands in the Maldives, visit its capital city first to discover the Maldivian way of life, history, and culture.
Summarized below are the things to do on the Island of Male – the best island for family-friendly vacations.
10 Male, Maldives
Located in the Kaafu Atoll and the nearest Island to Maldives airport is the city of Male. The Maldives is an Islam country; that's why the existing laws are very particular. One of the reasons visitors must also visit Male first is to get fully immersed with the Island. Two days is enough for that; however, if tourists desire to join organized day tours, it would take a week. It also depends on the tourists on which type of vacation they prefer.
9 How To Get To Male Island
From the Maldives International Airport, located on the island of Hulhumale, tourists can go directly to Male by ferry, speedboat, bus, or car. Most visitors prefer the ferry for its lower price, where it leaves from the airport every 10 minutes starting from 6 am to 11:59 pm; and every 30 minutes from 12 am to 5:59 am. The bus and car ride take 15 minutes to get to Male finally. These transport vehicles don't have any proper drop-off location in Male, so expect to drop tourists at different island points.
8 Restaurants And Shops
Male is the most crowded city in the Maldives, so there are many better places for food stops here. Recommended restaurants are Belle Amie Male, Seagull Café House, Sala Thai Restaurant, The Sea House, and City Garden. If tourists are looking for souvenir shops, Male has S.T.O. Trade Centre that is consists of different stores. Majeedhee Magu and Chaandhanee Magu also offer several gift shops located on its streets.
7 Accommodations In Male
There are countless accommodations in Male, but the following are highly recommended: the grand hotel of Samann which is near the shore of Male; the Somerset Hotel which is the nearest hotel to the main attractions in Male, the hotel of Sala Boutique that gives an Asian vibe and serves cuisine like Thai and Italian, and lastly is the Guesthouse Napcorner which is a budget-friendly sleeping capsule especially perfect for group vacations.
6 Main Attractions In Male
To know the culture and history of Maldives, give the following attractions a chance to explain it to you. First on the list is the Grand Friday Mosque, the biggest mosque in the Maldives. Beside the grand mosque is the Victory Monument which represents the bravery and victory of the Maldivians. Sultan Park & National Museum is the former royal palace of the Sultan of Maldives, and home to the Tsunami Monument that was built to give tribute to the tsunami victims affected in the Maldives.
5 Resort Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru
The resort is located on the island of Vabbbinfaru in Male, which features ocean villas and private pools. Although it is a romantic resort, this picture-perfect Island is an all-ages type of getaway destination. Aside from water sports and diving sessions, there is also a spa treatment and a fitness center, including yoga lessons. Guests will surely enjoy the marine sanctuary and everything in between. The price of stay here is justifiable from the accommodation, activities, and services.
4 Resort Angsana lhuru
Aside from the beachfront villas, get a deeper dive into Maldives culture through the cooking classes offered in the resort of Angsana Ihuru. If tourists want to learn how to dive and get a PADI license, Angsana Ihuru also opens its dive center for everyone. The biggest attraction here is Angsana Ihuru’s Marine Conservation Lab, perfect for family bonding. It encourages coral planting to restore damaged reefs. Any guest can take part in this meaningful activity.
3 Activities In Male
After going back to the history of Maldives, the following activities will surely make the tourists bring themselves back to the present time. Day trips are not just about going to different islands and swimming. Aside from island hopping, tourists can experience scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, and the highlight of day trips, the dolphin watching under the sunset through the cruise. Additional activity is the barbecue trip, where tourists get to savor the local taste of Maldivian barbecue style.
2 Submarine Tour
Given that tourists chose the Maldives as a vacation destination, they might as well complete the tour by going deep down the archipelago waters. The Maldives submarine dive site offers a submarine tour which is a unique way to explore aquatic life under the water. No other vacation destinations offer such tours within South East Asia. Tourists need not worry because this is a safe ride under the sea.
1 Nightlife In Male
A travel destination is not a "destination" without the nightlife experiences, well, at least for some, especially those who travel with friends. Get a chance to visit the first-ever underwater nightclub on the globe. The Subsix of Per Aquum Niyama Private Islands Resort features large windows to see the sea creatures underwater while partying. This place is open for all tourists within the Island, so never miss this chance and have a memorable nightlife 20 feet under the ocean.