Maldives

Dhivehi, written in the Thaana script and read right to left, is the official language. Thaana doesn't resemble Latin, Arabic, or Indian scripts, so don't expect to sound out signs or menus. English is spoken fluently across the tourism industry, on every resort and by most guesthouse staff on local islands.

Tourist SIM cards from Dhiraagu or Ooredoo are sold at counters in the arrivals hall of Velana International Airport; both require a passport for registration. A weekly data package costs only a few dollars and covers outer atolls reliably.

Resort Wi-Fi can still be slow or metered on remote islands, so a local SIM is often the more reliable option for maps and messaging between islands.

Tap water is desalinated on most resorts and in Malé. It isn't reliably safe to drink everywhere, though, so stick to the bottled or filtered water that nearly every resort and guesthouse provides.

Pharmacies are concentrated in Malé, Hulhumalé, and the larger inhabited islands; smaller islands and resorts usually have only a very limited stock. Resorts typically have a small clinic or an on-call doctor, but serious cases are evacuated by boat or seaplane to a hospital in Malé. No vaccinations are mandatory for most travelers, though proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from a country with risk of transmission.

Most nationalities receive a free 30-day visa on arrival, and travelers from a handful of countries get up to 90 days. Entry requires a passport valid for at least one month from your arrival date, a confirmed hotel or resort booking, proof of onward travel, and enough funds to cover the trip.

Every visitor must also submit the IMUGA traveler declaration online before arrival, ideally within 96 hours of the flight.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

The Maldives is a conservative Muslim country outside the resort islands. On local islands and in Malé, dress modestly and cover your shoulders and knees. Save swimwear for a resort or one of the handful of local islands with a designated public "bikini beach." If you visit a mosque, such as Grand Friday Mosque Male in Malé, dress modestly, remove your shoes, and expect women to cover their hair.

Alcohol is banned outright on local islands; it's served only at resorts and on liveaboards. Importing any amount into the country is illegal, even from airport duty-free. Fridays are the main day of prayer and rest, so local shops, offices, and government services close or run shortened hours around midday prayers.

Public and religious holidays affect local islands far more than resorts, which usually keep running as normal for guests. Expect government offices, banks, and local-island shops to close or shorten their hours, especially during Ramadan and around Eid.

On local islands, shops typically open after Friday prayers and close again for evening prayers, so plan errands for the morning or late afternoon.

• By air: Domestic flights and seaplanes connect Velana International Airport to resorts and outer atolls; Trans Maldivian Airways and Manta Air run the seaplane fleets. Seaplanes only fly in daylight, so time your arrival accordingly.
• By speedboat: Most resorts run their own speedboat transfers for guests, typically 30-90 minutes from the airport.
• By public ferry: The government-run Raajje Transport Link connects inhabited islands at a fraction of resort transfer prices, though schedules are infrequent outside the North Male Atoll area.
• By taxi: Male and Hulhumalé have metered taxis and ride-hailing apps for getting around the capital area.

Driving is on the left.

Maldivian food centers on fish, rice, and coconut, especially skipjack tuna caught daily by local fishermen. Breakfast is often mas huni, shredded smoked tuna with coconut and chili, eaten with flatbread and a glass of milk tea. Main meals lean on rihaakuru, a thick fish paste used to flavor curries and rice, or garudhiya, a light tuna broth served with lime and chili on the side.

Between meals, tea shops serve hedhikaa, an assortment of savory and sweet short eats. Resort menus range from Maldivian and Asian dishes to European fine dining, since most kitchens cook for an international guest list. Alcohol is only available at resorts and on liveaboards; local-island restaurants serve tea, juice, and soft drinks instead.

Male, the capital, is the country's only real city: a small, crowded island of colorful buildings and a busy fish market. Just across the water, North Male Atoll and South Male Atoll hold many of the country's best-known resorts, all within an hour of the airport by speedboat.

Further out, Ari Atoll is known for year-round whale shark sightings, and Baa Atoll is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where manta rays gather at Hanifaru Bay in large numbers between May and November. Lhaviyani Atoll is a quieter option with strong house reefs close to shore.

In the south, Addu City sits almost on the equator and mixes WWII-era history with its own lagoon and mangroves, while Fuvahmulah, a single round island with no atoll of its own, draws divers for its resident tiger sharks.