Overview

Male was formerly the King’s Island, the walled city was surrounded by forts and bastions, the Royal Palace and the fortifications were destroyed after the abolition of the monarchy in 1968. One of the world’s smallest capital cities home to over 200,000 people, the world’s densest city. The tiny yet imposing city has a distinctive character lined by charming quaint avenues and narrow streets, decorated with pastel-colored buildings, clean streets, and soaring skyscrapers. An extraordinary capital city with plenty to see and do including bustling markets, ornate mosques, and an artificial beach. The pint-sized capital is the epicenter of Maldivian culture with great dining and shopping opportunities.

Things to see and do

Male is full of exciting sights, attractions, and activities unlike many of the other Maldivian Islands. The casual capital city is great for wandering around and stopping to check out sights, eateries, coffee shops, and historical attractions.

The artificial beach in Male is one of the most beautiful, and only man-made beaches in the Maldives, situated on the eastern seafront in North Mal-Atoll. One of the top destinations to visit in the Maldives, there are no natural beaches on Male, so this beach was constructed and is a fun sight for activities and entertainment. The beach is the host of several carnivals, watersports are popular and peaceful walks along the promenade. The evenings here are wonderful with views of stunning sunsets, bustling cafes, and restaurants with outdoor seating, music, and dancing. The artificial beach is shaped like a crescent and lapped by the tranquil turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, a famed swimming spot.

The National Museum is housed in a three-story 17th building that is part of the Maldivian Royal Palace. Here visitors can soak up the history of the Maldives and scan the large collection of artifacts on display, and well-preserved galleries showcasing weaponry, household wares, and religious items. A major highlight in the museum is the 11th-century piece from Alifu Thoddoo, a coral stone head of Lord Buddha.

The Grand Friday Mosque stands out with its towering golden come, an impressive modern spellbinding building with a white marbled facade. Visitors can tour the mosque between 9 am and 5 pm (avoid prayer times) wearing proper attire and see the main prayer hall which can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers. This is one of the biggest mosques in the world.

Vilimale (part of Male) is the small neighboring island just a 20-minute boat ride away from Male, spend the day at the relaxing “real” beach here, go swimming, snorkeling and diving in the glistening waters.

Wander around Sultan Park along the tree-lined paths and verdant lawns, the Presidential Palace and National Museum are connected to the park, so plan to combine these activities.

Male’s famous Fish Market is located along the inner harbor, on the northern side of the island by Republic Square. The market is the commercial epicenter of the country’s most important industry; fishing. Visit in the afternoon as the local fishermen sail up on their boats and unload their fresh catch of the day. Tuna is the most popular fish caught, you can watch the fishermen clean, and gut the fish and even purchase some fresh catch for dinner.

Angsana Ihuru, in the North Male Atoll, is regarded as having the best in-house reef in the Maldives. This resort is easily reached by a boat ride from Male and the superb in-house reef has its shipwreck called “Rannamaari”.

Banana Reef is part of the North Male Atoll, are a world-famous diving site and one of the first sites on the Maldives Islands. The site got its name from the underwater curve on the western edge, it is filled with rich marine biodiversity and great corals. The stunning reef features caves, cliffs, and powerful overhangs with visibility up to 98 feet and water temperatures around 79-84 degrees.

Shopping

Male is home to the most shopping opportunities out of all the Maldives Islands, it may be a tiny island but it packs a punch when it comes to shopping. Male is filled with many vibrant markets selling unique trinkets, and authentic souvenirs such as miniature boats, slippers made from palm leaves, art, jewelry and items made from shells, and wooden flower vases.

Male Local Market is brimming with all sorts of exciting trinkets and gifts to take home as souvenirs from your vacation in paradise. Stroll around the market for a few hours absorbing the local customs and culture and all the stores on offer. Pick up authentic miniature boats, handmade anklets, and try some unusual foods. The market is located in the North Waterfront area of Male and close to many local hotels, the market is open from 8 am until 11 pm.

Duty-free shopping in Male is best done at the International Airport, there are a dedicated liquor and tobacco store and perfume and cosmetic stores stocking all the major brand names. There are also plenty of souvenirs on sale in the duty-free shop where you can pick up batik sarongs, wood crafted items, hand-painted t-shirts, and mini dhoni boats.

Centro Mall is where the big designer names can be found, a large shopping zone, and a brand name outlet, one of the cheapest places to shop in the Maldives. There are many clothing stores here as well as home appliances stores, a full-service salon, a spa, and some fantastic dining options. Open 7 am until midnight daily.

The famed Male Fish Market is a well-known tourist attraction and a must-see when visiting the pint-sized city. See the island’s fresh-caught sailing in on the authentic fishing boats with the locals bringing in fresh tuna, and more available for purchase along the waterfront

The STO (State Trading Organization) Trade Center is one of the most popular places to shop, the largest supermarket in Male, known for its fresh produce and various household products and everyday essentials. There is a second and third floor where souvenir counters and electronic shops can be found. The STO Center is located in Orchid Magu and is open from 8:30 am until 10:00 pm.

The “Magu’s” are the main collection of streets running through the heart of Male, the main street from east to west is Majeedhee Magu, the central shopping district of the capital city. The shops along this street sell everything from textiles and clothing to electronics, and there are some fantastic eateries along the way. Remember your bargaining skills here, and score some amazing deals. Check out great dining options like Cafe Asiana serving up delicious traditional Maldivian dishes.

Dining

Male has some fantastic dining opportunities found in some beautiful locations. The cuisine served up in Male is a mixture of Maldivian, European, Indian, Italian, Malaysian, and Middle Eastern fare.

Iberry Café is a great place to dine with the locals, one of the most popular restaurants in Hulhumale. This quaint boutique style eatery with speedy service and friendly atmosphere serving up a large variety of authentic dishes, sample fish curry, and shrimp fried rice.

Shell Beans café has been operating in Male for over 10 years with two locations on the island; one sits on the northern edge overlooking Male’s jetties and the other sits on the other side of the island on Ameenee Magu. The cute cafe offers free wifi and the menu has a range of main courses including salads, tandoori chicken, teriyaki beef, and the signature ‘croissantwiches’. They also serve some of the best coffee in Male.

Seagull Cafe House is a charming two-story bistro in midtown Male, a peaceful courtyard receives shade from an ancient tree and offers outside dining options, the upper level has a large tree growing through the middle of the floor with great views of the street below. Teh menu offers a variety of items including Maldivian and Indian cuisine, great coffee, snacks, and Sri Lankan fish curry and the house specialty is ice cream, it's the best on the island with 30 different flavors.

Jazz Café is a European-style cafe serving a mix of Maldivian and international dishes in a trendy laid-back setting. The cafe is the host of live music gigs where talented musicians entertain the diners with jazz, rock, and soul. Try the Thai chili beef and prawn arrabiata, or the chicken curry and roast chicken with barbecue sauce.

Palace Sichuan is an elegant Chinese restaurant providing the Maldives with high-quality Cantonese cuisine. Opened in 2011 by Terence Tsui, the large restaurant features tasteful, authentic oriental decor and seats over 80 people, and offers private rooms named after Chinese cities. The menu is packed full of flavorsome dishes including rice and noodles, jumbo prawns, beef, and whole fish entrees from the Sichuan Province of Western China, prepared by experienced Chinese staff with ingredients imported directly from China.

Sala Thai is part of the Sala Boutique Hotel and serves up delicious, fresh, healthy food in authentic Siamese surroundings with wooden furniture and Asian artwork. Each week a fresh batch of ingredients is flown in from Asia and chefs cook and serve some delicious authentic dishes. The Panang curry and the shrimp marinated in a spicy fish sauce are two tasty options on the menu and don’t miss out on the traditional Thai dessert, sticky jasmine rice with mango. There is a picturesque outdoor courtyard dining area, a great place to escape the bustling streets of Male.

Customs

The island nation of the Maldives has a rich and vibrant culture, the country’s cultural background includes Dhivehi the local language, Boda Beru the traditional dance, and dhoni's traditional hand-crafted boats. The Maldives is a Muslim country with a 100% Muslim population that celebrates Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer, and bans items such as pork products, alcohol, tobacco, and religious texts. Women are barred from wearing traditional western bathing suits or any type of revealing clothing, public displays of affection are frowned upon, even a quick kiss is against the law! (Resorts have a special license to serve alcohol) These laws are strongly enforced on the mainland of Male.

Maldivians are incredibly friendly, warm, and welcoming and will go above and beyond to make sure your holiday is an unforgettable experience. The traditional music and dance of the Maldives are heavily influenced by the surrounding nations, the “Bodu Beru” is the well known traditional dance of the Maldives, performed by large groups of men featuring drummers, dancers, and singers. Many resorts feature regular cultural performances for guests to enjoy and there are performances held on the artificial beach in Male.