Male from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Male, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Male tripDay to day in Male, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £11 | £14 |
| A balanced mix | £21 | £24 |
| Mostly restaurants | £27 | £29 |
- Local transport: about £2 a day. Taxi: £1 to start, then £0.00 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £12 a day for food.
- Tourist tax: about £9 a person a night, paid at your stay.
- Tipping: about 10% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, en.wikivoyage.org, maldivesvoice.mv; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
28°F
28°M
28°A
29°M
29°J
29°J
28°A
28°S
28°O
28°N
28°D
28°
The most pleasant months are January to April and June. February is the driest month (37 mm of rain) and November the wettest (233 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Visa for British travellers
30-day visa on arrival
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Male
Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy)mosque · a couple of hoursCoral-stone mosque from 1656; non-Muslim visitors need permission from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to go inside.
Grand Friday Mosque and Islamic Centremosque · a couple of hoursGolden dome visible from the harbour; visit outside prayer times, dress modestly.
Malé Fish Marketmarket · a couple of hoursBusiest late afternoon when the tuna boats land; the local produce market is a block away.
- Sultan Park and National Museummuseum · a couple of hours
Royal regalia and pre-Islamic finds in the last surviving palace building.
- Villimalé island beach and snorkellingbeach · half a day
Ten-minute public ferry from the western terminal; swimwear only on the designated beach.
Hulhumalé beachbeach · half a dayLong public beach on the reclaimed island next to the airport; cafés along the shore.
- Maafushi local islandisland · a full day
Public ferry or 30-minute speedboat; guesthouses, bikini beach and cheap excursions.
- Malé Artificial Beach and surf breakbeach · a couple of hours
Where locals swim in the evening; experienced surfers ride the break by the Sinamalé Bridge.
- Snorkelling and sandbank day cruiseexperience · a full day
Boats leave from Malé or Hulhumalé jetties; reef snorkelling plus a picnic on an empty sandbank.
- Sunset dolphin cruiseexperience · a couple of hours
Spinner dolphins gather at the atoll channels in the late afternoon.
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Male cost?
Food and getting around come to about £14 a person a day eating street food, £24 with a balanced mix and £29 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Male?
The most pleasant months are January to April and June. February is the driest month (37 mm of rain) and November the wettest (233 mm); daytime highs run from 28 to 29 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Maldives?
30-day visa on arrival. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Male?
Old Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy), Grand Friday Mosque and Islamic Centre, Malé Fish Market, Sultan Park and National Museum, Villimalé island beach and snorkelling.
Your whole Male trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
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