MaléCapital
Maldives · Country profile
Male is the tiny, bustling capital of the Maldives, the island city of the Indian Ocean where the whole government, the commerce and the culture of the island nation crowd onto a single islet of barely two square kilometres. It is one of the most densely populated places on earth, a walled coral island of the narrow lanes, the minarets, the markets and the pounding life of a capital with no room to spare. The great mosque of the centre, the fish market of the harbour and the national museum of the old palace hold the historic and the religious heart, while the artificial beach and the ferry piers give the city its daily escape to the water. The boats of the harbour link the capital to the resort islands and the atolls, making Male the vivid, essential gateway of the whole of the islands of the Maldives.
About Malé
Malé is the capital of Maldives. The city's documented population is around 252,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) and Dhivehi is spoken; the dialling code is +960. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Velana International Airport.
The Island Capital of the Atolls and the Mosques of the Harbour
Male packs its entire civic life onto one walkable islet, where the Grand Friday Mosque, the fish market and the old palace of the museum anchor the essential circuit of the town. The artificial beach and the mosque of the coast give the island its rare open spaces, and the ferry piers of the harbour connect the capital to the airport islet and the resort and inhabited islands of the atoll. The daily life moves on foot, by the motorbike and the ferry, and the markets and the food stalls of the lanes run the commerce of the nation. It is intense, compact and beautifully sea-bounded, at once the working heart and the gateway of the archipelago.
The Trade Winds, the Rains of the Monsoon and the Ferries of the Sea
The island climate runs warm through the year, with the dry north-east monsoon from November to April the kindest season, the wet, gusty south-west monsoon from May to October and the sea the constant backdrop of the whole island. The rufiyaa is the currency, the Dhivehi the language, with the English in the resorts and the official circles of the capital. The mosque, the markets and the museum make the core circuit, with the modest dress of the mosque and the ferry timetables of the harbour the practical essentials. Light cotton clothing, sun protection and a re-fillable water bottle for the humid heat complete the preparation for Male.
The Friday Mosque, the Fish Market and the Beaches of the Islands
The Grand Friday Mosque of the capital, the white marble masterpiece of the Indian Ocean with its golden dome and its Islamic Centre, is the proud religious landmark of the island, while the traditional coral-stone mosque of the old town, one of the oldest of the country, preserves the historic faith of the islands. The fish market of the harbour, where the tuna boats unload their glistening catch for the auction of the dawn, and the vegetable market of the nearby lanes carry the daily trade of the capital. The ferry of the jetty reaches the airport islet in minutes, and the old palace of the sultans, now the national museum, closes the small, crowded, endlessly ocean-girdled story of the urban heart of the Maldives.
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- Country
- Maldives
- Population
- 252,000
- Coordinates
- 4.1918, 73.5291
- Capital
- Malé
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
- Languages
- Dhivehi
- Calling code
- +960
- Country code
- MV
Entry requirements for Maldives
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Maldives for tourism.
Getting to Malé
Airports we list for Malé:
Frequently asked questions
Is Malé the capital of Maldives?
Yes — Malé is the capital of Maldives.
What currency do I need in Malé?
The local currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR). Languages spoken in Maldives include Dhivehi.
What is the dialling code for Maldives?
The international dialling code for Maldives is +960.
Which airport should I fly into for Malé?
Velana International Airport (MLE) is the airport we list for Malé.
Do I need a visa to visit Maldives?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Morocco currently enter Maldives visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Malé? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.