Velana International Airport sits on Hulhulé Island two kilometers from Malé. The airport handled 3.6 million passengers in 2019 before pandemic disruptions. International airlines connect through hubs in Dubai, Doha, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, and Istanbul. Qatar Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, and Turkish Airlines operate daily services. Direct flights from Europe take approximately 10 hours. Maldivian operates domestic flights on Twin Otters and Dash-8 aircraft to regional airports at Gan, Hanimaadhoo, Kaadedhdhoo, and Kadhdhoo.
Visitors receive a 30-day tourist visa on arrival regardless of nationality. Extensions to 90 days are available from the Immigration office in Malé. The visa requires a passport valid for six months, a confirmed booking, and proof of departure. No fee applies at entry. The government publishes requirements at immigration.gov.mv.
Speedboats transfer resort guests from the airport. The public ferry to Malé departs hourly from 0600 to midnight at 10 rufiyaa per person. The crossing takes 10 minutes. Private airport taxis cost 25 US dollars for the same route. Seaplane transfers to distant resorts operate only in daylight hours. Trans Maldivian Airways flies DHC-6 Twin Otters to 80 resorts. Flights range from 20 minutes to Kaafu Atoll properties to 80 minutes for southern atolls. Round-trip seaplane transfers cost 300 to 800 US dollars per adult depending on distance.
Domestic ferries connect inhabited islands. The Maldives Transport and Contracting Company operates scheduled routes published at mtcc.com.mv. Frequencies vary from daily between Malé and nearby islands to twice weekly for remote atolls. Fares range from 20 to 100 rufiyaa. Crossings endure several hours in open water. Private speedboats provide faster connections at 50 to 200 US dollars per person. No land transport exists between atolls. All movement requires boats or aircraft.
The Maldivian rufiyaa divides into 100 laari. In January 2025 the exchange rate holds at 15.42 rufiyaa per US dollar. The government pegs the currency to the dollar. Resorts and liveaboards price exclusively in dollars. Local islands accept rufiyaa for guesthouses, restaurants, and shops. Bank of Maldives, Maldives Islamic Bank, and State Bank of India operate ATMs in Malé dispensing both currencies. ATMs on inhabited islands dispense rufiyaa only. Cash remains necessary outside resort properties. Credit cards work at resorts and larger Malé businesses. Smaller islands operate cash-only.
Resort costs range from 200 to 4000 US dollars per night. Mid-range properties charge 400 to 800 dollars. Prices include breakfast at most properties. Full board adds 100 to 200 dollars per person daily. All-inclusive packages cost 150 to 300 dollars more per person per day. Guesthouses on local islands charge 40 to 150 dollars per night. These rates reflect 2024 pricing before the October through April high season increases of 30 to 50 percent.
Restaurant meals in Malé cost 50 to 150 rufiyaa at local cafes. Hotel restaurants charge 200 to 500 rufiyaa for main dishes. Resort dining ranges from 35 to 100 dollars per entree. Alcohol sells only at resorts and licensed Malé hotels. Beer costs 8 to 15 dollars per bottle. Wine ranges from 12 to 40 dollars per glass. A bottle of wine starts at 60 dollars. Spirits cost 10 to 18 dollars per pour.
Diving expenses depend on certification and group size. Single dives cost 50 to 90 dollars. Ten-dive packages reduce per-dive cost to 40 to 70 dollars. Equipment rental adds 20 to 40 dollars daily. PADI Open Water certification costs 450 to 650 dollars over four days. Snorkeling from shore costs nothing at most properties. Guided snorkeling trips charge 35 to 80 dollars for two to three hours. Dolphin watching costs 60 to 120 dollars for two hours. Sunset fishing trips run 50 to 100 dollars for three hours.
Departure tax of 30 US dollars per person and Green Tax of 6 dollars per person per night at resorts are mandatory. Most resorts add these to final bills. The Goods and Services Tax adds 16 percent to resort services. Service charges of 10 percent apply at most properties. These appear as line items on checkout statements.