Maldives: Personal Experience, Honest Advice and Life Hacks

I imagined the Maldives as something unreal — a postcard paradise where only millionaires fly. It turned out that getting there is more real than it seems. The main thing is to know how it works from the inside.

🌤 When to go

The best season is from November to April. Dry, weak wind, underwater visibility reaches 30 meters. I flew in February: not a single rainy day in two weeks, water temperature +29°C. May–October is the rainy season, but prices drop by 30–40%, and you shouldn't be afraid of short showers — usually they pass in an hour.

If you want diving — go in January-February. That's when the concentration of whale sharks at the Ari Atoll is at its maximum.

🛂 Visa and entry

For Russians in 2026, no visa is required. On entry, they stamp your passport for 30 days for free. From documents, a foreign passport, return ticket, and hotel booking confirmation are enough. Customs is loyal, and queues at Male airport are small.

🚤 Transport and accommodation

The airport is on the island of Hulhule, a couple of minutes from Male. Next — depending on the situation:

• Speedboat to nearby atolls — from $20–30, takes 30–90 minutes
• Seaplane — from $150 one way, but the views from above are unforgettable
• Guesthouses on local islands (Maafushi, Guraidhoo) — from $40–70 per day
• Resorts on private islands — from $300 to infinity

I lived in Maafushi: budget-friendly, lively, near locals. Tourist beach is separate, "bikini beach" is marked — everything is civilized.

🍛 Food and must-see places

On local islands, food is several times cheaper. In a Male café, a plate of rice with tuna costs about 50 rubles at the 2026 exchange rate. Be sure to try mas huni — a traditional breakfast of tuna with coconut and roshi bread. At resorts, meals are included in the package, but the bar is a separate expense.

What's definitely worth seeing:

• Bioluminescent beach on Vaadhoo — plankton glows blue at night
• Diving or snorkeling at South Ari Atoll — manta rays and sharks
• Old quarter of Male with the Friday Mosque from the 17th century

In Maafushi, snorkeling right from the shore — turtles swim 50 meters from the beach. Free, no boat, every morning.

📋 Practical tips

You need cash dollars on local islands — cards are not accepted everywhere. Take $200–300 in small bills. Bring sunscreen with you: at resorts it costs three times more. Don't forget about communication — an eSIM for the Maldives can be bought online before you go home, rates start from 1045₽, and the internet works stably even on remote islands.