If you are thinking of traveling to Male, Maldives, you are in the right place. Male is the capital of the Republic of Maldives. With an area of 1.7 square kilometers, Male is a small island. The population of Male is about 100,000 people and the Muslim population is highly concentrated in the region. 97% of Maldivian people are Muslim and the state is governed by a “presidential” type republic. The remaining percentage is made up of Christians and Buddhists.
The region has been under the colony of many different states throughout history. The country, which was under British rule between 1953 and 1965, declared its independence in 1968.
The country’s becoming a famous tourism region coincides with the 1970s. During this period, a few Italian youths came to the country for spearfishing, making the region an important diving center. After this period, the region started to take place among the popular places where honeymoon tours are organized.
While the Maldives economy has historically been based on fishing and agriculture, it has made a significant leap in the tourism sector after the 1970s. After this date, tourism has formed the backbone of the economy in the region. The fact that the country’s economy is suitable for fishing and tourism has turned the livelihood of the people into these areas.
After tourism, fishing is among the occupations that the people deal with the most in Male. In Male, where fish exports are high, fish are exported after smoking or drying processes. In addition, important foods are grown in the field of agriculture. Millet, bananas, coconuts and yams are food products that have an important place in agriculture.
Where Is Male?
Let us share with you some of the things you need to know when traveling to Male. Male is an island located 750 kilometers southwest of Sri Lanka, the capital of the Maldives Islands. Also, Male is located in the Indian Ocean.
When To Go To Male?
Male is one of the regions with tropical and monsoon climate. During the periods when monsoon rains are effective, the months of December and May are quite rainy. The annual average temperature in the region is around 25 – 35 degrees Celsius. However, due to the high humidity in the region, the temperature can be felt quite high. The temperature values of Male do not change much throughout the year. Due to its monsoon climate, Male receives heavy rainfall in certain months.
Those who want to go to Male should not prefer December and May. However, it should be noted that some European tourists who want to be protected from the steep and burning effects of the sun in summer also prefer the months when the monsoon climate is dominant. If you do not prefer to travel during periods when the sun is high for health reasons, you can prefer December and May, like European tourists.
The average highest temperature in Male is 35 Celsius and the lowest is 25 Celsius. Considering the climate, the hottest month in Male is April. Although the coldest month is December, the air temperature can be 30 degrees Celsius in January and February. Therefore, since Male does not have a single climate, seasonal transitions can be seen very often. The country receives tourists throughout the year. Therefore, you can visit the Male region in line with the seasonal features you choose.
Since the country has a tropical climate in general, severe hurricanes and storms are not seen. Male is a peaceful place ready to welcome you in all seasons, where you can see natural beauties, every shade of green and blue.
Trip To Male
Our recommendation for visitors who plan a holiday in the company of sea, sand and sun for a pleasant trip to Male is to stay in Male for 1 week. During this time, you can enjoy the ocean and greenery, as well as visit the city easily. We have listed the most important places to visit in the city for you.
Presidential Palace
This building, which is considered the Presidential Palace of the Maldives Republic, was built in 1919. The palace, which was designed in blue and white colors, is known as Theemuge by the local people. Although the building was originally built as a bungalow, it was transformed into a different form as it started to get damaged over time. The building was also used as the residence of the ruler named Sultan Hasan ‘Izz ud-din.
The Presidential Palace also contains many historical textures. Inside the building, there are large halls with furniture and furniture from the traditional period. Only tourists and locals are not allowed to enter the Presidential Palace. It is only allowed to take photos from the outside and look inside through the iron doors. The main reason for following such a policy is to take some security measures.
Islamic Center Grade Mosque
The Islamic Center Grade Mosque (also known as Masjid-al-Sultan Muhammad Thakurufaanu Al Auzam), built in 1984, is located in the area called the Islamic Center. This mosque, one of the most important works of Islamic art, was opened to the public by President Abdul Gayoom. This mosque, which is a very important place especially for the Muslim population, also attracts the attention of tourists. The mosque also contains three different sections. These sections are the conference room, library and classroom.
Those who want to visit this mosque, which has a very magnificent structure with its gold-plated dome, can enter this place at any time of the day. You should see this mosque, which does not look like classical mosques, at least from the outside. Also, there is no need to pay any entrance fee. There is a certain dress code just to enter the mosque. It is not allowed to enter the mosque with clothes such as shorts and sleeveless dresses. For this, visitors can request appropriate clothing at the entrance of the mosque.
Sultan’s Park
Sultan’s Park, located in the very center of the city, is one of the peaceful areas equipped with magnificent trees and flowers. The name of the park dates back to historical periods. This area, which previously contained a Sultan’s Palace, was the scene of great conflicts with the establishment of the Republic, and the palace in it was demolished for these reasons. But today, a magnificent green area and a museum remained outside the palace. The name of this museum is known as the National Museum.
Those who want to go to Sultan’s Park can choose any time between 09.00-17.00 if they want to visit the museum. In addition, although the entrance to the park is free, the fee for those who want to visit the museum is determined as 3 dollars. In the museum, you can find important artifacts about the historical past of the Maldives.
National Museum
The National Museum is the most private and important museum of the city, located in Sultan’s Park. Coral and sandstone pieces found in Maldives are exhibited in wooden boxes for visitors in the museum. In addition, there are ancient stone carvings, figures and historical books in the museum. The museum building is a historical building from the British colonial period and has a three-storey structure. In addition, thrones, umbrellas and dinnerware belonging to the sultans are exhibited on a different floor in the museum.
In this museum tour, which we can call a historical adventure, the stone table bed from the 1700s and the coins from that period are among the other important pieces you can see.
Whale Submarine Maldives
Whale Submarine Maldives will offer a very different experience for both you and your children. You can discover both whales and other underwater creatures here, thanks to a specially positioned submarine vehicle under the ocean. In addition, Whale Submarine Maldives, which helps you with transportation service, creates an activity area where you can easily organize your day. The total time you will spend under water is 2.5 hours.
Friday Mosque
Built in 1665, Cuma Mosque is the oldest mosque in the country. The most important feature of the mosque is that it was built using coral stones and exhibits a superior workmanship compared to the period. This mosque, which was included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2008, has a great importance for Muslims as well. For 300 years, the adhan was read only over this mosque in the country. This is another feature that makes the mosque valuable.
The mosque, also known as the Hukuru Miskiy Mosque, was built during the time of İbrahim Iskandar, one of the important rulers of the period. The mosque, with its wooden ceiling decorations and old tombstones around it, is among the works worth seeing. We recommend that you spend some of your time in Male for this mosque.
Fish market
Maldives is one of the most developed places in terms of fishing. The Fish Market, located in Male, the capital of Maldives, makes a great contribution to Male economy in every way. Most of the tourists visit this fish market in Male. The city’s unique experience in fish and its prominence with both cooking and presentation style identifies the city and the country with fishing.
The most important dish you should try in Male is fish. If you are wondering how this is presented and how it is sold, you should definitely stop by the Fish Market. This place offers you great clues to understand the urban culture. You can also photograph the display of fish weighing hundreds of tons. We should also note that the Fish Market is very clean as it is washed frequently.
Tsunami Memorial
The Tsunami Monument, which was built in 2004, was built in memory of the people who lost their lives as a result of the tsunami disaster in Indonesia. Located in Boduthakurufaanu Magu, this monument carries deep symbolic meaning. It has been tried to explain the 20 islands that were affected by the disaster with the spheres built right on the edge of the ocean. In other words, 20 island messages, which are affected by the space and the globe, are given by being built on the edge of the ocean.
The names of the people who lost their lives in the disaster are also included on the iron bar passing through the middle of the monument. Besides, the surrounding of the monument is quite crowded. Small stands are set up here and various traditional foods are sold. After visiting the monument, we recommend that you try the delicacies in these stands.
Artificial Beach
Artificial Beach, located in the east of the city, is one of the places where you can both enjoy the sea to the fullest and do various water activities. Its name means artificial beach. This area, which has a very cute and pleasant beach, is among the places where you can both sunbathe and swim. This beach, which has many cafes and restaurants around, has many food options if you are hungry.
Artificial Beach is among the places where you can come both day and night. In addition to activities such as swimming, water sports and sunbathing during the daytime, it is a wonderful beach where you can take a walk on the beach in the evening and watch the sunset with wine. Artificial Beach is one of the must-see and must-see places in Male.
Transportation In Male
When you travel to Male, you should also know how to get there. Since Male is a small region, it is one of the places that can be easily visited even on foot. You can choose transportation options from Male’s airport to the city center and again from Male to other islands in the Maldives and have the opportunity to explore many places in a very short time. However, visitors can also visit the city by taxi. Due to its geographical location, Male offers different means of transportation for you outside of the regions within the city. Chief among these vehicles are the speedboat, seaplane and airport ferry.
There are 600 taxis in total in Male, which offers the opportunity to visit the city by taxi. Since the region is quite collective and organized, it is possible to reach your desired destination in a very short time by taxi.
It is also possible to go to Male city center from the airport by speedboats. The total distance between the airport and the city center is 1 kilometer. The name given to these speedboats is dhoni. Dhoni is one of the means of transportation used by Arabs in the past, and today Male also uses this means of transportation. This vehicle, which was originally used for fishing, is now used to transport people.
Another option you can use between Male Airport and Male city center is the Airport ferry. Ferries depart every 10 minutes and have frequent departures. It is also one of the most preferred means of transportation as they provide 24-hour service.
Those who want to explore the green and blue of the Maldives with private seaplanes from Male Airport can charter a seaplane from the airport.
Male Cuisine
Your trip to Male continues, if you can’t decide what to eat, then it’s time to talk about what to eat in Male. Male cuisine is one of the rare cuisines where you can find many different flavors together. Maldives, which has made a reputation in the field of fishing, is an exquisite cuisine where all kinds of fish are found together and served to guests with different cooking techniques. Soup called garudhiya, made from fish, is the most important starter dish in Male. In addition to fish, onions, rice and lemon are used in it. Male cuisine, which is very beneficial for health, also draws attention with its use of not much oil.
Another flavor that comes to mind when Maldivian is mentioned is the mas funnel dish. This food, which is especially consumed at breakfast with lavash bread and served as a paste with tuna, coconut, onion and pepper, is one of the delicacies that must be tasted in Male. Mas funnel is a side dish, which we can describe as the most important fish paste of the region. In addition, fish balls called gulha are among the other important delicacies in the region. A very delicious flavor emerges with a mixture of flour, rice, dough and fish.
Dessert culture is also quite developed in Male. Among its most local desserts is bodibaiy. Bodibaiy is a kind of pudding dessert made with sugar and rice. Since the country is also very rich in tropical fruits, the use of fruit in desserts is very common. Therefore, the use of mango, pineapple and coconut in bodibaiy, which is a local flavor, is quite common. In addition, fon boakibaa is among other important local desserts.
Among the places we can recommend for you in Male are: Khun Thai Restaurant on Chandhanee Magu Street, The Hive Restaurant on Majeedhee Magu Road, Olive Garden Restaurant on Orchid de Mag Street, FoodBank Restaurant and Thai Wok Restaurant. In addition, Hulhule Island Hotel serves its guests from all over the world with its superior taste quality. Our recommendation to visitors who want to try different flavors in Male cuisine is to visit the restaurant section of this hotel.
Alcohol consumption is prohibited in Male due to the belief of the people, but tourists can obtain alcohol in hotels and resorts if they wish. It is not possible to talk about a widespread alcohol sale in cafes, restaurants and open spaces. People here do not consume alcohol. The beverage culture in the country is generally based on coffee and tea. The 5 tea culture, which is inherited from the British, is also very common in the Maldives.
Shopping In Male
Wouldn’t you like to beautify your Male trip with shopping? Since most of the products are imported in Male, it can push the budget of those who want to shop. The price of what you want to buy in Male is almost the same as the Duty-Free at the airport. Especially if you want to buy something by moving along with the tour, the prices can be tried to be sold to you at much higher prices. Therefore, before purchasing any product, it is useful to ask a few places and get that product. In addition, you should definitely bargain when buying souvenirs.
For visitors who ask what to buy in Male, our recommendation is wooden materials unique to the region, accessories made of seafood, and t-shirts that describe the city with short slogans. In addition, products such as wooden carved figures, key chains, magnets, and tea are at the top of the list of items that can be bought as gifts. In addition, those who wish can take canned fish products with them.
Major shopping centers in Male include Male Market in the northern part of the city, Enzi located in the Ameenee Magu & Dhonadharaadha Hingun area, Fish Market located in the city center, Majeedhee Magu, one of the important shopping centers of the city, and South West Harbor Area close to the port. .
The streets of Male are a place where you can both shop and catch colorful images. Especially Chandhanee Magu Street, located in the center of the capital, is one of the places where you can find a wide variety of shopping. You can easily reach here on foot from the coastal part. Shops in Male open with the early hours of the morning and serve visitors until late.
However, since most of the shops will be closed during the prayer time, you should adjust your shopping time accordingly. On Fridays, shops are opened after the noon prayer due to the Friday prayer. Finally, before you leave the city, you should not forget to buy a small gift for yourself and your loved ones.
Male Nightlife
When you travel to Male, do not leave without tasting the nightlife! Nightlife in Male has not developed much due to the belief of the people. The fact that religious influences are very effective in daily life has determined entertainment practices in this direction. Nightlife in Male usually develops in hotels and resorts. Unlimited live music events, cultural entertainment and DJ programs and alcohol consumption are allowed in these venues.
Maldives, one of the world’s leading tourist destinations, has reflected its calm and peaceful nature to its nightlife. The religious belief system in the country has also supported this situation. There are no entertainment venues such as nightclubs, bars and pubs in these beautiful islands of the world. You can only participate in the entertainment programs organized by the hotel where you are staying. Although this situation is perceived as a disadvantage for some visitors, Male tries to develop different alternative entertainment concepts for its visitors.
As the entertainment life has not developed in Male, as in the rest of the country, no employment has been created in this area. Maldives offers you an opportunity to have a good time, relax, and have unforgettable moments with your friends and families. Although the inactive nightlife creates some questions in the minds of the visitors, you should relax and see this natural beauty at least once in your life.
Especially for those who complain about the fast and tiring city life, Male is a place of purification and rest. This place, which we can describe as the paradise on earth, is one of the places where you can make unlimited use of the sea, sand and sun opportunities. Here you will see that time does not actually pass like city life. Male is an ideal destination for those who want to get away from the chaos.
Our recommendation for visitors who do not want to have fun at the hotel is to visit the cafes in the city. However, it should be noted that cafes generally serve between 00.00 – 01.00 hours. Among the most popular cafes in the city are: Meraki Coffee Roasters located in the Husnuheena Magu area, SeaLaVie Cafe famous for its Far Eastern drinks and food, Kurumba Cafe famous for its seafood and vegetarian dishes, The House Cafe, which is popular for its coffees, Ocean Edge Cafe, Jade Bistro, Cafe Vodkin, Hirimi and Cibo Cafe Maldives.
Male is also very famous for its beaches and beaches. You can spend pleasant and unforgettable moments in these places not only during the daytime but also at night. You can light a fire on the beach and spend a pleasant evening with your friends or family in the peaceful company of the sea. In addition, another activity you can do at night in Male is the night movie screenings organized by the hotels for their customers on the beaches.
This event, called Jungle Cinema, is given to its customers as a service in quality hotels in Male. With the beautiful weather, this event is one of the best activities that can be done at night. According to the program of the hotel where you will stay, visitors who wish can participate in such an event.
Male Festivals
Male, where many festivals take place, offers very lively and colorful squares for both local and foreign people. The most prominent of these festivals are as follows:
Ramadan Festival: Celebrated in Male, the Ramadan Festival marks the Eid al-Fitr, which also exists in our country. Since the date of Ramadan Feast changes every year, the date of this festival, which is celebrated in the country, also changes every year.
Kuda Eid Festival: To celebrate the end of Eid al-Fitr, the people come together to celebrate the end of this holy month with various games and the presentation of local delicacies. The end of this festival also varies every year.
Independence Festival: This festival is celebrated in many parts of the country, especially in Male, every year for the country’s full independence 78 years ago. In this festival, this festival is celebrated by wearing local clothes and accompanied by dance and music. The celebration date of this festival coincides with 26 July.
Hz. Muhammad’s Birthday: In this special day celebration, the majority of the people came together to celebrate Hz. It celebrates the birth of Muhammad. For this purpose, prayers are held in various places and hymns are sung. This festival, which is quite different in terms of cultural recognition and acquaintance, varies every year according to the date of Mevlit Kandili.
Male Public Holidays
- January 1: New Year
- January 3rd: Rev. Muhammad’s Birthday
- January 22: Adoption of Islam
- May 1: Labor Day
- Beginning of Ramadan: Varies every year
- 18 July: Eid-ul Fithr
- November 3: Victory Day
- 11 November: Republic Day
- December 13: National Holiday
Useful Information For Male
- Fire Brigade: 102
- Police: 119
- Ambulance: 102
