Malé City Tour

Malé is one of the most densely built capitals in the world, a single island packed with colourful buildings, scooters and markets, and a lively contrast to the resorts. A short guided walk shows everyday Maldivian life.

Highlights include the Old Friday Mosque, built in 1658 from carved coral stone, the gold-domed Islamic Centre, Sultan Park, and the fish and fruit markets near the harbour, where the day’s tuna catch is landed. The National Museum in Sultan Park displays royal treasures and relics from the islands’ Buddhist past.

Tours take two to three hours and fit neatly into a long wait between transfers or the day you fly home. Malé is a conservative city, so dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered.