🇲🇻Maldives

SIM and eSIM: what to buy right after arrival

Getting connected within the first 24 hours after arrival is key to coordinating transfers and accommodation. Tourists have three main options:

1. Physical SIM card at the airport: Technically the most stable option with full access to the local 4G and 5G networks. It pays off for longer stays, but requires in-person registration with a passport at the counter and, at peak arrival times, a 30–50 minute wait in the queue.
2. International travel eSIM: Services such as Airalo, SimCorner and Yesim let you buy and configure a profile before departure. They activate the moment you land and register on the network. SimCorner additionally offers data plans without uploading a passport scan.
3. Roaming: Using home-network roaming is completely unsuitable in the Maldives because of extreme data charges. Keep roaming active only to receive free authorization SMS messages.

Comparison table

The following table compares the most relevant mobile plans available to tourists as of July 2026:

Where exactly to buy

SIM cards and eSIM profiles are distributed at these locations:

• Velana International Airport (MLE): The official sales stands are in the arrivals hall immediately past the customs zone. The Ooredoo kiosk sits in the central part of the hall; the Dhiraagu kiosk is to the right of the exit. Both airport branches match their opening hours to the flight schedule and serve late-night arrivals. You can pay in USD, MVR or by card.
• Brand stores in town: The flagship Experience Centers are in the capital Malé on the Majeedhee Magu shopping street and on the neighboring island of Hulhumalé. Buying there takes longer because of resident-registration paperwork, but standard non-tourist plans can be cheaper.
• Online eSIM platforms: Purchases go directly through the providers' apps or websites (Airalo, SimCorner, Airhub, Yesim). After payment, a configuration QR code arrives by e-mail.

Short verdict

For a typical tourist staying up to 7 days the best solution is buying an international eSIM before departure (e.g. Airalo). It completely removes queueing after a long flight and enables immediate communication with your hotel or transfer. For demanding users, digital nomads or anyone heading to remote atolls for more than 10 days, the best pick is a physical Dhiraagu SIM bought at the airport, since it has the most stable and fastest infrastructure in the country's outlying regions.

Velana International Airport (MLE)

Velana International Airport (MLE) sits on Hulhulé island, connected to the capital Malé and the Hulhumalé transit district by the Sinamalé road bridge. Transfer options are:

• Official road taxi: The licensed-vehicle rank is directly in front of the arrivals hall. The Ministry of Transport sets fixed fares for standard vehicles up to 6 seats:
• Airport -> Malé: 70 MVR (~4.50 USD / 4.20 EUR).
• Airport -> Hulhumalé Phase 1: 80 MVR (~5.20 USD / 4.80 EUR).
• Airport -> Hulhumalé Phase 2: 85 MVR (~5.50 USD / 5.10 EUR).
• Surcharge for a detour to the domestic terminal: 10 MVR.
• Fee for each bag beyond the 3-piece group limit: 5 MVR.
• Larger vans with 7–10 seats: Airport -> Malé 110 MVR, Airport -> Hulhumalé Phase 1 125 MVR, Airport -> Hulhumalé Phase 2 130 MVR. Important warning: drivers at the airport terminals very often ignore these official limits and demand around 200 MVR from foreigners, or even euros/dollars (up to 65 USD). Insist on the official fare before getting into the car.
• Ride-hailing (Avas Ride): The Avas Ride or Malé Taxi Line (MTCC) apps are the safest way to book. Prices in the app are fixed to the official tariffs. Drivers pull up at the designated pick-up point by the arrivals hall.
• Public airport bus (MTCC): Route R4 departs from the stop by the domestic terminal towards Hulhumalé (Fehires Park / Cemetery).
• Hours: Runs 24 hours a day, every 30 minutes.
• Price: A one-way ticket costs 15 MVR (~1 USD / 0.90 EUR). The ride takes 8–10 minutes.
• Public airport ferry (Airport Express): Fast wooden dhonis link the airport with the Malé harbor.
• Hours: Departs every 15 minutes.
• Price: A one-way ticket costs 15 to 20 MVR (~1 to 1.30 USD / 0.90 to 1.20 EUR). The crossing takes about 15 minutes.

Gan International Airport (GAN)

Gan International Airport (GAN) is on the southernmost island of Addu Atoll. Unlike other atolls, the local islands are linked by causeways and the 16 km Addu Link Road.

• Taxi: Licensed cars meet arrivals.
• Price: A transfer from the airport to the farthest center, Hithadhoo, costs a fixed 150 MVR (~10 USD / 9.20 EUR) as of February 2023. Short hops between neighboring islands cost a flat 25 MVR (~1.60 USD / 1.50 EUR).
• Buses (MTCC Southern Transport Link): Bus services connect the airport with all inhabited islands of the atoll.
• Price: A flat fare of 15 MVR (~1 USD / 0.90 EUR).
• Speedboats: Tourists heading to resorts (e.g. Canareef Resort) are picked up at the airport jetty by hotel speedboats; the ride takes 10 minutes.

Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ)

Hanimaadhoo International Airport (HAQ) lies on the northern Haa Dhaalu Atoll and serves as the country's northern gateway.

• Land transfer: The airport sits directly on the inhabited island of Hanimaadhoo. The drive to the local village takes 5 minutes.
• Taxi: Local street taxis carry tourists for a fixed 5 to 7 USD (~80–100 MVR / 4.60–6.40 EUR) as of July 2026. The vast majority of guesthouses and hotels on the island, however, provide a free transfer included in the room rate.
• Public transport: There are no buses, no trains and no tourist car rentals on the island. Inter-island transport is by speedboat.

Maafaru International Airport (NMF)

Maafaru International Airport (NMF) in Noonu Atoll opened in December 2019 and mostly serves charter flights and private jets bound for luxury resorts.

• Ground transfer: Maafaru island has no public bus service and no regular street taxis for tourists. Given the island's tiny size, everything is within walking distance.
• Resort transfers: The airport connects directly to a speedboat jetty. The transfer to luxury resorts (e.g. Soneva Jani) takes 15 minutes by speedboat and is organized and fully covered as part of the accommodation package.

Recommendation by traveler type

• Solo traveler on a low budget: The best value is the public R4 airport bus to Hulhumalé for 15 MVR or the airport dhoni ferry to Malé for 15 MVR.
• Family with children: Download the Avas Ride app and order a Van (7–10 seats). The official 125–130 MVR fare guarantees a safe, spacious transfer with no haggling with drivers at the airport ranks.
• Late-night arrival (after 22:00): A road taxi (ideally via Avas Ride) is the only realistic option. Ferry and bus frequencies drop sharply at night and long waits are likely.
• Low budget: For moving between Malé and Hulhumalé, the regular MTCC bus (routes R2 or R8) at a flat 15 MVR is the best deal.

City transport and apps

• Public transport: Between Malé, Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2 the state company MTCC runs a dense network of bus routes and ferries. The fare on both buses and ferries is 15 MVR (~1 USD / 0.90 EUR). Pay cash to the driver or buy a QR ticket at the terminal.
• Ride-hailing apps:
• Avas Ride (iOS, Android): The dominant local app. Registration needs a phone number (international prefixes are supported for receiving the SMS). You enter a destination, the app finds the nearest free taxi and shows the state-regulated price. Payment is cash only, to the driver at the end of the ride, in MVR or USD.
• Malé Taxi Line (iOS): The official app launched by MTCC in April 2026. It works the same way and books MTCC state vehicles directly; payment can also be made by card online in the app.

Recommendation by traveler type

• Solo traveler on a low budget: The best value is the public R4 airport bus to Hulhumalé for 15 MVR or the airport dhoni ferry to Malé for 15 MVR.
• Family with children: Download the Avas Ride app and order a Van (7–10 seats). The official 125–130 MVR fare guarantees a safe, spacious transfer with no haggling with drivers at the airport ranks.
• Late-night arrival (after 22:00): A road taxi (ideally via Avas Ride) is the only realistic option. Ferry and bus frequencies drop sharply at night and long waits are likely.
• Low budget: For moving between Malé and Hulhumalé, the regular MTCC bus (routes R2 or R8) at a flat 15 MVR is the best deal.

City transport and apps

• Public transport: Between Malé, Hulhumalé Phase 1 and Phase 2 the state company MTCC runs a dense network of bus routes and ferries. The fare on both buses and ferries is 15 MVR (~1 USD / 0.90 EUR). Pay cash to the driver or buy a QR ticket at the terminal.
• Ride-hailing apps:
• Avas Ride (iOS, Android): The dominant local app. Registration needs a phone number (international prefixes are supported for receiving the SMS). You enter a destination, the app finds the nearest free taxi and shows the state-regulated price. Payment is cash only, to the driver at the end of the ride, in MVR or USD.
• Malé Taxi Line (iOS): The official app launched by MTCC in April 2026. It works the same way and books MTCC state vehicles directly; payment can also be made by card online in the app.

Money and payments

• Currency and rates: The official currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR). The official Bank of Maldives rate as of July 2026 is 1 USD = 15.42 MVR (the EUR rate is roughly 1 EUR = 16.50 MVR, unverified in the provided sources). The US dollar (USD) is universally accepted as a parallel currency in all resorts, hotels, restaurants and by service providers.
• ATM withdrawals: ATMs of the largest network, Bank of Maldives (BML), are available at the airport, in Malé and in Hulhumalé. All transactions with foreign cards (debit and credit) carry a fixed fee of 10 USD (about 154 MVR) per withdrawal. The single-withdrawal limit is capped at 3000 MVR (about 200 USD, unverified) for security and liquidity reasons.
• DCC warning (Dynamic Currency Conversion): Card terminals in resorts and transit hotels often offer to settle in the card's home currency (e.g. CZK). Strictly decline and choose payment in the local currency (USD or MVR) — DCC conversion rates carry a hidden 5–8% markup (unverified in the provided sources).
• Exchanging cash: Change cash only at licensed bank counters at the airport or at brick-and-mortar branches in Malé. Unofficial street changers offer poor rates and there is a risk of receiving invalid banknotes.
• Cashless payments: Cards are standard in resorts and transit hotels. On inhabited islands (outside the main tourist centers) and in small local shops, cash in USD or MVR is indispensable.
• Tipping: Tipping is not expected in the Maldives, because a mandatory 10% service charge is added to every bill in restaurants, cafés and accommodation by law. For luggage porters the unwritten standard is 1 to 2 USD per bag.

Accommodation

• Hulhumalé (Phase 1 & Phase 2): An artificial island connected to the airport by bridge. The ideal spot for the first night after arrival, especially when the plane lands after 15:30 and onward seaplanes no longer fly that day. The district offers a calm environment, a city beach and a wide choice of transit hotels. The ban on selling and consuming alcohol fully applies here, except for the licensed Hulhulé Island Hotel on airport grounds.
• Price level: 50 to 150 USD (about 770 to 2300 MVR) per night in a standard three-star hotel with an airport transfer included.
• Malé (center): The extremely densely populated capital. Suitable only for travelers with meetings or a quick sightseeing plan. It suffers from heavy noise and traffic jams.
• Price level: 70 to 180 USD (about 1080 to 2770 MVR) per night.
• Inhabited islands (e.g. Maafushi, Thulusdhoo): Suited to independent, low-budget travelers who want to move straight from the airport to a local island by cheap MTCC ferry.
• Price level: 40 to 100 USD (about 615 to 1540 MVR) per night in family-run guesthouses.

Accommodation law and taxes: At check-in the host must scan your passport and register you in the immigration system. On top of the advertised base room price (e.g. on Booking.com), hotels are legally obliged to add:

1. Tourism GST (TGST): Raised to 17% of the price of accommodation and all services from 1 July 2025.
2. Service Charge: A mandatory 10% service fee.
3. Green Tax: An environmental tax effective from 1 January 2025 of 12 USD per person per night for all resorts, resort hotels and safari boats. For guesthouses on inhabited islands with up to 50 rooms the tax is 6 USD per person per night. It applies to children and infants as well.

Local rules and cultural differences

The Maldives is a strictly Islamic country where sharia shapes everyday legislation. Breaking the rules is punished hard:

• Importing and consuming alcohol: Importing any amount of alcohol for personal use is illegal. Alcohol is strictly prohibited on all inhabited islands (including Malé and Hulhumalé). Its sale and consumption are legal only in international resorts on uninhabited islands holding a special state license.
• Dress and conduct: In public spaces on inhabited islands, both men and women must cover shoulders and knees. Swimming in bikinis and regular swimwear is allowed only on beaches marked Bikini Beach. Topless sunbathing and nudism are illegal everywhere in the country without exception. Public displays of affection (hugging, kissing) are banned and fined as public indecency.
• Photography and drones: Photographing military installations, government buildings and mosques is prohibited. Any journalism or commercial filming/photography on a tourist visa is illegal and leads to deportation. Drone use is tightly regulated and no-fly zones apply around airports and many resorts.
• Places of worship: Mosques may be entered only with a guide and outside prayer times, with the body fully covered and shoes removed.

Everyday practical information

• Power sockets: The standard is Type G (British standard with three flat pins) at 230 V / 50 Hz (unverified in the provided sources). In guesthouses on local islands you will need an adapter; hotels lend them only in limited numbers.
• Time zone: The official time zone of the Maldives is UTC+5 (unverified in the provided sources). Many luxury resorts run their own unofficial Resort Island Time, shifted 1 to 2 hours ahead of Malé to give guests more afternoon daylight.
• Working week and holidays: The official working week runs Sunday to Thursday; Friday and Saturday are the weekend. State offices are open Sunday to Thursday between 8:30 and 13:30. During the holy month of Ramadan, shop and restaurant hours on inhabited islands are sharply reduced.
• Public toilets: The airport and larger hotels have European-standard toilets. On local islands and in harbors, simple Asian squat toilets with a bidet spray prevail.
• Wi-Fi availability: Free Wi-Fi is commonly offered in hotels and cafés, but its speed and stability outside the main atolls tend to be very low.