Things to do in Malé

Malé is a capital on an island a couple of kilometres long, built up to the shoreline. It began as a fishing town and still lands tuna at its harbour. It is small enough to see in a day.

On the island

• The Old Friday Mosque. Hukuru Miskiy, built of coral stone in 1658. Near it stand the golden dome of the Islamic Centre and the Sultan Park.
• The fish market. On the harbour, and busiest when the boats come in. The vegetable and fruit market is close by.
• The Presidential Palace. Seen from outside, not far from the park.
• The artificial beach. A strip of sand on the east side, popular with locals in the evening.

Across the water

• Villimalé. A short public ferry away, green and quiet. A local group, Save the Beach, runs walks and a coral nursery here.
• Hulhumalé. A reclaimed island north-east of Malé, joined to the airport. Snorkelling boats leave from its west jetty.
• The airport. On Hulhulé, a bridge and a ferry ride from the capital.

On the water

The sandbank trip takes about 40 minutes by speedboat. Two snorkelling stops follow, with turtles, stingrays and reef sharks, and dolphins turn up at sunset if you are lucky.

The three-stop version visits Coral Garden, Kurumba House Reef and Sting Ray City. Guides change the route to suit the sea.

Practical

• Weather. Afternoons reach about 31C in every month, and showers can arrive at any time. Walk early or late in the day.
• Dress. Cover shoulders and the upper thigh in town. Mosques need long trousers, for men and women alike.
• Fridays. The day of rest. Shops close around the midday prayer, and mosques pause for all five daily prayers.
• Water trips. Bring a dry bag, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard.
• Tips. Gratuities are not included in tour prices.