Male, Maldives, experience the charm of the capital in one day!
Male, Maldives, experience the charm of the capital in one day!
My dears, in addition to those breathtakingly beautiful resort islands, the capital Male also hides many surprises! Today I will share with you a super detailed one-day tour guide for Male, so that you can experience the unique charm of this city~
Preparation
- Luggage Storage: After arriving at Male Airport, it is recommended that you shop around for luggage storage. Because storage prices vary and luggage is stored in a public area, don't leave valuables here! For example, I didn't leave my important belongings in storage at the airport just in case.
- Transportation: Take a taxi from Male Airport to the city. Remember to bargain with the driver in advance. Generally, a taxi costs about US$10. It is best to prepare cash change and give the whole amount directly after negotiating the price. This can not only avoid the trouble of making change, but also prevent you from receiving counterfeit money, which is super worry-free!
One-day itinerary
- Morning: After taking a taxi from the airport to the city, go have a meal first. We chose a Thai restaurant, which tasted pretty good and was about a 15-minute drive away. After eating and drinking, start your free travel in Male!
- Check in at the Presidential Palace: It’s a 5-minute walk to Muliaage (Palace), the Maldives Presidential Palace. It’s the smallest presidential palace in the world. Although it’s small in size, its architectural style is very distinctive. It’s very interesting to take photos here.
- Visit the mosque: Across the street is the Hukuru Miskiyy Friday Mosque, which has a long history and a solemn appearance. When you walk in, you can feel the strong religious atmosphere, but you must pay attention to observe local religious etiquette.
- Visit specialty shops: There are many local specialty shops along the way, but many of the goods are from Dayiwu, so just take a look at the excitement. If you come across a small item you like, you can pick it out and you might find a treasure!
- Noon: Continue walking for 2 minutes to Sultan's Park. The park is not big, but it is shaded by green trees. If you are tired of walking around, you can take a break here and feel the leisurely time of the local people. Coming out of Sultan Park, a 2-minute walk will bring you to the National Museum Maldives, which houses many historical relics and artworks of the Maldives, allowing you to gain an in-depth understanding of the country's development process.
- Afternoon: Walk out of the museum and reach Republic Square in 5 minutes. If you are lucky, you can also see Male government vehicles picking coconuts, just like they are doing tree pruning work, which is quite an interesting scene. Then walk for 3 minutes to the Maldives fish market, which is full of fresh fish caught that day, with a wide variety of fish. It’s a pity that I can’t bring them back home, otherwise I would really like to try these fresh seafood.
- Explore the local market: Opposite the fish market is the local market, where there are lots of bananas and various unfamiliar leaves, which are probably ingredients used for local cooking. I also discovered a local chili pepper that was incredibly spicy, the hottest pepper I have ever tasted! There are also stalls selling local atoll products here, but please note that it is prohibited to pick up corals and take them out of the Maldives without permission, and violators will be fined. But if you buy it at a government-approved store, you can carry it with confidence.
- Relaxing afternoon tea: After shopping in the market, you may feel a little tired. You can walk for 1 minute from the local market to the Salt cafe and restaurant, where you can order a drink, sit down and rest your feet, and feel the hustle and bustle of Male city. The roads in Male city are very narrow, with small motorcycles passing one after another, and it seems like they are about to pass by each other, but this is also its unique street scenery.
- Evening: Stroll to eat Japanese food for dinner, then take a taxi to the airport to pick up luggage, check in and go through security check. The duty-free shop at Male Airport is quite large, and many local products are cheaper than on the island. Some special souvenirs and snacks are worth buying. This is when you can put the cash you prepared to use. There is a 15% handling fee for swiping a credit card!
My dears, if you follow this guide, you will definitely be able to visit all the highlights of Male and maximize your experience! Save it now so you can use it when you go to Maldives~