Is Male, the capital of the Maldives, worth visiting?

Male' is the capital and the most populous city of the Maldives, located on the southern edge of North Male Atoll. Traditionally, it was the seat of the ancient Maldivian dynasty and the royal palace. Covering an area of 205.54 hectares, it has a permanent population of 137,238 (official data from 2022), with an average elevation of 2.4 meters. About one-third of the country's population is concentrated here, making it one of the most densely populated cities in the world.

Every year, a large number of Chinese tourists travel to the Maldives for vacation. Most visitors who cannot go to the islands on the day of arrival usually do not stay in the city except to exchange currency in Male'. Many choose to stay overnight at hotels in nearby Hulhumale’ before rushing to the islands the next day. After their vacation, they often return directly to the airport to prepare for departure. This is because many people associate Male' with narrow, congested streets, chaotic and crowded buildings, and streets filled with motorcycle exhaust and noise.

In fact, Male' has many popular spots worth visiting, offering a deeper insight into local life. From the airport, you can take a public ferry for about 15 minutes to the airport ferry terminal on the opposite shore for just 1 USD (or 15 MVR).

From the ferry terminal, you can walk along the seaside road on the right to visit all the popular attractions in Male':
1. Henveiru Ferry Terminal
2. President’s Office
3. Male’ Friday Mosque
4. Muliaage Palace
5. Sultan Park
6. Victory Monument
7. National Museum
8. Republic Square
9. Presidential Jetty
10. Souvenir Street (located on Chaandhanee Magu)
11. Local Market
12. Fish Market
13. Stingrays Watching spot

Alternatively, from the ferry terminal, you can walk along the seaside road on the left to visit these popular spots:
14. King Salman Mosque
15. Artificial Beach
16. Embassy of China in the Maldives