Male, the capital of Maldives, is so much fun!
✨Male, as the capital of Maldives, is not only an important transportation hub, but also a charming tourist destination. Today I will share with you a super practical travel guide to Male, so that you can deeply experience the unique style of this city!
🏞Recommended attractions:
1. Independence Square: Male’s iconic attraction, witnessing the history of Maldives’ independence. The national flag and memorial sculptures flying in the square make people feel the pride of the country. It is surrounded by coconut groves, making it a great place for taking photos.
2. Old Friday Mosque: With a long history and unique architectural style, it is an important religious place in Male. When entering, be sure to pay attention to the dress code and respect the local religious culture.
3. Fish Market: This is the busiest place in Male. Every morning you can see fishermen bringing back fresh catches. There is a wide variety of seafood on display, and you can also experience the local fishing culture.
4. National Museum: The museum houses a large collection of Maldivian historical relics and artworks, which allows one to gain in-depth knowledge of the country’s history, culture and traditions. It is a good place to increase knowledge.
5. Sultan Park: Shaded by green trees, there are large lawns and beautiful flowers. The park also contains the ruins of the Sultan’s palace. Walking through it, you feel like you are traveling back in time.
🍱Food recommendations:
1. Kadoka: A traditional Maldivian delicacy, this salad uses tuna as the main ingredient. It has a rich, refreshing and delicious taste.
2. Curry fish: The delicious fish meat is paired with rich curry, which has a mellow taste and goes very well with rice.
3. Fried fish cakes: crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the freshness of the fish is perfectly locked in, and it’s super satisfying to take a bite.
4. Coconut Cake: Sweet and soft, full of rich coconut aroma, it is a dessert not to be missed.
🚗Transportation Guide:
• Airport to Male: You can choose to take a ferry or taxi. Ferries are cheap but take a long time; taxis are fast but relatively expensive.
• Within Male city: mainly rely on walking, bicycle or taxi. Walking can help you better experience the atmosphere of the city; renting a bicycle allows you to travel freely through the streets and alleys; taxis are convenient and fast, but remember to negotiate the price in advance.
💡Practical tips:
1. Maldives offers a 30-day free visa on arrival. Remember to prepare your passport and return ticket in advance.
2. The US dollar is the common currency in the local area. Most hotels and restaurants also accept credit cards, but it is recommended to bring some small-denomination US dollars for tips.
3. The voltage in Male is 220 - 240 volts, but the plug is a two-pin flat plug or a two-pin round plug. It is best to bring your own conversion socket.
4. Respect local religious and cultural customs. Dress appropriately when entering a mosque. Women should avoid wearing short skirts or shorts, and men should not wear vests.
5. The ultraviolet rays in Male are very strong, so be sure to take sun protection measures and bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a sun hat, etc.
💰Consumption reference:
• Accommodation: Luxury hotels cost thousands of RMB per night, mid-range hotels cost 1,500 - 3,000 RMB, and budget hotels or B&Bs cost 500 - 1,000 RMB.
• Food: A standard breakfast is about RMB 30, lunch and dinner are RMB 100 - 300.
• Transportation: The starting taxi fare is about 20 Maldivian Rufiyaa (about 8 RMB), and the charge is 5 Maldivian Rufiyaa (about 2 RMB) per kilometer; the daily rental fee for a bicycle is about 50 Maldivian Rufiyaa (about 20 RMB); the ferry fee to nearby islands is 10 - 50 Maldivian Rufiyaa (about 4 - 20 RMB).