25 Interesting Facts About the Maldives
From the world's lowest terrain to a cabinet meeting held underwater, the Maldives collects superlatives like no other nation.
Alcohol Rules in the Maldives Explained
Alcohol is legal only on licensed resort islands and liveaboards — and you cannot bring any into the country, even duty-free.
Dress Code in the Maldives: Resorts vs Local Islands
Resorts are dress-as-you-please; local islands ask for modesty, with designated bikini beaches for visitors.
Etiquette and Customs in the Maldives: A Visitor's Guide
A little cultural awareness goes a long way in the Maldives, especially when stepping off the resort onto local islands.
Garudhiya: The Maldives' National Fish Soup
A clear tuna broth served with rice, lime and chilli, garudhiya is the dish closest to the Maldivian heart.
Hedhikaa: A Guide to Maldivian Short Eats
From tuna-stuffed pastries to sweet coconut treats, hedhikaa are the beloved snacks of the Maldivian tea shop.
Maldivian Cuisine: An Introduction to the Food of the Islands
Maldivian food is built on three pillars: fish, coconut and starches, shaped by centuries of Indian Ocean trade.
Mas Huni: The Classic Maldivian Breakfast
Shredded tuna, grated coconut, onion and chilli: mas huni with warm roshi is how the Maldives starts its day.
Public Ferries in the Maldives: Island Hopping on a Budget
Slow, cheap and authentically local — the public ferry network stitches the inhabited islands together.
Seafood in the Maldives: From Pole-and-Line Tuna to Reef Fish
Tuna is king in the Maldives, caught one fish at a time by pole and line — but the ocean's menu runs far deeper.
Tea, Coffee and Café Culture in the Maldives
Sweet black tea rules the islands, poured in tea shops that double as social hubs — with espresso culture rising fast in Malé.
The 2009 Guesthouse Law and the Local Island Tourism Boom
For decades tourists were kept to private resort islands. A 2009 rule change let locals open guesthouses — and changed everything.
The Economy of the Maldives: Tourism, Fishing and Beyond
Tourism is the engine, fishing the tradition — the Maldivian economy balances on two industries and imports nearly everything else.
The People of the Maldives: Population, Language and Society
Roughly half a million Maldivians live scattered across some 200 inhabited islands — with a third of them packed into greater Malé.
Travelling in the Maldives During Ramadan
Resorts run as normal during Ramadan, but local island life shifts to after dark. Here is what visitors should know.
Tropical Fruits of the Maldives
Coconut is the undisputed staple, but bananas, papaya, mango, breadfruit and screwpine all have a place in island life.