Maldives : Safety by City
The Maldives is a country that’s actually an archipelago made up of 1,192 coral islands grouped into 26 coral atolls right in the Indian Ocean.
The islands that are a part of this country are located south-southwest of India and are considered part of Southern Asia.
The capital, Male, is where you get most of the facilities, so a lot of people living in islands move to Male, even though the islands are way more peaceful, to get better health facilities or better education.
This is probably why Male is considered one of the most densely populated capital cities of the world.
Warnings & Dangers in Maldives
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Generally speaking, the Maldives are safe for tourists since they mostly travel to its isolated islands usually meant for tourists. However, you shouldn't relax as it definitely isn't without its dangers. Be cautious and apply all precaution measures that you would stick to in your own country.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
You won't use transport much in the Maldives, except from one resort to another maybe, but in general, it's pretty safe, reliable and very well maintained.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
Pickpockets do operate here and there, mostly in the capital of Male, but tourists are rarely targeted - because they usually aren't located in Male. Still, you should be careful. Don't flash your belongings in public or leave your valuables in plain sight.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Tsunamis are the biggest natural threats in the Maldives. The Tsunami of 26 December 2004 caused extensive damage to the Maldives. More than 90 people were killed and there was serious damage to a number of islands, including 19 resort islands.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
There have been very few cases of tourists being mugged or kidnapped. Maldives is a safe country when it comes to violent crime. Still, avoid dark and deserted areas after dark.
TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
Terrorist attacks are likely to happen in the Maldives, including in places frequented by tourists. The Maldivian authorities confirmed in 2017 and 2018 that several men had been arrested on terrorism charges relating to terrorism in the Maldives.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
There are scammers in the Maldives but are easily avoided, only if you use your common sense. Like in other touristy places in Asia, the street or store vendors are pretty persuasive and tiring, so if you feel pressured into purchasing goods, leave the store.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Maldives is mostly a safe country for women. However, if you are a woman and plan on going there alone, make sure you don't wear anything of value when leaving your resort. Apply all precaution measures you would in your own country.
So... How Safe Is Maldives Really?
Even though the crime rates have been increasing in the Maldives for the past couple of year, the fact is that the Maldives are extremely safe for tourists, and here’s why: you will not be staying or even passing in the capital city Malé where all the criminal activities take place.
As a tourist, you will probably be staying in a resort (on a tiny island that has one hotel) and therefore you will be surrounded by other tourists in a leisure and relaxing environment.
A particularly helpful piece of advice here would be not to get involved with any protests that might happen.
Maldives Police Force is often ordered to separate the tourists from any unrest that might happen.
Recently, there have been some political unrest in this country, which is why tourists have been wondering if going to the Maldives is safe at all nowadays.
The situation in the Maldives is a political situation related to the people of the country and not the travelers or the guests, so yes, it is definitely safe to travel there.
The restriction of guns and harmful weapons has definitely contributed to making this place relatively safe, but if you do end up in a dangerous situation, keep in mind that you can absolutely trust the police here.
How Does Maldives Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Maldives | 46 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Qatar | 84 |
| United Arab Emirates | 79 |
| Montenegro | 70 |
| Denmark | 94 |
| Poland | 84 |
| Lithuania | 79 |
| Argentina | 70 |
Useful Information
Visas
You don't need a visa to enter the Maldives, and a thirty-day free visa is issued on arrival for all nationalities. Make sure your passport is valid at least six months from your departure and if you are not sure about your visa status, contact your local Maldivian embassy for further information.
Currency
The Maldivian Rufiyaa is the currency of Maldives. Credit cards can be used in resorts and most guesthouses. ATMs can be found in Male and the bigger islands. Bargaining is not part of Maldivian culture so don't try it!
Weather
The best weather – and the best time to visit the Maldives – is between November and April. The high season falls between December and March. The monsoon runs from May to October, peaking around June.
Airports
Velana International Airport, also known as Malé International Airport, is the main international airport in the Maldives. It is located on Hulhulé Island, close the capital island Malé.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to the Maldives, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Maldives Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
| Low °C | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| High °F | 86 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 86 |
| Low °F | 77 | 77 | 77 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 | 77 |
Maldives - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Male | 72 |
Looking forward to visiting
Being from the Caribbean, a visit to the Maldives is on my travel list as I’m curious to see how the islands compare to ours in the Caribbean. I really appreciate this post providing a great summary of safety in Maldives. It is comforting to know the common tourist spots on the islands are relatively safe.
Resorts are super safe
Truly one to visit at least once in your lifetime. I thought this was a destination for the snotty rich, with chances of me actually enjoying myself slim to nonexistent. I was so, so wrong!
As for safety, if your idea of a vacation is spending your day in the sun with cocktail after cocktail in a 5 star resort, you’ll have zero issues. Resorts are kept separate for a reason; by minimizing the contact you have with the rest of the island they make sure they can.
If you want to visit Male, Maldives’ capital city, you have to be a bit more careful than you normally would if you were in a resort. There’s a ton of traffic so the risk of pickpockets is quite high. We stayed there for one night while waiting for our friends so we could all leave for the resort; it was overpriced and way smaller than our initial estimates. The food was ok, we had a lot of specific restaurants to choose from and the people seemed extremely friendly, no matter where we went. Not an exciting city, by all means, at least for us, we didn’t click at all. We spent one day there and it was more than enough…
Their resorts, on the other hand, even the budget-friendly ones, are something else. If you feel like it, island hopping could be a huge hit, especially if you’re traveling with a bigger crowd; this will keep everyone satisfied and you get access to more water sports than if you had stayed on one island.
The weather is a tricky card though… Be careful to check for monsoon weather, July is a no from what I’ve read. I would hate to have to spend most of the time indoors…
We had the best time there, I couldn’t recommend it enough!