Male Island Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

Male Island Transportation

Male Island is the most populous city and the capital of the Republic of Maldives. The island itself is not very large but there are several different methods of transportation for tourists to move in and around the island. Below, we have listed some of the more popular transportation methods on Male Island.

Airport Ferry

Brahim Nassir Airport is located on Hulhule Island. Newly arriving tourists will need to reach Male Island and luckily it is very easy by using the ferry. Boat rides leave about every ten minutes and a ticket to get from Hulhule Island to Male Island will cost tourists about $1. To get to the ferry, arriving tourists will simply walk directly to the pier from the airport to catch a ferry.

Walking

Male Island itself is very easily walkable and the landscape is completely flat. Most of the main attractions on the island can be visited in about one hour and are all easily accessible from the pier. Within the hour walk, tourists can see both the old and new mosques, the sultan’s garden, presidential palace, cemetery, and the fish market. To visit the back side of the island and for time to stop at the beaches tourists should allow for two or three hours for walking.

Water Taxis

Water taxis are not only a great way to get to Male Island but also a great way to see the area. These flat bottom boats are regularly available to take tourists to see several islands near Male Island. Water Taxis are very reliable, fast, and very convenient to move from place to place. Most resorts and hotels will be able to help schedule water taxis for tourists. Typically, these boats will leave about every 15 minutes or when the boat is full.

Taxi Cabs

Taxi cabs on the island are a great way to get around. Cabs are fairly reliable and relatively inexpensive. Most of the cabs are comfortable to ride in and are  usually air conditioned. The cabs travel from one fixed point to another with a fixed price. Most of the destinations can be reached by a taxi cab for around $1. Be prepared for some traffic on Male Island though. The streets are very narrow and made of cobblestone so traveling by vehicle can be slow going at times.

Seaplane

Tickets for the seaplane will cost visitors about $70 per person for a tour that lasts about 30 minutes. The seaplane ride takes a tour of the entire island in a very smooth and comfortable ride. For the small cost, this is a must do in order to see the entire island from a much different point of view that cannot be gained from simply walking around Male.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about different modes of transportation when visiting Male Island.