Many of us have faced the dilemma of the unavoidably long layovers at the airport. If you’re stuck in the Maldives, and your layover gives you an extra few hours, or even a day, there are quite a few ways to enjoy that extra bit of time. Here are the top 05 things you should do during a long layover in the Maldives!
01. A Day at CROSSROADS Maldives
A day visit to The Marina at CROSSROADS Maldives should be on your bucket list. If you cannot book a stay at the beautiful properties in CROSSROADS, enjoy a day at The Marina during your long layovers. Located just 15 minutes from the airport, this world-class destination has some of the most exciting outlets to explore. In addition to a plethora of dining options, CROSSROADS Maldives is also the perfect spot for last-minute shopping for souvenirs and a whole lot of entertainment. One of the first things many visitors note is the absolute beauty of The Marina. The entire area is exceptionally colourful, lined up with fun outlets for adults as well as young ones to explore.
At CROSSROADS Maldives you can bask in the sun, discover about the Maldives marine life and history, have a day by the pool or enjoy the culinary delights.
02. Exploring Male’ City
Although Male’ City isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, the City area has quite a bit to explore! Located just 15-20 minutes away from the Airport, Male’ City is a densely packed little island that most travellers dismiss during their trip. If you’re adventurous and you have a long layover in the Maldives, Male’ City is one place that is worth checking out. In addition to the amazing variety of stores and cafes as well as restaurants, in Male’ City you can also explore:
- The Grand Friday Mosque and the Victory Monument
- The National Museum
- Sultan Park and the National Museum
- The Fish Market and the Local Male’ Market
- The Republic Square
03. Short Day Visit to Hulhumale’
If you find Male’ a bit too overwhelming, Hulhumale ‘ is also a great destination to explore. Unlike the capital city Male’, Hulhumale’ is greener and more walkable. Additionally, it’s also easier to explore beaches as well as watersports in this part of the City. If you’re ever wondering what to do during a long layover in Maldives, head over to Hulhumale’. You can either enjoy a walk in Central Park, book a cute Airbnb to relax or enjoy the beautiful cafes in this City. If you’re looking to explore the beach just a bit longer, Hulhumale’ also offers that option with a variety of water sports activities as well.
04. Beach Day at Villingili
Nothing beats a beach day in the Maldives, so enjoy it while you can. Although we would recommend hopping off to Villingili if your layover is at least a day or two long. This beautiful island is located 20 minutes away from the capital city. You can easily purchase tickets and hop on a ferry directly to the island. With no motorised vehicles, the island of Villingili feels like an untouched peace of heaven. Not only are the beaches on this island uniquely beautiful, but this is also the go-to spot for cat lovers. You can find small feline friends all over the island! The island is relatively small and embraced as a picnic island among locals and travellers alike. For the best beach day, pack up a nice picnic with Maldivian short-eats and your favourite drinks.
05. Trying out Local Food
Although you can try out local delicacies at Maldives resorts, nothing beats the authentic Maldivian cuisine you can find on the islands. For a real taste of Maldivian food, travellers can explore some favourite spots in Male’ City. Although you can always ask a local for some good local food spots, you can always explore food from local ‘Hotaa’s’ such as Magukolhu Hotaa. Additionally, you can also explore local food from any of the ‘Carnival Area’ restaurants. Here you can eat some of the best authentic Maldivian breakfasts for under $5!
