Money hackEat your big meal at lunch
Many restaurants serve a cheaper set lunch menu – the same food as dinner for a fraction of the price.
✈️ Cheap flights to Maldives
Compare fares to Maldives from hundreds of airlines and travel sites – fly into Velana Intl (MLE). Find the best time to fly, flight times from major cities and every airport.
🔥 Cheapest flights to Maldives right now
🛬 Airports in Maldives
| Code | Airport | City | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MLE | Velana Intl | Malé | Main |
| HAQ | Hanimaadhoo Intl | Haa Dhaalu Atoll | Main |
| GAN | Gan Intl | Gan | Main |
| VAM | Villa Intl Maamigili | Maamigili | Regional |
| NMF | Maafaru Intl | Noonu Atoll | Regional |
| KDO | Kadhdhoo | Kadhdhoo | Regional |
| KDM | Kaadedhdhoo | Huvadhu Atoll | Regional |
Almost all visitors arrive at Velana International Airport on an island next to Malé, with some international flights to Gan in Addu Atoll. From there, transfers continue by ferry, speedboat, seaplane or domestic flight.
📅 Best time to fly to Maldives
Best: December–April: the dry northeast monsoon brings sunshine, calm seas and excellent visibility for snorkelling and diving.
Cheaper shoulder season: November and late April: mostly good weather with lower prices and fewer visitors.
Avoid: May–October: the southwest monsoon brings more rain, wind and choppy seas, though it's also manta season and resorts are cheaper.
Weather by month in Malé
- 30°Jan⛅
- 31°Feb☀️
- 31°Mar⛅
- 32°Apr⛅
- 31°May🌧
- 31°Jun🌧
- 30°Jul🌧
- 30°Aug🌧
- 30°Sep🌧
- 30°Oct🌧
- 30°Nov🌧
- 30°Dec🌧
Average daytime highs (°C) and how rainy each month is.
⏱️ Flight times to Maldives
| Route | Distance | Flight time (nonstop) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| London → Malé | 8,538 km | 10 h 55 min | |
| New York → Malé | 14,022 km | 17 h 35 min* | |
| Los Angeles → Malé | 15,593 km | 19 h 25 min* | |
| Chicago → Malé | 14,548 km | 18 h 10 min* | |
| Miami → Malé | 15,647 km | 19 h 30 min* | |
| San Francisco → Malé | 15,083 km | 18 h 50 min* | |
| Toronto → Malé | 14,052 km | 17 h 35 min* | |
| Paris → Malé | 8,276 km | 10 h 40 min | |
| Frankfurt → Malé | 7,884 km | 10 h 10 min | |
| Dubai → Malé | 3,041 km | 4 h 20 min | |
| Delhi → Malé | 2,735 km | 4 h 00 min | |
| Mumbai → Malé | 1,658 km | 2 h 40 min | |
| Singapore → Malé | 3,397 km | 4 h 45 min | |
| Sydney → Malé | 9,137 km | 11 h 40 min |
Flight times are estimates for a nonstop flight; with a connection allow 2–5 hours more. * Very long routes usually need a stop.
📍 Where to go in Maldives
- Malé – A compact, busy island city with mosques, markets and a real local feel, minutes from the airport.
- Maafushi – The most popular local island for budget travellers, with guesthouses, a bikini beach and many excursions.
- South Ari Atoll – One of the best places in the world to see whale sharks year-round.
- Baa Atoll – Famous for Hanifaru Bay's manta gatherings and healthy reefs.
- Dhigurah – A long, slim island with a beautiful beach and close access to whale-shark waters.
- Fuvahmulah – A unique single-island atoll with lakes and exceptional shark diving.
💡 Flight hacks
Planning hackTravel in shoulder season
The weeks just before or after peak season bring lower prices, fewer crowds and usually good weather.
Money hackUse free walking tours
Tip-based walking tours run in most big cities and are a great first-day introduction with a local guide.
Flights to Maldives: questions
What is the main airport in Maldives?
The main international airport is Velana Intl (MLE) in Malé. Other airports with scheduled flights include Haa Dhaalu Atoll (HAQ), Gan (GAN), Maamigili (VAM).
How long is the flight from London to Maldives?
A nonstop flight from London to Malé covers about 8,538 km and takes around 10 h 55 min. With a connection, plan for a few extra hours.
When is the best time to fly to Maldives?
December–April: the dry northeast monsoon brings sunshine, calm seas and excellent visibility for snorkelling and diving.
When is the cheapest time to fly to Maldives?
Fares are usually lowest outside the peak season. Good-value months: November and late April: mostly good weather with lower prices and fewer visitors.
Do I need a visa to fly to Maldives?
It depends on your passport. See our Maldives visa & entry guide for the rules, then check with the official embassy before you book.
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