Key hubs
Malé airport and railway station
- Airport
- Velana International Airport (MLE) on Hulhulé Island, linked to Malé by the Sinamalé Bridge; a short road or boat transfer.
- Railway station
- None. The Maldives has no railway, so there is no station to plan around.
- Getting around
- Walk on Malé Island, use roof-signed taxis for tired legs, buses on Hulhumalé and to the airport, and the ferry to Villimalé. International ride-hailing apps do not operate.
How to reach Malé by air
Velana International Airport (MLE) is on Hulhulé Island, next to Malé. IndiGo lists direct flights from Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, Air India announced daily Delhi and Mumbai services in 2025, and Maldivian flies from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. Check current schedules. By road it is usually under half an hour to Malé.
How to reach Malé by train
There is no railway in the Maldives, so no train service or station can help you here. Travel from India is by air, and within the country by road bridge, boat, ferry or seaplane.
How to reach Malé by road
The Sinamalé Bridge, about 2.1 km long, links Malé with the airport island of Hulhulé, and a causeway continues to Hulhumalé. It opened in 2018 and was the country's first inter-island bridge. There are no road links to other atolls. A separate bridge to Villimalé is under construction.
Getting around Malé
Malé Island is walkable, at about 45 minutes end to end. Roof-signed taxis are the easy option for older travellers, since international ride-hailing apps do not operate. Buses run within Hulhumalé and to the airport and Malé. A local ferry serves Villimalé round the clock, and resort transfers are by speedboat or seaplane.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Malé
- Walking across Malé takes only about 45 minutes, but do it in pieces. Take a taxi between the historic core and Artificial Beach rather than walking the whole seafront.
- Prefer Hulhumalé if a parent has trouble with crowded streets or a long airport run; it is close to the airport by road and calmer than Malé Island.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.