When is the best time to go to the Maldives?

The most conducive period for the discovery of the archipelago in the Maldives remains the dry season, ranging from November to April. During the early monsoon season, the very moderate rains are in favor of the many tourists who are visiting. They can enjoy sunny days and spend their time gazing at the turquoise-blue sea and clear sky that stretches out beyond the horizon. In the Maldives, the period between the months of December and February is the peak tourist season, therefore plan your trip according to the increased travel budget, as the price of flights and accommodations are higher.

However, the low season in the Maldives can be interesting for backpackers or travelers on a budget. The important thing is simply to choose the right destination. The southern atolls of the archipelago are less exposed to rain, unlike the northeast of the islands. Moreover, as the weather conditions are great for surfing, the wet season here is perfect to combine sports with discoveries, away from the most popular pathways and areas.

So, when is the best time to go to the Maldives? Here's some more information to help you in your decision:

  • In Maldives, the weather is good everywhere in January, February and March
  • The best months to go to Male are January, February, March, April and June
  • On average, it is hot all year round in Male
  • The rainiest months in this city are May, October, November and December
  • Dhidhdhoo is the city with the best climate, with good weather 6 months a year
  • The sea temperature is suitable for swimming all year round in Male



Annual weather in Maldives

For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Maldives for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:

January 83°F
2 to 9 days*
February 83°F
2 to 8 days*
March 85°F
2 to 9 days*
April 85°F to 86°F
2 to 12 days*
May 85°F to 86°F
12 to 18 days*
June 85°F
7 to 20 days*
July 83°F to 85°F
10 to 18 days*
August 83°F to 85°F
12 to 19 days*
September 83°F to 85°F
11 to 14 days*
October 83°F to 85°F
10 to 14 days*
November 85°F
8 to 16 days*
December 83°F
8 to 13 days*
* weather varies across the country

Best time to travel to Maldives by cities

Chargement en cours
Male

Male

The best months to go to Male are january, february, march, april and june.

Addu Atoll

Addu Atoll

The best months to go to Addu Atoll are january, february, march and june.

Dharavandhoo

Dharavandhoo

The best months to go to Dharavandhoo are january, february, march, april and june.



Climate and Weather in Maldives

Located just off Sri Lanka and India, the Maldives - whose very name inspires tourists around the world - has a rather tropical climate. In other words, temperatures remain high but bearable throughout the most part of the year, just like with the temperatures of the water. With nearly 2,500 hours of sunshine each year, the Maldives climate is more than just a dream! One should still be careful though, as due it its proximity with the tropics, rainfall is also very prevalent. Keep in mind that rains are for generally short periods and punctuated later with beautiful sunshine.

Maldives: Bungalows sur le lagon aux Maldives

The Maldives climate is divided into two distinct seasons, of which the dates are determined by the different monsoons. Thus the dry season, ranging from December to Marc, is the Northeast monsoon, also known as “Iruwai”. The latter conditions are not however violent, thanks to the protection of Sri Lanka. In the center, especially towards the capital Malé, the showers are however a little more frequent. The second, more humid season is from early May to November, as part of the southwest monsoon season, also called the “Hulhangu”. This is a much more agitated season than that of in the northeast because in addition to the rain, there is also a lot of wind causing the sea to be particularly rageful. However, the very intense rains are shorter than within the northeast and generally, they affect the northern islands of the archipelago.

Note that despite these two main seasons, the Maldives still enjoy a very nice weather and is much more peaceful and calm, far from the bustling of the monsoon seasons.


Temperatures and rainfall in Maldives

On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Maldives and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Male, Addu Atoll, Dharavandhoo, Dhidhdhoo and Gan, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.


Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Maldives

Find out when Maldives has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.

Tourist seasons in Maldives

The months with low numbers of tourists are: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. The number of visitors to Maldives is high in: January, February and December.

  • Very low season in Maldives: May and June.
  • Low season in Maldives: March, April, July, August, September, October and November.
  • High season in Maldives: January and February.
  • Peak season in Maldives: December.

Figure: Visitor index for Maldives month by month


Average price for flights to the Maldives

A return flight between London and Male is generally cheaper if you go in january ($ 775 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 309 more for your airline ticket to Male if you go in august.

Find the best price for your flight



Where to go in Maldives?

This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).

Cities jan.feb.mar.apr.mayjun.jul.aug.sep.oct.nov.dec.
Male83°F83°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F83°F
Addu Atoll83°F85°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F
Dharavandhoo83°F83°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F83°F
Dhidhdhoo83°F83°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F
Gan83°F85°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F
Hulhulé83°F83°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F83°F
Maafushi83°F83°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F83°F
Naifaru (Faadhippolhu atoll)83°F83°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F83°F
Thulusdhoo83°F83°F85°F86°F86°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F85°F83°F

Legend:

perfect weather

good weather

tolerable weather



About Maldives

What can I do in Maldives?

Beaches / swimming

Nature and countryside

Culture and heritage

Sports

Family travel

Crafts / shopping

Gastronomy

Nightlife



Is this weather information for Maldives reliable?

Climate data for Maldives has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Maldives allows us to determine the average for each month in Male, Addu Atoll, Dharavandhoo, Dhidhdhoo, Gan, Hulhulé, Maafushi, Naifaru (Faadhippolhu atoll) and and 1 other cities.

So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.

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