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What to wear in the Maldives

By PackTheLook · Updated 28 October 2026

The Maldives is two different places dress-wise. On private resort islands anything goes — bikinis, kaftans and barefoot dinners. On local inhabited islands and in the capital Malé, it is a conservative Muslim country: bikinis are only allowed on designated "bikini beaches", and you should cover shoulders and knees elsewhere. Temperatures are 26–31°C every day; the main choice is dry season (Dec–Apr) versus the wetter southwest monsoon (May–Nov).

Pick your month

Average daytime high shown. Tap a month for weather, events and a packing list.

Jan 31° Sunny, calm Feb 31° Sunny, calm Mar 32° Sunny, calm Apr 32° Sunny, calm May 32° Showers, deals Jun 31° Showers, deals Jul 31° Showers, deals Aug 31° Showers, deals Sep 31° Showers, deals Oct 31° Showers, deals Nov 30° Showers, deals Dec 30° Sunny, calm

Dress code

  • Resorts: swimwear, cover-ups and resort-casual are fine everywhere.
  • Local islands and Malé: cover shoulders and knees; bikinis only on designated bikini beaches.
  • Mosques: long, loose clothing; women cover their hair.
  • Many resort restaurants are barefoot-elegant; a few ask men for long trousers at dinner.
  • Use reef-safe sunscreen — the coral is fragile.

Plugs: Type D / G, 230V (resorts usually have universal sockets).

What to wear for…

Snorkelling and diving

A rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen and reef shoes. House reefs are steps from your villa, so you'll swim every day.

Local island visits

Cover your shoulders and knees, and wear swimwear only on designated "bikini beaches". Alcohol isn't allowed on local islands.

Seaplane transfers

There are strict weight limits, often around 20kg checked luggage plus about 5kg in the cabin. Soft bags are preferred, so pack light.

Resort dinners

Floors are often sand, so heels sink. Choose flat sandals, a maxi dress, or a linen shirt with chinos.

Dry season (Dec–Apr) Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Dec

Sunny, calm and 30–32°C — peak season with clear water for snorkelling. Swimwear, cover-ups and one elegant dinner outfit.

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Southwest monsoon (May–Nov) May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

Still warm (30°C) with rain showers, wind and sunny breaks — big resort discounts, manta rays and whale sharks. Quick-dry beachwear plus a light rain layer.

Also pack

Showing more covered picks for travellers from India.

For men

Resorts are relaxed by day, with swim shorts, linen shirts and slides, and "barefoot chic" at dinner: a linen shirt with chinos or tailored shorts. Some fine-dining restaurants ask men for long trousers and collared shirts. On local islands and in Malé, cover your shoulders and knees, and don't go shirtless outside the designated bikini beaches.

Common packing mistakes

  • Packing heels for sand-floored restaurants.
  • Going over seaplane weight limits and paying excess-baggage fees.
  • Wearing a bikini on a local island outside the bikini beach.
  • Bringing non-reef-safe sunscreen and forgetting how strong the glare is.

What's on through the year

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