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Destination: Maldives (Indian Ocean, ~1,200 coral islands grouped into atolls, near the equator). Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), but US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. Capital: Malé (the international airport — Velana — is on a separate island next to Malé). Most tourists stay on one resort island. Languages: Dhivehi; English is widely spoken in resorts and tourist areas.
Official sourceEntry: visa-free for tourists from most countries (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, EU, etc.) for up to 30 days. Bring: a passport valid 3+ months, a return ticket, a hotel voucher, and proof of funds (~$50–100/day). A free visa sticker is issued on arrival; there is an airport departure fee of ~$10 (sometimes included in the transfer). Strict customs: no alcohol, drugs, more than 200 cigarettes, pork, weapons or anti-Islamic materials — alcohol bought in duty-free is held until you leave.
Climate: warm all year — air ~25–30°C, sea ~27–29°C. Dry season (north-east monsoon, November–April): sunny and calm — the best time. Wet season (south-west monsoon, April–November): more rain and wind (August is a good compromise, with noticeably less rain). Rain is usually short, often at night or in the afternoon.
Getting there: only by plane. Direct flights from Moscow (Aeroflot, ~9 h); otherwise Emirates/Qatar via connections. Airport transfer: from Velana airport to your resort island is by speedboat (nearby islands) or seaplane (far atolls), arranged by the resort — confirm it when booking.
Where to stay: almost every resort occupies its own private island, so the choice is mostly about budget and vibe — the islands are broadly similar, the difference is service, food and price. For a first visit pick a resort close to Malé airport (shorter transfer). Guesthouses on local inhabited islands are a cheaper alternative. Many resorts block ~$1,000 on your card at check-in.
What to do: snorkelling and diving on the house reef, the Ithaa underwater restaurant (Rangali island, 5 m below sea level, ~$250–300, book ahead), the Friday Mosque (Hukuru Miskiy) and National Museum in Malé, the glowing bioluminescent beach on Vaadhoo island, the Malé fish market, a trip to a local inhabited island, and catamaran cruises. The classic "things to do": dive, try a fresh coconut, visit a deserted sandbank island, and watch the sunset.
Food: Maldivian cuisine is fish (mainly tuna) + spices + coconut, with Indian and Arab influences. Five dishes to try: mas huni (tuna with coconut, onion and chilli, eaten with roshi flatbread), valhoamas (smoked/dried tuna), rihaakuru (thick tuna paste), garudhiya (clear tuna fish soup), and dhonkeyo kajuru (fried banana-coconut balls) with vanilla ice cream.
Money: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR), but US dollars are widely accepted — many visitors never exchange money. Cards work in hotels; take cash for local islands and markets. Hotels often place a ~$1,000 hold on your card at check-in. There is no TaxFree. Maldives is a premium destination — prices are high, especially for diving and excursions.
Mobile: the two operators are Dhiraagu and Ooredoo — buy a tourist SIM at the airport or in Malé. Roaming is expensive and patchy. Hotel Wi-Fi is common and usually included; on remote resort islands mobile signal can be weak, so Wi-Fi is the reliable option.
Shopping: there is no real shopping on the Maldives except souvenirs — most of which are imported from Sri Lanka, India, Thailand or Indonesia. Best spots: Malé (Chandhanee Magu / Singapore Bazaar) and the airport. Bargain in small shops; dollars are accepted. Typical souvenirs: a Maldives t-shirt, traditional dishes, coral jewellery, coconut body lotion, shark teeth. No TaxFree.
Safety and etiquette: the Maldives is a Muslim country — dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees) outside resorts and on local islands, and do not swim topless or naked. Do not damage the reef: even dead coral and shells must not be taken. Alcohol is only available in resorts. Take normal precautions; the biggest real risks are sun and water.
With kids: the Maldives is a calm, family-friendly destination, but the trip is long — choose a resort close to Malé airport if travelling with small children. There is no large-scale animation (unlike Turkey); high-end resorts have kids clubs and multilingual staff, budget ones usually do not. Bring baby food and a first-aid kit — there are no supermarkets on resort islands.