The 11 most beautiful islands in the Maldives

If you would like to spend a holiday in paradise, the best thing to do is travel to the Maldives. We’ll tell you which of the many small islands are particularly suitable for a dream vacation.

White sand, crystal clear blue water, shady palm trees, a gentle breeze – that’s pretty much the definition of a true dream vacation. On the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the dream becomes reality. We have found for you the 11 most stunning islands of the unique island nation!

1. Makunudu, Male Atoll

Makunudu in the northern Malé Atoll is a true paradise for all keen divers. Scuba diving or snorkeling trips to the island’s reefs reveal a multitude of fascinating marine life – from fish and turtles to aquatic plants. In the east of the island there is also a picturesque lagoon, which invites you to sunbathe and cool off in the azure water. The densely overgrown island with its palm trees and tropical flora is also ideal for excursions in the countryside, and those who want to do sports can use the many leisure activities for water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, volleyball and more.

2. Gan, Addu Atoll

Gan is one of the largest islands in the Maldives and as such offers the perfect combination of secluded beaches and authentic city life, as the island is not only used for tourism, but – unusual for the Maldives – residential areas and tourist resorts coexist here. A visit to Gan is therefore perfect for mingling with the locals and experiencing a bit of culture first-hand. Gan is also a fantastic choice for keen divers, with beautiful coral reefs and the wreck of the sunken British Royalty.

3. Maayafushi, Ari Atoll

Maayafushi is ideal for an island vacation with the whole family. The beaches here are fantastic as on many other islands in the Maldives, but the gently sloping coasts are also particularly suitable for bathing with (smaller) children. Even those who would like to dive will find some nice places to do so here, even if the reefs here are not quite as fantastic as on other Maldives islands.

4. Kuramathi, Rasdhoo Atoll

If you are looking for a little adrenaline kick on holiday, you should go to the island of Kuramathi in the Maldivian Rasdhoo Atoll. Anyone who dives or snorkels here on the reef and at the so-called Hammerhead Point is very likely to encounter sharks, especially in the morning hours: Blacktip reef sharks and hammerhead sharks belong here, along with other fascinating representatives of the underwater fauna, such as squid or rays almost every dive trip. For those who prefer something less exciting, Kuramathi won’t disappoint either: spas, a marine biology institute, water sports and plenty of opportunities to mingle, taste local delicacies or enjoy the nightlife are all available on the Kuramathi Maldives quite large island namely also.

5. Kuredu, Lhaviyani Atoll

The elongated island of Kuredu in the middle of the Lhaviyani Atoll (also known as Faadhippolhu Atoll) is impressive in several respects: Anyone interested in botany will find one of the most diverse floras in the Maldives here – and even without prior knowledge of botany, this is ideal for relaxing walks on the island. Sports fans can also try out a wide range of (water) sports here, such as kite surfing, water skiing, badminton and even golf. Divers and snorkelers, on the other hand, should head to the south side of the island and there, in addition to the magnificent inner reef, they will also find two well-preserved sunken wrecks in the immediate vicinity of the coast.

6. Eriyadu, Male Atoll

Like Makunudu, the small island of Eriyadu is part of the Malé Atoll and just the right place to forget everyday life for a few days. Just under 0.04 square kilometers in size and basically only visited by people who are also on holiday here, it is not difficult to spend a few lonely hours with your loved one on the deserted beach. The unreal beautiful beaches are also what makes Eriyadu stand out among the Maldives islands. If you fancy excursions, you should go to the nearby main island of the atoll and the capital of the Maldives, Malé. There is ample opportunity to discover a bit of local culture, indulge in nightlife or enjoy the local cuisine.

7. Nika, Ari Atoll

Relax on a hammock between coconut palms while sunbathing and forget everyday life – the wonderful island of Nika in the Ari Atoll is ideal for this. It is the largest atoll in the Caribbean, divided into the southern atoll known as Alif Alif and the northern Alif Dhaal Atoll. Nika itself is a small island with tall palm trees that provide shade and a dream holiday atmosphere. It doesn’t matter whether you’re visiting Nika with your loved one, want to find yourself alone in a paradisiacal setting, or are planning to enjoy summer, sun and beach with the whole family – the white sand, the blue water and the glorious sunsets make the trip an unforgettably beautiful experience in any case.

8. Kunfunadhu, Baa Atoll

Kunafunadhu is the secret pearl of the Maldives and as such is only accessible by plane. Travelers can get there directly from Malé Airport by seaplane or from Daravandhoo Airport. The flight alone is a small adventure, where you can admire the beauty of the jungle island of Kunfunadhu from the air. Once arrived, guests can expect uniquely beautiful beaches, idyllic paths through exotic flora and plenty of opportunities to relax and be active in sports. The local Soneva Fushi Resort also has a little special feature: all stargazers and stargazers can visit their own observatory and explore the impressive night sky over the sea.

9. Embudhu, Male Atoll

Once again we go to the Malé Atoll, this time to the neighbor of the main island of Malé: Embudhu. The island is only 10 kilometers away from Malé, so the transfer there only takes about 15 minutes, while Embudhu itself offers beautiful beaches and lush green vegetation. If you go to the Maldives primarily to swim, snorkel and relax and appreciate the proximity to the capital for occasional trips, then Embudhu is the place for you. A little tip: Be sure to watch one or the other sunset on the beach – Central Europeans have probably only seen such a spectacle from television so far.

10. Veligandu, Rasdhoo Atoll

Besides Kuramathi, Veligandu is the second tourist island in the Rasdhoo Atoll and also impresses with a special feature that is unique for the Maldives: an approximately 700-meter-long sandbank in the north of the island. Divers can also see a variety of marine species at over 30 dive and snorkel spots on Veligandu, and Hammerhead Point is also a short distance away for spotting hammerhead sharks in the morning. In the west of the island there is also a wonderful lagoon with white sand and azure water, which only gets deeper slowly and is therefore also ideal for holidays with smaller guests. You can go souvenir hunting during a trip to the main island of the atoll, Rasdhoo, where you will mainly meet locals and thus experience Maldivian culture up close.

11. Angaga, Ari Atoll

Angaga is the ideal Maldives island for all sports lovers: from water sports such as water skiing, surfing and sailing to land sports such as volleyball, tennis or ping pong, the local island resort offers everything you could wish for. There are also plenty of diving and snorkeling spots here. When exploring the underwater world, you can discover stunningly beautiful sea creatures here – and that is only about 20 meters from the shore. Meanwhile, Angaga’s beaches invite you to relax under palm and mangrove trees or sunbathe on the white sand.