Maldives

SAFETY: good
The Maldives are a safe destination: crime is very low, especially in the resorts and on the tourist islands. In Malé and on the inhabited islands normal caution is enough (occasional pickpocketing in crowded places). Before departure, check the country page on viaggiaresicuri.it and register your trip on dovesiamonelmondo.it.

DOCUMENTS AND VISA: passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry; free 30-day tourist visa issued on arrival, with a return ticket and confirmed accommodation. Within 96 hours before arrival and before departure the online Traveller Declaration (IMUGA portal of Maldives Immigration) must be completed. Minors need their own passport.

CLIMATE: tropical, hot and humid all year round (26-32 °C), governed by the monsoons: the dry north-east monsoon, from December to April, is the best time to visit, with calm seas and clear skies; the south-west monsoon, from May to November, brings short but heavy showers, wind and rougher seas. Sea temperature is 27-30 °C all year.

CURRENCY: Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR). The US dollar is accepted everywhere in resorts and tourist facilities, where bills are normally in dollars; there is no need to change euros into rufiyaa for a resort stay. Credit cards: Visa, Mastercard and American Express accepted in resorts and in Malé. Some cash in dollars (notes in good condition) is useful for tips and extras.

TIME ZONE: UTC +5, +4 hours compared with Italy, +3 during Italian daylight saving time. Many resorts keep their own "resort time", one hour ahead.

LANGUAGE: Dhivehi (official language); English is widely spoken in resorts and throughout the tourist circuit.

HEALTH AND VACCINATIONS: no compulsory vaccinations (a yellow fever certificate is required only for travellers arriving from at-risk countries); routine vaccinations and those against hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended. There is no malaria; dengue is present, so protect yourself from mosquito bites. Drink only bottled water. Health facilities in Malé are adequate (IGMH and ADK hospitals); resorts usually have a medical post, but serious emergencies require transfer to Malé or abroad: health and travel insurance covering repatriation is strongly recommended.

ELECTRICITY: 230 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Sockets: type D and G, British standard (bring an adapter).

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 00960 – Code for Italy: 0039 – GSM: Dhiraagu and Ooredoo networks with good coverage on inhabited islands and in resorts; roaming with Italian operators works but is expensive, a local SIM or eSIM is worthwhile – Internet: Wi-Fi available in resorts, sometimes for a fee – Web extension: .mv – Emergency numbers: police 119, ambulance 102, fire brigade 118.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: the Maldives are a Muslim country. Importing alcohol, pork, pornographic material and non-Islamic religious items intended for proselytising is forbidden; alcohol is consumed only in resorts. On the inhabited islands, including Malé, modest clothing covering shoulders and knees is required; topless bathing is forbidden everywhere and swimwear is allowed only in resorts and on the "bikini beaches" of the local islands. Friday is the weekly holiday and during Ramadan eating, drinking and smoking in public is avoided. Extremely severe penalties for drug possession. Collecting coral and shells and disturbing turtles, manta rays and sharks is forbidden; the rules of marine protected areas must be respected.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Republic of Maldives – Location: Indian Ocean, south-west of India and Sri Lanka; 26 atolls and about 1,200 islands, of which about 200 are inhabited and more than 150 are resorts – Area: 298 sq km – Capital: Malé – Population: about 520,000 – Religion: Sunni Islam (state religion) – Languages: Dhivehi; English widely spoken – Measures: metric system.

SOURCES: Viaggiare Sicuri – Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (viaggiaresicuri.it) and the Italian Embassy in Colombo, also responsible for the Maldives (ambcolombo.esteri.it).