THE 20 BEST HOTELS IN THE MALDIVES

We’re pretty sure the Maldives is on everyone’s bucket list. What’s not to love about private islands, azure waters, powdery white sand and dozens of stunning resorts to choose from? To make things easier for you, we’ve rounded up our selection of The Best Hotels in the Maldives. Choose from the best bang for buck hotels that offer luxury without breaking the bank, or go all out with the fanciest resorts the Maldives has to offer.

THE TOP LUXURY HOTELS IN THE MALDIVES

WALDORF ASTORIA MALDIVES ITHAAFUSHI

Address: Ithaafushi Island South Malé Atoll Male, 20009, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @waldorfastoria

The Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi epitomises the very idea of luxury with tropical villas on the beach or over water, exuding grandeur. The xfkand villa is an enormous 234sqm, and all villas come with impressive infinity pools blending into the turquoise ocean. Experience the pinnacle of luxury in the Stella Maris Ocean Villa, a spacious retreat with multiple levels, excessive space, giant infinity pool with hammocks and a barbecue station for entertaining. Accessible only by boat, live like a queen at Stella Maris.

You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to dining at the Waldorf Astoria with eleven restaurants to choose from. Try delicious cuisine from all over the world prepared by the most dedicated culinary experts. At Terra, you’re guaranteed a private and romantic dinner in your own personal pod in the treetops, with a menu featuring exceptional ingredients like Miyazaki Wagyu Beef and Alba White truffle.

• Prices for Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $4994++ per night. Click for best available prices.

JOALI

Address: Muravandhoo Island Raa Atoll, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @joalimaldives

On the tiny island of Muravandhoo, surrounded by a ring of coral and the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, sits Joali resort. Private in every way, guests are invited to escape from the outside world with a stunning collection of luxury beach and water villas, complete with personal infinity pools, the finest décor and architecture and butler service to tend to your every need.

Discover a specially designed menu encompassing South East Asian, Mediterranean, Chinese and Levant inspired cuisine guaranteed to satiate your senses. Themed dinners, unrivalled breakfast spreads and immersive experiential dining are just a few things you can expect when it comes to gastronomy at Joali. All this is topped off with world-class wine imported from all corners of the Earth, perfectly selected to match your meals.

• Prices for Joali, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $2753++ per night. Click for best available prices.

THE NAUTILUS

Address: Thiladhoo, Baa atoll 20066, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @thenautilusisland

Time stands still at The Nautilus, a luxury resort with a collection of 26 exclusive beach houses located within the UNESCO listed Baa Atoll. Forget the constraints of time, let go and do what you want when you want, because at The Nautilus you make your schedule. If that means having breakfast for dinner, counting stars until late recharging during the day, then so be it. The Nautilus revolves around your clock.

The Nautilus takes their mission to be your home away from home seriously, so there’s no such thing as guest rooms or even villas for that matter! Welcome to your house at The Nautilus. Experience a hidden oasis with a separate living room, freshwater swimming pool and personal butler service so you’re free to completely unwind in your tropical paradise.

• Prices for The Nautilus, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $2803++ per night. Click for best available prices.

MILAIDHOO ISLAND MALDIVES

Address: 1 Milaidhoo Island, Milaidhoo Island 20002, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @milaidhoo

Milaidhoo likes to consider itself as more than just another five-star resort in an archipelago overflowing with high-end options, it sees itself as reinventing luxury. Guests of Milaidhoo aren’t just visitors on vacation, they’re storywriters living out their dream holiday and Milaidhoo wants to help them bring their dreams to reality. A tiny emerald island in the UNESCO Baa Atoll, this tropical paradise is just 300 metres by 180 metres big, but rest assured every grain of sand and drop of water is precious here.

Every aspect of Milaidhoo has been tailor-made for comfort, designed to evoke a true sense of luxury at every point. You’re guaranteed a perfect escape in the Ocean Residence, an enormous 475sqm thatched-roof villa perched above the ocean. Lay under the endless glittering stars on your secret rooftop, take a dip in your private freshwater infinity pool or dive directly into the ocean. The choice is yours at Milaidhoo.

• Prices for Milaidhoo Island Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $1483++ per night. Click for best available prices.

GILI LANKANFUSHI

Address: Lankanfushi Island, North Malé Atoll Republic of Maldives, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @gili.lankanfushi

At Gili Lankanfushi, go big and go home to your Private Reserve, the largest overwater villa in the world. That’s right… the whole world. The Private Reserve is delightfully exclusive, situated 500 metres away from the main resort in the middle of a stunning lagoon. Spanning several multi-tiered levels, this enormous villa has been designed with natural materials so you can feel at home above the sea.

Arrive in style to the Private Residence by luxury yacht, then step into one of four lavish bedrooms and settle into your new home for now. Bounce between multiple living rooms, the infinity pool, cinema room and rooftop deck, just to name a few of the seemingly endless facilities in the residence. For a little splash of fun, why not make a grand entrance into the lagoon via the slide on the top deck of the villa.

• Prices for Gili Lankanfushi, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $1227++ per night. Click for best available prices.

SONEVA FUSHI

Address: Kunfunadhoo Island Baa Atoll, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @discoversoneva

Adventure awaits eager travellers at Soneva Fushi, a tropical island escape bustling with activities. Soneva Fushi is an ideal resort for holidaymakers who are interested in more than just soaking up the sun. Start off with complimentary water sports like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to warm yourself up to the more extreme activities. Try your hand at surfing with an expert instructor, test yourself with free diving and explore the underwater world with just one breath or snorkel amongst the manta rays for a truly unforgettable experience.

Slow down a little with a glass blowing class and create your own keepsake or spot pods of dolphins on the sunset dolphin cruise accompanied by canapés and champagne. Curl up on a lounger under the stars for an open-air screening of some great classic films or for an even more romantic escape, camp out on a deserted sandbank and enjoy a candlelit dinner under the sparkling Maldivian sky.

• Prices for Soneva Fushi, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $2064++ per night. Click for best available prices.

ONE&ONLY REETHI RAH

Address: Reethi Rah, North Malé Atoll, Malé 08440, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @oneandonlyretreats

For most people on vacation, getting a good nights sleep is one of their main priorities, if not the number one! At One&Only Reethi Rah, they take this to the next level with their Sleep Journey. Experience an expert sleep assessment, 90-minute sleep ritual, hand and foot pampering, yoga and more, all in an effort to get your sleep back on track. After your perfect sleep, you’ll be ready to take on everything else One&Only Reethi Rah has to offer.

For the ultimate dinnertime indulgence, it doesn’t get much more extravagant than a private dinner for two in the beautiful timber treehouse. Under a canopy of trees and twinkling lights, delight in a delicious seven-course menu prepared by a team of expert chefs. Maybe your idea of luxury is not having to leave your villa at all, or perhaps you envision your dream dinner date on a beachfront under the stars? Whatever you fancy, One&Only has you covered.

• Prices for One & Only Rethi Rah, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $2135++ per night. Click for best available prices.

W MALDIVES

Address: Fesdu Island North Ari Atoll, 09110, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @wmaldives

Experience whatever you want, whenever you want it at W Maldives. W is an eccentric and grandiose private island resort with a focus on fun. Each colourfully designed villa has been inspired by the glow in the dark jellyfish and plankton in the nearby shores of the island, with every villa acting as a beacon of soft light in the Maldivian sky. If you’re looking for even more seclusion than a private island, set sail on ESCAPE, W Maldive’s luxury yacht where you can spend the night at sea.

Revitalise and refuel at W’s signature AWAY Spa with an exquisite spa treatment tailor-made for you by a team of expert spa specialists. You decide when, where, how long, what for, then sit back, relax and drift AWAY. Of course, it wouldn’t be a W hotel without an iconic WET pool, so be sure to spend some time in the enormous 3,244sqm infinity pool surrounded by landscaped gardens overlooking the glistening Indian Ocean.

• Prices for W Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $1025++ per night. Click for best available prices.

AMILLA FUSHI

Address: Amilla Fushi Island, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @amillafushi

At Amilla Fushi, every lavish villa is a tribute to the sea and sky, where minimalist white meets touches of blue. But Amilla Fushi means ‘My Island Home’ so it’s only fitting that the resort is best known for its impressive and enormous Amilla Beach Residences. With a dedicated space within the islands lush foliage, you’ll find a number of houses anywhere from one to eight bedrooms. In keeping with the resort’s minimalist and contemporary design, each residence boasts modern facilities, a private pool, more than enough living space for everyone and a personal butler to cater to every need.

Stay active on both land at Amilla and below the surface as you discover the mesmerising aquatic life surrounding the island. Just metres from Amilla Fushi’s main beach you’ll have the chance to snorkel the world-renowned Blue Hole site, an underwater chimney formation bustling with marine life and colourful coral. Back on land, you can get your heart rate going with tennis lessons, badminton, beach volleyball or even soccer games against Amilla’s Islander team.

• Prices for Amilla Fushi, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $743++ per night. Click for best available prices.

BAGLIONI RESORT MALDIVES

Address: Rinbudhoo, Maldives, Maagau Island WWX7+4R, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @baglioniresortmaldives

Italy meets the Maldives at Baglioni Resort Maldives, the only Italian five-star luxury Italian resort in the Maldives. Everything is done in opulence with its signature Italian touch seamlessly blended with carefree tropical island vibes. Sitting on the private Maagau Island in the Dhaalu Atoll, the surrounding waters of Baglioni Resort Maldives are teeming with manta rays, dolphins, sea turtles and small sharks, as well as vibrant fish and colourful coral. Choose between a villa surrounded by the crystal-clear water or powdery white sand, but whatever you choose you’re guaranteed the finest in Italian style and service.

Tucked away in the lush greenery sits the Baglioni SPA, an Italian oasis where guests can destress, detox, and leave feeling brand new. Open-air wooden pavilions combine luxury with nature and traditional Maldivian rituals are personalised to suit your body and your needs. The Yoga Pavilion caters to guests in search of inner peace through yoga, meditation and breathing, and the well-equipped gym means you’ll have the chance to stay active even in paradise.

• Prices for Baglioni Resort Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $1285++ per night. Click for best available prices.

BEST VALUE HOTELS IN THE MALDIVES

DRIFT THELU VELIGA

Address: Thelu Veliga Island, South Ari Atoll, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @driftretreat

Drift Thelu Veliga Retreat sits on a one-hectare private island 90 kilometres west of the capital of Malé, surrounded by pristine beaches, tropical gardens and a glittering turquoise lagoon. Located in South Ari Atoll, the area is known for its amazing marine life, snorkelling and diving spots, making Drift Retreat the perfect place to call home as you discover this incredible underwater world.

With only 30 quaint villas along the beach and above the water, Drift Thelu Veliga Retreat is an exclusive hideaway from the outside world, where you’ll feel miles away from civilisation. Each villa is designed to complement the natural surrounds of the island, with thatched roofs, timber accents and beautiful hand-carved wooden furniture. Open your doors onto the white sand with a Beach Villa, or jump right into the lagoon below from your Water Villa.

• Prices for Drift Thelu Veliga, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $310++ per night. Click for best available prices.

EMERALD MALDIVES RESORT & SPA

Address: Fasmendhoo Island, Fasmendhoo, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @emeraldmaldivesresortspa

At Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa, nature takes centre stage. The stunning environment has been preserved and complemented by the carefully designed villas made with natural materials like bamboo, stone and Langhi Langhi leaves. Surrounded by 1.5km of powdery sand and built on a private 20-hectare island, Emerald Maldives is comprised of 120 villas on land and sea, so you’re never far from beautiful surroundings.

Located on the Raa Atoll in northern Maldives, experience an abundance of underwater life with over 1000 species of fish and a vibrant coral reef. Emerald Maldives offers guests the opportunity to gain their PADI diving certification which is a great way to experience life below the luxury on land. If you’re more interested in taking it easy and indulging in delicious cuisine, there are five restaurants to choose from and dig into.

• Prices for Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $908++ per night. Click for best available prices.

REETHI FARU BIO LUXURY RESORT MALDIVES

Address: Filaidhoo, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @reethifaruresort

It’s impossible not to feel at peace at Reethi Faru, a revitalising retreat on the private island of Filaidhoo. Immerse yourself in the crystal clear waters, glistening white sand and tropical gardens as you relax and unwind on this private slice of paradise in the Indian Ocean. All 150 villas were designed to feel like your personal oasis, whether you’re travelling with family or looking for a romantic getaway you’re destined to find it at Reethi Faru.

Find yourself revitalised at Coconut Spa, aptly named for its secluded location within the coconut grove on the island. Wholistic healing is the approach and specialist spa treatments will leave you feeling like your very best self. More than just a resort, Reethi Faru is also dedicated to marine conservation and does so through coral restoration efforts, manta ray and turtle identification and protection. Guests can get involved through diving tours with these beautiful creatures and are encouraged to share their images with the in-house marine biologists to help them with their studies.

• Prices for Reethi Faru Bio Luxury Resort Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $165++ per night. Click for best available prices.

YOU & ME RESORT MALDIVES

Address: Uthurumaafaru, Ungoofaaru 05060, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @youandmemaldives

Made for lovers, You & Me by Cocoon is the ideal place for couples looking for some much needed ‘us time’. An adults-only island in the Raa Atoll, reigniting your flame is the focus at this private and romantic retreat. Easily the most impressive feature of You & Me is the underwater restaurant offering guests uninterrupted, panoramic views of the Maldive’s exotic and vibrant marine life. Sip on fine wine, taste the fresh local flavours and be in awe of the incredible creatures swimming by.

Stay active with a range of activities for everyone to enjoy, from fishing trips and snorkelling excursions to dolphin cruises and island tours. Dance the night away with live music and a DJ and experience firsthand a magnificent Maldivian Cultural Show highlighting the beauty of the Maldives. You’re bound to make unforgettable memories at You & Me, so don’t let them fade away! Create lasting keepsakes with a professional photo session so you never forget your special time at You & Me.

• Prices for You & Me Resort Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $498++ per night. Click for best available prices.

KUDAFUSHI RESORT & SPA MALDIVES

Address: Kudafushi Resort & SPA, Kudafushi 20081, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @kudafushimaldives

On a hidden island paradise in the middle of the Raa Atoll sits Kudafushi, a private Maldivian escape just 45 minutes from the capital of Malé via seaplane. Settle into your luxurious villa either on the pristine beach or over the sparkling lagoon, whatever takes your fancy. The entry-level beach villa comes with a spacious bedroom and living area complete with an alfresco rain shower and bathtub. Tucked away behind lush greenery, you’re guaranteed privacy and seclusion, but with the convenience of a terrace leading directly onto the beach.

Experience the very best that the Maldives has to offer with a full-day excursion to learn about the culture and beauty of the Maldives. Discover vibrant coral reefs and swim with the local marine life before indulging in a classic beach picnic lunch on an uninhabited island. The fun doesn’t end there with an authentic Maldivian Bottom Line fishing experience led by an expert instructor. You’ll learn the Maldivian secrets to fishing and enjoy your fresh catch cooked by your private chef as you admire the sun setting over the Indian Ocean.

• Prices for Kudafushi Resort & Spa Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $354++ per night. Click for best available prices.

VAKKARU RESORT MALDIVES

Address: Vakkaru Island, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @vakkarumaldives

Vakkaru Resort Maldives is a private island paradise located within the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Baa Atoll, a vibrant reef teeming with marine life and a rainbow of coral. Its stunning location provides the perfect backdrop for guests to make unforgettable memories with the help of the dedicated team at Vakkaru. Expect the unexpected at Vakkaru with activations from wellness mentors, scent experts, culinary geniuses, fashion collaborations, and everything in-between.

If you make Vakkaru your home during your stay in the Maldives, expect the finest luxury villas and suites. Choose from a beach or water villa either with direct access to the brilliant white sand or the turquoise lagoon and relax in contemporary luxury. Step it up a notch with an opulent suite featuring separate indoor and outdoor living spaces as well as your very own private pool.

• Prices for Vakkaru Resort Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $568++ per night. Click for best available prices.

FUSHIFARU

Address: Fushifaru Island, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @fushifaru

Sitting on its own private island, Fushifaru Maldives is one of the newest kids on the block. Nestled between two channels sits Fushifaru, amidst the open ocean, inner lagoon and a large sandbank to the side. All 49 villas feature magnificent views, either of the channel, ocean or lagoon and have been designed to reflect their unique location within the island. One of the favourites amongst guests is the Water Villa overlooking the channel, complete with a private outdoor jacuzzi.

Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner with a view at Fushifaru with an exquisite menu focusing on fresh ingredients, locally-inspired dishes and international favourites. Indulge in freshly caught seafood grilled to perfection at the Raakani Grill and sip on refreshing tropical cocktails at Fanihandi Bar. Planning something special or just want that extra privacy? Discover destination dining at Fushifaru with meals served anywhere on the island or even the neighbouring sandbank.

• Prices for Fushifaru, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $295++ per night. Click for best available prices.

DHIGALI MALDIVES

Address: Dhigali Island, Maldives (Location map)

Instagram: @dhigalimaldives

You don’t have to wander far from Dhigali Island to witness the vibrant underwater life that the Maldives is known for. This secluded resort on a private island is ringed by a magnificent coral reef in the Raa Atoll which makes it the perfect place to call home while you explore its turquoise waters. There are endless adventures to be had at Dhigali, both above and below water. Snorkel, scuba, parasail behind a boat and enjoy a birds-eye view of the incredible scenery, wakeboard, stand-up paddleboard… you name it!

After all the adventure, you’ll be able to retreat to your bungalow or villa for the ultimate relaxation. No matter what accommodation you choose to stay in, you won’t be disappointed since all are truly spectacular. But if you really want to indulge why not stay in the Dhigali Suite? Sprawl out in your premier two-bedroom suite complete with a private infinity pool, enormous sun deck and personal butler. It doesn’t get much better than that!

• Prices for Dhigali Maldives, one of the best hotels in the Maldives, start at US $259++ per night. Click for best available prices.

Did you enjoy our Best Hotels in the Maldives article?

Maybe you’re celebrating something special and you’re looking for the most luxe resorts in the Maldives. Look no further! We have you covered with our selection of the BEST LUXURY RESORTS IN THE MALDIVES.