Maldives airport transfer
You’ve just landed at Velana International Airport and need to reach your accommodation in Malé or Hulhumalé: you need an airport transfer in Maldives. There’s no metro or suburban rail here — your options are the ferry, taxi and bus. The first thing to understand is that there are two completely different destinations, each with different transport options: Malé city and Hulhumalé. This guide explains how each option works so you can get there without wasting time.
Understanding Malé and the islands
Velana Airport is on an island called Hulhulé, which is connected by road directly to Hulhumalé — the modern, purpose-built island with beaches, hotels and guesthouses. They are practically the same landmass: the taxi ride from the airport to Hulhumalé takes just a few minutes.
Malé city, the capital, is on a separate island on the other side of the Sinamalé Bridge. To get there you have two main options: cross by ferry (10 minutes across the water) or cross by taxi or bus over the bridge (15–20 minutes by road).
We cover both areas in depth on our blog if you want to decide where to stay and what to see: Malé Capital and Hulhumalé.
Keep in mind that for transfers to the rest of the Maldivian islands you almost always return to the airport, whether by speedboat, domestic flight or seaplane.
Before you pick your transport, decide where you're going: Malé city or Hulhumalé? They are different destinations and the options change accordingly.
From the airport to Malé city
If your accommodation is in Malé city, or you want to visit the capital, you have three options:
Ferry from the airport to Malé
The ferry is the most popular option and the one most locals use — it’s by far the cheapest. It departs from the airport’s own jetty and reaches Malé’s ferry terminal in 10 minutes. The terminal is also the starting point for public ferries to several local islands.
Bear in mind that it’s not the most comfortable option if you’re travelling with bulky luggage.
As you exit the arrivals terminal, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing and turn left. You’ll see a small white ticket booth marked Airport Ferry. Buy your ticket there in cash — only Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) accepted — and wait at the jetty. No booking required; just show up and board the next boat.
| Hours | Frequency |
|---|---|
| 06:00 – 19:00 | Every 15 minutes |
| 19:00 – 00:00 | Every 30 minutes |
Price: 15 MVR per person (approx. 1 USD). Journey time: 10 minutes. Payment: cash in rufiyaa only.
If you arrive late at night and the ferry is no longer running (after midnight), the only option to reach Malé city is a taxi over the bridge.
Taxis in Maldives
The taxi is the most convenient way to move between the airport, Malé and Hulhumalé. Since 2019 the airport island and Malé city have been linked by the Sinamalé Bridge, making life much easier — you can now reach the city centre in 10–15 minutes. Taxi fares in Maldives are set by the government, though drivers don’t always stick to them. The price also depends on the exact drop-off point within Malé.
Avas Ride in Maldives
The most hassle-free option is Avas Ride, Malé’s ride-hailing app (available on iOS and Android). It works like Uber: enter your destination, see the price before you confirm, and pay by cash or card. Highly recommended if you want to avoid negotiating or if you arrive at night.
Indicative price airport → Malé: ~75 MVR (~5 USD). Journey time: 10–15 min.
Bus from the airport to Malé
Route R3 connects the airport with Malé city. The buses are modern and air-conditioned, but payment is cashless: you need a bank card, prepaid card or an online ticket purchased beforehand on the RTL website (raajjetransportlink.mv).
Price: 10 MVR (~0.65 USD). Journey time: 15–20 min.
From the airport to Hulhumalé
If you’re staying in Hulhumalé, you’re in luck: it’s right next to the airport. No ferry needed, no water to cross — Hulhumalé is connected directly to the airport island by road.
If you're going to Hulhumalé, do NOT take the airport ferry. That ferry goes to Malé city, which is in the opposite direction. You'd then need another taxi or bus back to Hulhumalé, wasting time and money.
Taxi from the airport to Hulhumalé
This is the quickest and simplest option. A taxi takes you directly from the arrivals terminal to your hotel in Hulhumalé in just a few minutes. You can hail one outside arrivals or use Avas Ride to see the exact price before you set off.
Indicative price airport → Hulhumalé: ~80 MVR (~6 USD). Journey time: 10–15 min.
Bus from the airport to Hulhumalé
There are bus routes connecting the airport with Hulhumalé. As with Malé, payment is cashless. Check the latest routes and schedules on the RTL website before you travel, as timetables may vary.
Summary: all options at a glance
| Option | Destination | Approx. price | Journey time | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry | Malé city | 15 MVR (~1 USD) | 10 min | Cash (MVR) |
| Taxi / Avas Ride | Malé city | ~75 MVR (~5 USD) | 10–15 min | Cash or card |
| Bus R3 | Malé city | 10 MVR (~0.65 USD) | 15–20 min | Cashless |
| Taxi / Avas Ride | Hulhumalé | ~80 MVR (~6 USD) | 10–15 min | Cash or card |
| Bus | Hulhumalé | ~10 MVR (~0.65 USD) | 10–15 min | Cashless |
Yes. The airport ferry ticket booth only accepts Maldivian rufiyaa (MVR) in cash. There is an ATM in the arrivals terminal where you can withdraw local currency before heading out. If you don’t have rufiyaa, a taxi via Avas Ride accepts card payment.
The airport ferry runs until midnight. If your flight arrives after that, the only option for Malé city is a taxi, which operates 24 hours. You can pick one up outside arrivals or use the Avas Ride app.
No. The airport ferry goes to Malé city, not Hulhumalé. If you take it you’ll have to travel back from Malé to Hulhumalé, which is an unnecessary detour. For Hulhumalé, the quickest and most direct option is a taxi — both islands are connected by road.
Avas Ride is the most widely used ride-hailing app in Malé and Hulhumalé, similar to Uber. Download it on your phone (iOS or Android), enter your destination and the app shows you the price before you confirm. You can pay by cash or card. It’s especially useful if you arrive at night or want to avoid negotiating the fare with a driver.
No. The airport ferries and taxis only take you to Malé city or Hulhumalé. To reach a resort in the Maldives you need a different type of transfer: a speedboat or a seaplane. We explain everything on our Maldives Transfers page.
Now that you know how to reach Malé or Hulhumalé, what’s next? If you’re heading to a local island, check out our guide to the public ferry in Maldives. If you’re going to a resort, you’ll find everything you need about the speedboat transfer and the seaplane.
También le puede interesar:
Maldives Transfers in Bad Weather: Speedboat, Ferry, Flight & Seaplane
Where Is My Speedboat in Maldives
