Vacation in Paradise: The 13 Most Beautiful Islands of the Maldives

The Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, consisting of several atolls and over 2000 islands. To help you find the right one for you, we show you the most beautiful islands in the Maldives.

Located in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka, the Maldives stretches over an area of 298 square kilometers. The archipelago is made up of nearly 2000 islands, of which 220 are inhabited by locals and another 100 are used for tourism.

Wondering which island is right for you? We reveal it in the comprehensive Maldives overview: We show you the 13 most beautiful islands of the Maldives.

One of the most legendary islands in the Maldives is Baros in the North Malé Atoll. Known for its luxury image, the island is located just 25 kilometers from the capital, Malé, on the main island.

The island is very small and hosts the famous 'Baros Maldives' with its 75 luxurious suites. While you can circle Baros in just ten minutes, the tiny area offers a picture-book atmosphere with crystal-clear water and villas perched in a turquoise lagoon beneath palm trees.

Also located in the North Malé Atoll, the island of Makunudu is considered a paradise for divers. Set out on a diving or snorkeling excursion here, and you can discover a fascinating underwater world at the island's reefs.

The island is home to the 'Makunudu Island Resort' with 36 bungalows, and a dive center. There's also an abundance of sports options: You can water ski, windsurf, sail, or play volleyball. To the east, there's a lagoon where you can swim beautifully or chill on the beach.

The name Meerufenfushi means 'sweetwater island.' Commonly shortened to Meeru, it is one of the oldest hotel islands in the Maldives and today counts among the four largest resorts of the island group. The island measures 1200 meters long and 350 meters wide.

On Meeru, you'll find the 'Meeru Island Resort & Spa'. The outer reef provides ideal conditions for divers, while you can sail, surf, or swim in a lagoon. To the south lies Dhiffushi, an island inhabited by Maldivians that tourists are allowed to visit through organized tours.

Another island in the North Malé Atoll is Eriyadu, a very small and secluded island at only 0.04 square kilometers. Here, you will experience deserted beaches and plenty of tranquility. Eriyadu is also known as a romantic island, which is why couples especially love vacationing here.

You will stay at the 'Eriyadu Island Resort', which, due to the compact size of the island, is situated almost directly on its house reef. Therefore, it is perfect for divers and snorkelers, but naturally also for vacationers seeking peace and quiet.

Located in close proximity to the main island Malé is Embudu. The island is known for its particularly lush vegetation and gorgeous beaches. On vacation, you can swim, snorkel, and relax, with excursions to the capital, just ten kilometers away, being an option as well.

Embudu is home to the 'Embudu Village' resort and the 'Diverland Embudu' dive base, which is led by Austrian-Swiss management. The island is known as one of the Maldives' so-called barefoot islands.

For those looking to experience the local culture while vacationing in the Maldives, Gan is the perfect choice. The southernmost island of the Maldives belongs to the Addu Atoll and is located nearly 80 kilometers south of the equator. The island is not solely used for tourism. Residential areas and tourist resorts coexist here, with stores offering daily necessities, a small mosque, and a post office.

Gan was formerly a Royal Air Force base, and today the former officer's quarters have been converted into the 'Equator Village' resort. Divers will find Veligandu a dream, as the outer reef is considered one of the most beautiful in the Maldives, and there are over 30 diving and snorkeling spots. Accommodations are available at the 'Veligandu Island Resort & Spa'. For swimming, head to the west of the island, where there's an idyllic lagoon with white sand and azure water.

The island of Maayafushi is located in the northern part of the Ari Atoll, known for its dense tropical vegetation and surrounded by a sandy beach. The island features the 'Maayafushi Nakai Resort', which is considered affordable by Maldivian standards and has a focus on families.

The hotel is managed by Italians, which is why many Italians, but also many Germans, vacation here. Maayafushi is a barefoot island, meaning you can wander around without shoes throughout your holiday.

Nika is the counterpart in the northern Ari Atoll. The island is a 25-minute seaplane ride from Malé and has a unique feature: it is the only island in the Maldives where each villa has its own private beach.

The 'Nika Island Resort & Spa' also boasts a house reef just 20 to 50 meters from the villas, and there is a private dive school on the island. On vacation, you can snorkel, dive, swim, or simply relax on the fine sandy beach.

Measuring 350 meters long and 130 meters wide, Angaga is another small island in the southern part of the Ari Atoll. Those vacationing here will find fantastic diving and snorkeling spots and a wide range of sports programs: You can water ski, surf, sail, or play volleyball, tennis, and ping pong.

The island features the 'Angaga Island Resort & Spa', which scores points with its low prices for the Maldives. The resort is simple, well-maintained, and has a house reef for snorkeling just 20 meters from the shore.

On the rather sparsely populated Lhaviyani Atoll, the island of Kanifushi is one of the few resort islands. Stand-alone beach villas stretch over a nearly two-kilometer-long turquoise lagoon. The beach on the island of Kanifushi is one of the longest beaches in the Maldives.

Vacationers at Kanifushi check into the 'Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives', which is surrounded by snow-white sugar beaches and turquoise sea. There are 132 luxuriously equipped units in this chic resort.

Kuredu, a long island in the Lhaviyani Atoll, is known as the greenest island in the Maldives. Around the island, you can discover varied flora. The island's approximately 3.5-kilometer-long white sandy beach is among the longest in the Maldives.

You're accommodated at the 'Kuredu Island Resort'. Those who enjoy sports have several options: you can kitesurf, water ski, play badminton, and even golf. Of course, the underwater world is also in focus: divers and snorkelers will find a inshore reef and even two sunken wrecks to explore on a dive.

An island with many possibilities lies in the Maldivian Rasdhoo Atoll. Kuramathi not only hosts the 'Kuramathi Island Resort', one of the largest and oldest in the Maldives, but also its own clinic, a marine biology institute, and an Eco Centre with a hydroponic garden where vegetables and fruits are organically grown for the resort's kitchen.

Diving and snorkeling adventures on Kuramathi are plentiful: the island is known for the high likelihood of encountering sharks: Blacktip reef sharks and hammerheads are common here. If you want to experience local color, you can travel to the neighboring island: a ferry connects Kuramathi with Rasdhoo, where there is a village of locals.

Besides Kuramathi, Veligandu is the second tourist island in the Rasdhoo Atoll. On vacation, you'll discover a unique feature: a sandbank about 700 meters long in the north of the island. Hence the name: Veligandu means 'big sandbank' in translation.

Divers will love Veligandu, as the outer reef is considered one of the most beautiful in the Maldives and there are over 30 diving and snorkeling spots. Visitors stay at the 'Veligandu Island Resort & Spa'. For swimming, head to the west of the island, where there's an idyllic lagoon with white sand and azure blue water.