Best Time to Visit Maldives

Dry season: January to March

If you want blue skies and calm seas, this is your window. Days are sunny, the air feels dry compared with the rest of the year, and the water is clear for snorkelling and diving. It's also high season, so resorts fill up and prices climb. Christmas and New Year are the busiest and priciest weeks of all.

Travelling with kids? European school holidays and Chinese New Year, which usually falls in late January or February, add to the crowds. Book your seaplane transfer early, since resorts far from Malé's airport often rely on them.

Wet season: May to November

May is the hottest month at 29°C, and it's also when the rains start to build. November is the wettest, with 233 mm. Expect heavy showers that often pass in an hour or two, then sun again. Some days are properly grey and windy, though, and the sea can get rough.

The upside is quieter beaches and lower room rates. If you're happy to take a few wet afternoons for a cheaper resort, this is a good deal. Surfers also come in this season, because the swells reach breaks like those around the Malé atolls (rings of small islands).

Regions, holidays and Ramadan

The Maldives is a small country, so the weather doesn't differ much between atolls. The north can be a little drier than the south at times, but don't plan around it. Pick your month first, then your resort.

Ramadan shifts by about ten days earlier each year. Resorts run as normal, but on local islands, like Maafushi, many cafés close in daylight and dress and alcohol rules are stricter. Alcohol is only served at resorts and on safari boats, not on local islands. Eid brings a short burst of local travel and busy ferries.

Want the best mix of weather and value? Try the shoulder months of April and December, when it's often still dry and the crowds are thinner.