Best time to go to the Maldives for a perfect weather and where to go?
Lucie Lhortolat and Tony Samson last update: 16/04/2024When is the best time to go to the Maldives?
The best time to visit the Maldives is during the dry season, which runs from December to April. With a constant yet pleasant warmth and plenty of sunshine, this is when the weather is most favorable.
Moreover, the period between December and February is considered the high tourist season in the archipelago. Therefore, it is advisable to plan your travel budget accordingly, as flight and accommodation prices can be high.
On the other hand, during the months of June, October, and November, there are moderate rains. Sunny days are frequent and clear skies are common. Travelers also take advantage of this less touristy period to plan their trip to the Maldives.
The period to avoid is mainly during the summer monsoon, when the rains are heaviest. It starts from late April and peaks in August and September. Additionally, this period is characterized by strong winds, which are ideal for surfing but less so for swimming or diving.
Ultimately, if you're wondering when to visit the Maldives, know that all year round, you can enjoy decent weather conditions depending on the chosen destination. During the dry season, the northern atolls of the archipelago are less exposed to rain. Whereas during the wet season, the southern atolls experience less intense precipitation.
Since the weather is generally favorable year-round, traveling to the Maldives in the low season can be appealing for budget-conscious travelers.
Annual weather in Maldives
For information about the climate and the weather city by city in Maldives for a specific month, click on the corresponding line below:
| Month | Our opinion | View Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 83°F | good weather* | |||
| February | 83°F | perfect weather* | |||
| March | 85°F | good weather* | |||
| April | 85°F to 86°F | good weather* | |||
| May | 85°F to 86°F | tolerable weather | |||
| June | 85°F | good weather* | |||
| July | 83°F to 85°F | tolerable weather | |||
| August | 83°F to 85°F | tolerable weather | |||
| September | 83°F to 85°F | tolerable weather | |||
| October | 83°F to 85°F | tolerable weather | |||
| November | 85°F | tolerable weather* | |||
| December | 83°F | tolerable weather* |
Best time to travel to Maldives by cities
Climate and Weather in Maldives
Located off the coast of Sri Lanka and India, the Maldives archipelago, whose name alone makes tourists worldwide dream, benefits from a tropical and equatorial climate. On-site, temperatures are high without being too hot throughout the year. They range between 25 and 30°C (86°F) approximately. Between February and May, average temperatures slightly increase, and a heavy atmosphere is more often felt. However, throughout the year, the humidity level in the Maldives is around 80%.
Dreaming of swimming in a turquoise lagoon? You're in luck because the sea temperature is also ideal in the Maldives: between 28 and 30°C (86°F) . With nearly 2,500 hours of sunshine per year, the climate of the Maldives is truly dreamy! However, the archipelago is located near the Equator, which means that precipitation is also very significant. Fortunately, rainfall is generally short-lived, and the sun returns shortly after.
The climate of the Maldives is divided into two distinct seasons, with periods determined by the different monsoons:
- on one hand, there is the dry season, from December to March
- on the other hand, the wet season, from late April to November
The dry season
Between the months of December and March, it is the northeast monsoon, also known as “Iruwai”. During this period, the archipelago is not subjected to heavy rains as it is protected by Sri Lanka. It is therefore the period when the climate is most pleasant.
The rainy season
The wet season corresponds to the southwest monsoon, also known as “Hulhangu”. This season is much more unstable, as in addition to rain, there is also a lot of wind, making the sea rough.
During this period, rainfall can be very intense and occur at any time of the day. However, they are generally brief and often come in the form of showers or thunderstorms.
There are still some sunny moments that allow you to enjoy a stay in the Maldives.
The months from April to August are generally the ones with the heaviest precipitation.
Finally, the Maldives are very rarely affected by tropical cyclones. However, it does happen that some islands, in the north, are affected by these events. This mainly results in material damage. It should be noted that the cyclone season is between April and December with a higher risk in May and November. Indeed, it is during this period that the sea is the warmest. This is important information to consider when booking your stay.
Climate of the Maldives by region
As the archipelago is relatively large, the weather in the Maldives varies by region.
Indeed, the southern part of the archipelago is very close to the Equator. Thus, the climate is equatorial and rainfall is present all year round. For example, on Addu Atoll, the dry season and the wet season are less distinct. There is around 150 mm of rain between September and January and 160 to 200 mm in April and May. The best months to travel there are usually February, March, and June.
On the other hand, in the central part of the archipelago like in Dharavandhoo, the climate is very favorable from December to April with low rainfall and sunny weather. However, May is the rainiest month with an average of 250 mm of rain. The period from July to November also experiences unsettled weather. Malé, the capital of the Maldives, has a similar climate to this atoll.
Finally, the northern atolls generally have less precipitation during the dry season. For example, in Dhidhdhoo, this period is almost arid as there is less than 40 mm of rain per month from January to April. The climate is truly ideal during this season with temperatures around 30°C (86°F) and plenty of sunshine.
However, from June onwards, rainy days are frequent with over 200 mm of rainfall from June to September. In comparison, the rainfall in Malé is much lower. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid the winter monsoon period to travel to the northern atolls of the Maldives.
Temperatures and rainfall in Maldives
On these 3 graphs, we present the evolution of temperatures of Maldives and month-by-month rainfall for the cities of Male, Addu Atoll, Dharavandhoo, Dhidhdhoo and Gan, as well as the month-by-month sea temperature for coastal cities.
Peak visitor numbers and tourist seasons in Maldives
Find out when Maldives has its high tourist season (the period when the influx of tourists is highest) and off-peak tourist season using our data and figures.
Tourist seasons in Maldives
The months with low numbers of tourists are: March, May, June, July, September and November. The number of visitors to Maldives is high in: January, February, April, August, October and December.
- Very low season in Maldives: May and June.
- Low season in Maldives: March, July, September and November.
- High season in Maldives: April, August and October.
- Peak season in Maldives: January, February and December.
Figure: Visitor index for Maldives month by month
Average price for flights to the Maldives
A return flight between Sydney and Male is generally cheaper if you go in november ($ 661 on average): this is the best time for travellers on a tight budget. In contrast, you may end up paying $ 335 more for your airline ticket to Male if you go in december.
Find the best price for your flight Flight prices to the Maldives
Where to go in Maldives?
This table allows you to see the maximum temperature for each city and our opinion on the weather month by month (see colour legend below the table).
| Cities | jan. | feb. | mar. | apr. | may | jun. | jul. | aug. | sep. | oct. | nov. | dec. |
| Male | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Addu Atoll | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Dharavandhoo | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Dhidhdhoo | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Gan | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F |
| Hulhulé | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Maafushi | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Naifaru (Faadhippolhu atoll) | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
| Thulusdhoo | 83°F | 83°F | 85°F | 86°F | 86°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F |
Legend:
perfect weather
good weather
tolerable weather
About Maldives
What can I do in Maldives?
Beaches / swimming
Nature and countryside
Culture and heritage
Sports
Family travel
Crafts / shopping
Gastronomy
Nightlife
Is this weather information for Maldives reliable?
Climate data for Maldives has been gathered every day since January 2009. The analysis of these meteorological data for Maldives allows us to determine the average for each month in Male, Addu Atoll, Dharavandhoo, Dhidhdhoo, Gan, Hulhulé, Maafushi, Naifaru (Faadhippolhu atoll) and and 1 other cities.
So yes: this data is reliable except in cases of temporary climate disruption in the region.