Guesthouses
Guesthouses in the Maldives
Rooms on inhabited islands — the half of the Maldives the booking sites bury. Local islands, local rules, a fraction of the price.
973operational nationwide 16,824beds
Ministry of Tourism & Environment, 30 December 2025.
Guesthouses by atoll
Haa Alifu The far north. Hanimaadhoo takes the domestic flights and a handful of resorts sit around it. 21Guesthouses Haa Dhaalu Kulhudhuffushi is the north's largest town — a working island, not a resort one. 18Guesthouses Shaviyani Quiet and thinly developed. Most beds here are guesthouses on inhabited islands. 14Guesthouses Noonu Maafaru's runway takes private jets, which is why several of the priciest resorts landed here. 12Guesthouses Raa Ifuru opened the atoll up. Good reefs, and a shorter transfer than the numbers suggest. 19Guesthouses Baa UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Hanifaru Bay manta aggregation, June to November. 38Guesthouses Lhaviyani Naifaru is the capital; the diving around Kuredu draws most of the traffic. 16Guesthouses North Malé Closest to the airport. Most speedboat transfers land inside 45 minutes. 51Guesthouses South Malé Maafushi and the guesthouse belt. Public ferry runs most days. 96Guesthouses Malé City The capital and Hulhumalé. Almost all of the country's city hotels, and no resorts. 24Guesthouses Alifu Alifu Rasdhoo and Ukulhas. Small islands, strong currents, reliable diving. 44Guesthouses Alifu Dhaalu Whale sharks along the southern rim. Dhigurah and Dhangethi are the guesthouse anchors. 77Guesthouses Vaavu Small, quiet, dive-led. Fulidhoo is the one guesthouse island most reach. 17Guesthouses Meemu Barely developed. Two resorts and a scattering of rooms on inhabited islands. 9Guesthouses Faafu Nilandhoo carries the history — one of the oldest mosque sites in the country. 8Guesthouses Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo's airport made the southern half of the atoll reachable. 11Guesthouses Thaa Working islands and boatbuilding. Very little resort development. 12Guesthouses Laamu Linked by causeway across four islands — you can cycle between them. A surf atoll. 15Guesthouses Gaafu Alifu Deep south. Long reefs, few visitors, and some of the country's best untouched diving. 13Guesthouses Gaafu Dhaalu Thinadhoo is the southern hub. Guesthouses outnumber resort beds several times over. 16Guesthouses Fuvahmulah One island, one atoll. Tiger sharks year-round, and a freshwater lake in the middle. 22Guesthouses Addu City The far south. Connected by road across four islands, and its own international airport. 34Guesthouses