What do you wear to dinner in the Maldives?

At restaurants in Maldives, wear loose and modest clothing, avoiding swimsuits as your attire. On local islands and public beaches, your swimsuits will need to be covered so that guests are showing very little skin from shoulder to knees.



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Lightweight, loose cotton clothing is therefore advisable. Please be aware that there are different guidelines depending on whether you're staying at a resort (a hotel on a private island) or in a guesthouse (in a village in a locally inhabited island). The majority of visitors will spend most of the day in swimwear.

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Clothing Style in the Maldives
The Maldives is a Muslim country; while bathing suits and summer clothing are tolerated on the major resort islands, you need to cover up if you're staying at a local-owned guesthouse or resort. Nudity (like topless sunbathing) is against the law.

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Respect local customs and dress conservatively, especially when visiting a mosque. Women should cover their heads and shoulders and neither men nor women should wear shorts. Alcoholic drinks are available on the resort islands, but not elsewhere.

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Most visitors wear flip-flops or sandals during the day. Check with your particular resort for any additional rules, some of the more upscale resorts have stricter dress codes. It's also important to note that nudity is not allowed in the Maldives so topless sunbathing is prohibited.

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In the Maldives, it is appropriate for men to wear shorts (knee length) and t-shirts. Women in particular should take care to stay covered though, so always wear over-the-shoulder longer dresses, shirts and trousers. Never wear skimpy swimwear unless it is clearly marked that it is okay to do so.

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Wear sandals for the flights and a pair of neoprene booties for walking in the water (the occasional bit of loose coral can cut you quite badly) but other than that you should leave the footwear at home. You really don't need shoes/high heels – just flip flops and flatties!

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Although you are free to enter or leave Maldives with cash amounting less than USD 30,000, it is better to carry as little as possible and use cards wherever possible. You might get robbed or pick-pocketed, so take precautions.

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It is prohibited for tourists to bring firearms, alcoholic beverages, pork products, pornography and idols of worship into the Maldives. Additionally, strict penalties apply to those attempting to bring illegal drugs into the country.

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For straight and LGBTQ couples alike, public displays of affection on non-resort islands such as Malé City are considered extremely offensive and may result in punitive action. This includes behavior like hand holding and kissing.

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Do I need to take beach towels to Maldives? Generally speaking no since your hotel should be able to provide you with them.

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Generally speaking, if you have had a memorable ride on a small boat with a friendly crew, a modest $5-10 tip is a great compliment. Some of the transfers in the Maldives are private or chartered and the price reflects this, so tipping here is not necessary.

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A strictly Muslim country, the Maldives has a list of prohibited items that will not be allowed past customs. These include alcohol, any kind of drugs, pork, religious materials for distribution, and dogs.

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