White sand
And calm turquoise water.
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A long beach on the east coast of Hulhumalé, the artificial island built by pumping sand from the sea floor northeast of the airport island, to house the Malé area and answer rising sea levels. Reclamation began on 16 October 1997, the town was inaugurated on 12 May 2004, and the island now covers about 4 square kilometres. The sand is white and the water calm and turquoise, lined with palms, a promenade, cafés and restaurants, with water-sports operators renting kayaks and jet skis. The beach is close to Velana International Airport, so many travellers spend their first or last night in Hulhumalé's hotels and guesthouses and pass the time on the beach before or after a flight. From Malé, take a bus or taxi across the Sinamalé Bridge, the first bridge between islands in the Maldives, opened in 2018 and 1.39 kilometres long; from the airport it is a few minutes away. The beach is public and free, and it lies in a local town, so modest swimwear is advisable.
And calm turquoise water.
All along the beach.
The first inter-island bridge.
East coast of Hulhumalé
From Malé by bus or taxi across the Sinamalé Bridge, or a few minutes from Velana International Airport. The beach is public and free.