The public beach
White sand, shallow water.
Shahee Ilyas — CC BY 4.0 · Shahee Ilyas — CC BY 3.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Iamatrecessrightnow — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Adrian.benko — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Zairon — CC BY-SA 4.0
A small island about two kilometres west of Malé, officially named Villimalé and counted as the capital's fifth district. People from Malé and Hulhumalé come here at weekends to escape the crowds of the city. The island was inhabited long ago; its residents were resettled in 1961, and a resort opened here in 1973, the second in the Maldives after Kurumba, before it became a residential island. Its public beach has white sand, clear shallow water, boats moored offshore and shady trees, with a view across the water to the Malé skyline. Quiet, shaded streets are good for a walk, and there are small hotels, guesthouses and a water-sports centre offering flyboarding. A public ferry from Malé runs around the clock per visitor guides and the crossing is short; the Thilamalé Bridge, under construction, will link the island to Malé. It is a local residential island, so modest dress is advisable, including when swimming at the public beach.
White sand, shallow water.
Seen across the water.
Quiet away from the city.
About 2 km west of Malé, by ferry
By public ferry from Malé, which runs around the clock per visitor guides; the crossing is short. The Thilamalé Bridge, under construction, will link the island to Malé.
