Island mapPlan your trip

Dhiffushi, Maldives: Authentic by Nature

Orange sun rising behind silhouetted beach plants

Chapter 01 / 04 Authentic by Nature

Fishing boats at first light, sandy streets and a lagoon already alive. Dhiffushi is a real Maldivian island, and it welcomes you as it is.

Plan your trip
First light
05:50
Low tide
09:40
Weather
31°Usual in November
Explore

Twenty minutes end to end

Everything on the island is a short walk from the harbour. Boats leave for the reef, the sandbanks and the surf breaks every day.

Stay28 guesthouses & hotelsThings to do220 trips & activitiesFood & drink21 places to eatDiving6 dive centresThe island31 beaches & placesWater sportsLagoon & surf
On the island

Dhiffushi in your pocket

Every guesthouse, café, dive centre, beach and house number on one map. Open it on your phone when you arrive.

7 min walk, jetty to Stingray point
  • Find anywhereBy name, or any house by its name or number
  • Live directionsOn foot, by bicycle or buggy, with spoken turns
  • Works offlineOpen it once and it keeps working, no data needed
Open the island mapStays on the map
Where to stay

Stay with the people who live here

  • 28places to stay
  • US$40cheapest night
  • 20near a beach
4.7GoogleFrom US$55 / night
Guesthouse · Sunrise side

Ameera Maldives

  • 80 m to beach
  • Breakfast
4.6GoogleFrom US$120 / night
Guesthouse · Sunrise side

Araamu Holidays & Spa

  • 100 m to beach
  • Breakfast
4.9GoogleFrom US$64 / night
Guesthouse · Sunset side

Athiri Residence Dhiffushi

  • Beachfront
  • Breakfast
3.9GoogleFrom US$80 / night
Guesthouse · North beach

Club Kaafu Maldives

  • Beachfront
  • Breakfast
4.9GoogleFrom US$50 / night
Guesthouse · Sunrise side

Comfy Cool Breeze by eMzaz

  • Beachfront
  • Breakfast
Ask for rates
Guesthouse · North beach

Crown Beach Hotel Maldives

  • Beachfront
  • Sea views
4.6GoogleFrom US$130 / night
Guesthouse · Sunset side

Dhiffushi Inn

  • 100 m to beach
  • Breakfast
Ask for rates
Guesthouse · Sunset side

Dhiffushi Inn Sea View

  • 100 m to beach
  • Breakfast
28See every place to stay
Places with their own photos first, each group A to Z. The island does not rank businesses.
The story we tell

Before the day reaches the rest of the Maldives, it reaches here

  1. The eastern edge of the atoll. Dawn reaches this lagoon before anywhere else in the Maldives.

  2. Sandy streets, the mosque, the harbour and family guesthouses, all within twenty minutes on foot.

  3. Fishermen once gave a day’s catch to fund the island’s needs, and islanders built their own powerhouse.

  4. Since 2010 guesthouses have opened their doors, and hosting has become part of how the island makes its living.

  5. A living island facing real shoreline pressure, growing with its eyes open.

Discover the island
Things to do

Out on the water

Boats leave the jetty every day for the reef, the sandbanks and the open lagoon. Book straight with the crew that runs it.

  1. DailyBanana Boat RideWater sport · 15–30 min · 1 island crewUS$15per person
  2. MorningCoral Garden Snorkelling TripSnorkelling · 1 hr · 1 island crewUS$60per person
  3. DailyCoral Garden Snorkelling TripSnorkelling · 1 island crewUS$60per person
  4. SunsetDolphin Cruise, Night Fishing and BBQ PackageFishing · 1 island crewUS$80per person
  5. DailyDolphin Watching CruiseExcursion · 1 island crewUS$40per person
  6. DailyDolphin Watching CruiseExcursion · 1 island crewUS$40per person
  7. DailyDrone Photography: 1 Video and 4 PhotosWater sport · 1 island crewUS$5per person
See all 220 things to do

Run by island crews. You book with them directly, with no booking fees.

Getting here · 6 min readHow to get to Dhiffushi: speedboat, ferry and tipsSpeedboat or public ferry? Times, typical fares, Friday gaps, late-night arrivals and getting back to the airport.Read the guide Weather · 7 min readBest time to visit Dhiffushi: monsoons month by monthDry, calm January to March (with December and April usually good too), or quiet, surf-and-manta May to November?Read the guide Beaches · 7 min readDhiffushi beach guide: bikini beaches, sunrise and sandbanksWhich Dhiffushi beach is best? The north and sunset bikini beaches, the East Beach sunrise, sandbanks, snorkelling.Read the guide Itinerary · 6 min read3 days in Dhiffushi: an itinerary for every dayA day-by-day plan for 3 days in Dhiffushi, with ideas for 4–5 days, rainy-day swaps.Read the guide Diving & snorkelling · 7 min readDiving Dhiffushi: dive sites, snorkelling and seasonsHouse reef or boat trip? A practical guide to diving and snorkelling from Dhiffushi: dive sites, manta season, courses.Read the guide
Travel guides

Plan it like an islander

Practical, honest and kept up to date by the island council.

  1. Getting hereHow to get to Dhiffushi6 min
  2. WeatherBest time to visit Dhiffushi7 min
  3. BeachesDhiffushi beach guide7 min
  4. Itinerary3 days in Dhiffushi6 min
  5. Diving & snorkellingDiving Dhiffushi7 min
All 225 guides
Good to know

Before you ask

A fishing island on the eastern rim of North Malé Atoll, where families host visitors in their own guesthouses.

40–50 minby speedboat

1,270
Residents · 2022 census
0.95 km
Long · 20 min walk
Boat times and island customs
Getting hereHow do I get to Dhiffushi from the airport?

Shared speedboats take 40–50 minutes and cost about US$25–50 per person. Most guesthouses book the transfer for you. The public ferry is cheaper (MVR 22) but takes about three hours and does not run on Fridays.

CustomsCan I wear a bikini on Dhiffushi?

Yes, on the bikini beach. Around the rest of the island, cover shoulders and knees.

CustomsIs alcohol available?

No. Alcohol isn’t available on local islands. Some excursions visit resort islands or floating bars where it is.

MoneyIs there an ATM?

Yes. The Bank of Maldives ATM centre gives out both US dollars and Maldivian rufiyaa, and accepts foreign cards. Bring some cash as a backup in case the machine is empty or offline.

WeatherWhen is the best time to visit?

December to April is dry and calm with the best visibility. May to October is greener and quieter, and the season for mantas, whale sharks and surf.

ActivitiesCan I snorkel from the beach?

Yes. The house reef is a short swim from the beach. Reef shoes help on the rocky east side.

First light today

05:50

Be among the first in the Maldives to see the sunrise

Dhiffushi sits on the eastern rim of North Malé Atoll, so the sun reaches its east beach first. Bring a coffee and look for the water swing.

Find the sunrise beach
Popular
Places to stayThings to doGetting hereIsland customsDiving

Use ↑ ↓ to move through results, Enter to open, Esc to close.