The National Museum of the Maldives: a visitor guide

The museum is on Chaandhanee Magu in the middle of Malé, the capital island, according to the official National Museum page of the Maldives’ heritage authority. It sits within Sultan Park, the green space laid out where the sultans’ palace once stood.

Malé is small and flat, so most visitors walk there. The museum is within easy walking distance of the ferry terminals on the waterfront and of the capital’s other main sights. Our Malé guide shows how the city fits together.

Getting there from the airport

Velana International Airport is on Hulhulé, the island next to Malé. A public airport ferry crosses to Malé, and public buses run over the bridge. From the Malé side it is a short walk or taxi ride to the museum. See arriving at Velana Airport for the options.

Many people staying on a local island fit the museum into a day in Malé at the start or end of a trip. If you are heading to Dhiffushi, for example, the speedboat leaves from the Malé and airport area, so a morning at the museum pairs well with an afternoon transfer. Our page on how to get to Dhiffushi explains the boats.

The first museum, 1952

The first National Museum opened on 19 November 1952, on National Day. Prime Minister Mohamed Amin Didi opened it, as the heritage authority’s page and national broadcaster reporting both record. Some older secondary sources give 11 November; the official page says 19 November.

Its first home was Usgekolhu, a palace building put up for the family of Sultan Muhammad Imaaduddeen VI in the early 1900s. When fire destroyed most of the palace in 1968, Usgekolhu survived. It is now the only remaining structure from the sultans’ palace, and it stands in Sultan Park today.

The new building, 2010

As the collection grew, it outgrew the old palace. A new purpose-built museum, built with grant aid from the government of China, opened on 26 July 2010, Independence Day. China handed the building over earlier that month. The old Usgekolhu building is no longer the main exhibition space; in 2024 the government announced plans to turn it into an interactive museum, and in 2026 the heritage minister said work on an immersive branch of the National Museum was under way.

In July 2026 the heritage minister also told Parliament that funding had been secured from China to repair, maintain and further develop the museum. The building had not had a major renovation since it opened, she said. Expect some changes in the coming years.

The official museum page says the galleries show objects from many periods of Maldivian history. National reporting puts the number on display at around 700, some of them more than 1,500 years old. Broadly, expect these themes.

Royal objects

Much of the collection came from the old palace and the sultans’ court. Look for thrones, royal regalia, ceremonial items, clothing and furniture. These pieces give a sense of the centuries when sultans ruled the islands, up to the republic of 1968. Our history of the Maldives puts them in context.

The pre-Islamic period

Before the Maldives converted to Islam in the 12th century, the islands were Buddhist. The museum holds coral stone carvings and fragments from that era, many found at ancient mound sites on islands such as Thoddoo. They are among the oldest objects in the country. Read more in the Maldives before Islam.

Writing, coins and documents

Expect old manuscripts, letters, a collection of Qur’ans, written artefacts, and coins and banknotes from different periods. These show how Dhivehi writing and trade developed over time.

Everyday island life

Some of the most rewarding displays are the simplest. The heritage authority highlights household objects used in Maldivian homes, the lamps and other things people used for light over the centuries, and the bodu beru, the big drum at the heart of boduberu music. There are also models and items linked to navigation and boats.

Modern history

National reporting also mentions early telecommunications and computing equipment, and a section about the Maldives Police Service. These bring the story into the 20th century.

In February 2012, during political unrest in Malé, a group of men broke into the museum and smashed much of the pre-Islamic collection, including a coral stone head of the Buddha found on Thoddoo. Museum staff said at the time that some pieces were destroyed beyond repair. Limestone and coral stone are hard to restore, and conservation work followed with outside support. It is worth knowing this history before you visit: the gaps in the pre-Islamic galleries are part of the story.

The heritage authority’s official page gives these details. They can change, so check the page or phone the museum before you go.

• Days: Sunday to Thursday. Closed on Fridays, Saturdays and government holidays.
• Hours: 10:15am to 4pm. The ticket counter closes at 3:30pm.
• Tickets: Separate rates for Maldivians and foreigners, with lower prices for children and students (bring a student ID or letter). Children under five go free.
• Contact: the heritage authority lists a phone number on its museum page.

Pay in rufiyaa if you can. Small notes make paying easier.

How long to allow

An hour is enough to see the highlights. Allow two if you like to read every label or are interested in the pre-Islamic carvings.

Best time to go

Go in the morning, when Malé is cooler and the galleries are quiet. Remember that on Friday the whole city slows down for midday prayer, and the museum is closed anyway.

Sultan Park

Sultan Park closed on 20 August 2025 for redevelopment, with the Maldives National Defence Force supervising the work. It was due to reopen around Eid al-Fitr in March 2026. Check locally whether all of the park is open when you visit.

The official page lists the house rules. In short:

• No smoking or vaping.
• Don’t touch the exhibits or sit on them.
• No food or drink inside, and no walking sticks unless you need one for mobility (ask staff).
• No flash photography or flash video.
• Keep your voice down and don’t run.

Dress as you would anywhere in Malé: cover your shoulders and knees. Malé is not a bikini area, and modest clothing is expected in public. See what to wear in the Maldives.

If you take photos, follow staff instructions and switch off the flash. Ask before photographing people in the galleries.

The museum fits easily into a half-day walk around old Malé. Nearby you can see several heritage sites, including the coral stone mosque known as Hukuru Miskiy. Our guides to historical sites and coral stone mosques explain what you are looking at. Finish at the waterfront with a visit to the fish market and local market.