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What to Wear in the Maldives: Cute Outfit Ideas

ByLauren Moore Hours

If you’ve read any of my packing guides, you know I usually struggle with packing. I want the perfect outfit for every occasion, but don’t want to bring a ton of luggage. However, packing for my recent trip to the Maldives was actually super simple. This guide to what to wear in the Maldives will make it easy for you too.

The Maldives is all about barefoot luxury. This means its all about enjoying the finer things in life in a laid-back and relaxed atmosphere.

For fashion, this looks like comfortable, flowy clothes, sandals, and all-day beach way. During the day, a swimsuit and cover up is perfect for nearly all activities. The dressiest you’ll get at night is a sundress and sandals.

Keep reading below for more details about what to pack for the Maldives and outfit ideas for every occasion.

Contents hide
What to Wear to the Pool / Beach in the Maldives
Resort Dinner Outfit Ideas
Cute Shoes for the Maldives
What to Wear for Snorkeling / Diving
What to Wear in Male and Local Islands
Maldives Packing List
outfit Ideas: What I Wore in the Maldives
FAQ – What to Wear in the Maldives
Typical Weather in the Maldives

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What to Wear to the Pool / Beach in the Maldives

Collection of swimwear and beachwear for the Maldives, featuring a turquoise bikini, a black cut-out one-piece, a yellow bikini, a red bikini set, a black mesh cover-up, a green bikini with a light green striped cover-up, and a straw sunhat.

My most-worn item of clothing on my Maldives vacation was a swimsuit. With amazing pools and the warm ocean, you will spend a ton of time in and around the water.

On local islands, there are modesty laws, especially for women. If you are staying there, I recommend finding a modest option that covers your shoulders and a cover up that goes over your knees.

At the resorts, you can wear any swimwear that you are comfortable in. Then, bring a few cute cover ups to throw on over while walking around or grabbing a bite from the bar or restaurant.

Shop this resort swimwear and cover ups

Resort Dinner Outfit Ideas

Selection of elegant dresses for a resort dinner in the Maldives, including yellow, light blue, white, black with embroidery, blue and white floral, black smocked, pink, and white with black stripes.

I stayed at the Park Hyatt Maldives, so I can only speak to that resort’s dress code, but based on my research all of them are similar. There is no formal dress code for any restaurant and you could wear shorts and a t-shirt if you wanted.

I like to get a little dressed up on vacation, so the perfect mix of cute and casual was a midi sundress with sandals. All of the above options are under $200 and super comfortable.

Shop these Maldives vacation dresses

Cute Shoes for the Maldives

Various stylish sandals for a Maldives vacation, including beige woven slides, floral Gucci slides, tan braided sandals, yellow cut-out slides, white slip-ons with black designs, and black strappy sandals.

For footwear, be sure to leave the heels at home. A saw one woman wearing a pair of (very cute) heels, and she struggled with each step sinking into the sand.

Instead, wear a pair of cute and beachy flat sandals. Plus, they’re compact so you can bring a ton if you are a shoe addict like me.

Bring at least one pair that is waterproof for the pool and beach. For dinner, materials like leather or woven straw are a bit dressier and fashionable.

Shop these sandals

What to Wear for Snorkeling / Diving

Assorted rash guards and swimsuits for snorkeling and diving in the Maldives, featuring long-sleeved black, white, floral, and striped options, along with short-sleeved olive green and pink full-body suits.

Of course, you can wear a normal swimsuit for snorkeling, but I prefer something with more coverage for protection from the sun. I also like the extra security of the swimsuit as I move around.

For diving, your tour will likely provide a wetsuit, but these can be good to layer underneath.

Shop these comfortable, high-coverage swimsuits

What to Wear in Male and Local Islands

Comfortable and stylish outfits for exploring Male and local islands, including neutral-toned jumpsuits, white blouses with beige and olive pants, an orange dress, and straw handbags from Chloé.

There are different rules for what to wear in Male (the capital) and local islands than there is at the resorts. At the resorts, you can really wear what you want.

However, the Maldives is a Muslim country so there are modesty guidelines in local areas. For women, it is best to cover your shoulders and knees. If you are visiting a resort, the only time you will need to follow these rules is when you fly and and out of the international airport in Male.

However, it is very hot so I recommend cool fabrics so you don’t get too hot. Some good outfit ideas are a flowy midi dress or matching linen set. You can also layer a light button up over your outfit to add additional coverage.

Shop these modest vacation outfits

Maldives Packing List

As I mentioned above, packing for the Maldives is actually quite easy and you do not need a ton. Each day, I wore something super casual to breakfast, a swimsuit all day, then a dress at night.

Be sure to also pack the other warm-weather essentials such as sunscreen, a good book, and a beach bag. I also recommend towel clips to keep your towel from blowing around.

  • Swimsuits
  • Cover Ups
  • Shorts & Tanks
  • Sundresses
  • Sandals
  • Hat
  • Reef Safe Sunscreen
  • Book
  • Beach Bag
  • Towel Clips

outfit Ideas: What I Wore in the Maldives

Woman in a blue maxi dress with flutter sleeves, sitting by a poolside with tropical greenery, holding a glass of champagne.
Woman in a bright pink crochet cover-up dress, floral sandals, and sunglasses, standing on a sandy beach with a palm tree and turquoise water in the background.
Woman in a blue sundress with a floral print, wearing sandals and sunglasses, standing in front of lush greenery.

In case you need some more Maldives outfit inspiration, here are some examples of what I wore. Both blue dresses are examples of what I wore in the evening and to happy hour. In the middle is what I wore every day – a swimsuit and crochet cover up.

FAQ – What to Wear in the Maldives

Is it ok to wear a bikini in the Maldives?

Yes, it is ok to wear a bikini in the Maldives if you are staying at a private resort. If you are staying on a local island, bikinis are not allowed for women as your shoulders and knees must be covered.

Do I need a raincoat for the Maldives?

No, you do not need to pack a raincoat for the Maldives. Although there are occasional rain showers, the temperatures do not drop enough to need a coat. If it rains, an umbrella will be a much better option and most resorts will have them for you to use.

Are there suitcase restrictions for the seaplanes or boats in the Maldives?

Check with your individual resort for their policies, but typically the only restriction for luggage is a 50 pound weight limit, similar to major airlines.

Do I have to cover my hair in Maldives?

At resorts, there is no need to cover your hair. On local islands, women should cover their hair if they enter a religious building, but don’t need to elsewhere.

Typical Weather in the Maldives

The Maldives enjoys a tropical climate with generally warm temperatures throughout the year. The typical weather in the Maldives is hot and humid, with two main seasons – the dry season (from December to April) and the wet season (from May to November).

During the dry season, you can expect plenty of sunshine, clear skies, and calm seas. In contrast, the wet season has more rainfall, occasional storms, and higher humidity levels. However, the storms are usually quick and do not last all day.

Even during rainy season, it is very warm, so you can pack the same items year-round. A rain jacket is not necessary since it is so hot and the rain passes quickly. I honestly didn’t mind getting wet and it felt refreshing.

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Graphic showcasing various outfit ideas for the Maldives, including a turquoise bikini, yellow bikini, pink maxi dress, black smocked dress, white dress with black stripes, blue floral dress, green striped cover-up, black mesh cover-up, floral rash guard, beige and yellow sandals, Chloé straw bag, and straw sunhat. The text reads

Lauren is the creator of The Traveling Moore blog. She's travel obsessed, having been to nearly 50 countries and all 7 continents. She has a full time corporate job, and loves showing others that it's still possible to travel the world with limited PTO hours. Lauren is also travel hacking obsessed, finding every way to travel more often and more luxuriously.

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