17 best Maldives resorts for an island getaway in 2024

Home to both Patina and the Ritz-Carlton Maldives, the Fari Islands have quickly become the Maldives’ most sought-after luxury destination since opening in 2021. Just a short 50-minute speedboat ride from Male, the manmade islands offer shared facilities, inviting guests to make reservations at any of the resorts’ restaurants, or pop into their respective boutiques, spas and beach clubs. From casual food trucks serving burgers, bao buns, and gelato, through to Nordic chef’s table dining or a traditional Cantonese banquet, there are more than 18 unique dining experiences on offer across the two properties – with the lion’s share operated by Patina. 

Reasons to stay:

• More than 18 unique dining experiences
• Elegant, organic coastal design with mid-century design cues
• Private villas (including overwater) with outdoor baths, showers, and plunge pools

It’s just a five-minute boat ride between Patina and The Ritz-Carlton but the luxury resorts couldn’t be more different when it comes to their design aesthetic and approach to service. At The Ritz-Carlton, you’ll find a dramatic, high-gloss version of luxury, where every villa is serviced by an Aris Meeha – a name inspired by the servants in the ancient Maldivian royal court. Marble finishes are paired with striking geometric architecture that delivers drama – and a photo-op – at every turn.

Reasons to stay:

• State-of-the-art spa facility 
• Private villas (including overwater) with outdoor baths, showers, and plunge pools
• Personal concierge service for every villa

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Pitched at the ultra-luxury end of the spectrum, Reethi Rah is a five star resort that caters to every appetite. Its signature Reethi space is split into three settings, offering a range of cuisines that cater to most tastes. You can also dine on exceptional Japanese fare at Hoshi or opt to dine poolside at Italian-leaning spot Rabarbaro.

Or keep it simple with a private dinner at one of the island’s 12 secluded beaches. Finally, the resort’s farm-to-fork concept, Botanica, serves organic produce in alfresco setting, among exotic blooms and a spreading banyan tree. It’s the ideal spot to dine under the stars.

Reasons to stay:

• Five star resort on a private island
• Eight restaurants
• Dive centre, spa, tennis courts, FIFA-certified football pitch

From the air, St Regis Vommuli’s six-room spa looks like a lobster. The bar, a soaring, streamlined form suspended above the ocean, takes the shape of a whale shark. The 44 overwater villas fan out across the ocean like a school of manta rays, and the library channels a giant conch.

Opened in late 2016 and designed by Singapore’s aptly named WOW Architects, Vommuli is the Maldives’ most daring design statement. And with form comes function: all villas have private pools.

Reasons to stay:

• Features 33 on-land and 44 over-water villas
• St. Regis Butlers offer bespoke service
• Water sports and excursions, including diving centre activities

The overwater bungalow has become a byword for romantic escape since they first appeared in French Polynesia in the 1960s. The Maldives claims more stilted love nests than any other honeymoon destination, so they can sometimes feel less singular and special than lovers anticipated.

All 24 overwater bungalows at Gili Lankanfushi are set discreetly enough apart for privacy. And then there are the Crusoe Residences for a next-level romantic experience. These seven freestanding thatch mansions are perched in the centre of the lagoon, accessible only by boat, each with rooftop terraces, glass floor panels, daybeds and a hammock strung across the water.

Reasons to stay:

• Secluded overwater villas and residences
• Choice restaurants, eateries and bars
• Spa, sports and adventure activities

Picture the dream deserted-island hideaway. A seaplane arrival at an oasis of caster-sugar sand anchored in an ocean of aquamarine. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of stunning natural beauty, from rich green tropical plants to white sands and iridescent blues that stretch out from the aptly-named Blu Beach. All topped off by the five star resort services that Four Seasons are known for.

This resort is exactly what you’d expect for a luxurious Maldives escape. It caters to everyone from the adventurous to families and those who want the ultimate relaxation experiences. It’s also got foodies covered, with four restaurants and collaborations with Michelin-starred chefs on the cards.

Reasons to stay:

• 103 guestrooms, featuring private pools and plasma televisions
• Full-service spa
• Recreational amenities include 4 outdoor swimming pools, an outdoor tennis court, sauna, gym and water activities

If you count yourself as part of the scuba set, you’ll be spoiled for adventures anywhere in the Maldives. But Baros remains a favourite both for its excellent reef and the fact it was one of the nation’s first dive sites when it opened in the 1970s.

Baros’s dive centre offer PADI certification and day or night dives on the island’s renowned house reef, less than 30 metres from shore. Baros is 25 minutes by speedboat from Malé airport, so you’ll be immersed in no time.

Reasons to stay:

• 75 individually decorated guest rooms
• 3 restaurants, poolside bar and spa services
• Diving and snorkelling activities for all levels

One of the most coveted breaks in the Maldives is Yin Yang, and it unfurls just offshore from the 96-villa Six Senses Laamu on Olhuveli Island.

It’s known as one of the most reliable swells in the South Atolls, a sturdy barrel that peaks between June and September (when only more confident surfers should attempt it). A partnership with Australian outfit Tropicsurf allows the resort to offer professional coaching to all guests.

Reasons to stay:

• Surfing lessons, snorkelling, boat tours and more
• 6 restaurants and bars
• Private island location

Many Maldives resorts have a house reef but Amilla’s stands out for its direct access to the Blue Hole, arguably the Maldives’ most celebrated snorkelling and dive site. Located directly in front of the 67-room property, it is easily accessed by speedboat or a brisk swim, and is teeming with marine life.

Given its prime location on the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll, Amilla could easily rest on its corals, but its team of marine biologists work hard to interpret the underwater world for guests, who are encouraged to upload their photos to global research databases of manta rays and turtles. The resort is also handily located near Hanifaru Bay, a hotspot for whale sharks and manta rays and accessible only to snorkellers.

Reasons to stay:

• Choice of dining and drink options for all types of holidays
• Kids club, fitness facilities and watersports
• Pristine beaches and villas with private pools

When the sun’s out it’s chilled tunes and poolside lounging. At night, the action swings to Finolhu’s Beach Club bar, kept lively by a roster of event organisers. Expect mermaids and stilt walkers, weekly pool and monthly full-moon parties and six annual events featuring headline performers and DJs airlifted in to rock the tropics.

There are also kids activities, spa services, water sports (and a water park!) and plenty of other luxuries.

Reasons to stay:

• 125 individually decorated guestrooms
• Kids activities, fitness and outdoor activities, including a water park
• DJs and events

Huvafen Fushi has been on plenty of Maldive resort wishlists since opening in 2004 with the world’s first underwater spa. Drift from a glass-walled treatment room to one of 46 private bungalows or pavilions – each with a pool, flatscreen satellite TV and Bose surround-sound system – then to your choice of restaurants and bars (including a wine cellar set eight metres underground).

Reasons to stay:

• Overwater and beachside bungalows and pavilions
• Private pools and sundecks
• Overwater gym, yoga pavilion and water activities

At the 193-villa Lux South Ari Atoll resort there’s little rest for adrenaline addicts. The dive centre provides full training and PADI certification for all levels. Or, if you want to be closer to the surface you can go snorkeling, kitesurfing, parasailing, flyboarding, paddleboarding, canoeing and more.

Its location in the southern atolls also puts it within striking distance of four top-rated dive sites, including Maaya Thila, Sun Island (for whale sharks) and the Broken Rock canyon. Plus its got sports facilities for tennis, volleyball, badminton, daily fitness and yoga classes, a spa and plenty of family-friendly activities for all kinds of travellers.

Reasons to stay:

• All-inclusive packages
• Kids club and family activities including games night, cinema under the stars and workshops
• Surrounded by over 50 beautiful dive sites

Five star resorts are all designed to offer the best service for guests. But Como Cocoa Island stands out for its long-serving staff and their uncanny ability to anticipate guest needs. This might be a day at the spa, or a beach barbecue of just-caught fish, or a Mojito delivered poolside. In premium two-bedroom villas, dedicated butlers elevate Cocoa Island service even further.

Reasons to stay:

• Airport greeting and concierge service for all transfers and activities
• Dive centre, watersports centre and Como Shambhala Retreat wellness facilities
• Restaurants, in-room dining and other room services, including babysitting

Imagine dining on poached lobster medallions and potato-crusted bream in a submarine restaurant while thousands of wild aquatic creatures circle your table. There’s no doubt the Mediterranean-accented fare, underwater wine cellar and elegant design at Anantara Kihavah’s Sea restaurant offer precisely what many travellers seek in the Maldives — the extraordinary and the unforgettable.

Beyond that, this resort lays claim to the Maldives’ most powerful telescope for stargazing, plus all the other wonders these islands have to offer.

Reasons to stay:

• Award-winning underwater dining
• Sky bar stargazing experiences
• 80 beach and overwater pool villas and residences

Soneva Fushi has a knack for making children feel like adults and adults feel like children – the perfect outcome for a family holiday. The wondrously equipped kids’ club has a waterslide, pirate ship and craft classes among myriad diversions, along with a babysitting service.

For adults there’s the spa, excellent dining and plenty of water activities. For all ages there’s the ice-cream kiosk, dolphin spotting by dhoni and private screenings at the outdoor Cinema Paradiso. Accommodation options suit families of any size, and include a residence with giant waterslide.

Reasons to stay:

• Located in the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
• 11 onsite restaurants, including the world’s first fine-dining zipline experience
• Variety of suites, including some with private water slides

The night skies of the Maldives are some of the most dazzling on Earth and this resort makes them a starring attraction, with retractable roofs in each of Soneva Jani’s one-, two- and three- and four-bedroom villas. For more serious stargazing, there’s an overwater observatory with a telescope and a resident astronomer on hand.

Reasons to stay:

• 51 overwater and three island residences
• 13 fine dining options 
• Starstruck observatory, wine cellar, spa and fitness and water activities

The first resort in the southern Thaa Atoll, Como Maalifushi has 65 suites and villas and uninterrupted views of this remote corner of the archipelago. The relative lack of development and passing traffic — on the water or in the air — makes Maalifushi one of the most attractive spots to watch wide-screen sunsets over the Indian Ocean. The best seats are at Tai, an overwater, open-air bar and restaurant where staff enhance the nightly light show with Japanese-accented cocktails.

Reasons to stay:

• 65 suites and villas with a choice of private swim-up terraces or gardens designed for play and relaxation
• 3 restaurants and private dining options
• Watersports centre, marine sports centre, kids activities and Como Shambhala Retreat wellness facilities