Best Luxury Hotels in Maldives

W Maldives presents guests with contemporary design, vibrant social spaces, and world-class amenities. The 77 villas, designed by Miaja Design Group, take inspiration from the Maldives’ marine life and lush landscapes, featuring overwater and beach accommodations, including Supreme Overwater Two-Bedroom Villas and Oasis Two-Bedroom Beach Villas with private pools and exhilarating water slides. The resort’s culinary experiences include sustainable ocean-to-table fine dining at FISH, expertly grilled dishes at FIRE, and international favourites at KITCHEN, alongside exclusive pop-up events with renowned chefs.

The overwater bar SIP serves Latin American-inspired cocktails against breathtaking sunsets, while the WET Deck pulsates with energy, featuring the Maldives’ first Splinterworks Vertex water slide. The AWAY Spa offers indulgent treatments in overwater pavilions, while the Rise & Energize programme provides year-round wellness and fitness activities. Guests can explore one of the Maldives’ finest house reefs, embark on bespoke excursions to the private island Gaathafushi, and experience a seamless blend of adventure and relaxation. Sustainability remains at the core of the resort, with eco-conscious design elements, a biogas plant, and a commitment to self-sustainability by 2026. W Maldives is a vibrant playground where bold design meets indulgence, offering an unforgettable island escape.

Mudhdhoo Island is a gorgeous part of the Maldives and home to this resort with some of the best diving, snorkelling among manta rays, and swimming in the country. Located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the resort features 360-degree ocean views, a turquoise lagoon and white sandy beaches, as well as spa rooms elevated coconut trees, and activities for families of all ages including tennis, yoga, and cycling. Dusit Thani also has one of the largest infinity pools in the Maldives.

Home to the Maldives’ first-ever Medi-spa, this retreat is in the Raa Atoll. Choose from 150 villas, some over-water, duplexes, others on the beach and those best suited to family groups. Depending on the category, you can benefit from butler service and a private pool, with those in ocean suites able to dine at an overwater restaurant and exclusive bar. There are five further restaurants, providing buffets, grilled seafood, Sri Lankan fine dining and a chef’s table, plus several bars with views to die for. Plus there are two swimming pools, a playground, a kids club, futsal fields, tennis courts and watersports.

Sitting on the Southernmost tip of Raa Atoll, on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and within its own natural lagoon, Maamunagau Island offers the perfect family holiday. Boasting an exceptional kids’ club, resident chefs and most recently, manta ray retreats, the resort accommodation is well-suited to hosting families in beautiful, spacious villas and residences. As the first and only all-Club InterContinental resort, guests are spoiled with complimentary benefits alongside five-star facilities. With 81 beach, lagoon and over-water villas, as well as six restaurants and bars, the resort enjoys the peace of a boutique hotel but hosts world-class resort facilities.

JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort is a luxurious retreat located on Hathaa Finolhu in the Kaafu Atoll, just a 15-minute speedboat ride from Velana International Airport. The resort offers 80 private pool villas, including 47 overwater villas, each designed with modern island aesthetics and featuring a private deck with panoramic ocean views. Guests can enjoy an exceptional culinary journey across seven dining venues, from fine dining at Riva to the vibrant flavours of Athiri’s South American cuisine and the fresh, locally inspired dishes at Pure. The resort’s Spa by JW provides a tranquil escape with a range of treatments, a steam room, sauna, and a relaxation pavilion. Fitness enthusiasts can make use of the 24-hour gym, while multiple outdoor pools, including a children’s pool, offer ample space to unwind. The resort also caters to families with dedicated activities for younger guests. With its pristine beachfront setting, private pools, world-class dining, and rejuvenating wellness facilities, JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort promises an unforgettable island experience in the heart of the Maldives.

Situated in the Shaviyani Atoll, the JW Marriott Resort and Spa Maldives provides an unforgettable experience. Guests are welcomed with traditional BoduBeru drums and vibrant Maldivian dances before being escorted by their personal Thakuru (butler) for an in-villa check-in. The resort features luxurious overwater and beach villas with private pools, expansive decks offering stunning Indian Ocean views, and plush bedding for ultimate comfort. Set amidst tropical greenery, each villa serves as a tranquil retreat, allowing guests to connect with the island’s natural beauty.

Nestled in the South Atoll, this luxury 5-star resort is a haven for a laid-back island getaway and especially for unplugged vacations. The 193 villas extend out onto the water, giving you a premier experience. Facilities include two infinity pools, floodlit tennis courts, a cinema, and a luxury spa. When you aren’t enjoying being in or near the ocean on the two miles of stunning beaches where you might catch a glimpse of a whale shark, you can enjoy the state-of-the-art fitness centre.

A complimentary speedboat transfer will deliver you from the airport to this idyll on the private Furanafushi Island in less than half an hour. After getting settled into your thatched overwater bungalow, you can choose whether to visit the Shine Spa, swim in the freshwater pool, play tennis, take a yoga class, book a dive session, or unwind with a beverage at the Anchorage or Beach Bars. When you’re feeling peckish you can snack on dim sum at Chopstix, tuck into steak and seafood at Sea Salt Beach Grill or dine at Baan Thai, eat anytime at Feast and al fresco at the Masaala Hut.

Perched on a huge lagoon, beside the jungle and the ocean, this all-villa resort is on Sirru Fen Fushi island, in the Shaviyani Atoll. Stay on the beach, hidden in the mangroves, over-water or in a luxury tented residence nestled in the jungle. Each makes use of local materials, with local design and ranges from one to three bedrooms. Play tennis, beach volleyball and water sports, take a Maldivian cooking class, paint at the onsite art studio and swim in what is the longest swimming pool in the Indian Ocean. Other amenities include the Willow Stream Spa, four restaurants, a kids club and a teen games room.

Sun Siyam Iru Veli is a 45-minute seaplane from Male, this island idyll with a chilled vibe and a pool in every villa couldn’t be more suited to couples of all ages looking for a taste of barefoot luxury with one of the best all-inclusive indulgences in the Maldives.

An all-inclusive resort that covers diving or spa credits, excursions, activities and a free minibar is hard to find. You get all these at Iru Veli as well as the option of eating a la carte in the overwater Italian restaurant Roma, or beachfront Grouper Grill whilst the buffet is excellent too. You know this is a ‘more inclusive’ rather than a standard all-inclusive offering before you even get to Sun Siyam Iru Veli while waiting for your seaplane flight, you can indulge in a head and shoulders massage and food and drinks in Sun Siyam Resorts’ comfortable airport lounge.

Once on the island, divers can join three dives a week without having to pay extra, while non-divers receive spa credit. See how Maldivians live on a local island tour, enjoy a sunset cruise to spot pods of dolphins, and go snorkelling with a guide. You can also take a half-hour windsurfing lesson and try jetskiing too.

And for those wanting to see how the local farming community works, farm-to-fork dining takes on a whole new meaning at Iru Veli, which is supplied by two island farms owned by the Maldivian-owned Sun Siyam Resorts group. Visit Udhdhoo farm island, a 10-minute boat ride away, to see how the company makes food miles shrink. Some 38 different types of fruit and veg are cultivated by a team of gardeners, supplying about a third of Iru Veli’s fresh produce.

Choose from either overwater or beach villas at The Standard. There are 115 in total, with mood lighting and infinity pools, each providing easy access to the protected house reef, for some scuba, snorkel and sailing action. The hotel’s spa has a hammam, a cypress steam room, a meditation studio and aerial yoga classes. And the four eateries include the overwater Maldivian restaurant, Guduguda. The Standard has an inflatable water park, a kids club and a programme of entertainment, such as traditional Maldivian Boduberu, beach movie nights and karaoke.

Translating as “Turtle Island” in the local Dhivehi language, Angsana Velavaru is a wonderful place to snorkel and dive if you’re dreaming of coming up close to Maldivian marine life. It has its own PADI 5-star Gold Dive Centre and a Marine Lab (dedicated to protecting coral reef ecosystems through research and conservation) where you can join a class or a snorkelling safari. Those preferring to take it easy can visit the outdoor treatment pavilions of the award-winning Angsana Spa, or bliss out at the infinity pool with a design cocktail from the bar. Meanwhile, kids are catered for with activities at the Rangers’ Club.