Velana International Airport (MLE), simply called Male Airport, is the main international airport in the Maldives. Located on Hulhule Island, the airport is just a short Male Airport ferry ride from Male City, the capital of the Maldives. Discover the Male Airport to Male City ferry schedule, price, and other essential information.
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Male Airport Ferry to Male City
The ferry going from Velana Airport to Male City can be easily found at the exit of the airport. When leaving the airport building, you will notice a ticket counter with the name “Ferry to Male” on it.
You need to purchase your ferry tickets there.
Male Airport to Male City Ferry Price
The Male Airport to Male City ferry price depends on the time of the day you are traveling. The ferry ticket can be purchased in Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR) or US Dollars (USD). Normally, payment in local currency comes cheaper. Only cash is accepted for the payment.
While for a long time the standard ferry ticket price stayed the same and was 10 MVR per person, the ferry price was updated in 2023 and currently is the following:
- Ferry passenger ticket price from 04:30 to 06:00 is 20.00 MVR per person.
- Ferry passenger ticket price from 06:00 to midnight is 15.00 MVR per person.
When paying for the ferry tickets in US dollars, expect the price to be 1 USD.
Normally every passenger can carry up to 3 pieces of luggage for free and needs to purchase a luggage ticket for each extra piece of luggage.
Male Airport Ferry Schedule
The frequency of the ferry running from Velana Airport to Male City previously depended on the time of the day. In May 2026, Male ferry schedule is as follows:
Airport to Male
From 05:00 to 00:00, the ferry leaves every 15 minutes.
Male to Airport
From 04:30 to 23:30, the ferry leaves every 15 minutes.
Be noted that ferries might not be following the schedule very strictly and might depart more frequently when getting full or less frequently when there are no passengers. In any case, you shouldn't need to wait for the ferry to depart for more than half an hour.
A trip by ferry from the airport to Male takes about 10 minutes.
Hulhule Ferry Pier
Velana Airport ferry pier is located just outside the airport. You will notice the Hulhule ferry pier near the ferry ticket counter. Ferries running between Male Airport and Male City look like the ferry in the picture below.
Male City Ferry Pier
The Male City ferry pier for airport ferries is located near the Hulhumale' Ferry Terminal (not inside).
When going back to the airport, just look for the ticket counter booth, which is located right on the street near the pier.
Note!
From 22 March to 10 July 2026, the airport ferry in Male is temporarily using Jetty No. 2, which is located in front of Shaheed Hussain Adam Building.
The ticket price for the ferry to the airport is the same - 20 MVR from 04:30 to 06:00 and 15 MVR from 06:00 to midnight.
Tips
Explore the most popular atolls in the Maldives and choose the one that is the most suitable for your preferences.
The selection of the best resort islands can be found here: Best Villa Resorts in the Maldives.
If you are flying out early in the morning or arriving late in the evening, staying overnight at one of the hotels near Male Airport might be a great idea. On Hulhule Island, right next to the airport, you can find the Hulhule Island Hotel. The hotels nearest to the ferry terminal in Male City are Jen Maldives Male by Shangri-La, Maagiri Hotel, and an affordable Amina Residency.
In case you will have a long layover at Male Airport, book a private Male’ City walking tour to explore the city of Male, visit historically important sites, and experience the culture and traditions of the local life.
If you will be staying on Hulhumale Island not far from Male Airport, get on a full-day boat tour and snorkeling from Hulhumale and set off on a day of adventure to discover the wonderful sea creatures that surround the islands and enjoy snorkeling at a vibrant coral reef.