Lois Larson
The Maldives offers a variety of shopping options, from local street markets to high-end boutiques and small-scale souvenir shops. If you're looking for last-minute shopping at the airport, the duty-free section at Malé International Airport has various stores, including perfumes, cosmetics, local souvenirs, and alcohol. The airport is also a great place to buy chocolate, with brands like Godiva, Lindt, and Galler available. For authentic Maldivian souvenirs, consider the 'thudukuna' (local woven mats), sarongs, lacquer-work, and canned fish. The main shopping areas in the Maldives are located in Malé and Hulhumalé, with the main street, Majeedhee Magu, offering a range of goods, including shoes, clothing, perfumes, and electronics.
Things to buy at Malé International Airport
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | Only available at various resorts, duty-free shops, and at Hulhule Island Hotel on the airport island |
| Chocolates | Cadbury, M&M, Smarties, Toblerone, Hershey's, Godiva, Lindt, Galler, Anthonberg, Goldkenn |
| Perfumes | Parfums Christian Dior, Chanel, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Clinique, Estée Lauder, Elizabeth Arden |
| Cosmetics | The Body Shop, L’Oréal Paris |
| Local souvenirs | Thundu Kunaa, Lacquer products, Dhonis, Maldivian Sarongs, Coconut items, traditional jewelry, batik sarong, wooden handy-crafts, hand-painted t-shirts, miniature dhonis, reed mats |
| Local food products | Canned fish, vacuum-packed smoked fish, chipped dried fish |
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Perfumes and cosmetics
The Maldives may not be a shopping haven, but its duty-free shops at the airport offer a wide range of perfumes and cosmetics. The airport is one of the best places to buy duty-free perfumes. You can find well-known brands such as Parfums Christian Dior, Chanel, Lancôme, Yves Saint Laurent, Clinique, Estée Lauder, and Elizabeth Arden.
Le Cute, a duty-free outlet at the airport, specializes in perfumes, cosmetics, and healthcare products. They carry beauty products from various major brands, and you can also find a wide range of natural sunscreens and hair care products.
If you are looking for cosmetics, the airport's duty-free shops offer a range of skincare, bath lines, and cosmetics from prestigious brands such as The Body Shop and L'Oréal Paris.
In addition to international brands, the airport's duty-free shops also offer local products. You can find local herbal products, including perfumes, which can make for unique purchases.
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Local souvenirs
The Maldives has numerous shopping options, especially in its capital city of Malé. The airport is a great place to pick up some last-minute souvenirs and duty-free items. Local souvenirs include the 'thundu kunaa' (a mat woven with local natural fibres), lacquer products, miniature dhonis, and coconut items. You can also find authentic Maldivian hand-painted t-shirts, lacquered boxes, and reed mats.
The main shopping street in Malé is Majeedhee Magu, where you can find various shops selling goods ranging from small commodities to virtually everything you could think of. A high proportion of these shops sell shoes and clothing, as well as perfumes, cosmetics, jewellery, watches, and electronics.
If you're looking for local food products, head to the Fish Market in Malé, where you can find all kinds of fresh fish, including tuna and sailfish. The Local Market, just a block away, is another great place to find genuine Maldivian products, including vacuum-packed smoked fish and chipped dried fish.
For a unique shopping experience, join the bustling throngs of shoppers on the main shopping streets in the evenings. This will allow you to experience the frenetic capital city and its local culture.
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Luxury chocolates
If you're looking for luxury chocolates at the Maldives airport, you're in luck! The duty-free shops at Velana International Airport offer a range of well-known and luxurious chocolate brands.
For those seeking a more premium chocolate experience, brands such as Godiva, Lindt, Galler, Anthonberg, and Goldkenn are available in elegant packaging. These chocolates are perfect for gifting, with beautiful boxes that are sure to impress. If you're looking for a unique taste, you can also find handmade French chocolates by Pascal Caffet, a World Champion Chocolatier. zChocolat delivers these fine, high-end chocolates across the Maldives within 4 business days, ensuring they arrive in perfect condition.
For those with a sweet tooth, the duty-free shops also offer a range of other chocolate options, including Cadbury, M&M's, Smarties, Toblerone, and Hershey's. These well-known brands provide a familiar and delicious treat.
Additionally, if you're looking for a gift to be delivered to the Maldives, online services offer luxury chocolate delivery across the country. These chocolates are crafted with all-natural, preservative-free ingredients and can be delivered year-round to ensure your recipient enjoys a sweet surprise.
So, whether you're treating yourself or surprising a loved one, luxury chocolates are a delightful option to consider when passing through the Maldives airport or sending a gift to the Maldives.
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Canned fish
You can find a variety of canned fish options in the Maldives, including:
- Canned tuna chunks in sunflower oil, brine, or other flavoured oils.
- Canned skipjack tuna in olive oil.
- Canned sardines.
- Canned mackerel.
In addition to canned fish, you can also find vacuum-packed smoked fish and chipped dried fish in supermarkets in Malé. Dried fish, in particular, is a unique product in the Maldives, as it can be kept indefinitely without refrigeration, and is an essential ingredient in many local dishes.
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Alcohol
The Maldives is a predominantly Muslim country, governed by Sharia law, which prohibits the consumption of alcohol. Despite this, alcohol is available in many tourist resorts and hotels, and there are even floating bars in the middle of the ocean, away from the local islands, where you can drink. However, drinking alcohol in public places or on local islands is strictly prohibited and can result in fines or imprisonment.
If you are looking to buy alcohol at the airport, it is important to note that it is only available in the duty-free shops when you are leaving the country. Alcohol is not allowed in the country, so if you buy it upon arrival, it will be confiscated once you leave the airport. The Maldives has multiple international airports, and you will most likely be flying into Male for your long-haul flight, but you may need to take a domestic flight to get to your final destination. Keep in mind that the airport in Male is on a local island, so you are not allowed to bring any alcohol there.
When purchasing alcohol at the airport, be prepared to pay a premium. Alcohol prices in the Maldives tend to be higher than in other countries. Additionally, if you plan to visit one of the floating bars, the cost of your drink will be higher due to the need for a private transfer from the local islands.
If you are staying at an all-inclusive resort, alcohol may be included in your meal plan. However, this is not always the case, and some resorts only include room, meals, and non-alcoholic beverages in their all-inclusive packages. It is always a good idea to check with your resort beforehand to understand what is included in your stay.
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Frequently asked questions
The Maldives is not a shopping haven, but the airport has a great selection of duty-free shops with souvenirs, perfumes, cosmetics, and local memorabilia. You can find authentic Maldivian hand-painted t-shirts, thundu kunaa, lacquer products, dhonis, sarongs, coconut items, and traditional jewellery.
Canned fish produced at the canning plant in Felivaru, Lhaviyani Atoll, is available in many shops in Male'. You can also find vacuum-packed smoked fish and chipped dried fish in most supermarkets.
Most shops in the Maldives are concentrated in Male' and Hulhumalé. The main street, Majeedhee Magu, has various shops selling goods ranging from shoes and clothing to perfumes, cosmetics, jewellery, watches, and electronics. Le Cute is a duty-free outlet specialising in perfumes, cosmetics, and healthcare products. The STO Trade Centre is another popular shopping destination.
