Hulhulé
The airport island and your gateway to the Maldives.
- Type
- Airport island
- Airport
- Velana International (MLE)
- For Visitors
- Arrival & departure point
- Onward
- Bridge or ferry to Malé; seaplane or speedboat to resorts
Hulhulé is home to Velana International Airport, the main international gateway to the Maldives. Most visitors arrive here before crossing to Malé or Hulhumalé via the Sinamalé Bridge or a short ferry.
Hulhulé is the airport, and the airport is Hulhulé. Almost everyone who visits the Maldives touches this island, and almost nobody stays. The runway takes up most of the land, seaplanes buzz in and out of the lagoon terminal through the day, and the Sinamalé Bridge ties it to Malé on one side while a road runs to Hulhumalé on the other.
If you have a layover, you have options. Left luggage at the terminal frees you to cross the bridge for a few hours in the capital; our two-hour Malé rush tour is built for exactly that. With less time or energy, Hulhumalé offers a beach and cafés ten minutes away, and Hulhule Island Hotel beside the terminal covers overnight connections.
Getting There & Around
To Malé
Taxis and buses cross the Sinamalé Bridge in about ten minutes; the set taxi fare is MVR 70. A passenger ferry also connects the airport jetty and Malé for about MVR 15.
To Hulhumalé
The road link to Hulhumalé takes about ten minutes by taxi or bus.
To resorts
Speedboat transfers leave from the jetties beside the terminal. Seaplane transfers operate from the seaplane terminal in daylight hours only.
Timetables and fares change. Check MTCC for ferries and RTL for bus and ferry schedules before you travel.
The Terminals
Terminal 1
Velana's new international terminal, in operation since July 2025. All international flights arrive and depart here, and taxis, buses and the Malé ferry leave from just outside.
Terminal 2
The original terminal, handling domestic flights since February 2026. If you are connecting to a domestic flight for an island transfer, this is where you check in.
Good to Know
SIM cards
Dhiraagu and Ooredoo have counters in the arrivals area selling tourist SIMs with data packages.
Money
ATMs and currency exchange are available at arrivals. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere in the country.
Staying overnight
Hulhule Island Hotel, next to the terminal, is the only hotel on the island and a common choice for overnight layovers. Many travellers instead stay in Hulhumalé, ten minutes away by road.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave the airport during a layover? +
Yes, once you clear immigration. The Maldives issues free 30 day tourist visas on arrival, so even a long layover is enough to visit Malé or Hulhumalé.
Is there luggage storage at the airport? +
Yes, Velana International Airport has a left-luggage service at the terminal. Ask at the information desk for the current counter location and rates.
How do I get from the airport to Malé? +
By taxi or bus across the Sinamalé Bridge, about ten minutes, or by the passenger ferry from the airport jetty.
Are there hotels at the airport? +
Hulhule Island Hotel is on the airport island itself. Hulhumalé, ten minutes away by road, has many more guesthouses and hotels.
Do seaplanes fly at night? +
No. Seaplane transfers operate only in daylight, so late arrivals usually mean a night in Malé or Hulhumalé before a morning transfer.
