At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
Maldives in February — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Maldives in February offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for romance & diving. Expect temperatures of 26–31°C, around 3 days of rain, and high crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around $200–650+ for mid-range travellers. Book accommodation two to three months ahead — the most popular rooms sell out fast during peak visiting windows.
Contents14 sections
#Weather in Maldives in February
Maldives in February averages 26–31°C (79–88°F) with around 3 days of rain, and crowds are high.
| Measure | February in the Maldives |
|---|---|
| Daytime high | About 31°C / 88°F |
| Overnight low | About 26°C / 79°F |
| Rainy days | About 3, the fewest of the year |
| Sea temperature | About 28°C |
| Sunset | About 6:18–6:20pm all month |
| Ramadan | Expected to begin around 8 February 2027 |
Figures are WMO and NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Velana International Airport, Malé.
What that actually means for your trip:
- This is the driest month. February has the fewest rainy days of the year, with steady north-east breezes and long sunny days; it is as close to a guaranteed beach month as the tropics offer.
- Ramadan arrives on the inhabited islands. The holy month is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, confirmed by moon sighting, and it changes daily life on local islands far more than on the resorts.
- Valentine's week is the expensive one. Resorts lean into the honeymoon market, and the days around 14 February carry the month's highest rates.
- The light is constant. Close to the equator, sunset stays around twenty past six all month, so every day has the same shape.
Is February a good time to visit the Maldives? Yes, it is arguably the best month for weather. The trade-offs are price and, in 2027, a change of rhythm for anyone staying on a local island during Ramadan. Resort guests will notice little; guesthouse travellers should plan for cafés closed by day and a lively island after sunset.
#What to Do in Maldives in February
Ramadan on the local islands (from about 8 February)
On inhabited islands, Ramadan reshapes the day. Island cafés and restaurants close during daylight hours, though guesthouses serve their own guests; the streets are quiet in the afternoon heat; and at sunset the islands come alive as families break the fast and the cafés open late into the night. Resorts are a world apart: they run as normal, with restaurants and bars open as usual.
- Expect a quiet day and a busy evening on a local island.
- Dress modestly in village areas, more so than usual.
- Do not eat or drink in the street in daylight on inhabited islands.
The reefs in the driest month
February's dry, settled weather means calm water and excellent visibility.
Snorkel the house reef of your island; dive the channels of the Malé and Ari atolls for sharks, rays and turtles; and look for whale sharks in South Ari Atoll, where they are seen year-round. Manta rays are seen at cleaning stations in the central atolls in this season; the famous mass gatherings at Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll happen from July to November instead.
Malé on a transit day
If you have a few hours between flights or ferries, cross to Malé by the short ferry from the airport or by bus over the bridge.
The Old Friday Mosque, Hukuru Miskiy, is built of carved coral stone and is one of the finest buildings in the country; visits are not possible at prayer times, and in Ramadan the timings change.
Walk on to the fish market by the harbour, where the day's tuna comes ashore, and the leafy Sultan Park.
Surfing on the local islands
The Maldives has world-class reef breaks, and the island of Thulusdhoo in North Malé Atoll, home to the well-known breaks called Cokes and Chickens, has become a small surf town of guesthouses and board shops. The main surf season runs roughly from March to October, so February is at the edge of it, with smaller, cleaner waves that suit improving surfers.
Valentine's Day (Sunday 14 February)
Resorts sell Valentine's packages, sandbank dinners and overwater breakfasts, and prices peak for the week around the 14th. The same sandbank dinner on another night of the month costs less and is just as beautiful.
Solo Travellers
Learn to dive: February's calm, clear water is ideal for a first open-water course, and most resort dive centres run them. On a local island, hire a bicycle and ride the island's sand lanes in the early morning, before the heat and the Ramadan stillness of the afternoon.
Couples
Book the week before or after Valentine's for the same weather at a lower rate. Choose a villa facing west for sunset, and ask for a private sandbank picnic on a weekday morning, when the water is calmest.
Families
Children who can swim enjoy snorkelling the lagoon in February's calm conditions, and kayaks and paddleboards are easy on the flat water. A sunset dolphin cruise is a reliable family outing. Check that your resort's kids' club and shallow lagoon suit your children's ages.
Groups
A dive liveaboard suits a group in February, when the boats run their main season through the central atolls. A chartered dhoni for a day of snorkelling, sandbanks and a local-island visit is the cheaper alternative.
#Getting Around
All flights land at Velana International Airport next to Malé.
Resorts send a speedboat for the nearby Malé atolls or book a seaplane for the further ones; seaplanes fly only in daylight.
Local islands are reached by public ferry or shared speedboat from Malé, which is far cheaper but follows fixed timetables.
During Ramadan, ferry and speedboat timetables to local islands can change, with fewer sailings around sunset, when crews break their fast.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per night | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$100–180 | Local-island guesthouse with breakfast, café meals after dark |
| Mid-range | US$450–900 | A mid-range resort on half board |
| Luxury | US$1,500+ | Overwater villas, rising further in Valentine's week |
February is peak season, and the week around Valentine's Day is its most expensive.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Green Tax, resorts and large hotels | US$12 per person per night |
| Green Tax, guesthouses of 50 rooms or fewer | US$6 per person per night |
| Tourism tax on resort bills (TGST) | 17% |
| Departure tax, economy | US$50, usually in the air fare |
- Read the total price. Resort rates usually add a 10% service charge, the 17% tax and the Green Tax.
- Avoid Valentine's week if price matters; the weeks either side are cheaper.
- Ask what meals a guesthouse includes before Ramadan begins.
#Food & Dining
On resorts, February is the season of special dinners: sandbank tables, overwater dining and beach barbecues. On local islands during Ramadan, the food is at its most interesting after sunset:
- Hedhikaa, the Maldivian short eats served at iftar: fish cakes, bajiyaa and gulha.
- Mas huni, tuna, coconut and onion with flatbread.
- Garudhiya, clear tuna broth with rice, lime and chilli.
- Kiru sarbath, a sweet milk drink often served to break the fast.
The most famous resort table is Ithaa, the undersea restaurant at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island; book well ahead, especially in Valentine's week.
#Nightlife
On resorts, nightlife is a bar at sunset, a long dinner and a dark sky full of stars. On local islands there is no alcohol at any time of year, and in Ramadan the evening social life moves to the cafés and the beach after iftar, often until late.
#Shopping
There is little shopping outside Malé and the resorts. On local islands, small shops sell sarongs, reef-safe sunscreen and dive gear.
In Malé, the fish market and the local market are worth a look on a transit day; in Ramadan they are busiest in the hours before sunset.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Respect Ramadan on local islands: do not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight, and dress modestly.
- Use the bikini beaches on local islands; elsewhere, cover shoulders and knees.
- Greet with "Ramadan Mubarak" once the month begins.
- Ask before photographing people and mosques.
- Tipping is welcome for housekeeping, dive guides and boat crews.
#Essential Local Phrases
| English | Dhivehi | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Assalaam alaikum | Ah-sah-LAHM ah-LAY-koom |
| Thank you | Shukuriyyaa | Shoo-koo-REE-yah |
| Yes / No | Aan / Noon | Ahn / Noon |
| How much? | Kihavaraka? | Kee-hah-VAH-rah-kah |
| Beautiful | Reethi | REE-tee |
| Blessed Ramadan | Ramadan Mubarak | Ra-ma-DAN moo-BAH-rak |
| Goodbye | Vakiverikameh | Vah-kee-VEH-ree-kah-meh |
#Packing List
- Reef-safe, high-factor sunscreen
- A rash guard for long snorkelling sessions
- Modest clothing for local islands, especially in Ramadan
- A sarong to cover up between beach and village
- Smart-casual evening wear for resort restaurants
- A dry bag for speedboat transfers
- Water shoes for coral beaches
- Snacks for local-island afternoons during Ramadan
#Backup Plans
If the local island feels too quiet in the day during Ramadan: book a resort day pass or a snorkelling trip for the afternoon, and return to the island for the evening.
If Valentine's week is full or too dear: move your dates a week either way; the weather does not change.
If a manta trip comes up empty: the reefs, turtles and sharks on the same trip still make it worthwhile, and February's visibility makes any snorkel memorable.
#Safety & Health
February's settled seas make it an easy month in the water, but the sun near the equator burns in minutes, especially off white sand; cover up between swims and use a reef-safe high-factor cream. On local islands during Ramadan, carry your own water for the day, since shops may be shut, and drink bottled rather than tap water. Hospitals with full facilities are in the capital, so make sure your insurance covers transfer there by boat or seaplane.
Emergency: 119 for police, 102 for an ambulance.
#What's New for February 2027
- Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February, changing daily life on local islands
- Valentine's Day falls on Sunday 14 February
- The Green Tax is US$12 per person per night at resorts and US$6 at small guesthouses
- The tourism tax (TGST) on resort bills is 17%
- Hanifaru Bay's manta gatherings happen from July to November, not in February
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for February 2027. Climate figures are WMO and NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Velana International Airport. Taxes and fees verified against:
- Maldives Inland Revenue Authority for the Green Tax and TGST
- Travel Trade Maldives for the 2025 Green Tax change
- One Mile at a Time for the departure tax
- Visit Maldives for travel information
- Maldives Meteorological Service for climate data
For the whole season, see the Maldives dry season, and for the month before, the Maldives in January.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the weather like in the Maldives in February?
Among the very best of the year — daytime highs of 30°C, near-zero rain, low humidity, glassy seas, and 9–10 hours of sunshine. Underwater visibility regularly tops 30 metres. February is the gold standard for snorkelling and diving.
Is February peak season in the Maldives?
Yes — February sits in the heart of peak season alongside January and March. Resorts run at high occupancy and prices stay near their annual peak. Valentine's week sees an additional spike for honeymooners and couples.
Is February good for diving in the Maldives?
Outstanding — calm seas, exceptional visibility, and most species active. Manta ray sightings shift to the western atolls (Ari, South Malé). Whale sharks are visible year-round in the south but easier to find in dry-season conditions.
How much does February cost in the Maldives?
Expect $700–2,500/night for mid-tier resorts and $1,200–4,000+/night for top-tier overwater villas. Local-island guesthouses run $120–250/night. Valentine's-week dates command 15–30% premiums on top.