Suppose you’ve ever grabbed your laptop and tried booking a trip to Maldives, one of the toughest decisions is which resort or island you should book. While resort trips might seem luxurious and fun, you must explore the islands and the culture of the Maldives at least once in your lifetime.

With the steep demand for islands in the Maldives being extremely high, there is one good location to be situated in – Hulhumale’. Located 25 minutes from the capital city and 15 minutes from the international airport, Hulhumale’ is the up-and-coming hub of the Maldives. This City is bubbling with life and new experiences waiting to be explored!

Known as the new and better version of Male’ City, Hulhumale’ is a must-visit, especially for short stays and layovers. While giving up alcohol during your local trip might seem daunting at first, sometimes 0% beer and the ocean is all you need for an enticing, fun-filled trip!

It can surely get tricky to travel in Hulhumale’ if you don’t know the best places to go, budget-friendly stays and where to find affordable food like a local. So, here are some tips on travelling to Hulhumale’ to explore the city like a local.

Timing your trip!

From monsoon seasons to varying prices, everything in the Maldives can change depending on the month of your visit. If you are an adventurous traveller who doesn’t have a strict schedule, we fully recommend visiting during the low season between March and September. Even during the low season, City life goes on and you get away with discounted rates on everything.

Unlike most cities, Hulhumale’ is always bustling regardless of the season as water sports and beach activities are more of a lifestyle than a hobby. While festive seasons such as Eid, New Year and Halloween might bring out a pop-of-life, you can expect the joyous islander lifestyle all year round.

If you are a lover of street markets, we recommend booking your trip before the month of Ramadan. In preparation for the month, the streets are adorned with stalls filled with different delicacies and essentials at highly discounted prices. It’s truly the dream spot for anyone who loves a good bargain on everything from clothes to kitchenware and mouth-watering delicacies.

Exploring the City of Food

There is an overwhelming amount of restaurants and cafe’s to be explored in Hulhumale. Everything from beachside restaurants to world-famous fast-food places are all within walking distance. You could go all out and visit KFC or Marry-brown for a quick bite, but while you are in Hulhumale’ we recommend checking out some of the best dining spots in town. Here are our picks for the best restaurants for a good bite:

• Chef Mode Badhige

Image @thechefmodebadhige

Enjoying some local cuisine is a must when you are visiting the Maldives. While you might find Maldivian food in the UK, it can be extremely hard to explore these unique flavours in any other part of the world. Chef Mode Badhige not only offers an abundant menu with the most traditional Maldivian food, but the decoration matches the aesthetic!

Everything from the basin to the decorations tells a story of a traditional Maldivian lifestyle.

• Papa Sam’s

Image @papasams.mv

There is no comfort food like a good sandwich and Papa Sam’s never disappoints. It can get a bit tricky to dine here. We recommend booking a table or getting there ahead of dinner service to get a table.

The crown speaks for the flavour of the restaurant. Locals and visitors alike dine at Papa Sam’s for the best sandwiches and burgers in town, so don’t miss out on these flavours on your trip!

• The Red Snapper & Coffee Bean

Image @redsnappermv

Good coffee and some breakfast are always around the corner with Red Snapper & Coffee Bean. Located right around the beach, Red Snapper & Coffee Bean has some of the best matcha that Hulhumale’ has to offer.

Beautifully decorated to give you idyllic views of the beach, this restaurant is a remote workers’ ideal location! Grab your laptop, get some matcha latte and get inspired at Red Snapper & Coffee Bean.

• The Manhattan Fish Market

Image @mfm_maldives

It is no surprise that Hulhumale’ has a Manhattan Fishmarket outlet with a wide variety of seafood available in the Maldives. As fishing is one of the biggest sources of income locally, Manhattan in the Maldives serves you some of the best seafood dishes you can find.

While it might sound like an expensive food endeavour, Manhattan is also budget-friendly based on your choice of food. With drinks going for as low as $2, Manhattan is a go-to spot for visitors as well as locals.

• The NY Steak Shack

Image @nyss_maldives

There is no way you can miss the NY Steak Shack if you are in Hulhumale’. Decorated to capture the dynamic NY style, this restaurant is perfect for date nights!

Enjoy some locally caught tuna

For a lot of travellers who are used to dining on chicken or steak, tuna might not be the first option. But when you are in the Maldives, tuna is sustainably caught and freshly cooked in almost all restaurants. Even if you are not a fan of seafood, trying tuna while in the Maldives is a must, the fresh taste might surprise you!

Public transportation instead of cabs

Hulhumale’ is a beautiful city to go to for a walk. Surrounded by greenery and cute spaces to explore, walking to your destination is the best mode of transportation. Getting in cabs can be pricy, and traffic can be daunting, especially if you are getting on the bridge to go to Male’. You can save on both the cost and time spent by opting for public transportation. If you are planning a trip to the capital city, we highly recommend taking ferries or buses which cost close to nothing and will get you to your destination just as fast as a cab.

Also Read: How to travel to Maldives on a budget

Choose Airbnb instead of Hotel stays!

Image @MAD

We all know Airbnb’s the better option, especially when it comes to luxury destinations. Making sure your stay is comfortable is important, but hotels in Hulhumale’ can get pricy. You can easily save on your stay by opting for an Airbnb.

Airbnb’s such as Skaii Stay offers beautiful apartments with spacious bedrooms and fully equipped kitchens. This allows you to go the local way, explore the markets and make a hearty breakfast right in your cosy home away from home. Explore the seasonal fruits and vegetables, explore the fresh produce and save money with a hearty meal through this option!

Shopping for food can be super easy as small grocery stores are just around the corner and the local markets are easy to locate. If you’re feeling up for a buy-all-in-one place supermarket experience, we recommend MU Express, WHIM as well as Red Wave Mega Mall!

Savour the nature-filled experiences

There is nothing like exploring nature when you’re in Hulhumale. Grab some sparkling juice and cheese and pop-by the Central Park for a peaceful picnic. Filled with greenery and plants, Central Park is the most popular spot for sunsets and hangouts. You might want to get here before sunset to grab the best spots as joggers and nature lovers enjoy nothing more than winding down for the day at Central Park.

Nature is not all about greenery, let’s bring in the blues with the beach! Hulhumale’ is surrounded by the beach. Everywhere you go there is a perfectly beautiful beach with a cute cafe’ nearby. Beaches in the Maldives are not only perfect for sunbathing or grabbing some food, but these beaches also provide some fun-filled water sports activities as well. You can book everything from jet skis to excursion trips that will take you to see the most majestic views of dolphins right at the beach!

While the cost of these activities varies, you can expect lower rates and easy availability during the off-season.

Also Read: 06 Sustainable spots you need to Visit!

This perfect destination is waiting to be explored, book your trip today and explore the Maldives like a local!