Shopping in Maldives - outlets, shopping streets and boutiques

It's hard to call the Maldives a great place to shop. But you can buy something for the memory here. Tourists bring quality cotton clothing of bright colors with patterns from the Maldives. The national woven mat made of cane, palm fiber or coconut, made by hand, will be both a good gift and an interior item. You can bring a coconut product from souvenirs. For example, these are caskets, spice mortars, handbags or shell dishes. Local craftsmen are famous for wood carvings. They make both useful things, such as photo frames, and various figurines that can be used to decorate the interior. Products from the island of Thulhaadhoo in Baa Atoll are particularly good. They differ in that they are covered with varnish and red, yellow, and black patterns. Jewelry is also quite beautiful and unusual. Shells, corals, shark teeth, and mother-of-pearl are used in their manufacture. Hookah "gudu-guda" will be a great reminder of the trip. You can bring black tea and smoked tuna in a vacuum pack from the grocery souvenirs. Tuna is the main food item on the islands.

You cannot export any products made of red and black corals, turtle shells that are protected by the law, pearls, and jewelry with it from the country. Also, any items found in the ocean, including shells, are prohibited for export. Immediate penalties will follow for attempting to export these items.

It is not necessary to go to Male to buy souvenirs. There are a lot of them in hotel shops. However, prices are quite high there. There are also shops on the so-called islands-villages. The Maldives is famous for diving. Therefore, a lot of appropriate equipment is sold here. By the way, the prices are quite reasonable. Dive Shop and Water World are two of the best stores. You can buy the latest diving equipment in the Maldives here. Both stores are located fairly close to each other. Real products of famous brands are sold in them. Many tourists specially come to these stores to buy new equipment for spearfishing or diving. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

If you plan to travel with a small child, you should consider that you will need things like diapers or formula. You won’t be able to buy all this in the hotel stores. So you will have to go to Male. For example, you can visit the STO shopping center. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and other products are also sold here. This is the largest supermarket in Male. It also sells various household goods. Tourists often buy handmade crafts and souvenirs in small pavilions right there.

Majeedhee Magu is one of the most famous shopping streets in the Maldives. There is everything here, from textiles and clothing to electronics, cosmetics, and jewelry. You can have lunch in one of the local cafes while shopping. National dishes are served there. There is a similar street on the island of Hulhumale. It is called Nirolhu Magu. A souvenir street in Male is called Orchid Magu.

The local Male market is huge and always full of tourists. This is the most popular shopping destination in the Maldives. Various souvenirs, products of local craftsmen, local sweets, pickles, fresh coconut milk, and interior items made of shells are sold here. You can satisfy your hunger in one of the local eateries. Chaandhanee Magu (Singapore Bazaar) is another great place for shopping to buy souvenirs and crafts. You can buy imported cosmetics and perfumes at the Le Cute store in Male. Products of the world's leading brands are sold here. Island Bazaar is an elegant boutique in European style. Not cheap monotonous souvenirs made in China but high-class unique and elegant products of local craftsmen, made by hand, are sold here.

You can also shop at the Centro Mall shopping center on Hulhumal. There are more than 30 stores of the world's leading brands, as well as outlets here. Nala Boutique is a stylish store with women's and children’s clothing, jewelry and fabrics.

Most of the stores in the country are open from 8-00 to 23-00. Since the country is Muslim, sellers pray five times a day. Therefore, small stores may be closed at this time (5 times a day). Friday is a Holy day for Muslims. Stores are opened later, from 13-30 or 14-00 on this day. But they are open all day on Sunday. It is possible and even necessary to bargain in small stores.