Are you on Maldives luxury holidays and need to know about the famous shopping places? Although this island chain is not known as a shopping hub, it has enough trade centres to satiate the luxury needs of locals as well as global tourists. Male, the capital city, is the best shopping point in the country.
Need to know more about buying in Maldives? This article offers an insider’s guide to luxury shopping in Maldives. Learn about the famous markets and brands of the country. Also, read the tailored tips on luxury buying in this country.
Local Luxury Finds
Let’s explore the local luxury finds in Maldives. The benefits of local shopping are that they offer culture-rich options. Sometimes, you even get your hands on rare and exclusive items.
Male Local Market
Located on the north waterfront, this is one of the most famous markets in the Maldives. The best thing is this point caters for the needs of a wide range of shoppers. For example, you can find cheap items as well as expensive and quality goods. Here is what you’ll find here:
- Local handicrafts: If you love the native culture, buy handy-made items such as woven mats, lacquer work, and wooden cravings.
- Mementoes: If you want to buy local items as keepsakes, you can get things like seashell decors, souvenirs, and traditional clothing.
- Imported items: Apart from the local, shop at imported brands such as Gucci, Burberry, Prada, Dior, etc.
If you are planning to visit this diverse market, remember that its timing is 8:00 am – 11:00 pm. They accept both credit as well as cash.
Majeedhee Magu
Another popular street market in Maldives, Majeedhee Magu, beckons shopaholics. Located on the main road in Male, you can get here via any local transport. This shopping place runs east to west in the centre of the city. For luxury shopping, you can buy branded cosmetics, expensive crafts, and traditional dresses (Libaas).
If you are here, don’t forget to stay at the local fish shop. Although it is not ultra-luxury, you can get a variety of seafood, canned tuna, and smoked fish. And if you are tired from shopping, there are various nearby entertainment options. You can indulge in sports at Maldives National Stadium, soak at City Lounge, savour the ultimate relaxation at beach points such as Rasfannu, and wallow in BBQ at night on the white sandy beaches.
Other famous activities include:
- Underwater snorkelling;
- Adventure diving;
- Scuba diving;
- Mixing at the social club;
- And, fun tube riding.
The renowned places are:
- Baros Island
- Emboodhu Finolhu Island
- Male Island
- Whale Submarine
Thulhaadhoo Island
It is the 2nd most populated island in the country. It is situated in the administrative region of the Maldives, called Baa Atoll. The reason for the publicity of this area is that it offers luxury lacquer work. Initially, the art pieces from these places were only exclusive to many noble families globally. However, you can buy these artworks now as the government has bought this place.
The beauty of this place is that it has a range of artworks such as vases, jewellery, paintings, traditional Maldivian Thundu Kunaa, and other decorative pieces. They can be as cheap as $10 and as expensive as thousands of dollars.
High-end Luxury Treasure
High-end luxury shopping includes places that only offer global brands and shopping. Let’s explore and see what they have to offer you:
STO Trade Centre
Location: The STO Trade Centre is a supermall and is among the most popular places to shop in the Maldives. It is located on Orchid Magu in Male, the country’s capital.
What to Find:
- Mementoes: Shop for gifts, art, and other keepsakes that have been imported from around the world.
- Electronic Gadgets: Shop for the newest products for your gadgets, including Apple items.
- Daily Essentials: STO Trade Centre provides all the basic necessity products right from food grains, vegetables, and fruits, to household items. The best thing is that you can even get any type of eateries – be it fruits or cuisines.
Centro Mall
Overview: Centro Mall is one of the most suitable shopping centres in Male. Here’s what it offers:
- Diverse Tenant Mix: The mall consists of many stores such as supermarkets, essential stores, restaurants, local kopitiam, and health services.
- Location: Situated near the pier makes it convenient for both the locals and tourists wishing to enjoy a meal.
- Relax and Shop: Pay a visit, take a break, and get some drinks and snacks from the supermarket and the cafes available in the mall.
- Variety available: At this store, you can buy premium wear, luxury watches, world-class art, and international dining.
Nala Boutique
Concept: Nala Boutique targets the new and youth market. It provides practical wear for versatile persons.
- Fashion Trends: View all the latest trends in fashion including clothing, jewelries and more. It provides clients with a fast and safe shopping ordeal that is also available online at any time.
- Unique Items: Visit their range of blouses, skirts, corsets, dresses and many other products. The best thing about them is that they are always full of the latest trends and can also help you in choosing the best fashion for your grooming.
Tips for Luxury Shopping in Maldives
If you are planning to do luxury shopping in Maldives, these tips can help you in this regard:
- Check Resort Boutiques: When in a resort, don’t just limit yourself to the luxurious stay; check out the shops that they offer. These provide limited choices of luxury items that depict the culture of the Maldives.
- Prefer Local Markets: Local markets like Male Market or Majeedhee Magu offer both local and global items. Additionally, you may get a price difference at these points. If you want authentic and distinctive products, avoid popular tourist areas.
- Keep Cash: You may find it odd but many luxury brands accept cash-only payments. Although many places accept credit cards, carrying some of the local currency is advisable.
- Cultural Difference: Despite being a tourist hub, Maldives is orthodox in terms of its culture. Therefore, always honour their customs and cultures. Respect the dress code and refrain from dressing indecently or engaging in any other improper conduct.
- Arrange Your Own Shopping: Be sure to bring a foldable bag for your shopping spree loot. Reusable bags are environmentally friendly and convenient, especially the lightweight ones.
Conclusion
The quick summary is that Maldives offer a reasonable number of luxury shopping options to tourists. Many visitors from around the world love to go shopping here. The local luxury places are Male Market, Majeedhee Magu, and Thulhaadhoo Island. Similarly, high-end options are STO Trade Center, Centro Mall, and Nala Boutique. Nonetheless, while shopping in the Maldives, remember to keep the cash, bring your own shopping bags or carts, and try to buy from local shopping points. If you are planning to go to this heaven, these Maldives holiday packages cater to all your needs. In fact, they offer the best options to spend holidays in Maldives from the UK. On top of that, they are ATOL-verified, 4.8 ratings on Trustpilot, and ensure the best price.
