Male Island Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Male Island Shopping

The capital and most populous city in the Republic of Maldives, Male is a picturesque location that draws thousands of tourists. It is filled with stores where visitors can do their shopping.

Right Off the Boat

As soon as you arrive on the island, you will be approached by touts. Touts are store owners who circulate around the island and try to get you to visit their shops. However, it’s impossible to say what you’ll find or what the quality of the merchandise will be. Local owners sell merchandise from the Maldives, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. What you find depends on what store you visit. However, finding one of these little stores won’t be difficult, since the touts are constantly advertising their businesses.

Antique & Style Souvenir Mart

The Antique & Style Souvenir Mart is a large shop located next to the fish-market. Even if you don’t intend to buy, it’s a great place to look around and do some window shopping. The store carries corals and sea-shells, among other things. The shop also carries many native masks and other indigenous items. The shop’s unique range of merchandise is definitely one of the its biggest selling points

Souvenir Shops Everywhere

You’ll find plenty of shops selling souvenirs, and they’re almost always sold at bargain prices. One of the best ways to get a better deal is by talking to the distributor who runs the store. It’s a good way to negotiate for better prices.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about stores and shopping on Male Island.