The Most Romantic Hotels to Book in the Maldives

For a romantic escape, look no further than Joali Maldives
For a romantic escape, look no further than Joali Maldives | Courtesy of Joali Maldives / Expedia
Siobhan Grogan

There’s a good reason why the Maldives is honeymoon heaven. Lovestruck couples flock here to enjoy the clear waters of the Indian Ocean, coral reefs, tropical jungles and white-sand beaches. Fancy a champagne breakfast for two on the sand or a couples spa treatment? It”s all here and more — with fine dining and nights under the stars. Here’s our pick of the most romantic hotels in the Maldives – bookable on Culture Trip.

Kanuhura Maldives

Hotel

A wooden pier leading to an overwater bar at Kanuhura Maldives, with a thatched roof and plenty of seating
Courtesy of Kanuhura Maldives / Expedia

If you prefer to stay active rather than lounge on a sunbed, Kanuhura, in Lhaviyani Atoll, offers kickboxing, boot camp, beach zumba and Maldivian warrior training. You can even have a go at flying above the waves with a JetLev. For diving devotees, there are 42 sites within an hour of the property. Recover on the beach as your butler dishes out sorbets and cold towels, then book a candlelit dig-in dinner, where the table and chairs are carved from the sand.

Raffles Maldives Meradhoo

Resort

A breezy living room in a villa at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo, with cushy seating, wood floors and expansive water views
Courtesy of Raffles Maldives Meradhoo / Expedia

Get away from it all at this elegant resort in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world, just north of the Equator. It’s too far from the capital, Malé, to get here by seaplane; you’ll have to take an hour-long domestic flight to Kaadedhdhoo and then a speedboat to reach this romantic hotel in the Maldives where you’ll be welcomed with a chilled glass of champagne. Laid-back luxury is the focus here, with free daily yoga, a sublime overwater spa, glass kayaks and villas with huge private pools, butlers and deep soaking bathtubs big enough for two.

LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort and Villas

Villa

A villa tucked into the greenery at LUX South Ari Atoll, with two loungers and a parasol on the white-sand beach
Courtesy of LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort and Villas / Expedia

Concentrate on each other and not the bill at the LUX*, where you can opt for a generous all-inclusive package to feel thoroughly indulged. Everything from beach yoga to kayaking and snorkel trips is included, as well as a lavish minibar, a selection of 50 cocktails, bottomless ice cream during afternoon tea, and multiple restaurants and bars. Favourites include the East Bar, where two-person loungers float on catamaran nets above the water, and Mixe, where you can dine at a live cooking station with your toes in the sand.

Baros Maldives

Resort

A private deck at Baros Maldives with two loungers and a shaded daybed overlooking the turquoise water
Courtesy of Baros Maldives / Expedia

This Maldivian-owned property, a 25-minute speedboat ride from Malé, knows a thing or two about romance – the World Travel Awards has named it the most romantic resort in the world seven times. It’s so romantic that it could turn even the coldest heart to mush, with couples spa treatments, beach picnics, petal-filled champagne baths and magical underwater photoshoots. Make it even more memorable by booking a beach vow-renewal ceremony, complete with a Maldivian dance procession and memorial palm-tree planting.

Velaa Private Island

Resort

A chic vaulted living room in a villa at Velaa Private Island, with modern furnishings, dark wood and a blue patchwork rug
Courtesy of Velaa Private Island / Expedia

Treat that special someone to a stay on Velaa Private Island, a hideaway in Noonu Atoll, hugged by rainbow coral and owned by a billionaire. Accessible only by boat, the Romantic Residence is hard to beat, with a personal gym, butler, dining gazebo on a floating jetty, sunken outdoor bath and sundeck leading straight into the lagoon. Treat yourself to dinner at Teppanyaki, which has the largest wine and champagne collection in the Maldives.

Gili Lankanfushi Maldives

Hotel

A breezy ensuite at Gili Lankanfushi Maldives, with a circular tub overlooking the water
Courtesy of Gili Lankanfushi Maldives / Expedia

No one at this award-winning resort minds if you never leave your room. Seven of the 45 thatched overwater villas are only reachable by private boat, so you’re guaranteed utter seclusion. Instead, laze on a two-person hammock over the sun-dappled Indian Ocean, gaze at the brilliant blue water from your infinity tub, and head up to the roof terrace to sleep or dine under the stars. If you’re really smitten, there’s an on-site wedding pavilion to make it official, too.

Joali Maldives

Resort

A beach-inspired bar at JOALI Maldives, with light-blue shutter walls, a vaulted wood ceiling and cushy seating
Courtesy of Joali Maldives / Expedia

Villas are made for lingering at Joali, an art-centric resort in Raa Atoll. Swapping the stripped-back minimalism of many Maldivian retreats for a sumptuous, tactile look, it has opulent soft furnishings, wood carvings, vintage Italian espresso machines, silken kimono and private infinity pools for starlit swims. If you do venture out, you’ll be wowed by an Espa wellness centre, an art gallery, a whisky and cigar lounge, an artisan chocolate shop and top-notch restaurants, including a fine-dining Italian eatery with a dedicated bellini bar.

Milaidhoo Island Maldives

Resort

A spacious bedroom at Milaidhoo Island Maldives opening to a deck with loungers and ocean views
Courtesy of Milaidhoo Island Maldives / Expedia

In the Baa Atoll, this small but charming Maldivian-owned resort goes the extra mile to make memories. Holidaying couples can choose from several experiences for undisturbed romance, including a moonlit champagne cruise, a night sleeping under the stars on a private sandbank island or a floating breakfast in a private pool. Honeymooners will even have a star named after them and can track its coordinates long after they have returned home.

Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi

Hotel

A villa at Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi, with a private pool and deck with shaded seating and lots of greenery
Courtesy of Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi / Expedia

With its star-spangled night skies, fragrant jungle and glossy 600ha (1,483-acre) lagoon, the Fairmont in Shaviyani Atoll feels remote even by Maldives standards. There are 120 beach and overwater villas, but to sample something a little different, choose one of the glamorous tented villas, with Instagram-perfect outdoor bathrooms, hidden among the trees.

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