With nearly 200 five-star resorts dotting its turquoise waters, the Maldives is the epitome of luxury and indulgence. After all, this destination set the gold standard for overwater living, offering highly intimate—and bespoke—guest experiences, and is the textbook definition of a romantic escape.
So while it might seem daunting to pick out a resort to stay at, our curated list of the finest Maldivian resorts will simplify the task. So whether you want the classic Maldivian resort experience or are planning a trip here for your family, we’ve got you covered.
1. Gili Lankanfushi
The family villa.
Image: Gili Lankanfushi
As one of the pioneers of Maldivian luxury resorts, Gili Lankanfushi has continued to be the bar of luxury in the North Malé Atoll. The resort underwent a stunning transformation in 2019, giving the property a much-needed modern update whilst still honouring its roots as a rustic chic destination for barefoot luxury seekers.
A short 20-minute boat ride from Male will get you to the shores of Gili Lankanfushi, this ensures you’ll spend less time on transfers and more time soaking up the sun on pristine white sands. And once you arrive on the jetty, your shoes will be stowed away and you’ll be free to live your best “no news, no shoes” life in the resort.
One of the Crusoe Residences at Gili Lankanfushi.
Image: Gili Lankanfushi
Gili Lankanfushi offers exclusively overwater villas, including the ultra-secluded Crusoe Residences accessible only by a short boat ride for the ultimate level of seclusion and privacy. With six dining options, you’ll be spoilt for choice, while the Meera Spa and wellness specialists, including acupuncturists and crystal sound healers, ensure you leave feeling completely rejuvenated.
For an extended stay in paradise, book with the DCS Imperium Card to enjoy an additional night free, you’ll get one night free, letting you enjoy a longer time in paradise.
2. The Ritz-Carlton Maldives
Image: Ritz-Carlton
Breaking away from the traditional thatched-roof aesthetic of traditional Maldivian resorts, the Ritz-Carlton Maldives has all of its 100 villas decked out in a contemporary design, courtesy of Kerry Hill Architects. The resort also welcomed its first guests in 2021, the resort remains pristine, with state-of-the-art amenities and accommodations that feel brand new.
Guests here are treated to 24/7 attention from their personal Aris Meeha—the Ritz-Carlton’s elevated take on butler service—ensuring every need is met with impeccable care.
Image: Ritz-Carlton
Getting to the Ritz-Carlton Maldives in the Fari Islands is a breeze, with options for a quick 10-minute seaplane ride or a scenic 45-minute boat transfer and you’re in for an action-packed vacation. The heart of the resort is at the southern end of the island where the fitness centre, tennis court, Ritz Kids club, and dive centre are located.
3. Waldorf Astoria Maldives
Image: Waldorf Astoria
Spanning 3 man-made islands and stretching roughly 4 kilometers, the Waldorf Astoria Maldives is a sprawling sanctuary. Despite hosting 119 villas, either beachfront or overwater, the scale of the resort means you’ll never feel your privacy is about to be intruded upon.
Each villa comes with its own private pool, allowing for leisurely dips without needing to visit the communal pool. Overwater villas add a unique touch with glass floors in the walk-in closet, offering a glimpse of marine life as you get ready.
Image: Waldorf Astoria
The meticulously curated details also make all the difference. From the Japanese-style toilet seats and Aesop toiletries to the on-call butler service via WhatsApp, you’ll feel like you’re taken care of without the staff breathing down your neck. You and your party will also be taken to the island on one of the many luxury yachts made by Princess Yachts with champagne served on board.
For dining, their Asian restaurant, Li Long, offers Peking duck alongside breathtaking ocean views. And if that’s not quite your style, you’ll have 10 other restaurants to choose from, ensuring every craving is satisfied.
Waldorf Astoria Maldives website
4. Patina Maldives
Image: Patina Maldives
Also by the Fari Islands is the Patina Maldives, a resort that prizes aesthetics and wellness. As the flagship property of Patina Hotels & Resorts under the Capella Hotel Group, luxury is a given. Each of the 90 contemporary villas sports an earthly colour palette with floor-to-ceiling windows of the surrounding landscape.
Image: Patina Maldives
Art connoisseurs would love the collection of artwork scattered throughout the island, including James Turrell’s Skyspace Amarta—a standalone chamber that frames the sky via an aperture in the ceiling.
The Skyspace Amarta at night.
Image: Patina Maldives
Patina Maldives offers wellness experiences designed to recharge and rejuvenate, including unique options like a sensory deprivation tank and Watsu hydrotherapy sessions. To recharge your bellies, there are 13 food options available including a Japanese/Scandinavian fusion restaurant and a gelato truck with popsicles and sundaes.
Booking your stay at the Patina Maldives with the DCS Imperium Card will score you one free night at the resort.
5. Soneva Jani
Image: Soneva Jani
Those iconic photos of overwater villas with slides you’ve seen on Instagram? Chances are, they were taken at Soneva Jani—a resort where adults can let their inner child run free.
With just 58 overwater and island villas spread across the expansive Medhufaru Lagoon in the Noonu Atoll, Soneva Jani offers one of the most exclusive, low-density stays in the Maldives. While it requires a 45-minute seaplane ride to reach, the journey is well worth it for this unparalleled experience.
The Den at Soneva Jani.
Image: Soneva Jani
Apart from basking in the beauty of the lagoon and the marine life, there are plenty of water sports to fill the days with including eFoiling, eSurfing, and Seabobbing. On land, there’s The Den, a two-storey children’s club featuring a zipline, pirate ship, and even a music room—ensuring fun for guests of all ages.
6. Angsana Velavaru
Image: Angsana Velavaru
As your seaplane descends toward Angsana Velavaru after a scenic 40-minute ride, you might notice the island’s resemblance to a turtle, giving it its name. Unlike many of the other resorts on this list where food and drinks are not part of the nightly room rate, Angsana Velavaru is an all-inclusive resort, with the premium plan including all your meals—afternoon tea included—plus in-room dining and daily laundry services.
What truly sets Angsana Velavaru apart is that all its overwater villas are entirely separate from the main island, accessible only by boat. Each villa features a private infinity pool stretching out over the ocean, offering an uninterrupted, postcard-perfect view.
Image: Angsana Velavaru
The resort also boasts a whopping 101 activities you and your fellow travellers can embark on, ranging from cooking classes and palm weaving to fishing, snorkeling with whale sharks, and even karaoke nights.
For an elevated experience, book your stay with the DCS Imperium Card. Through its Mastercard partnership, you’ll enjoy 30% savings on the best available rates, a complimentary couple’s massage, and an upgrade to the all-inclusive package at no extra cost.
7. Cheval Blanc Randheli
Image: Cheval Blanc Randheli
Few embody luxury quite like LVMH, and their flagship Cheval Blanc Randheli is no exception. This iconic property, part of the Cheval Blanc hotel maison, was even graced by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a romantic getaway a few years ago.
It all starts at the Malé Airport, where the Cheval Blanc lounge is decked out with a playroom for the kids, privacy rooms for VIPs, and an array of fragrances from Dior and Guerlain for you to try. Then, it’s a 40-minute trip on a seaplane to the resort on the Noonu Atoll, and you’ll get to see the 6 islands that comprise the entire Cheval Blanc Randheli.
Image: Cheval Blanc Randheli
Of the six islands, four are dedicated to the villas, including one private island that can house up to eight guests. Another island houses the Guerlain Spa, while the last manmade island is home to two tennis courts built to US Open and Paris Masters standards.
The surf simulator in the bosom of the jungle.
Image: Cheval Blanc Randheli
The 45 villas at the Cheval Blanc Randheli are available in one- and two-bedroom configurations, each featuring high vaulted ceilings, a private 12.5m infinity pool, and an iPad to control the room’s lights, curtains, and TVs. For those who want to try surfing without venturing into the ocean, the island also offers a surf simulator for a safe and controlled experience.
8. Noku Maldives
Image: Noku Maldives
The Maldives is the perfect destination to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, and Noku Maldives encapsulates this ideal. Each of its 50 villas—30 of which are over water and twenty situated on the beach—comes with all the bells and whistles of a luxury Maldivian resort, with the exception of televisions. Yes, all the villas come sans flat-screen television, so you can channel all your time into exploring the resort’s offerings instead of staring at a screen.
Noku Maldives also has a 5-Star PADI Dive Center on the premises for those who want to dive into the house reefs teeming with marine life. There is also a shark-spotting point if you want to get up close with white-tipped reef sharks and sleeping nurse sharks, among other fish and sea creatures.
Image: Noku Maldives
With the resort just a 45-minute seaplane ride away from Malé, you can find yourself in paradise in no time at all. Plus, booking your stay at Noku Maldives with the DCS Imperium Card will get you 30% off your nightly rate.
The best resorts in the Maldives
Image: Patina Maldives
There’s no lack of good resorts in the Maldives. But the line that separates the good and the great is not as clear as the skies in this sunny destination, and this list helps make that distinction clearer for those itching for a sunny vacation in paradise. The Bulgari and Aman outposts in the Maldives are also slated to open in 2026 and 2027, so you can keep your wanderlust-filled eyes open for those announcements.
But if you’re vying for a holiday in the immediate future, booking your stay with the DCS Imperium Card will make your stay even more rewarding. This elite credit card offers luxury travel perks like access to over 1,200 airport lounges, complimentary room upgrades, and early check-in/late check-out privileges. Additionally, it provides benefits like free nights at select Maldivian resorts and up to 30% off nightly rates.
If credit card churning is one of your hobbies, you’d be pleased to know that the DCS Imperium card also offers 2.4 miles per dollar on foreign transactions, which can mean you’ll earn thousands of miles for your next flight redemption when you charge your entire Maldivian holiday—which can be in the tens of thousands—to your new elite card. New members to DCS will also get a welcome gift of up to 100,000 miles and a complimentary bottle of Tomatin 3388 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (worth $2,388) when the annual membership fee is paid.
Express your interest in the DCS Imperium Card here
Cover image: Ritz-Carlton
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