Malé International Airport is the main point of entry for international visitors and the only international aviation facility operating in the archipelago. The airport serves flights to and from Colombo in Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Thrivandum in southwest India. Additionally, regular services operate from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, perhaps the most popular destination to fly via in order to reach the Maldives. The journey from Dubai to Malé takes about four hours.

There are also small domestic airports located in four of the outer atolls. Seaplane services are provided by Maldivian Air Taxi. The airline Air Maldives has not operated for many years.

Vessels known as dhoni provide the main source of public transportation between the various atolls. These diesel engine-powered boats are the cheapest and most commonly available mode of transport in the archipelago. For long distance trips to the outer atolls, vessels known as vedis are used. Dhoni also come in modified states and are used for the island cruises offered by local tour operators.

For trips to the furthest atolls, plane, seaplane or helicopter are the preferred means of transportation. Getting around on individual islands is done mostly on foot, since few of the islands have proper roads or permit motorised modes of transportation. Malé is one of the few islands that is an exception to this rule and visitors wanting to travel long distances around the island can take advantage of taxis.