Hulhumalé

No. Alcohol is not sold on inhabited islands in the Maldives. The two exceptions travellers hear about are floating bars — boats anchored offshore — and day trips to a nearby resort, where the resort's own bars serve visitors. Neither is available in the village itself.

On the village beaches and in the streets, yes — shoulders and knees covered is the norm for everyone. Swimwear belongs on the designated bikini beach, which guesthouse islands set aside for exactly this purpose. Nobody will be unpleasant about it; it is simply the local convention, and respecting it costs nothing.

Cafés and restaurants keep different hours, and eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight is avoided. Guesthouses generally still serve their own guests — worth confirming when you book. Ramadan shifts roughly eleven days earlier each year, so check the dates against your trip.

Most guesthouse islands sit on or beside a reef, and snorkelling from the beach or a short boat ride is usually the main draw. Sandbank trips, dolphin cruises and fishing afternoons are standard. Diving is an option on these islands, not a requirement.

Often yes, though rarely directly. The public ferry network runs on fixed routes and fixed days and generally passes through Malé, so island-hopping needs planning rather than improvisation. Speedboat transfers are faster and more flexible, and cost considerably more. Note that many public ferry routes do not run on Fridays.