Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Maldives, or should I carry local cash?
My experience in the Maldives was split between resorts and the capital. In Malé, every taxi ride was cash only, with fares under 100 rufiyaa. Resorts handled transfers differently, usually adding the charge to your stay, which I paid by card later. So the short answer is: in Malé, carry cash for taxis; at resorts, you can use your card indirectly. It’s simple once you know the system, but if you arrive without rufiyaa, you might struggle with taxis at first.
I used taxis a few times in Malé, and they were all cash-based. None of the drivers even mentioned cards, and fares are so small it makes sense. You’ll definitely want to carry rufiyaa for this. Once you get out to the islands, resorts organize transport, and those can be settled by card. But in the capital itself, it’s definitely a cash environment. Don’t assume you can pay digitally-have the local currency ready for quick trips.
My trip to Malé made it obvious that taxis there are cash only. Even though the Maldives is very tourist-focused, card systems haven’t made it into daily taxi life. I kept a handful of rufiyaa notes for short rides across the city, and it worked fine. At resorts, transfers are usually billed to your room and you can pay by card at checkout. But don’t expect a random Malé taxi driver to swipe your card-it’s just not part of the setup.
In the Maldives, taxis are mostly limited to Malé and Hulhumalé, and they run on cash. I never once saw a driver with a card reader. Fares are usually cheap, around 30-60 Maldivian rufiyaa, so carrying small notes is key. Resorts sometimes arrange private transfers where you can pay by card, but regular taxis in the capital definitely want cash. If you’re arriving at the airport, make sure to exchange some money right away because taxis won’t take cards.