Turquoise lagoons and white sandbanks, in the high season, for around €500.
Etihad flies from Vienna to Malé from €503 return, with one stop in Abu Dhabi. There are dates in November and December 2026 and January 2027, the start of the dry season.
✈️ The Deal
- From: Vienna, Austria
- To: Malé, Maldives
- Airline: Etihad Airways
- Stops: 1 stop in Abu Dhabi
- Price: €503–€515 return
- When: November 2026 - January 2027
Example dates:
19/01/2027 - 31/01/2027
18/11/2026 - 28/11/2026
05/12/2026 - 15/12/2026
04/11/2026 - 14/11/2026
Claim up to €600 for your delayed or cancelled flight →
On 19/01 the flight leaves Vienna at 21:50 and lands in Malé at 13:45, with short stops in Abu Dhabi both ways (2h20 and 1h45). Other dates have a long stop: 14h05 on the return of 28/11, and 6h45 on the way out on 05/12. The fare is Economy Basic, with a cabin bag but no checked bag included.
💰 How far does your money go?
A Melange in a Viennese café costs €4.50-5.50. The Maldives are only expensive in the resorts: on local islands like Maafushi or Thulusdhoo, a plate of fish curry with roshi costs €4-6, Maldivian short eats about €0.30 each and the public ferry from Malé €2-3. Alcohol is only served at resorts and on safari boats.
☀️ The Weather
November is a transition month, with some showers. From December to April it is the dry season, with long sunny days, highs of 30-31°C and a sea at 28-29°C. Visibility under water is at its best from January.
🏨 Where to Stay
Stay on a local island to keep costs down, or splurge on a resort.
Canopus Retreat Thulusdhoo · 8.6/10 · From €81/night
A small guesthouse on a surf island, about 30 minutes by speedboat from the airport.
Seaside Dhigurah · 9.6/10 · From €85/night
On the long sandbank of Dhigurah, where whale sharks swim all year round.
Niva Kurumba Maldives · 9.1/10 · From €1,217/night
A classic resort just 10 minutes by boat from the airport, with water villas and seven restaurants.
⏱️ Making the most of your layover in Abu Dhabi
On some dates the stop in Abu Dhabi is 6-14 hours. EU passport holders get a free visa on arrival in the UAE, and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is about 20 minutes from the airport by taxi.
Abu Dhabi layover city tour: A private 4-hour tour from the airport: the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Corniche and Qasr Al Watan.
Layover night tour: The mosque lit up at night, the Corniche and the city skyline, with airport transfers.
If you'd rather rest:
AUHotel Zayed International Airport · 8.1/10 · From €122/night
Inside the transit area, so you don't need to go through passport control. Onward boarding pass required.
Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Airport Business Park · 8.0/10 · From €122/night
About 2.5 km from the terminal, with a free shuttle.
🎯 What to Do
The Maldives are all about the water.
Nurse sharks and sandbank snorkelling: Snorkel with nurse sharks and stingrays, then relax on a sandbank in the middle of the ocean.
Dolphin cruise: A sunset boat trip from Malé or Hulhumalé to watch spinner dolphins.
Coral garden and turtles: A boat trip from Maafushi to snorkel over coral reefs where sea turtles feed.
Malé city tour: The capital in a few hours: the fish market, the Old Friday Mosque and the colourful streets.
🗺️ Where to Go From Here
From Malé, the islands are reached by ferry, speedboat or seaplane.
Maafushi: The most popular local island, with guesthouses and a bikini beach, about 1h30 by public ferry.
Dhigurah: Whale sharks and a 3 km sandbank, about 1h30 by speedboat.
Colombo: Sri Lanka's capital, about 1h20 by air, for a two-country trip. Search flights
From €503 return, Vienna to the Maldives in the dry season.
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