Malé is two square kilometres of city — the whole island can be walked from end to end in about half an hour. Walking is the default and the only practical way to see the historic centre, where most streets are too narrow for taxis to manoeuvre in.
Taxis charge a flat fare across the island (MVR 30–40), pickable up by phone or the local Ava and Ovaka ride apps. The MTCC public bus runs a useful route along the eastern waterfront and across the Sinamalé Bridge to Hulhulé and Hulhumalé. Bicycles and motor scooters are everywhere — Maldivian traffic looks like a Vietnamese street scene scaled down — but renting one is more trouble than it is worth for a short visit.
Ferries from the southern waterfront connect to Villingili and other nearby islands; the speedboats from the northern jetties run the longer routes to other atolls.