Where to stay in Seychelles

Mahé holds 492 of the 845 establishments on the Tourism Department's list of 5 June 2026, and 646 of the 845 are self-catering. Beau Vallon, the tourism board's most popular resort beach, is a bay of about 3 km on the north-west coast, lined with hotels, restaurants, bars and water-sport and diving centres. Victoria, the capital, is about 5 km away by road, with the market, two cathedrals and the Botanical Gardens.

South of the airport, the east coast around Au Cap, Anse Royale and Anse aux Pins has 81 listed places, 71 of them self-catering. The south-west, around Anse à la Mouche, Baie Lazare and Takamaka, is the part of Mahé the tourism board describes as picturesque villages with a quieter pace of life.

Praslin, 44 km north-east of Mahé, has the most listed places on the Côte d'Or, at Anse Volbert, and at Grand Anse, and the Vallée de Mai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. La Digue, 7 km beyond it, is a small island where visitors arrive at La Passe, most hotels stand on the west coast and, in the tourism board's words, the bicycle still holds sway.

UK travel advice says a UK photocard licence is valid in Seychelles for 3 months, and that hire companies may ask for a year of experience, a higher minimum age or an International Driving Permit. It describes Mahé as mountainous, with narrow, winding roads, sheer drops and hairpin bends, not all with barriers, and deep, uncovered storm drains beside many roads. GetCar's guide Driving in Mahé, Seychelles: Licence, Mountain Roads, Storm Drains and Parking covers the driving itself.

The Tourism Department's minimum requirements for places to stay cover parking: guest houses and self-catering places on Mahé and Praslin should have parking facilities, and those on La Digue bicycle parking. In Victoria, most spaces are paid with parking coupons shown on the windscreen (via GetCar).

UK travel advice warns that criminals target parked cars and accommodation, and names Beau Vallon and the back streets of Victoria for extra care; leave nothing of value in the car. The car stays on Mahé, since the Cat Cocos ferries carry passengers only (via GetCar).

The tourism environmental sustainability levy has applied since 1 August 2023 and is collected from each guest per night, whoever made the booking, and listed on the invoice. Since 1 January 2026 it applies only to larger establishments: SCR 75 per person per night with 25 to 50 rooms, SCR 100 with more than 50 rooms, on yachts and at island resorts. Places with 24 rooms or fewer, 797 of the 845 listed, no longer collect it. Children of 12 and below, citizens and residents are exempt.

VAT is 15% on most goods and services, and VAT-registered businesses show it separately on the invoice. Under a 2023 amendment to the VAT Act, a booking platform collecting on behalf of a business may not add any commission over and above the VAT.

Guest houses, hotels and self-catering places are licensed, and the Tourism Department publishes the list. The Travel Authorisation portal warns that an application naming accommodation not on that list may be denied, so check the listing name against it before paying.

Book the accommodation first: both the Travel Authorisation and the visitor's permit ask for confirmed accommodation. The authorisation opens 30 days before travel and costs an adult EUR 10 with a 24-hour review, EUR 30 in 6 hours or EUR 70 in 60 minutes; arriving without one costs a EUR 30 penalty at the airport.

Pick the coast by the month. UK travel advice says west coast beaches are unsafe during the north-west monsoon, around December to March, and east coast beaches during the south-east winds, around May to September; beaches at the southern tip are unsafe at any time. For the ferries, Cat Cocos asks passengers to be at the boarding point 30 minutes before departure.

A first beach stay with restaurants and water sports: Beau Vallon.

A night between a flight and a ferry: Victoria.

Self-catering near the airport: Anse Royale and the east coast.

Quiet villages and granite beaches with a car: Baie Lazare and the south-west.

Beaches and the Vallée de Mai without the car: Praslin.

A slow stay by bicycle: La Digue.