Things to do · Seychelles
18 best things to do in Seychelles
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The essential sights in Seychelles are Anse Source d'Argent, Vallée de Mai and Anse Lazio. Of the 18 picks below, 8 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 7 suit children. Allow about 10 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Anse Source d'Argent
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- Vallée de Mai
- Time to see the highlights
- 10 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anse Source d'Argent | La Digue | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Vallée de Mai | Praslin | 1.5–2 hours | Expensive |
| Anse Lazio | Praslin | Half a day | Free |
| Morne Seychellois National Park | Central Mahé | 2–4 hours | Free |
| Copolia Trail | Central Mahé | 2 hours return | Low cost |
| Anse Major trail | Beau Vallon | 3 hours return | Free |
| Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market | Victoria | 1 hour | Free |
| Victoria town walk | Victoria | 1.5 hours | Free |
| National Botanical Gardens | Victoria | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Sainte Anne Marine National Park | Off Victoria | Half a day to full day | Mid-priced |
| Curieuse Island | Off Praslin | Full day | Mid-priced |
| Cousin Island | Off Praslin | Half a day | Mid-priced |
| Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos | La Digue | Half a day | Free |
| Anse Intendance | South Mahé | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Veuve Reserve | La Digue | 45 minutes | Free |
| Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve | Praslin | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Takamaka Rum distillery | South Mahé | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Jardin du Roi spice garden | Anse Royale and the east coast | 1.5 hours | Low cost |
The 18 best things to do
Beach · La Digue
1.Anse Source d'Argent
Inside the L'Union Estate on La Digue's west coast, a string of small coves is framed by huge, sculpted granite boulders and shallow, reef-protected water. It is one of the most photographed beaches in the world, and the estate also holds an old copra mill, a vanilla plantation and a giant tortoise pen.
Visit at low tide for the walk along the coves, and arrive early or after 3pm to avoid the day-trippers from Praslin and Mahé.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
Nature · Praslin
2.Vallée de Mai
A UNESCO-listed palm forest in the centre of Praslin where coco de mer trees, with seeds that can weigh over 15 kg, grow among five other endemic palms. Marked trails of different lengths wind through the shade, and patient visitors may hear or spot the rare Seychelles black parrot.
Join one of the guided walks run at the reserve to understand the palms, and go early in the day for the best chance of seeing black parrots.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Nature
- History
- Rainy day
Beach · Praslin
3.Anse Lazio
On Praslin's north-west tip, Anse Lazio is a long arc of fine sand between granite outcrops, backed by takamaka trees, with clear water and good snorkelling around the rocks at both ends. Two restaurants sit at the back of the beach.
Snorkel around the boulders at the northern end on a calm morning; swimming is less comfortable when the north-west monsoon brings waves.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Park · Central Mahé
4.Morne Seychellois National Park
The park covers about a fifth of Mahé and climbs to Morne Seychellois, at 905 metres the country's highest peak. Trails through mist forest and tea plantations include the short Copolia walk to a granite dome above Victoria, the Morne Blanc trail and the climb to the Trois Frères.
Start before 9am on a clear day; clouds often cover the peaks by late morning.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Free
Viewpoint · Central Mahé
5.Copolia Trail
A trail of about 1.2 km from the Sans Souci road climbs through forest with pitcher plants to a bare granite summit at about 500 metres, looking down on Victoria, the Sainte Anne islands and the east coast. It is the most rewarding short hike on Mahé.
The final section crosses smooth granite that is slippery when wet; wear shoes with grip.
- Time needed
- 2 hours return
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Active
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Beau Vallon
6.Anse Major trail
From the end of the road at Bel Ombre, a coastal path of about 2.5 km follows the cliffs past granite slabs to Anse Major, a secluded beach only reachable on foot or by boat. The trail is exposed but mostly gentle, with views back over Beau Vallon.
Bring water and go early; there is no shade on parts of the trail and no facilities at the beach.
- Time needed
- 3 hours return
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
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Market · Victoria
7.Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
Victoria's covered market on Market Street sells the morning's catch of red snapper, tuna and jobfish, tropical fruit, chillies and spices, with craft and spice stalls upstairs. It is busiest on Saturday mornings, when it is the liveliest place in the capital.
Go before 10am on a Saturday, and pick up vanilla, cinnamon and chilli sauces as souvenirs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Free
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Victoria
8.Victoria town walk
A short walk covers the silver Clock Tower, erected in 1903 and modelled on one near London's Victoria station, the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the colourful Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar Hindu temple and Creole shophouses on Albert Street.
Combine it with the market in the morning; many shops close early on Saturdays and all day Sunday.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Garden · Victoria
1.National Botanical Gardens
On the southern edge of Victoria at Mont Fleuri, the botanical gardens date from 1901 and hold coco de mer palms, orchids, fruit bats in the trees and a pen of Aldabra giant tortoises. It is a gentle introduction to the islands' plants if you are not visiting Praslin.
Go in the late afternoon, when fruit bats become active and the heat drops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
Nature · Off Victoria
2.Sainte Anne Marine National Park
Six islands just off Victoria form one of the oldest marine parks in the Indian Ocean, established in 1973. Glass-bottom boat and snorkelling trips stop over coral gardens with turtles and reef fish, often with lunch on Moyenne or Cerf island.
Choose a trip that includes snorkelling time rather than only the glass-bottom viewing.
- Time needed
- Half a day to full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
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Island · Off Praslin
3.Curieuse Island
A short boat ride from Praslin's Côte d'Or, Curieuse is home to a population of free-roaming Aldabra giant tortoises, a mangrove boardwalk and the ruins of a former leper colony. Trips usually combine a walk from Baie Laraie to Anse St José with snorkelling at nearby Saint Pierre islet.
Wear sturdy sandals for the walk across the island, and leave the tortoises to approach you rather than feeding them.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
Island · Off Praslin
4.Cousin Island
A small nature reserve off Praslin managed by Nature Seychelles, where wardens lead visitors along trails among nesting white terns, noddies and tropicbirds, and endemic species such as the Seychelles magpie-robin and warbler. Hawksbill turtles nest on its beaches.
Landings are by small boat through the surf; wear clothes that can get wet and keep cameras in a dry bag.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Beach · La Digue
5.Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos
On La Digue's east coast, Grand Anse is a wide, wild beach reached by bike over the island's central hill, and a trail continues to Petite Anse and Anse Cocos, where a rock pool offers sheltered swimming. These beaches face the open ocean, with powerful surf for much of the year.
Swim only in calm conditions or in the rock pool at Anse Cocos; currents at Grand Anse are dangerous.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Photo spot
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Beach · South Mahé
6.Anse Intendance
A wide crescent of sand backed by palms at the southern end of Mahé, popular with surfers and for long walks. Hawksbill and green turtles nest here in season. It is beautiful but exposed, with strong waves from about May to October.
Use it for sunbathing and walking on rough days; save swimming for the calmer months around April and November.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · La Digue
7.Veuve Reserve
A small forest reserve on La Digue that protects the Seychelles paradise flycatcher, known locally as the veuve, one of the world's rarest birds. Males have long black tail feathers, and a short trail with an information centre leads through the takamaka and badamier trees where they nest.
Visit early in the morning, when the birds are most active and calling.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Free
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Praslin
8.Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve
A quieter coco de mer reserve in Praslin's south-east hills, with guided walks through palm forest to a granite viewpoint looking across to La Digue and the other islands. It complements the Vallée de Mai with fewer visitors and a longer hike.
Book a guided walk in advance and wear sturdy shoes for the climb to the viewpoint.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Nature
- Views
- Active
- Off the beaten path
Experience · South Mahé
9.Takamaka Rum distillery
At the La Plaine St André estate, a restored 18th-century plantation house, the Takamaka distillery offers tours of its production and tastings of its rums, with a restaurant in the gardens. It is one of Mahé's few organised visits on a rainy day.
Book a tour with tasting and stay for lunch in the plantation-house restaurant.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
Garden · Anse Royale and the east coast
10.Jardin du Roi spice garden
On the hill above Anse Royale, this historic spice garden recalls the French attempt to grow spices on Mahé in the 18th century, with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and fruit trees on self-guided trails and a small museum. A café serves Creole lunches with views to the coast.
Combine it with snorkelling at Anse Royale beach below.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- History
- Food
- Kids
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| History | Vallée de Mai, Victoria town walk, Curieuse Island and Takamaka Rum distillery |
| Views | Anse Source d'Argent, Morne Seychellois National Park, Copolia Trail and Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve |
| Outdoors and nature | Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio, Morne Seychellois National Park and Copolia Trail |
| Food and markets | Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market, Takamaka Rum distillery and Jardin du Roi spice garden |
| With children | Anse Source d'Argent, National Botanical Gardens, Sainte Anne Marine National Park and Curieuse Island |
| On a rainy day | Vallée de Mai and Takamaka Rum distillery |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Seychelles?
Anse Source d'Argent. Inside the L'Union Estate on La Digue's west coast, a string of small coves is framed by huge, sculpted granite boulders and shallow, reef-protected water.
+What can you do for free in Seychelles?
Anse Lazio, Morne Seychellois National Park, Anse Major trail, Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market and Victoria town walk. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Seychelles when it rains?
Head indoors to Vallée de Mai and Takamaka Rum distillery.