Practical Information for visiting Seychelles

The currency is the Seychellois rupee (SCR). Cards are accepted at hotels, larger restaurants, dive centres and supermarkets, and contactless is common in Victoria; small guesthouses, market stalls, taxis and buses want cash.

ATMs are available on Mahé and Praslin and are scarce on La Digue, so draw what you need before crossing. Euros and US dollars are accepted at many tourist businesses, usually at a rate worse than the bank’s. Note that a range of tourism services are priced in euros by law.

Tipping is not obligatory; rounding up or five to ten per cent for good service is normal. The islands are expensive by regional standards because nearly everything is imported, and self-catering makes a very large difference to a budget.

Coverage for mobile networks is good across the inhabited islands, with 4G throughout and 5G on Mahé, provided by Airtel and Cable & Wireless. Signal is reliable on Praslin and La Digue and drops in the interior valleys of Mahé and on the outer islands, several of which have satellite only.

A local prepaid SIM is cheap and sold at the airport and in Victoria, and is far better value than roaming. Bring an unlocked phone and a passport to register it.

Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and guesthouses and available in cafes in Victoria and Beau Vallon. The country is connected by two submarine cables, so speeds are reasonable, though a cable fault can slow the whole country at once. There is no network at all on the remote atolls.

The Seychelles is one of the safer destinations anywhere, with very little violent crime and no political instability. The realistic risks are opportunistic theft and the sea.

• Petty theft is the main problem, and it is real: break-ins to self-catering accommodation and hire cars, and thefts from beaches while people swim. Do not leave anything on the sand, use the safe, and lock up at night.
• Currents are the genuine danger. Several beaches — Anse Source d’Argent excepted — have strong rips at certain states of the tide and season, notably during the south-east trades. Beaches are largely unpatrolled and there are drownings every year. Ask locally before swimming anywhere unfamiliar.
• Roads on Mahé are narrow, steep and winding, with blind bends and no barriers. Drive slowly, and be aware that buses take the middle of the road.
• Drugs carry heavy penalties, including for small quantities.

Piracy in the wider Indian Ocean affected the outer islands around 2010 and has since been suppressed; it is no longer a practical concern for visitors to the inner islands.

Health standards are good by regional measures. Seychelles Hospital in Victoria is the main facility, with smaller clinics on Praslin and La Digue and a health centre network across Mahé. Anything requiring specialist surgery means evacuation to Mauritius, Réunion or South Africa, so insurance including medical evacuation is important.

Vaccinations: routine cover is enough for most visitors, with hepatitis A and typhoid advised. Yellow fever proof is required only if arriving from a country where it is present — worth checking if you transit Nairobi or Addis Ababa.

No malaria. The Seychelles is malaria-free, which is unusual for the region and means no prophylaxis. Dengue and chikungunya do occur in outbreaks, so use repellent, particularly around dawn and dusk in the wetter months.

Sun and sea. The equatorial sun is stronger than visitors expect and burns through cloud; reef-safe high-factor sunscreen, a hat and shade in the middle of the day are basic. Watch for sea urchins and stonefish when walking on rocks — reef shoes solve both.

Tap water on Mahé is treated and generally safe; bottled water is standard elsewhere.

Nudity and toplessness are illegal on public beaches, and this is enforced more than visitors assume. Swimwear is for the beach; cover up in Victoria, in shops and in restaurants.

Collecting from nature is restricted. Taking shells, coral or sand is prohibited, and coco de mer nuts may only be bought from licensed sellers and exported with the numbered permit that comes with them. Buying one without the label means it will be confiscated at the airport.

Greet people. Seychellois are formal about greetings, and going straight into a request is noticed. Bonzour and a moment of conversation first is the norm everywhere.

Dress for church if you visit one during a service; the country is largely Catholic and Sunday observance is taken seriously.

Drugs attract severe penalties, including for cannabis. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 2016 and attitudes are broadly tolerant, though public displays of affection are uncommon generally.

Photographing police, the port and government buildings is restricted; ask before photographing people.

Emergency numbers: 999 for police, fire and ambulance. 151 reaches the fire and rescue service directly and 141 the police hotline. Operators speak English and Creole.

Medical. Seychelles Hospital in Victoria on Mahé is the main hospital and has the only decompression chamber in the country, which matters to divers. Baie Sainte Anne on Praslin and the Logan clinic on La Digue handle routine cases; anything serious is transferred to Mahé and then abroad.

At sea. The Seychelles Coast Guard coordinates marine rescue; dive operators and boat skippers carry radios and are usually the fastest route to help. Tell someone your plan before walking or boating anywhere remote.

Consular. Only a handful of countries maintain resident missions in Victoria; most cover the Seychelles from Nairobi, Pretoria or Port Louis. Note your nearest one before travelling, and keep an offline copy of your passport and insurance policy.