A beautiful semi-circle of sand backed by palms and takamaka trees, Beau Vallon beach is Mahé's most popular. The swimming is excellent, but there can be strong waves from June to November. For day visitors, beach bed rental costs Rs 75/150/225 per one/two/four hours, or Rs 325 per day.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
28.78 MILES
Anse Lazio, on the northwest tip of the island, is picture-perfect everywhere you look and often turns up in lists of the world's most beautiful beaches…
28.72 MILES
Gorgeous World Heritage–listed Vallée de Mai is one of only two places in the world where the rare coco de mer palm grows in its natural state (the other…
1.77 MILES
Housed in Victoria's restored colonial-era Supreme Court building (1885), this terrific museum opened in late 2018. While the architecture itself is worth…
Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
1.63 MILES
No trip to Victoria would be complete without a wander through the covered market. It's small by African standards, but it's a bustling, colourful place…
9.86 MILES
On this popular tour you learn the story behind the island's main distillery and about the rum-making process. The tour runs for between 30 and 45 minutes…
29.82 MILES
This long, gently arching beach is among the most popular strands on the island. It's great for safe swimming and sunbathing, and it's also good for water…
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9.53 MILES
The idyllic little beach of Anse Soleil is a pocket-sized paradise. You can pause here for lunch – there's a beach restaurant – but beware, you may never…
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3.17 MILES
One of the most beautiful beaches on Mahé, Anse Major is only accessible on foot from Danzil – few visitors to the Seychelles make it here. The setting is…
Nearby Mahé attractions
1.55 MILES
This gallery, in a traditional Creole wooden structure built in 1915 and restored in the 1980s, exhibits the work of George Camille, one of the Seychelles…
1.57 MILES
The extravagant facade of the building immediately west of the cathedral belongs to the Domus – built in 1934 as a residence for Swiss missionaries, it's…
3. Sri Navasakthi Vinyagar Temple
1.58 MILES
With its brightly painted decor, Victoria's small but eye-catching Hindu temple stands out among a row of nondescript buildings. It's used by the city's…
4. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
1.61 MILES
This imposing cathedral is noteworthy for its elegant portal and colonnaded facade – the interior nave is long and airy with some stained-glass windows…
5. Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market
1.63 MILES
No trip to Victoria would be complete without a wander through the covered market. It's small by African standards, but it's a bustling, colourful place…
1.71 MILES
Taking pride of place in the centre of town is the simple Anglican church, with its renovated facade and elegant tower.
1.75 MILES
The focal point of the city centre is this downsized replica of the clock tower on London's Vauxhall Bridge. It was brought to Victoria in 1903 when the…
1.77 MILES
Housed in Victoria's restored colonial-era Supreme Court building (1885), this terrific museum opened in late 2018. While the architecture itself is worth…