Seychelles – General info

Seychelles – General information

The Republic of Seychelles consists of 115 islands and is divided into 32 mountain islands (mainly granite), which represent the Seychelles proper, as well as numerous small coral islands spread over a sea area of over 400,000 km².

The archipelago around Mahé is the most densely populated and therefore the most important archipelago in the country. Like most other inhabited islands, its islands belong to the mountain islands. Mahé is also home to the highest point in the country, the Morne Seychellois at 905 m above sea level. On the coral islands, there are only a few small settlements due to the low altitude (highest points at around 9 m above sea level) and lack of drinking water.

Due to its proximity to the equator, the climate is tropical and quite constant, the temperature fluctuates between 24 °C and 30 °C. The comparatively low amount of precipitation also varies only between around 2,200 mm in the capital Victoria and around 3,550 mm in the mountainous regions.

Capital: Victoria (about 25,000 inhabitants).

Area: 455 km², 491 km of coastline.

Population: around 100,000 to 101,000 inhabitants (as of 2024–2026) – a significant increase compared to the previously mentioned 80,000; around 90% of the population lives on the main island of Mahé.

Economy: Since independence in 1976, Seychelles’ per capita income has multiplied compared to the previous level of subsistence. Growth is led by the tourism sector, which provides a significant share of jobs and generates the majority of foreign exchange earnings, as well as the tuna industry. The government has been encouraging foreign investment in hotels and services for years, while trying to reduce dependence on tourism through agriculture, fisheries and small-scale manufacturing.

The vulnerability of the tourism sector has repeatedly been clearly demonstrated in the past – for example by the Gulf War in 1991, the attacks of 11 September 2001, the Iraq war in 2003 and, particularly severely, by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2022, in which visitor numbers temporarily collapsed to almost zero. After each of these crises, however, the sector recovered comparatively quickly.

Important correction to the currency situation: In mid-2008, the state was effectively insolvent due to a long-standing structural currency crisis. With the support of the International Monetary Fund, a comprehensive economic reform programme was then implemented: the Seychelles rupee was released at the end of 2008 and devalued by around 40%, fixed exchange rate controls and the previously existing de facto obligation to pay for tourist services in cash currencies were abolished. The economy has recovered significantly since then: the Seychelles now has one of the highest per capita incomes of all African countries. The chronic currency shortage with artificially high currency that used to be described in travel guides is therefore no longer relevant – foreign currency can now be easily exchanged at banks and exchange offices, and credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, larger restaurants and car rental companies.

Seychelles – Politics/Governance

The current president of Seychelles is Patrick Herminie (United Seychelles Party), who defeated the incumbent Wavel Ramkalawan in a run-off election in October 2025 (52.7% to 47.3% of the vote), ending his five-year term. Ramkalawan himself was the first opposition candidate since independence to win the presidential election in 2020 – the first peaceful transfer of power in the country’s history.

The head of state is also the head of government in the Seychelles and appoints the judges of the two highest courts. Presidential elections continue to take place every five years.

The parliament (National Assembly) consists of 35 seats; some of the deputies are directly elected, the remaining seats are distributed proportionally to the parties that have received at least 10% of the votes.

Currency: Seychelles Rupee (SCR).

Seychelles – Entry and Visa

German, Austrian and Swiss nationals do not need a classic visa for tourist stays of up to 30 days (extendable on site up to a maximum of 12 months). Upon entry, a visitor’s permit is issued free of charge.

Important point that is completely missing in the original: Today, travelers must also apply for a digital entry authorization (Travel Authorization) via the official website of the Seychelles government or the associated mobile app before departure. Passport, passport photo, contact details, flight details, proof of accommodation for the entire stay and a credit or debit card to pay fees are required; processing usually takes up to 24 hours (express processing possible at an additional cost). Without a valid travel authorization, entry may be denied.

The passport must be valid for the entire duration of the trip and have at least two blank pages; entry with an identity card is not possible, each child needs their own passport.

Health advice: Since December 2025, there have been indications of an outbreak of chikungunya fever in the Seychelles. Travellers should consistently protect themselves from mosquito bites, especially during the day; vaccination against chikungunya is available and should be discussed with a doctor if there is an individual risk. Otherwise, no compulsory vaccinations are required for direct entry from Germany; when entering from a yellow fever area, proof of yellow fever vaccination must be provided for all travellers over 12 months.

Since entry requirements can change at short notice, it is advisable to take an up-to-date look at the information provided by the Federal Foreign Office and the Seychelles government before travelling.

Seychelles – Climate

The lowest temperature ever measured in the Seychelles was 19.8 °C, the highest 34 °C. During the day, 27–30 °C can usually be expected, at night 24–26 °C – it rarely gets very hot, but hardly cools down at night.

The air is often exceptionally clear (hardly any dust or exhaust fumes within a radius of 1,600 km), so that on some nights you can admire phenomenal starry skies. Water temperatures are a steady 26-29 °C, with particularly shallow lagoons occasionally reaching downright bathtub temperatures.

A distinction is made between the time of the southeast monsoon and the northwest monsoon. During the southeast monsoon (June to October), the wind is more steady, the humidity is lower, and it rains a little less. Only during the northwest monsoon (December to April) is there a small risk of being rained for several days; during this time it rains almost daily, but usually only in short showers of no more than half an hour.

If you are sensitive to humidity, you should avoid the monsoon transition periods in May and November, as the wind often stops completely. It should be noted that in the Seychelles there have been increasing shifts and exceptions in the usual climatic course of the year for several years – the weather conditions of individual months can therefore no longer be predicted quite as reliably as in previous decades.

Because of the proximity to the equator, days and nights are about the same length throughout the year. Precipitation varies considerably from year to year and is therefore difficult to predict.

Due to its location around 4° south of the equator, solar radiation is a particular issue for travellers: The UV intensity here is about three to four times higher than in the German midsummer, as the ozone layer around the equator is naturally thinner. The sun rises daily around 6:30 a.m. and sets around 6:30 p.m., twilight lasts only about 30 minutes.

Seychelles – Fauna

Among the most interesting native birds is the Seychelles corrot, whose population has now grown to several hundred animals again thanks to intensive conservation measures (significantly more than the previously mentioned 100), as well as the thick-billed flight bird, the wart fruit pigeon and the Seychelles cave salangane, which nests in caves.

The only native mammals are the Seychelles flying fox and the bat species Coleura seychellensis, which belongs to the smooth-nosed freetail family and is one of the rarest bat species in the world.

The sea, with its almost inexhaustible wealth, not only provides life under water, but also provides the basis for millions of birds. Some islands, such as Bird Island, are a true bird paradise: there are no natural enemies here – neither crocodiles, nor snakes, rats or cats. Since the bird islands (Bird Island, Aride) are also difficult to reach, bird species may still exist here that have long since become extinct elsewhere.

The abundance of fish in the Seychelles waters and the still largely intact coral reefs make the islands an excellent diving area; at least every visitor should try snorkeling, even though coral bleaching is now an increasing problem here due to rising sea temperatures and has affected individual reef sections.

The small, grey, omnivorous skinks can be found again and again. The geckos, which are usually grey or brown on Mahé, but almost always bright green on La Digue (so-called day geckos) are unmistakable – these useful insectivores can often be observed in the evening by the lamplight of buildings.

Less popular small animals include cockroaches and mosquitoes. The former are less common in the Seychelles than in many other tropical regions thanks to the generous use of insecticides. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, are found almost everywhere, but their numbers are usually limited due to the lack of stagnant waters and the constant wind; mosquito protection is only recommended at dusk in swampier areas (such as La Digue). The Anopheles mosquitoes, which are feared to be malaria carriers, do not exist in the Seychelles, so malaria prophylaxis is not necessary – however, as mentioned above, increased attention has been paid to chikungunya fever transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes since the end of 2025. A bigger problem on some beaches are small sand flies, whose bites are similar in effect to creepy mosquitoes.

Numerous small animals and crabs live in the sand of the beaches, larger specimens especially after dark or on lonely beaches. The large, black and yellow palm spiders that sit in their webs everywhere in the undergrowth look dangerous, but are harmless. Caution is advised, however, with large centipedes, whose bite is poisonous and can cause painful wounds – but they are rare. On some islands there are also small scorpion species whose bite is not life-threatening. Overall, the wildlife of the Seychelles poses hardly any significant risks for visitors.

Particularly noteworthy among the numerous, sometimes extremely rare bird species is the Seychelles shame thrush, which only occurs on the island of Frégate; since the birds do not have a pronounced instinct to flee, the island must be consistently kept free of rats and cats in order to ensure the survival of the last population. Not quite as rare, but extremely beautiful are the snow-white fairy terns with their pitch-black eyes and blue beaks, as are the tropicbirds sailing in the warm updrafts on the mountain slopes. Several areas of the Seychelles, including the islands of Aride, Cousin and Bird Island, are under strict supervision as bird sanctuaries and are an absolute must for those interested in ornithology.

The Seychelles flying fox, the only native mammal species, can often be seen and heard at dusk; up close, its reddish-brown fur is reminiscent of a small fox. Its diet consists exclusively of fruits.

Seychelles – Flora

The Vallée de Mai, a valley of around 0.195 km² in the Praslin National Park, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.

The Seychelles nut palm “Coco de Mer”, which is only found in the Seychelles, bears the largest seeds in the entire plant kingdom and reaches a height of 30 to 40 m. In addition, there are six other palm species native exclusively to the Seychelles as well as screw trees such as the Horne screw tree.

Until about 60 years ago, the primeval palm forest in a remote high valley of Praslin was still completely untouched; today, people from all over the world come to admire the rare Coco de Mer palm with its seed, which weighs up to 20 kg – the largest seed in the world.

The fan palms, which can live up to 800 years old, can only be found today on Praslin and the small neighbouring island of Curieuse; the population is estimated at several hundred specimens. A clever economic policy protects the idyll: large hotels are not allowed to be built in the protected area, which limits the number of visitors and contributes to the preservation of the natural world.

In the Vallée de Mai, the legendary reproduction of the Coco de Mer can be studied: There are female and male palm trees, whose distinctive fruit shape has always fuelled erotic fantasies and the popular belief in a potency-enhancing effect. After pollination, it takes about seven years before a ripe fruit is ready for the next reproductive cycle. Without the protective national park, the rare palm tree would probably have disappeared long ago – in the last century, the common, commercially used coconut had displaced the Coco de Mer on large parts of the islands.

Seychelles – History, Culture, Art

It is believed that the islands of the Seychelles were originally discovered by Arab traders. However, the first documented explorers were the Portuguese, who first mentioned the islands in 1505.

The Seychelles were not settled by the French until about 150 years after their discovery. Between 1794 and 1811, there was a conflict between the British and the French over the islands, from which the British emerged victorious; under British rule, the Seychelles first became part of Mauritius before receiving the status of an independent crown colony in 1903 (not only after the First World War, as is sometimes falsely rumoured).

The Seychelles gained independence in 1976 as a parliamentary monarchy in the Commonwealth; in the same year, the so-called First Republic was proclaimed. In 1977, there was a bloodless coup d’état, as a result of which France-Albert René took power; in 1979, a new constitution was introduced in favor of a one-party regime (Second Republic). With the return to a multi-party system, the current constitution of the Third Republic came into force in 1993.

René remained in office until 2004 and then handed over to his previous vice president James Michel, who ruled until 2016. He was succeeded by Danny Faure (2016–2020). The 2020 presidential election marked a historic turning point: For the first time since independence, an opposition candidate, Wavel Ramkalawan, won the election – the first peaceful democratic transfer of power in the country’s history. In the 2025 election, Ramkalawan lost the run-off to Patrick Herminie, who has held the office of president since then (see above for details).

Seychelles – Food & Drink

Food The Seychelles are said to have the best Creole cuisine of all the islands of the Indian Ocean. Influences from Indian, African and French cuisine play a major role in this. In addition to beef and chicken, fish is mainly used. Rice and chutneys made from overcooked vegetables or fruit are usually served as side dishes; pumpkin chutney is particularly popular.

The basics of Creole cuisine are the sweet stew sauce Daube, the sauce, which is reduced to a tomato base, Rougaille, and the mild coconut base Carri-Coco, which is reminiscent of Southeast Asia.

The preference for soups has been adopted from French cuisine, especially fish soups (bouillons). The local salads are also prepared with sophistication – the Creole octopus salad, the palm heart salad and various salads with green papaya are worth mentioning. The dish of fruit bats offered in some restaurants is a local speciality that certainly does not appeal to every palate and is now increasingly viewed critically with regard to species conservation.

For dessert, tropical fruits are often served, as well as the dessert Kat-Kat (green bananas cooked in sweet coconut milk), which originates from Africa.

Drinks Own wines are hardly common in the Seychelles, and imported wines are correspondingly expensive. A local alternative is the home-distilled fruit bakka and calou (palm cider) – but you should be wary of cheap booze that is often offered.

Seychelles – Accommodation

If you visit the Seychelles, you should occasionally expect unexpected additional costs. An airport fee (today usually already included in the ticket price, but in rare cases still to be paid separately) as well as occasional fees for the use of private roads can provide surprises; it is worth asking the tour operator in advance.

As a rule, there are no longer any problems with obtaining the local currency: Euros can be easily exchanged at banks and in numerous exchange offices in the Seychelles, as well as withdrawing rupees from ATMs with common international cards. The formerly widespread recommendation to carry traveler’s cheques is now outdated – traveller’s cheques are hardly accepted today; an internationally usable credit or debit card is the most practical solution.

Accommodation in the Seychelles covers all categories, from simple guesthouses to luxury hotels. However, the price level is consistently well above the usual level for the respective category in Germany.

If you want to eat well, you won’t be disappointed – fish dishes in particular are available in a wide variety. Since meat (except chicken) has to be imported, restraint is worthwhile here. The menus are often dominated by curry preparations, which are a culinary science of their own in the Seychelles as well as in India, the country of origin. The price-performance ratio for food is basically okay, even if cheap food is hardly possible in many places. The “local” beer SeyBrew, originally produced according to German brewing tradition, is considered to be quite successful (not least thanks to the soft local water).

Drinking water, which is sometimes provided in thermos bottles in guest rooms, should be avoided, as it can occasionally lead to gastrointestinal complaints; mineral water sold in plastic bottles is better tolerated.

A big plus of the Seychelles as a travel destination remains that it is practically free of the dreaded classic tropical diseases – special mandatory vaccinations as for many other tropical destinations are omitted (for the current chikungunya notice, see entry chapter above). Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to ask a doctor or a tropical medicine institute experienced in travel medicine in good time before you travel.

The number of visitors to the Seychelles is now significantly higher than it used to be – today more than 300,000 to 400,000 tourists come to the country every year (instead of the previously mentioned around 100,000), which has a stronger impact on the islands than two decades ago, even if the capacity is still deliberately kept limited and mass crowds are not to be expected, as on many Mediterranean beaches. The busiest beach remains Beau-Vallon-Beach in the northwest of Mahé. Outside the main season (European summer holidays, Christmas, Easter), most beaches are still little visited or deserted.

The relatively high costs are to be understood as an “entrance fee” to an extraordinary natural paradise. It remains a declared goal of the government to derive economic benefits from tourism that is as environmentally friendly as possible with limited visitor numbers; Cheap or backpacker tourism is accordingly not the country’s target segment. If you are looking for classic club tourism, the Seychelles is the wrong place – but if you can enjoy a quiet moment in an overwhelming landscape without outside guidance, the Seychelles will be one of your most impressive travel experiences.

Note: All information on population figures, political offices, the health situation and entry requirements is subject to change and has been researched to the best of our knowledge as of August 2026. For up-to-date, binding information, it is advisable to take a look at the travel and security advice of the Federal Foreign Office before travelling.