Victoria
Capital of Seychelles

"The Seychelles capital is not a city!
Just a small town"

Victoria is the capital of Seychelles, but there are no cities in exotic Seychelles. First here is a street map of the town, which you can print out. The town and suburbs comprise of many distinct districts stretching from Roche Caiman in the south to Pointe Conan in the north, and Saint Louis, Bel Air, La Louise in the west. In the East it's the port and town. The population of the town and its suburbs is 24,000 (2009).

The capital of Seychelles is also a seaport that has grown from the original settlement by the first French colonists back in the late 1700 AD. The port and town itself, which is the commercial centre of Seychelles, is a quaint little town with just a few streets. It has a population of about 6,000.

As a business centre it attracts workers from all over Mahe Island, and they all return home daily. This creates traffic congestion early morning and in the evening - a major problem. The main roads out of town lead to Beau Vallon beach in the northwest, and the Seychelles International Airport in the south.

The traffic and the population of Victoria have grown very fast in the last 30 years. Of course the roads were not designed to accommodate so much traffic. There are over 10,000 vehicles on the roads of Mahe. And most pass through Victoria daily. Notice: driving is on the left hand side of the road.

The capital of Seychelles, is home to several light industries including the tuna fish-canning factory, and the livestock-feed processing factory. Interestingly, much of the shop floor is manned by workers from the Philippines, Thailand and East Africa.

Victoria is the main transhipment port for tuna in the Indian Ocean. In the last several years tuna fishing has become a major contributor to the economy of Seychelles. It has also contributed to the development of the port itself.

Victoria Town and port - Seychelles capital

Now some 100 fishing vessels from as far away as the EU and Japan and lately China are licensed to fish in the Seychelles EEZ of over a million square kilometres. So the small port has become a significant international player in the tuna-fishing industry.

Seeking to further diversify the economy, in recent years, Seychelles has hopped onto the bandwagon of IBCs and Trusts. The country has enacted laws to take advantage of the favourable climate and attract a worldwide audience of investors in the arena of tax-free havens.

And Seychelles has started to make inroads in that area as a latecomer with a very competitive product. Seychelles is a market-friendly jurisdiction for all your incorporation needs.

Perhaps Victoria can be classed as a city - a tiny city. For me it is no more than a small town. But it is the seat of government and the administrative capital of Seychelles.

It has a Post Office, a courthouse, Police HQ, government offices and public utilities offices. It has several banks and a couple of smallish supermarkets, and a "must-see" market in the older section of town.

Market Street is the busiest street in the tiny Seychelles capital and the town market is where all flock daily to get their fresh supply of fish and vegetables. The busiest time is 3:00 to 5:00 pm, weekdays.

Clock Tower in the capital of Seychelles

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On Sunday the capital is almost deserted. See the picture of the Clock Tower taken on a Sunday afternoon. The capital of Seychelles is a quaint little town and the older section is really worth a visit.

But this is not a place for high street shopping. For souvenirs and handicrafts it is worth a visit on a holiday in Seychelles. Other reasons to visit the capital are the couple of museums and the two cathedrals that stand only 200 metres apart either side of the market. They are both part of Seychelles history. They were built in the mid 1800s.

They are St Paul's Cathedral (Anglican) and the RC Cathedral, consecrated to the Virgin Mary (The Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception), Both definitely worth a trip to Victoria.

In front of the courthouse on one side, and the Post Office on the other, and only 75 metres from St Paul's Cathedral, is the historic landmark, the Clock Tower, a mini replica of the famous Big Ben of London, England.

This stands right in the centre of Victoria town at the junction of the 3 major roads and a 4th, State House Avenue that leads to the Seychelles Presidents Offices.

 

The small capital is worth a visit and when there don't miss the Pirates Arms, a popular "watering hole" to cool off with a cold beer and watch the world of Seychelles go by. It is right next to the oldest bank in the Seychelles, Barclays Bank.

In the capital all offices and most shops shut their doors for lunch from 12:00 to 1:30 pm but the commercial banks remain open.

In Seychelles most things are sold at fixed prices. So don't waste your time trying to bargain. Taxi fares are set, so just pay what's shown on the meter.
Travelling to Praslin Island from Mahe? And you're in Victoria? Here's a tip...

Why not go by fast ferry from the Victoria's Inter-island Quay. It is just one hour to Praslin. And probably faster than flying there when you consider 20 minutes by Taxi to the Seychelles airport and a 30-minute-check-in-before-departure requirement for flights.

Fast Ferry Victoria Seychelles by Camera Eye

It's especially good if you're going to the popular side of Praslin - Baie St Anne / Cote d'or. Then you'll save another 20-minute cross-island taxi ride on Praslin.

You'll save both time and money travelling to Praslin by fast ferry from Mahe.

And for me, I believe it is safer than flying in those "toy" planes. But be aware some passengers do get seasick especially inside the cabin.

So I stay on deck. It's your call. Also you should take some travel-sickness pills an hour before boarding the ferry. And consult your doctor before leaving home.

Victoria is also the only seaport in Seychelles. It has a container terminal where ocean-going vessels can dock to load and offload. Cruise ships can also berth here in the sheltered harbour. It has 3 different quays and several marinas for yachts too.

This is Victoria, the capital of Seychelles in a nutshell. Is it a city? What do you think? We say: There are no cities in Seychelles.

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