VictoriaCapital
Seychelles · Country profile
Victoria is the small hill-ringed capital of the Seychelles, the colourful port town of the granitic island that spreads its few streets, its clock tower, its markets and its gardens along the curving bay of the north-east coast, beneath the steep green summits of the island. The capital of the archipelago since the earliest settlement and the capital of the independent republic since 1976, it is one of the smallest national capitals of the world and the only real town of the island nation, its days set by the ferry, the airport, the markets and the government offices of the country. The clock tower, the botanical garden, the museums, the market of the town and the harbour fill the essential visits, while the beaches, the coral reefs and the extraordinary granite boulders of the coast, and the islands of the rest of the archipelago, spread beyond the capital. Warm, tidy and delightfully compact, Victoria is the friendly hub of the island paradise of the Indian Ocean.
About Victoria
Victoria is the capital of Seychelles. The city's documented population is around 35,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Seychellois Rupee (SCR) and Seychellois Creole, English and French are spoken; the dialling code is +248.
The Tower of the Clock and the Market of the Town
The town is compact enough to cover on foot in a couple of hours, with the essential days moving between the clock tower at the centre, the botanical gardens and the markets, and the museums. The famous landmark of the little town, the clock tower replica of the London original at the centre of the roundabout, the lively covered market with its fish, its fruit and its spices, and the gardens with their giant tortoises and their giant palms anchor the classic stops, while the national museums with their history of the pirates, the whalers and the plantation years carry the story of the islands. The ferry to the inner islands, the supreme beaches and the granite peaks of the interior of the island fill the days beyond the town.
The Garden of the Botanical and the Museum of the Island
The climate of the town is the warm tropical of the Indian Ocean, with the hot, humid months of the northwest monsoon, the drier, brisker season of the southeast trade winds and the mild hurricane-free balance of the year. The rupee of the country is the currency, the English, the French and the creole the languages, and the ferry and the trails of the island spread from the capital. The town, the gardens and the beaches make the core visits, and most of the island and the archipelago lie within an easy ride or a boat trip. Light clothing, sun protection, insect protection and comfortable shoes for the hills complete the simple kit.
The Beaches of the South and the Summits of the Island
The clock tower of the town, the little iron replica of the clock of the British capital that stands at the central roundabout since the colonial era, is the affectionate symbol of the capital, while the market of the town, the lively covered market with its pyramids of the tropical fruit, its fish and its spices, carries the everyday trade of the islands. The botanical garden of the town with its giant tortoises, its vanilla vines and its immense palms, the natural history museum with its specimens of the giant tortoise and the rare birds of the archipelago, and the national museum with its story of the pirates and the settlers, anchor the cultural stops. The ferry harbour with its connections to the inner islands, the beaches and the granite boulders of the south and the west of the island and the forest trails of the mountain with their views over the bay, complete the essential, warm, delightfully small circuit of the island capital.
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- Country
- Seychelles
- Population
- 35,000
- Capital
- Victoria
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Seychellois Rupee (SCR)
- Languages
- Seychellois Creole, English, French
- Calling code
- +248
- Country code
- SC
Entry requirements for Seychelles
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Seychelles for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Victoria the capital of Seychelles?
Yes — Victoria is the capital of Seychelles.
What currency do I need in Victoria?
The local currency is the Seychellois Rupee (SCR). Languages spoken in Seychelles include Seychellois Creole, English and French.
What is the dialling code for Seychelles?
The international dialling code for Seychelles is +248.
Do I need a visa to visit Seychelles?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Morocco currently enter Seychelles visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Victoria? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.