Wherever you are on Mahé you’re never more than 20minutes drive from some kind of natural paradise. Mahé beaches with their pale, soft sand and impressive granite boulders are some of the best in the world, but its verdant jungle interior is pretty spectacular too. And that goes for the best places to stay in Mahé too, if you can’t see paradise outside your window — which is the most likely scenario on Mahé, you’ll certainly only be minutes from it.

Mahé is the largest island in the Seychelles, it has the capital Victoria, the only international airport in the Seychelles and some seriously fabulous resorts, restaurants, and of course, beaches. Mahé is as busy as the Seychelles gets, has the liveliest nightlife, the majority of the cultural sites, the biggest choice when it comes to shopping and it also has the largest, most dramatic interior. So the best places to stay in Mahé are the best places to stay in the Seychelles if you’re looking for a beach break paradise that’s not entirely off the beaten track.

Where to Stay

• Victoria has the nightlife and the shopping.
• The west coast has a number of gorgeous beach resorts.
• There are a number of small islands just off the coast with private island resorts.

What not to Miss

• Go to the beach! It’s probably one of the things you’re here for, and the west coast of Mahé is basically a string of gorgeous beaches. Of course there are gorgeous beaches along the island’s entire coastline too. Beau Vallon is one of the island’s most popular, Anse Major is among the best in the Seychelles, and tiny Anse Soleil is one of the most beautiful — perfect for lunch, with its beach restaurant.
• Get underwater. The Morne Seychellois National Park is known for its snorkelling, with the opportunity to get right up close to whale sharks, and for its pristine dive sites.
• Learn about the Seychelles. You might not fancy spending any time inside but if you’re at all interested in the history of these incredible islands then a visit to the National Museum of History will be well worth the hours you invest here: it’s a really outstanding museum.
• Visit the market! Victoria’s Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market is the liveliest market in the Seychelles, and certainly a good reason to choose Mahé over the other islands.

The Best Places to Stay on Mahé

Some of the Most Romantic Hotels on Mahé

• The Eden Bleu Hotel is on a tiny island just off the coast of Mahé’s largest marina in Victoria, so it has all the benefits for access to the capital, but with a bit more peace and privacy. Its 87 rooms and suites are contemporary and elegant in design, with balconies and a pastel palette. The cocktail bar is especially chic.

The Best Places to Stay on Mahé for Barefoot Luxury

• Ja Enchanted Island Resort is a private island getaway in the Saint Anne Marine Park with just 10 Creole style villas. There’s a Castaway bar and a small but beautiful infinity pool with incredible ocean views, and the atmosphere is as tranquil as can be.
• For even more privacy consider the 60 thatched holiday villas of the Maia Luxury Resort & Spa, which come complete with their own private butlers, chefs and infinity pools. The villas are hidden amongst the thirty acres of forest-garden which runs all the way to the white sand. There’s a fantastic spa too, and a fantastic kid’s club.

The Best Beach Break Hotels on Mahé

• With a sun terrace that runs right up against the sand, the Carana Beach Hotel is a 40 room boutique hotel with fantastic views and a calming, neutral palette. If you want your own private pool you can book a chalet, if you want your own private meal on the beach you can book that too. The food is gourmet and there’s a beautiful spa too.
• With a similarly luxurious beach break vibe, the Kempinski Seychelles Resort is a good choice if you’re looking for a larger resort hotel with more onsite facilities. On the Baie Lazare, set amongst lush, tropical gardens, this hotel is arranged so that the majority of its 148 rooms have beach or lagoon views, so it’s beautiful everywhere you turn.
• The Banyan Tree Seychelles fits into several of our categories: it’s definitely luxurious, and its collection of 60 rooms, suites and villas offers the perfect romantic escape, but also a wonderful opportunity for some luxurious family time — whoever you’re travelling with you’re able to order private, in-villa meals, and book a villa with a private pool as well as sea views. Much of the accommodation is tucked up in the rainforest canopy, but you’re right on the beach on Intendance Bay, and that’s one of the things we love most about it.

Some of the Best Places to Stay on Mahé for Families

• The H Resort Beau Vallon boasts of its prime position on the only beach in Mahé that you can swim off all year round. And they also make quite a bit of the fact that there 100 rooms and suites, decorated in a Creole colonial style, offer plenty of romance, but also great facilities for families. There’s a kid’s pool as well as a hotel pool, but that also offer a couple’s massage evening that comes highly recommended.
• Constace Ephelia is a luxurious resort arranged along a long cove with lagoons, palms and a small island at the centre — sounds postcard perfect, doesn’t it? The resort has 313 rooms and villas, which are nestled into the hillside or right against the ocean. The decor is neutral, there are plenty of activities on offer, including a Kid’s Club, and diving and snorkelling trips.
• You might think private island resorts are just for couples, but in the case of the Four Seasons Seychelles at Desroches Island that’s not true. This resort has 67 rooms, suites and villas, but they’re spread quite widely over the island, so there’s plenty of privacy for everyone, but there’s also the scale for the facilities to be great. If you book a private villa you’ll not only have your own kid’s bedrooms you’ll also have your own pool. With access to the island’s tortoise sanctuary, there’s also lots of opportunity to get back to nature.
• The other Four Seasons resort on Mahé, the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is just as good for families, with a range of treetop villas and ocean-view suites to choose from, and plenty of choice if you want multiple bedrooms. There’s a great spa and restaurant servicing the 94 rooms, suites and villas, plus a gorgeous beach and plenty of facilities laid on. The atmosphere is peaceful and romantic.

Prefer an Apartment or Villa

If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• If you don’t have your own private yacht or boat the only international gateway to Mahé is the Seychelles International Airport near the capital, Victoria. There are regular flights between Mahé and Praslin and once-daily flights between Mahé and Bird Island, Denis Island, Fregate Island, Desroches Island and Alphonse Island. You can also get around by chartering a helicopter, or plane, or by ferry.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• The Seychelles are generally hot and humid, with the drier, cooler season between May and September and the hotter, wetter season between November and March. The missing months are the changeover months: April is the calmest and warmest month, when the winds are changing direction, and November is warm with light winds, again as they change direction.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay on Mahé for you?

• You could refine your search to just the best places to stay in Victoria?
• or expand your search to include all the best places to stay in the Seychelles?
• or think about the best places to stay on Praslin?
• or consider the best places to stay in Mauritius, a close neighbour to the Seychelles?
• or contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.