Transportation
- Top International Airline
- Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines (via Mahé).
- Highway Access
- Consitst of one main coastal road and one cross-island mountain road (Vallée de Mai).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Baie Ste Anne Jetty (Ferry terminal for Cat Cocos).
- Public Transport Passes
- SPTCL Travel Card (12 SCR per trip). Cash no longer accepted on buses.
- Regional Travel
- Cat Cocos Ferry to La Digue (15 mins) or Mahé (1 hour).
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- No apps. Use ‘Praslin Taxi Service’ (+248 251 1104). Fares start at 300 SCR ($22).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Pedal bikes at Anse Volbert (approx 150-200 SCR/day). Scooters are rare/restricted.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Anse Lazio (Northwest coast), consistently ranked top 10 globally.
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Seychelles (Flights to Mahé every 30-60 mins).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Praslin Hospital (Grand Anse). For emergencies, medical evacuation to Mahé/Reunion is required.
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Wellness Spa at Constance Lemuria (open to non-residents with booking).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- The Gym Praslin (Grand Anse). Basic equipment, approx 100 SCR per session.
- Laundry Services
- Most self-catering units include machines; hotels offer per-piece laundry.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None. Some restaurants offer direct WhatsApp delivery (e.g., Pirogue Restaurant).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Grilled Red Snapper with Creole Sauce or Octopus Curry.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Vegetarian options at PK's @ Pasquière Restaurant and Gastropub.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Gelateria de Luca at Anse Volbert for Italian-style gelato.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Whole Foods (Grand Anse) and local roadside vegetable stalls.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Very limited; most locals use 'Doubleclick' (electronics) on Mahé.
- Grocery Delivery
- Not standard; STC Supermarket is the primary bulk provider.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Cote d'Or strip; Chill Out Bar is the main late-night venue.
- Local Brewery
- SeyBrew (Seychelles Breweries). Brewed on Mahé, available everywhere.
- Wine Bars
- D'Offay Wine Shop (Baie Ste Anne) for retail; upscale bars in Raffles for tasting.
- Street Food Stalls
- Takeaway boxes (Coco Rouge in Baie Ste Anne) - approx 75-120 SCR per meal.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Cafe des Arts (High-end French-Creole fusion).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Vallée de Mai UNESCO World Heritage Site (Home of the Coco de Mer).
- Museums & Art Venues
- Praslin Museum (Anse Volbert) showcasing local traditions.
- Historical Sites
- Fond Ferdinand Nature Reserve (historic palm nursery).
- Religious Sites
- St. Matthew's Church (Grand Anse).
- Annual Events
- Praslin Culinary & Arts Fiesta (September).
- Cultural Districts
- Baie Ste Anne (Village center).
- Theater Venues
- None; cultural shows usually held within large resorts.
- Local Markets
- Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market is on Mahé; Praslin has smaller fish stalls at the jetty.
- Music Scene
- Moutya drums and Sega dancing performances at local hotels.
- Street Art
- Limited; mostly local craft murals in Anse Volbert.
- Cooking Classes
- Offered seasonally at 'Le Duc de Praslin' hotel.
- Art Galleries
- Rita's Art Studio (Anse Volbert).
- Historic Buildings
- Old colonial-style plantation houses (mostly private or in ruins).
- Local Heritage
- The Coco de Mer nut, a symbol of national identity.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Curieuse Island (Giant Tortoise sanctuary, 15 min boat trip).
- National Parks Nearby
- Praslin National Park (Encompassing Vallée de Mai).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The hike from Anse Lazio to Anse Georgette (moderate difficulty).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Zimbabwe Viewpoint (highest point on the island) for panoramic ocean views.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Vallée de Mai for the rare Seychelles Black Parrot.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Generally discouraged; permitted only with hotel supervision on private beaches.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Seychelles Post (Baie Ste Anne); DHL (Mahé based, local pickup).
- Tech Repair Services
- None specialized; must go to Victoria, Mahé for Apple/PC repair.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Common in guest houses like Berjaya Praslin Resort.
- Language Classes
- Private Seychellois Creole tutors found via local community boards.
- Libraries & Study Spots
- National Library branch in Grand Anse (Very small).
- Community Centers
- Grand Anse Community Centre.
- Gaming Lounges
- None available.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino des Iles (Cote d'Or).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $260,000) - Note: Foreigners need Sanction Board approval.
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,800 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $192,000).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $6,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $360,000).
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,500 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $270,000).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $440,000).
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $4,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $320,000).
- Corporate Tax
- 15% on first 1M SCR, 25% on remainder.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 15% (for non-residents).
- Tax System
- Territorial tax system (only income derived from Seychelles is taxed).
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (for income over 10,000 SCR/month).
- VAT
- 15% (Value Added Tax).
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No.
- Property Tax
- 0.25% of the market value of the property for foreigners.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty (5%) + Sanction fee for foreigners (variable, approx 11%).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Seychelles Workcation Visa offers 0% local tax on foreign-sourced income.
Essentials
- City
- Praslin, Seychelles (Inner Islands)
- Population
- Approximately 9,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 40-60 Mbps on fiber; 4G speeds vary by location.
- Currency & Banking
- Seychellois Rupee (SCR). 1 USD ≈ 14.20 SCR, 1 EUR ≈ 15.50 SCR.
- Tap Water
- Technically safe but highly chlorinated; locals and expats prefer bottled or filtered water.
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK standard) sockets.
- SIM Card
- Cable & Wireless or Airtel. Pre-paid data approx. 500 SCR ($35) for 10GB.
- Banking for Expats
- MCB (Mauritius Commercial Bank) and Absa. Cards widely accepted in hotels; cash needed for small shops.
- Accommodation
- Self-catering guesthouses and luxury resorts (e.g., Constance Lemuria).
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate. Credit cards used in hotels/restaurants; cash required for buses and fish markets.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Booking.com; expect $100–$250/night for quality self-catering.
- Budget Accommodation
- Rosemary's Guesthouse at Anse Volbert (approx. $90/night).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Anse Volbert (Cote d'Or) for beach access and dining.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Grand Anse for proximity to the airport, shops, and more reliable utilities.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- None (dedicated). Most nomads use 'The Workspace' at high-end resorts like Raffles by request.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Village Take Away & Café (Anse Volbert); reliable Wi-Fi and quiet mornings.
- Networking Events
- Informal gatherings at Chill Out Bar; no formal tech/nomad meetups.
- Social Events for Expats
- Seychelles Residents & Expats Facebook Group; Friday night drinks at Cote d'Or.