Mahé is the largest and most densely populated island in the Seychelles, and its beaches are very different from one another. There are long, lively bays with restaurants, water sports and car parks. There are small, sheltered coves with shallow water. And there are wild beaches with no fringing reef, well worth a walk or a few photographs, but not always suitable for swimming.
Which beach suits you depends above all on the time of year. The south-east trade wind blows roughly from May to September and brings waves and currents to the beaches that face it. In the other months, those same beaches are often calmer. You can read more under Best time to travel and Climate & weather. Most beaches on Mahé are freely accessible. For beaches in front of hotels, however, access may be regulated, so if in doubt, ask locally.
Below this text you will see the beaches of Mahé as cards, each with its own page on how to get there, swimming conditions and facilities. General information about the island can be found on the Mahé page. For an overview of the best-known beaches across the whole archipelago, see Dream beaches in the Seychelles.
