What to expect at the museum
The National Museum of History was founded in 1964. It is responsible for acquiring, preserving and exhibiting historical artefacts for the public.
The displays illustrate the history of the Seychelles and include pieces such as the oldest map (drawn in 1517), the Stone of Possession and the world's smallest statue of Queen Victoria. There are also items of ethnographic interest that document the traditions and ways of life of earlier times.
The museum is housed in the colonial-era courthouse of 1885, which reopened in 2018 after extensive renovation. The tourist board gives the address as the former Supreme Court Building on Independence Avenue in Victoria. Incidentally, the map mentioned in Karl's description is listed there as the Portuguese Nautical Atlas of the Indian Ocean, dated 1519. Depending on the source, you will therefore find either 1517 or 1519.
A walk through the museum
The exhibition is spread over two floors: history mainly downstairs, Creole culture upstairs. The galleries range from early discovery and the Crown Colony through independence and the years since 1976 to state gifts and traditional Creole life. The Stone of Possession stands in the main room. The French set it up in 1756 to claim the islands, and settlement followed in 1770. A separate section deals with the era of slavery, when Africans and Malagasy people were brought to the islands against their will. If you want to read the texts in peace, allow plenty of time: there is almost more to read than to see, in French, English and in places Creole too. A museum shop is also part of the visit.
Getting there
The museum is in the middle of Victoria, just a few steps from the Victoria Clocktower. The capital is easy to explore on foot, so the museum fits comfortably into a walk with other stops.
By bus
All routes of the state bus company SPTC run through the bus station in Victoria, opposite the clock tower. From anywhere on Mahé you can therefore get here with one change at most. For current timetables and fares, check with SPTC itself, as they change fairly often. According to reports, larger luggage is not taken on the buses, so for airport transfers with suitcases a taxi is more practical.
By taxi or hire car
From the airport it is about 10 km and 15 to 20 minutes. From the south and the west coast, allow 45 to 60 minutes, and 20 to 30 minutes from Beau Vallon. If you have a hire car, it is best to park on the edge of town or in a side street and walk the last stretch.
Opening hours and admission
The times and prices once given on this page (Wednesday mornings only, SCR 15 for visitors) no longer apply. Since the reopening in 2018 the museum has been thoroughly modernised, and admission has risen considerably. Sources differ slightly on the hours, so here are the ranges:
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | Morning, about 9:30 to 12:00 or 12:30 |
| Tuesday to Friday | About 9:30 to 16:30, lunch break 12:00 to 13:00 |
| Saturday | Morning, about 9:30 to 12:30 (one source gives 14:00) |
| Sunday and public holidays | Closed |
| Visitor group | Admission (as of November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Non-residents, adults and children aged 12 and over | SCR 150 |
| Seychellois with ID, adults and children aged 12 and over | SCR 25 |
| Children under 11 | Free |
| Guided tour (according to the operator, additional) | SCR 60 |
Duration, best time and tips
Admission for non-residents is high and the exhibition is small. A visit is worthwhile above all if you want to understand settlement, slavery and everyday Creole life before you explore the islands. On a guided tour you will learn more than by reading the display boards alone.
Nearby
Right next door, by the main post office, is the Seychelles Natural History Museum with birds, marine life, tortoises and geology. According to visitor reports, the bust of Pierre Poivre and the Jubilee Fountain stand in the grounds and close by. You can read more under Pierre Poivre Statue and Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Fountain. For art, head to the Carrefour des Arts and Kenwyn House, a well-preserved 19th-century house. A tour of the town should also take in the Sir Selwyn-Clarke Market, the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens and the Seychelles National Archives.
