Usual opening hours
Opening hours in the Seychelles are generally Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
Most government offices and businesses are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Shops tend to follow the daylight and keep their hours more loosely than in central Europe. Individual businesses differ, especially outside Victoria.
| Facilities | Usual Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Government Offices and Offices | Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00 | Sometimes lunch break from 12 to 13:00 |
| Banks in Victoria | Mon–Fri approx. 8:30–14:30 | Branches outside the capital usually open shorter hours, Saturdays only sometimes in the morning |
| Post Office (Victoria) | Mon–Fri approx. 8:00–15:30 | Closed Sunday, smaller post offices may differ |
| Shops | Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00 | Saturday usually only in the morning |
| Supermarkets | Mon–Sat, weekdays usually until approx. 17:00 | Often closed on Sundays and public holidays |
| Market in Victoria | Mon–Fri from early morning until approx. 16:00 | Saturday morning, closed Sunday |
| Small shops in villages and near hotels | Often until the evening, sometimes until approx. 21:00 | Often also open on Saturday afternoons and Sundays |
Praslin and La Digue
On Praslin there are bank branches in Baie Sainte Anne and Grand Anse, and on La Digue along the waterfront. You will find cash machines at the main banks on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. If you are heading off the beaten track, take enough cash with you. You can find more on exchange rates and ways to pay under Money & Banks.
Public holidays
On public holidays, government offices, banks and most shops stay closed. According to the Central Bank, if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is also a day off. The government sets the holidays by order each year, so individual days may differ. Dates that were listed up to 2021, such as Liberation Day on 5 June, no longer appear in the Central Bank's current list.
The religious holidays include Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Monday, Corpus Christi, the Assumption, All Saints' Day, the Immaculate Conception and Christmas. Easter Sunday falls on a Sunday anyway.
| Public Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 1 and 2 January | 1 and 2 January |
| Good Friday | 3 April | 26 March |
| Holy Saturday | 4 April | 27 March |
| Easter Monday | 6 April | 29 March |
| Labour Day | 1 May | 1 May |
| Corpus Christi | 4 June | 27 May |
| Constitution Day (National Day) | 18 June | 18 June |
| Independence Day | 29 June, in 2026 additionally 30 June (50 years of independence) | 29 June |
| Assumption of Mary | 15 August | 15 August, substitute day 16 August |
| All Saints' Day | 1 November, substitute day 2 November | 1 November |
| Immaculate Conception | 8 December | 8 December |
| Christmas | 25 December | 25 December |
For 2026, 1 February (Abolition of Slavery Day) was additionally declared a public holiday by order. Whether this day will be a day off again in 2027 will only be known once the relevant order is issued. The 2027 dates come from a holiday overview and have not yet been officially confirmed.
Planning practically
If you are self-catering, you will find advice under Self-catering. If you arrive or depart on a public holiday, it is worth looking at the airport transfer page and the travel checklist. According to older travel information, the exchange counters at the airport are open when international flights arrive, including at weekends. If needed, check this before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Are shops open on Sundays?
Large supermarkets mostly are not. But many small shops and stores near hotels are open for at least a few hours, often in the morning.
Are banks open on Saturdays?
Some branches in Victoria have so far opened on Saturday mornings. Given the current notices from individual banks, you should ask beforehand.
What happens if a public holiday falls on a Sunday?
According to the Central Bank, the Monday is then also a day off, as with All Saints' Day in 2026, for example.
Are restaurants and excursion providers open on public holidays?
That depends on the business. Hotel restaurants and tourism providers are often working on public holidays too, while small eateries sometimes close. Ask in advance and book, for example for boat trips or a meal out (restaurant recommendations).
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