Under $100: Victoria, Seychelles

The Seychelles is a collection of 115 islands located in the Indian Ocean. Victoria is its capital city, located on the north side of Mahé island. Serving as a base camp to the rest of the country, here’s how to experience Victoria in the day with 1360 Seychellois Rupees.

If you plan on venturing out of the city, Mahé can be seen by car in all but a few hours, and Victoria itself can be walked in a couple hours. Cheap taxis are a popular way of getting around, but non-residents will have to pay a rate of 20 rupees per kilometer, which can add up through the day. Hiring a driver for a day rate will be more cost effective, and many will offer to act as a tour guide for a negotiated price.

Coconut Milk at Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market © Industryandtravel | Dreamstime

For breakfast, the Sir Selwyn Selwyn-Clarke Market has vendors selling exotic star fruit, mangos and coconuts, in addition to some of the freshest seafood you’ll find, offering red snapper, mackerel, sharks and eagle rays for a cheap but delicious lunch, all for less than 100 rupees.

Nearby is the art gallery belonging to George Camille, the renowned local artist whose work reflects the culture and landscape of his home country. The Victoria gallery is the main space of his four locations around the Seychelles, housing canvases, embossed coppers and limited-edition prints that are available for purchase.

Before dinner, build up an appetite with a walk through the National Botanical Gardens, originally set up as an experimental garden more than 100 years ago during colonial times. The site was used to test new crop species, but has now been taken over as a park and biodiversity center to promote ecotourism.

The Clock Tower © 18042011e | Dreamstime

For an authentic creole dinner, finish your day at Marie Antoinette, an island favorite that specializes in seafood for around 400 rupees. Before heading out for drinks, be sure to take a picture with the Victoria Clocktower, a miniature model of the Vauxhall Clock Tower in London.