Port Louis, Mauritius: travel guide
Mauritius's harbour capital of markets, museums and old forts
Capital and largest city of Mauritius — harbourfront Caudan Waterfront, Central Market, Chinatown and the Champ de Mars racecourse.
About Port Louis
Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and its main harbour, a compact city set between the Indian Ocean and a ring of mountains. Most visitors come for a day from the coast, and it is easy to fill: Caudan Waterfront for shops and cafes beside the water, the Central Market for spices, textiles and street snacks, and Chinatown for another slice of the island's mixed heritage.
History sits close at hand. Aapravasi Ghat recalls the arrival of indentured labourers in the nineteenth century, Fort Adelaide looks down from its hill, and the Blue Penny Museum tells the story of the island's famous early stamps. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses is a short drive north.
Port Louis is a working city, best explored on a weekday morning. The cooler, drier months from May to November are the most comfortable time to visit.
- Country
- Mauritius
- Currency
- MUR
- Time zone
- Indian/Mauritius
- Nearest airport
- MRU
- Typical trip
- 1 day
Last updated
Top places to visit in Port Louis
Aapravasi Ghat
unesco-site · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
UNESCO World Heritage immigration depot where over 450,000 indentured labourers from India first set foot in Mauritius between 1849 and 1923 — the remains of the landing steps, hospital block and interpretation centre tell the story.
Champ de Mars Racecourse
racecourse · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The oldest horse-racing track in the southern hemisphere (1812), ringed by mountains in the heart of Port Louis; electric atmosphere on race Saturdays during the season.
Caudan Waterfront
waterfront-promenade · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Port Louis' harbourside leisure quarter — shops, craft market, casino, cinema, food court and the famous umbrella-canopy walkway, all set against the working harbour.
Jummah Mosque
mosque · 4.7 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Mauritius' most important mosque (1850s), an elegant blend of Indian, Creole and Islamic architecture with a famous carved teak door, on the edge of Chinatown.
Blue Penny Museum
history-museum · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Compact museum at the Caudan Waterfront holding two of the world's rarest stamps — the 1847 Blue Penny and Red Penny — plus fine maritime art and the original Paul & Virginie statue.
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden (Pamplemousses)
botanical-garden · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere (1770), famous for its pond of giant Victoria amazonica water lilies, talipot palms and spice trees — 11 km northeast of Port Louis.
Central Market (Bazar de Port-Louis)
city-market · 4.0 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The island's liveliest market since Victorian times — tropical fruit and vegetable stalls, herbal-tisane sellers, street food (dholl puri, alouda) and a souvenir floor upstairs.
Fort Adelaide (La Citadelle)
hilltop-fort · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Basalt hilltop fort built by the British in the 1830s, with the best panoramic view over Port Louis harbour, Champ de Mars racecourse and the Moka Range.
Natural History Museum & Mauritius Institute
natural-history · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
The country's oldest museum (1880) — home of the world-famous reconstructed dodo skeleton and galleries on the island's extinct and endemic wildlife.
Place d'Armes & Government House
colonial-avenue · 4.2 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The city's grand axis — a royal-palm avenue leading from the waterfront to the French-colonial Government House (1738), lined with statues including Mahé de Labourdonnais.
Le Pouce Mountain
mountain-hike · 4.7 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
The thumb-shaped 812 m peak behind Port Louis — a half-day hike through guava scrub to a summit with a 360° view of the city, Moka Range and the northern lagoon. Darwin climbed it in 1836.
Père Laval Shrine, Sainte-Croix
pilgrimage-shrine · 4.8 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Pilgrimage shrine of Blessed Jacques-Désiré Laval, the "Apostle of Mauritius" — pilgrims of all faiths visit his tomb at Sainte-Croix, especially around 9 September.
Things to do
- Port Louis Street Food & City Highlights Walking Tour Cultural · 3 h · from MUR 1,800 per person
- Port Louis Private City Sightseeing Tour Sightseeing · 6 h · from MUR 3,500 per person
- Aapravasi Ghat Guided Heritage Tour Heritage · 1 h · from MUR 500 per person
- Domaine Les Pailles Segway & Rum Distillery Tour Adventure · 2 h · from MUR 2,200 per person
- Pamplemousses Botanical Garden Guided Tour Nature · 1.5 h · from MUR 900 per person
Day trips and tours
- Port Louis Capital Heritage Walk 4 h · from MUR 1,200
Where to stay in Port Louis
- Caudan Waterfront about MUR 3,800 per night
Port Louis' most convenient tourist base — a redeveloped harbourfront with shopping, casino, restaurants and hotels, a short walk from Central Market and the main business district.
- Champ de Mars Area about MUR 2,200 per night
A quieter residential-edge base near the historic racecourse, within reach of the Natural History Museum and government quarter, better suited to those wanting some distance from the harbour bustle.
Hotels
- Labourdonnais Waterfront Hotel 5-star · MUR 10,500 to MUR 22,000 per night
- Le Suffren Hotel & Marina 4-star · MUR 6,000 to MUR 9,500 per night
- Cocotiers Hotel - Mauritius 3-star · MUR 2,000 to MUR 4,000 per night
Where to eat
- Le Capitaine Seafood, Mauritian · about MUR 825 per person
- Namaste Indian · about MUR 825 per person
- Yuzu Sino Fusion Chinese, Fusion · about MUR 825 per person
- Namasté Roadside Food Court (Bazaar street food) Street Food, Mauritian · about MUR 525 per person
- Le Saint Georges Restaurant French, Mauritian · about MUR 2,000 per person
- Chez Rita Mauritian, Creole · about MUR 525 per person
- Domaine Les Pailles restaurants area Mauritian, International · about MUR 825 per person
Getting to Port Louis
Airport: Port Louis (MRU)
How visitors arrive in Port Louis
- Road transfer from the airport By road from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Airport · common
The airport is the main point of entry to Mauritius and Port Louis is a drive away by taxi, rental car or bus. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Bus from elsewhere on the island By road from Other Mauritian towns · common
Buses from the north and east reach Immigration Square and those from the south and west reach Victoria Square. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Passenger ship from Réunion or Madagascar By ferry from Réunion and Madagascar · possible
The harbour is mainly for freight, with some passenger ships. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Public bus route 198 unconfirmed
Route 198 is listed for the airport. The guide's timetable link was dead and it does not say which Port Louis terminus is served, so check locally. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Airport taxi to Port Louis unconfirmed
Taxis are listed as an option from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport into the capital. Agree the fare before you set off. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Rental car, follow Port-Louis signs
Drive north-west and follow the Port-Louis signs. Street parking in the city is limited, so use your hotel or the marina car park. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Tram
Metro Express is the Mauritius light rail line, running from Port Louis through Rose Hill, Quatre Bornes and Vacoas to Curepipe.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Unofficial "Guide" Approaches at Central Market
Central Market (Bazar de Port-Louis) and Caudan Waterfront
Self-appointed "guides" approach tourists near the market entrance offering a free tour, then lead them to specific spice or souvenir stalls that pay a commission, with prices inflated well above what locals pay. At the end they pressure for a "tip" for the tour itself.
How to avoid it: Politely decline unsolicited guide offers. Shop directly with stallholders, compare a couple of stalls before buying, and agree spice/souvenir prices before the item is bagged.
Money-Changer Short-Changing
Informal currency changers around Port Louis market and waterfront streets
Individuals (not licensed bureaux de change) offer better-than-bank exchange rates on the street, then count out MUR notes quickly or use sleight-of-hand to hand over less than agreed.
How to avoid it: Only change money at licensed bank branches or bureaux de change (there are several around Port Louis and at the airport). Count received cash slowly before walking away.
Best time to visit Port Louis
- Jan 32°C
- Feb 31°C
- Mar 32°C
- Apr 31°C
- May 29°C
- Jun 28°C
- Jul 27°C
- Aug 27°C
- Sep 28°C
- Oct 29°C
- Nov 30°C
- Dec 31°C
More in Mauritius
Frequently asked questions about Port Louis
- How many days do you need in Port Louis?
- A typical trip to Port Louis is 1 day.
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Port Louis?
- The highest-rated places in our Port Louis guide are Père Laval Shrine, Sainte-Croix, Jummah Mosque, Le Pouce Mountain, Aapravasi Ghat, Caudan Waterfront.
- Where should I stay in Port Louis?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Port Louis: Caudan Waterfront, Champ de Mars Area.
- How do I get around Port Louis?
- Ways to get around Port Louis covered in our guide: Tram, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Port Louis?
- Scams reported to us for Port Louis include Unofficial "Guide" Approaches at Central Market; Money-Changer Short-Changing. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Port Louis?
- Average daytime highs in Port Louis run from 27°C in Jul to 32°C in Jan.
- Which airport is nearest to Port Louis?
- The nearest airport to Port Louis has the code MRU.