Port Louis

Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius, and with around 150,000 inhabitants the island nation's most populous city. Sitting in a bay surrounded by mountains, Port Louis is a lively and modern city also with charming districts from colonial times.

Understand
The city of Port-Louis has played a leading part in the struggle between the French and British occupation (1735-1935) and was considered during that period as "the star and the key of the Indian Ocean". There are many historical places and buildings to visit. It is also one of the best place to learn about and appreciate more the Mauritian cultures and traditions, and by far the best shopping destination on the island.

Still, overseas visitors to Port Louis are mostly businesspeople, as most tourists visiting Mauritius are more interested in the beaches and nature elsewhere on the island. In a way, this is true for the locals too, as people from the city relocate to the hills outside the city. On the upside, this means that the city is not overly touristy, and except for the traffic jams at rush hours Port Louis retains a small-town feel.

Port Louis, together with the rest of Mauritius, was part of the British Empire from the Napoleonic Wars to the country's independence in 1968. Still, old Port Louis is a "French" city as the British didn't change much in the city built by the French colonisers. In fact, when the British had conquered the island they even left the administration in the hands of the French inhabitants that remained. Sidewalk decorations, parks and many buildings are remnants from the French era.

One of the main attractions, the Aapravasi Ghat, is mainly from the British era, though. This now-ruined complex is where Indian indentured labourers entered Mauritius in the 19th century (a bit like the Ellis Island outside New York). More than 70% of Mauritians nowadays have Indian ancestry, meaning this is a really important site in the history of the island.

By plane
(or simply International Airport), just southwest of Mahebourg, is the main point of entry to Mauritius. There are flights from major airports in Europe, eastern and southern Africa, the Middle East, and South, East and Southeast Asia.

From there, you have three options to reach Port Louis; by rental car, taxi (MUR 1800) or bus (route 198). If you drive yourself, head north-west and follow the signs for "Port-Louis". Port Louis is at the opposite side of the island, about two hours' drive away.

By bus


There are two bus stations in the city. Buses to and from cities to the north and east, such as Trou aux Biches, Grand Baie and Pamplemousses stop at the, northeast of the central market. Buses from cities to the south and west, such as Mahébourg, Curepipe and Quatre Bornes use the in the south of the city.

There aren't really any schedules, but buses depart and arrive quite frequently and you'll rarely need to wait for more than 15-20 minutes. Usually the first buses depart at 6 AM, and the last at 6 PM, city buses do run until 8 PM, though. Depending on the distance, an intercity bus ticket costs about MUR 15-30 (as of 2020) - express buses and buses with AC are more expensive, however.

Here is a list of the island's bus lines.

By boat
The harbour is mostly for freight, but the ships of Mauritius Shipping Corporation take passengers from Madagascar and Réunion.

By foot
The city sprawls more than 8 km across but the main attractions are within walking distance.

By light rail


Since 2020, Port Louis has a small light rail network named Metro Express, that connects suburbs to the city. The service opeates daily from 6 AM to 10 PM in intervals of mostly 12-15 minutes.

By bus
Intercity buses from the both bus stations to other parts of the island have some stops elsewhere in Port Louis. See the link in Get in by bus above for routes and schedules.

By taxi
Taxi rides within the city normally costs MUR 10-50, a bit more during nighttime. Avoid taxis during rush hours in the morning and afternoon.

By car
Driving is not the best way of getting around as traffic can be a little chaotic. If you arrive into Port Louis from elsewhere by car, park it at the marina or at your hotel. Street side parking is allowed for two hours ar most.

Renting a car can however be a good idea for trips to other parts of Mauritius. Car rental in Port Louis is a straightforward process, with many international companies like Hertz and Europcar available in the capital.

See
































Do
Visit the Caudan Waterfront, a meeting place for teenagers and young lovers, which comprises a shopping centre, kiddyland and a huge food court catering for all tastes.









Buy
Port Louis is famous in Mauritius for the low price of clothes sold there. Imported from China or India, or made locally, the articles sold in Port Louis really offer value for money. You can easily get something of your choice from the numerous hawkers found all along the streets in the city.

The Caudan waterfront (mentioned in See above) has a range of boutiques and a crafts market with handicraft made by Mauritian artisans that can be excellent souvenirs.

And if you want to have a glimpse of Mauritian life, go to the Port-Louis Market where varieties of exotic food, fruits and other items are sold. There you will meet Mauritians from all over the country who have come for shopping.







Eat


Mauritian food is a mouthwatering menagerie of international flavours, with delicious Creole curries, cuisines from all over Africa, Southeast Asia and India, and an abundance of fresh seafood that has never been frozen or shipped on an airplane. Popular snacks include samosas and gâteaux piments ("pepper cakes"). China Town where you will find Chinese shops and restaurants, though this is mostly an option for lunch as most places there close in the evening.

Budget

 * There are fruit and snacks stalls at the market (see Buy above).





Mid-range








Splurge






Drink
Mauritian drinks include Phoenix Pale Ale, locally called spider beer (almost certainly because the feathers of the black phoenix bird in the logo looks like the legs of a spider). Many brands of cane rum is produced on the island, and its commonly drunk with cola and ice.





Budget




Mid-range




Splurge






Stay safe
Crime rates have fallen over the years. Plus, there are police presence and camera surveillance at places with many tourists. Still there are some unsafe spots in town, such as the Citadel.

Embassies and consulates

 * 🇨🇦 Canada
 * 🇪🇬 Egypt
 * 🇬🇷 Greece
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 🇺🇸 United States

Go next
The capital is the transport hub for Mauritius and you can easily explore the island from here by bus or rental car. Nearby attractions however include:


 * Casela Nature & Leisure Park (Flic en Flac) - About a half an hour from the capital, it's a park of 10 hectares which is home to 1500 birds, turtles, tigers, monkeys and other animals. It's a popular destination for families.




 * Mauritius Aquarium (Pointe aux Piments) - home to 200 species of fish, invertebrates, live corals and sea sponges, all native to the ocean around Mauritius.


 * Domaine Les Pailles - A natural park and cultural center with something for visitors of all ages from pony riding to mountain safaris. The park has four restaurants.


 * Go to one of the beaches north of the capital such as Trou aux Biches beach to the north surrounded by cassuarinas, the 2 km long sand beach of Mont Choisy and Péreybère, a small beach between Grand Baie and Cap Malheureux. Some beaches are also suitable for scuba diving, such as Flic en Flac beach on the west coast and Trou aux Biches.