Caudan Waterfront
Ideal for: first visit, couples
The renovated waterfront: shops, restaurants and hotels by the harbour.
Port Louis
The lively capital of Mauritius, with its port, central market and waterfront.
Plan your stay in Port Louis
Best areas to stay in Port Louis
City centre and market
Ideal for: culture, local life
The central market, Chinatown and colonial buildings, best seen by day.
Practical info about Port Louis
Port Louis is mainly a city to explore by day: most travellers stay on the coast and come here on a day trip. It is the island’s liveliest city, blending Indian, African, Chinese and European cultures.
What to see in Port Louis
- The central market, its fruit, spices and street food stalls;
- the Caudan Waterfront and the seafront;
- Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where indentured labourers arrived;
- Chinatown and its small restaurants;
- Fort Adelaide, for views over the city and the port;
- the Pamplemousses botanical garden, to the north, on a day trip.
Getting to Port Louis
The international airport is in the south-east of the island: allow about an hour’s drive to Port Louis depending on traffic, which is very heavy at rush hour. The Metro Express (light rail) links Port Louis with the towns of the central plateau.
All our tips for the island in Travel in Mauritius.