You’ve probably seen the photos of Mauritius: white sand, turquoise lagoons, and luxury villas that look like they were pulled from a dream. But when you step off the plane and drive into Port Louis, you realize very quickly that the capital isn’t interested in being a postcard. It’s a loud, humid, lived-in city that feels more like a crossroads of the world than a resort town.
In 2026, Port Louis is undergoing a bit of a transformation. It’s trying to balance its colonial history with a new tech-heavy future, but if you look past the glass buildings, you find the same soul that’s been there for centuries. It’s the smell of fried spices in the market, the sound of the light rail humming across the city, and the sight of grand stone buildings that have survived countless cyclones.
If you want to understand what makes this island tick beyond the beach, you have to spend some time here.
Getting the Logistics Out of the Way in Port Louis
Most people arrive at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, which is about 45 kilometers from the city. In Mauritius, that 45 kilometers can take forty minutes or two hours depending on the time of day.
Sorting Your Flight Air travel is always the biggest chunk of the budget. I usually check Kiwi.com first. They have a clever algorithm for finding routes that include different airlines, which is perfect for an island destination where direct flights can be rare.
2026 Note: If you happen to be visiting between January 21 and February 28, 2026, you can use the code KIWI20TPWINTER for a €20 discount on bookings over €270. It’s a nice little bonus that pays for a high-end dinner in the city.
If you want to double-check prices, Mytrip or Flight Network are reliable backups to ensure you aren’t overpaying.
Staying Connected As soon as you land, you’re going to want maps. Instead of standing in line at a booth and filling out forms for a local SIM, I just use Airalo. You set up an eSIM before you leave home, and the second the plane wheels touch the ground, you have 5G. It’s the easiest way to navigate the “Victoria Urban Terminal” and find your way to your accommodation.
The Soul of the City: Where to Walk in Port Louis
Port Louis is a city that wakes up early and goes to bed early. By 5:00 PM, the office workers are heading home, and the streets start to feel very different.
The Caudan Waterfront
This is the “tourist” side of the city, but it’s actually a great place to start. It’s a pedestrian-friendly promenade that feels breezy even when the rest of the city is sweltering.
- The Blue Penny Museum: It sounds like a boring stamp museum, but it’s actually the best place to understand the island’s history. They have two of the most valuable stamps in existence, and they only light them up for a few minutes every hour to protect them.
- The Craft Market: If you want local woven baskets or vanilla, this is a more “polite” place to shop than the Central Market.
The Central Market (Bazaar)
This is the real heart of Port Louis. It’s a massive, multi-level building where you can buy everything from fresh tuna to herbal remedies that claim to cure everything from a cold to a broken heart. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and you will definitely be asked to buy something.
- Bargaining: If you’re buying fruit or food, the price is the price. If you’re buying a souvenir, you’re expected to haggle a bit. Just keep it friendly—the vendors have been doing this a long time.
Chinatown
Walking into Chinatown is like stepping into a different era. Look for the red lanterns and the massive gates. It’s one of the oldest Chinatowns in the world, and in 2026, it’s become a hub for street art. Every alleyway seems to have a new mural or a hidden shop selling traditional Chinese medicine.
The Food: Don’t Eat Indoors
You don’t go to Port Louis for fancy dining; you go for the street food. It’s a mix of Indian, Chinese, French, and African influences that you won’t find anywhere else.
- Dholl Puri: You’ll see lines of locals standing at street corners. Join them. A Dholl Puri is a thin pancake made of ground split peas, stuffed with bean curry, rougaille (a spicy tomato sauce), and chutney. It’s warm, soft, and costs almost nothing.
- Alouda: You’ll see big glass tanks filled with pink or green milk. This is Alouda—a cold drink with basil seeds and agar-agar jelly. It’s the only way to survive the humidity of the market.
- Boulettes: These are Mauritian dumplings. They come in a clear broth and are usually made from chayote (a local squash), fish, or meat. It’s the perfect light lunch.
Moving Around the Island
Port Louis is great for walking, but if you want to see the rest of Mauritius, you need to know how to get around.
The Metro Express The new light rail system is a game-changer. It connects Port Louis to the central towns like Rose Hill and Curepipe. It’s clean, has air conditioning, and lets you see the landscape without being stuck in the legendary traffic jams of the capital.
Renting Your Own Wheels If you want to head to the wilder south or the northern beaches, you’ll want a car. I recommend GetRentacar.com. It’s a peer-to-peer site where you rent from local owners. You can often find a much better deal than the big international agencies, and it’s a bit more personal. Just remember: in Mauritius, we drive on the left!
Practical Prep for Travelers
It’s worth noting that the logistics of money and safety are pretty straightforward, but a little prep goes a long way.
Cards and Cash Mauritius is mostly a cash society when it comes to markets and street food. But for hotels and renting a car, you’ll want a card with decent international benefits.
- Banking: Many travelers from India use the IndusInd Tiger Credit Card or certain SBI Credit Cards. The biggest win here isn’t just the exchange rate; it’s the airport lounge access. If you have a layover in Chennai or Mumbai, that lounge is where you’ll want to be.
Staying Safe (The Non-Salesy Section) Mauritius is safe, but things still happen. A scraped knee on a hike or a stomach bug from too much chilli shouldn’t ruin your trip.
- For Indians: If you’re from India and an Acko user for your car or Acko Bike insurance back home, check their app for international travel extensions. It’s usually a quick add-on. ICICI Lombard is also a great option.
- International: For a purely international option, AURAS Travel Insurance is straightforward and easy to understand.
Flight Problems? If your flight is delayed or your baggage disappears after a connection, don’t waste your vacation time arguing with the airline. AirAdvisor is a tool that handles baggage claims and flight delay compensation for you. They take a fee from the payout, but they do all the legal heavy lifting.
Capturing the City
Port Louis is incredibly photogenic in a “shabby-chic” way. The light hitting the old stone of the Port is beautiful.
If you want to brush up on your photography before you go, Skillshare has some great 1-hour classes on “Mobile Photography.” Once you have all your footage, Wondershare is probably the easiest way to edit your clips into a travel reel for your family without needing to be a pro.
If you’re coming from the UK and want everything handled in one go, Lastminute UK often has “Port Louis + Beach” bundles that take the stress out of booking.
A Simple 4-Day Plan
- Day 1: The Historical Walk. * Start at the Waterfront. Visit the Blue Penny Museum. Walk to the Aapravasi Ghat (where the first indentured laborers landed). It’s a UNESCO site and very moving. Sunset at Fort Adelaide.
- Day 2: The Markets. * Head to the Central Market early. Eat dhal puri. Wander into Chinatown and see the street art. Have dinner at one of the small family-run Chinese spots.
- Day 3: The Green Escape. * Rent a car from GetRentacar and drive 20 minutes to the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden. It’s world-famous for its giant water lilies. On the way back, stop at a local bakery for some Gateau Piment.
- Day 4: The Coast. * Take the Metro Express to Rose Hill for some local shopping, then head to the coast for a swim at Flic-en-Flac.
Port Louis Cheat Sheet
| Category | Advice / Link |
| Flights | Kiwi.com (Use KIWI20TPWINTER) |
| Internet | Airalo eSIM |
| Driving | GetRentacar.com (Local rentals) |
| Insurance | ICICI Lombard or AURAS |
| Money | IndusInd Tiger Card or SBI Cards |
| Compensation | AirAdvisor (Baggage/Delays) |
Port Louis is a city that grows on you. It’s not about ticking off boxes; it’s about the feeling of being in a place where half the world has met. If you give it more than a couple of hours, you’ll find that it’s the most interesting part of the island.
