Planning Two Days in Port Louis
Two days is the right length for most visitors to the capital. Port Louis has a handful of strong sights and no beaches, so longer trips to Mauritius usually divide time between here and a coast.
What fills the first day
The first day covers the harbour and the old centre.
- Begin at the Central Market while stalls are fresh, then wander through Chinatown.
- Visit Aapravasi Ghat on Quay Street. This UNESCO site marks where indentured labourers from India arrived from 1834, and visits call for a quiet manner. Check the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund for current hours. The Intercontinental Slavery Museum is on the same street, and it is wise to check opening hours and any fee before you go.
- Spend the afternoon at Le Caudan Waterfront. The Blue Penny Museum closes at 16:00, and Odysseo Oceanarium closes at 17:00 with last entry at 16:15.
- Eat dinner on the waterfront, where restaurants and the cinema stay open after the rest of the city has closed.
What fills the second day
Head north to Pamplemousses, 15 to 25 minutes away by taxi or car. The SSR Botanical Garden is open about 08:30 to 17:30 daily. L’Aventure du Sucre sits beside it and shuts on Sundays. Between them you have giant water lilies, tortoises and a sugar museum with tastings. A bus to the north leaves from the northern bus station at Immigration Square.
If you have a Sunday
Most of the centre goes quiet on Sunday, and both the Blue Penny Museum and the sugar museum are closed. Caudan Waterfront is the exception. The racing season at Champ de Mars runs from 25 April to about late November and some meetings fall on a Sunday, so check the Mauritius Turf Club calendar.
Sleeping elsewhere
Beach stays belong on the coasts.
| Coast | Places to look at |
|---|---|
| North | Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches |
| West | Flic en Flac, Le Morne |
| East | Belle Mare |
Le Morne is a UNESCO site, a place of memory for escaped slaves, roughly 50 km and one to 1.5 hours from the capital. Count it as its own trip.
Safety and weather
- Outside Caudan, evenings are quiet. Government advice is to avoid poorly lit areas, especially the backstreets of the business district, so travel by taxi after dark.
- Cyclones can hit between about November and May. You cannot leave your lodging during a cyclone, so keep a spare day.
- Read the latest official travel advisory before departure, and steer clear of demonstrations.
Moving around
Metro Express trains run from Port-Louis Victoria to Curepipe every day from 06:00 to 19:00. A MECard costs Rs 150 and includes Rs 100 in credit. Taxis are best for short hops.
Read more: Short trips beyond the city and City sights and landmarks .
Rooms in the capital and on the coasts can be searched on Booking.com . Full details: Blue Penny Museum , Odysseo and Metro Express .