Today, it’s all about the best sights in Port Louis. Sun, beach, and palm trees? That certainly sounds like a relaxing holiday in Mauritius under the tropical sun. But besides all the beautiful squares, beaches, and bays by the sea, Mauritius has much more to offer. Port Louis is the capital and cultural center of the island.

Perhaps you’ve already seen the photo of the colorful umbrellas or the bustling markets? There is a lot to discover in the capital and that is exactly why you should take at least a day to explore the various highlights in Port Louis.

What else you should know:

  • What else you should know:
  • Sights in Port Louis
  • 1. Caudan Waterfront (harbor district)
  • 2. Craft Market
  • 3. Blue Penny Museum
  • 4. Central Market
  • 5. Champ de Mars Racecourse
  • 6. Pieter Both Hill & Le Pouce Hill
  • 7. Citadelle, Fort Adelaide
  • 8. Little Chinatown
  • 9. Kailassam Temple
  • 10. Mauritius Postal Museum
  • Excursion: Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
  • Activities & Excursions
  • Little Mauritius FAQ

Sights in Port Louis

The island’s capital, Port Louis, has a lot to offer and awaits you with a variety of sights. Whether museums, galleries, markets, promenades, or shops – you can spend a full day in Port Louis without getting bored. Immerse yourself in this bustling and colorful city, immerse yourself in the culture, and observe the hustle and bustle in the streets. We’ve marked the most important spots on the map.

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1. Caudan Waterfront (Harbor District)

The harbor district in Port Louis (Caudan Waterfront) invites visitors every day to stroll along the promenade. Here, you can enjoy the day in a café (Bolle and Marco enjoyed the Ilot Café) or a restaurant, watch the ships in the harbor, and simply relax. Be sure to visit the so-called “Umbrella Square.” Countless colorful umbrellas hang over the street and offer a great photo opportunity.

The more than 170 shops have practically everything your heart desires and invite you to shop. Popular among them are the Craft Market and the small Caudan Waterfront shopping center, where you can buy lovely souvenirs for your loved ones. The harbor is also an important shipping port for sugar, as the island is also known for its sugar cane plantations. From here, the sugar is shipped all over the world.

Sights in Port Louis Umbrella Square Umbrellas

2. Craft Market

If you’re visiting the Caudan Waterfront, you should also plan a quick visit to the Craft Market. On the upper floor, you’ll find authentic handicrafts, great, high-quality souvenirs, and beautiful handmade mementos of your vacation in Mauritius.

You can watch the artists at work, creating wooden figures or unique paintings. The Craft Market is much quieter than the Central Market. Naturally, prices are higher here than in small shops on the city streets.

3. Blue Penny Museum

Another highlight and attraction in Port Louis is the famous Blue Penny Museum. Here you can admire the famous “Blue Penny” stamp, which was printed in 1847 for a masked ball in the Government Palace. What’s special, however, is that only about 500 copies were printed at the time. Today, only five of these stamps remain, and each is worth over €600,000.

The “Blue Mauritius” has a long story to tell and is one of the most special sights in Port Louis. In the museum, you can see the special stamps for 10 minutes every 60 minutes (starting at 10:30 am). After that, only reprints are shown.

Admission is currently 245 MUR (approximately €4.89) per person (children receive a discount). The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. The museum is closed on Sundays and public holidays.

Sights in Port Louis Blue Penny Museum Caudan Waterfront

4. Central Market

Colorful chaos, exotic smells, and fine taste experiences await you at the Central Market in Port Louis. The hustle and bustle may seem a bit chaotic at first glance, but there’s plenty to discover. Three of the four market halls sell exclusively food. In the upper part, you can shop for textiles, handicrafts, and souvenirs.

Exotic fruit and vegetables are stacked everywhere; you don’t know where to look first. The Central Market resembles a typical bazaar and offers tourists the chance to experience the chaotic hustle and bustle. Bargaining is permitted and part of the experience here. So go ahead and try your luck.

Sights in Port Louis Central Market Shopping Market

5. Champ de Mars Racecourse

You should at least take a look at the Champ de Mars Racecourse. Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in Mauritius, and more than 30,000 visitors usually flock to the stadium on each race day. The racing season runs from March to October.

This season, around 60 horses compete in various races over varying distances each day. If you’re in Port Louis, you should definitely see the race days for yourself and get swept away by the atmosphere. More information can be found here: www.mauritiusturfclub.com

Port-Louis-Sehenswuerdigkeiten-Pferderennbahn-Champ-de-Mars

6. Pieter Both Berg & Le Pouce Berg

Port Louis has a lot to offer in terms of nature, in addition to some of the city’s attractions. Right next to the island’s capital rise two beautiful mountains, perfect for a hike or simply a break in nature. At 812 meters, Le Pouce is the third-highest mountain in Mauritius.

The climb is only strenuous towards the end, but you should have a basic level of fitness. Its slightly larger brother, Pieter Both, is not far away and only towers above Le Pouce by a few meters. Its summit, at 823 meters, is reserved for climbers only.

The climb to below the sphere on Pieter Both is also considerably more strenuous and should not be underestimated, especially given the high temperatures in Mauritius. Despite all the effort, I think a hike up either of these mountains should definitely be on your to-do list.

Sights in Port Louis, view from Le Pouce, Mauritius

7. Citadelle, Fort Adelaide

Would you like even more sights in Port Louis? Perched on a hill above the capital, Port Louis, is a small fortress, the Citadelle “Fort Adelaide”. It was built in the 16th century and served as a fortress to withstand attacks by the French. The cannons you see there were used to defend the island. Entrance is free, and the view over Port Louis is truly magnificent.

Sights in Port Louis Fort Adelaide Fortress

8. Little Chinatown

Like many capital cities around the world, Port Louis also has a district called Chinatown. A bustling street with food stalls, an Asian flair, waving golden cat statues, and small shops where you can find not only the essentials but also a lot of unnecessary junk.

Chinatown is also home to the beautiful Jummah Mosque, which you can visit any time in the morning. Simply register with the gatekeeper and go in. So if, in addition to African sun, colorful umbrellas, and delicious fish, you also feel a little Asian, then off you go to Chinatown.

9. Kailassam Temple

Just outside the capital is the flamboyant and colorful Kailassam Temple. The entire building is very bright and vibrant. Here you have the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating world of Hindu gods. Everywhere you see figures, larger-than-life statues of gods, and decorated walls. You have to take off your shoes at the gate before you can enter the temple complex.

Sights in Port Louis: The Kailassam Temple

10. Mauritius Postal Museum

Not far from the Blue Penny Museum, very close to the harbor, is the Postal Museum of Mauritius. This old 18th-century building is said to have once housed a hospital. Today, visitors can admire a collection of old and new stamps or purchase a copy of the famous Blue Penny as a souvenir.

The shop also sells other items, such as T-shirts featuring the famous stamp. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., and on Saturdays and public holidays from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission is currently 150 MUR (approx. €3), with reduced rates for children.

Sights in Port Louis Caudan Waterfront

Excursion: Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

The Pamplemousses Botanical Garden is also a highlight. The Pamplemousses Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world and a colorful natural beauty, especially in the spring months of October and November. The garden was once intended solely for growing vegetables, until a shrewd businessman began using it to cultivate many wonderful spices.

Today, the garden is home to giant water lilies, 80 different palm species, and a total of more than 800 plant varieties. A perfect place to learn more about the flora and fauna of Mauritius and to unwind in nature.

Sights in Port Louis Pamplemousses Botanical Garden

Activities & Excursions

Day Tour Port Louis*
from 57 € per person

Experience the beautiful Caudan Waterfront, visit the popular Central Market and then visit the Botanical Garden and the beautiful Cap Malheureux Church in the north of the island.

Port Louis & North*
from 80 € per person

See the highlights and important tourist attractions in the north of Mauritius on a private day tour. Stroll among the beautiful plants of the Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, go swimming at Mont Choisy, and much more.

Street Food Tour*
from €45 per person

Discover the different corners of the city and feast on the many delicacies of Port Louis. Experience the local culture, the local Mauritian street food, the many tastes and aromas.

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