Aapravasi Ghat
A UNESCO-listed site by Port Louis harbour where indentured workers from India first landed in the 1800s. Stone steps, old buildings and a small interpretation centre tell the story.
Port Louis
In the capital are the UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat, the Caudan Waterfront and a central market that is busy.
Attractive locations
Blue Penny Museum
Small museum on the Port Louis waterfront devoted to the history of Mauritius, with a focus on its famous early postage stamps. Maps, paintings and period objects add to the story.
St. Louis Cathedral
The main Roman Catholic cathedral of Mauritius, standing in the centre of Port Louis. Its simple white interior and rebuilt tower give it a quiet feel. Visitors are asked to dress modestly.
Jummah Mosque
Large, ornate mosque in the heart of the old city, built by the Muslim community in the nineteenth century. Visitors dress modestly and remove shoes, and entry may be limited at prayer times.
Citadelle (Fort Adelaide)
Stone fort on a hill above the city, built by the British in the early nineteenth century. Walking around the walls gives views over the harbour, the old centre and the surrounding mountains.
Natural History Museum, Port Louis
Museum with displays on the wildlife of Mauritius, including a well-known skeleton and model of the extinct dodo. A short visit helps explain the island's unusual animals and plants.
Caudan Waterfront
A harbourfront area in Port Louis with shops, cafes and museums beside the old docks. It is a pleasant place to walk by the water, and the Blue Penny Museum is here.
Airports
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport MRU
It is about 36 km in a straight line from Port Louis.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Mauritius page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan27.2 °C128 mm
- Feb27.6 °C116 mm
- Mar27.3 °C122 mm
- Apr26.6 °C67 mm
- May25.3 °C41 mm
- Jun23.9 °C29 mm
- Jul23.0 °C26 mm
- Aug22.8 °C21 mm
- Sep23.0 °C24 mm
- Oct23.8 °C29 mm
- Nov25.0 °C29 mm
- Dec26.4 °C44 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Mar.
Costs
Prices here are about 39% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
culture
Independence Day (12 March)
The nation marks the day with celebrations.
Who can help
Emergency
999 for police, ambulance and fire (112 also works).
local government
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA)
Helps with: Mauritius' tourism promotion authority. Contact its Port Louis head office for visitor information. Its page also lists offices at the airport and on Rodrigues.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Mauritius or planning a trip there.
Phone: +230 203 1900
Email: [email protected]
Address: 4-5th Floor, Victoria House, St Louis Street, Port Louis 11302, Republic of Mauritius
local government
Mauritius Police Force
Helps with: The national police force. Its website lists 999 as the emergency line and shows a Tourism Police unit, for which it gives no separate contact details.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Mauritius, including visitors, who needs the police.
Phone: 999
ngo
Mauritius Red Cross Society
Helps with: The national Red Cross society of Mauritius. Phone its head office on weekdays, 8h30 to 17h00 according to its website, for its humanitarian services and information.
Who qualifies: People in Mauritius who need its humanitarian or first aid services.
Phone: +230 670 0276
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Mauritius
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Mauritius it supports the government on migration, counter-trafficking referral systems, return and reintegration, and ethical recruitment.
Who qualifies: Migrants, returnees and people at risk of trafficking. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +230 2104250
Email: [email protected]
Address: 12th Floor, Atalian Tower, 57 Labourdonnais Street, Port Louis, Mauritius