Cheap flights to Port Louis
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Quick summary
Country
Mauritius
Continent
Africa
Airport
MRU
Currency
Mauritian rupee (MUR)
Time zone
UTC+4 (no daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Port Louis
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Airport and getting into town
An airport at Plaisance in the south-east, on the far side from the capital
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (MRU)
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU), also known as Plaisance, is at Plaine Magnien in the south-east of the island, near Mahébourg. It is Mauritius's only international airport and the hub of Air Mauritius; it handled nearly 3.9 million passengers in 2019 (French Wikipedia). It is 48 km from Port Louis according to Wikipedia (EN, FR and ES); German Wikipedia says 30 km and German Wikivoyage about 50 km, with airport buses taking around 80 minutes. Wikivoyage (EN) offers three ways to reach the capital: rental car, taxi or bus.
Distances and times differ between sources (30 to 50 km; from under an hour to about two hours by road depending on traffic). Port Louis is on the opposite side of the island from the airport, so allow extra time, especially at rush hour, and check the trip before you go.
Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and its biggest city, with about 150,000 inhabitants (149,194 at the 2015 census according to French Wikipedia). It sits in a bay on the north-west of the island, sheltered from the trade winds by mountains. Wikivoyage (EN) notes that most tourists come to Mauritius for beaches and nature elsewhere on the island, so the capital is not overly touristy and keeps a small-town feel outside rush hour.
Port Louis, the beaches and the hotels
The beaches and most of the island's hotels are on the coast, not in the capital. The north (Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy, Péreybère), the west (Flic en Flac, Tamarin, Le Morne) and the east are separate beach destinations (our country sheet; Wikivoyage EN, ES). From the airport most visitors head straight for their own stretch of coast without going through Port Louis. Port Louis works as a base for a day of sightseeing and as a bus junction for getting to the beach.
Pamplemousses and the north
About 8 km north of the capital, the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden at Pamplemousses covers 37 hectares and got its current design from Pierre Poivre in 1770 (Wikivoyage EN). The beaches of the north, such as Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy and Péreybère, are easy to reach from Port Louis.
A sovereign country
Mauritius is an independent state, not French territory. Entry rules, including visa and an online arrival form, depend on your nationality: check the official sites before you book.
Landmarks
A basalt cathedral, a citadel, the Caudan and the Champ de Mars
Port Louis was long called 'the star and the key of the Indian Ocean' (Wikivoyage EN). The Dutch had set up Noordwester Haven here in 1638; the city was founded by the French and developed under Mahé de La Bourdonnais from 1735. The British, who ran the island from 1810 until independence in 1968, changed little: pavements, parks and many buildings date from the French era. The main sights can be covered on foot.
Saint Louis Cathedral
With its dark basalt facade with two towers and its fountain garden, the cathedral is one of the oldest Catholic places of worship on the island (Wikivoyage EN: a church has stood on this site since 1752). It stands in the middle of a busy centre on Sir William Newton Street, among courts and banks, and passers-by step in between errands. Visit early in the morning, outside rush hour.
The Citadel (Fort Adelaide)
Built between 1834 and 1840 on a hill at the foot of the Moka range, this basalt fortification is named after Queen Adelaide (French Wikipedia, Wikivoyage EN). It was used to watch for ships and for fires in the city. A half-hour walk from the centre, it offers a view over the whole capital. Wikivoyage (EN) warns that the place can be unsafe on your own, so go in daylight and with someone.
The Champ de Mars
The racecourse, founded in 1812, is considered one of the oldest in the world (the oldest in the southern hemisphere according to German Wikipedia); the island's independence was proclaimed here in 1968 (Wikivoyage EN). Races are held in season, usually on Saturdays, so check the calendar. To see the whole oval, climb to the Citadel, which looks down on it with the pointed mountains behind.
The Caudan Waterfront
The city's former docks have become a promenade quarter: shops, Mauritian crafts, a cinema, restaurants and a large food court around canals and arcades (French Wikipedia, Wikivoyage EN). The Blue Penny Museum is here, along with the postal museum. Colourful umbrellas hung above a walkway are its best-known image. In the evening the quarter is quiet and the rest of the city is empty.
The central market
Port Louis's bazaar brings together tropical fruit, snacks, spices, baskets and crafts; it is the cheapest food in the capital according to Wikivoyage (EN). As anywhere crowded, keep your belongings close. Cheap clothes from the city centre are known across the island.
Place d'Armes, Chinatown and the Jummah Mosque
The Place d'Armes, surrounded by French colonial buildings and modern towers, has statues of figures from the island's history. Chinatown, in the old town, gathers shops and restaurants, mostly open at lunchtime. The Jummah Mosque, built in the mid-19th century (1853 according to Wikivoyage EN), is a haven of peace in the heart of the city: respect the visiting rules.
The Company Garden
The former garden of the East India Company holds the Travellers' Lane, a cultural walk opened in August 2010 with texts by travellers of the Indian Ocean (French Wikipedia, Wikivoyage EN). The natural history museum is here.
Museums and culture
Aapravasi Ghat, rare stamps, natural history and theatre
Port Louis gathers most of Mauritius's cultural offer. The pointers below come from Wikipedia (FR, DE, ES) and Wikivoyage; we give no prices or opening times because they vary, so check them before you visit.
Aapravasi Ghat
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 12 July 2006, this was the landing place for Indian indentured workers from 1834 (French Wikipedia). Only the entrance gate, the hospital, the kitchens and a few buildings remain. More than 70% of Mauritians have Indian ancestry (French Wikipedia, Wikivoyage EN), which makes it a central place in the country's identity.
Blue Penny Museum
A private museum in the Caudan Waterfront, opened in 2001 according to French Wikipedia, it holds the Blue Penny and Red Penny stamps issued in 1847, among the rarest in the world, as well as the original statue of Paul and Virginie sculpted in 1881. Wikivoyage (EN) says the stamps are lit only at certain times.
Natural History Museum and nearby museums
In the Company Garden, the museum shows among other things the dodo, the bird that vanished from Mauritius (Wikivoyage EN). The city also has a photography museum, an Intercontinental Slavery Museum and a postal museum (French Wikipedia, Wikivoyage EN).
Theatre and temples
The Port Louis Theatre, built in 1822, hosts performances in French and Creole, jazz and classical music (Wikivoyage EN). Hindu temples, such as the Minakshi temple (1854 according to German Wikipedia), and the places of worship of every religion are part of the city's heritage.
Food and drink
Dhal puri, chilli cakes, biryani, fried noodles and alouda
Specialities
Mauritian cooking blends Chinese, Indian, African and French influences: dhal puri, biryani, fried noodles, rougail, Creole curries, fish and seafood, samosas and chilli cakes (Wikivoyage EN, our country sheet).
Markets and snacks
The central market bazaar offers snacks and fruit at low prices. In the Caudan Waterfront a food court serves every taste. Chinatown is best at lunchtime, as most places there close in the evening.
Drinks
Alouda, a cold drink of milk and basil seeds, is a speciality (Wikivoyage EN, our country sheet). Cane rum is often drunk with cola and ice. We do not recommend a specific address.
Going out
The Caudan district and the waterfront concentrate the cafés and bars; the city is often quieter in the evening, as many residents live in the hills.
Getting around
Bus stations, the Metro Express and driving on the left
On foot
The city sprawls over more than 8 km, but the main sights are within walking distance (Wikivoyage EN).
Bus stations and buses
The Gare du Nord (Immigration Square) serves the north and east; the Victoria station in the south serves the Plaines Wilhems, Grand Port, Savanne and Flacq (French Wikipedia, Wikivoyage EN). There are no real fixed timetables; buses leave frequently, generally from 6 am to 6 pm, later within the city. For the beach: buses from the Gare du Nord go to Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches or Pamplemousses; other directions leave from Victoria.
Metro Express
A light rail line has linked Port Louis with Rose Hill since January 2020 according to Wikipedia (EN, DE); French Wikipedia says 2019. It was extended to Curepipe in 2022. It does not serve the beaches, but it connects the towns of the plateau.
Taxi and rental car
Taxis in town are cheaper than a car at rush hour, which is best avoided (Wikivoyage EN). Traffic drives on the left. Driving in the capital is chaotic, so park at the hotel or the marina. A rental car, on the other hand, is a good idea for reaching the beaches and hotels elsewhere on the island.
Budget and precautions
Mauritian rupee: check price levels before you go
Price level
The currency is the Mauritian rupee (MUR). We do not publish price ranges because we could not cross-check them with two independent sources; museum fees and transport fares should be checked before your visit. Clothes and snacks in the city centre are known as cheap across the island (Wikivoyage EN).
Flights
The flight remains the most variable item in the budget. SniperAir monitors prices to MRU and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets.
Caution and cyclones
Wikivoyage (EN) says crime has fallen, with police presence and cameras where tourists gather, but some places such as the Citadel can be unsafe on your own. Check your own government's official advice. The Indian Ocean cyclone season runs from November to April, mostly January to March: follow forecasts, keep your dates flexible and consider travel insurance.
When to go
A dry season from May to November, humid from December to April
May to November
The long dry season, with mild winters: Port Louis is sheltered from the bad weather of the central plateau and temperatures rarely fall below 18 °C (French Wikipedia).
December to February
The hot, humid summer: above 32 °C and humidity close to 90%, with the rains of the short wet season.
March to April
The end of the wet season and of the cyclone period; the heat is still marked.
Cyclones
The cyclone season runs from November to April according to our sources (January to March for French and Spanish Wikipedia): allow for flexibility.
Port Louis has a semi-arid climate, with a long dry season from May to November and a short wet season from December to April (French Wikipedia). Sheltered from the south-east trade winds, it enjoys an exceptionally mild winter, while its summers are reputed to be torrid even by Mauritian standards. Exact periods vary a little between sources, so we publish broad windows.
By length of stay
What to do in Port Louis depending on how long you stay
Port Louis on foot
The central market, Place d'Armes, Saint Louis Cathedral, the Aapravasi Ghat and the Caudan Waterfront, with a lunch of Mauritian dishes.
History and heights
The Blue Penny Museum, the natural history museum, the Citadel and the Champ de Mars, then Pamplemousses and its botanical garden.
Beaches and hotels
The beaches of the north (Trou aux Biches, Mont Choisy, Péreybère), the west (Flic en Flac, Le Morne) or the east, by bus or rental car.
In pictures
Port Louis in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Port Louis
How do I get from Mauritius airport to Port Louis?
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam airport (MRU) is at Plaine Magnien in the south-east, 30 to 50 km from Port Louis depending on the source. Taxi, rental car or bus: the time depends a lot on traffic. Check the trip before you go.
What is there to see in Port Louis?
The Caudan Waterfront, the Aapravasi Ghat, the Blue Penny Museum, Saint Louis Cathedral, the central market, the Citadel, the Champ de Mars and the Company Garden.
Is Port Louis a beach town?
No: it is the administrative and commercial capital. The beaches and hotels are on the coast, mainly in the north (Grand Baie, Trou aux Biches), the west (Flic en Flac, Le Morne) and the east, reached by bus or by car.
How do I get from Port Louis to the beaches?
Buses leave from the Gare du Nord for the north and east, and from Victoria station for the west and south. A rental car, driving on the left, is more flexible for reaching a hotel.
When is the best time to visit Port Louis?
Mostly from May to November, in the dry season. The cyclone season runs from November to April: keep your dates flexible and follow forecasts.
Do I need a visa for Mauritius?
Mauritius is an independent state: entry rules depend on your nationality, possibly with an online arrival form. Check the official sites before you book.
How much does a flight to Port Louis usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Port Louis drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Port Louis as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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