If you are in Mauritius, then you should definitely travel to Port Louis, the vibrant capital city on the west coast. Here it is really possible to see the mix of cultures that make up the country. It’s apparent in the architecture, street names and cuisine. One of my favourite activities in Port Louis was a walking street food tour including local shops, restaurants and markets. It was just me as the visitor with two friendly and welcoming guides. Additionally, we had special access to one of the Chinese clan houses. We could visit the pagoda and the roof terrace for an amazing view over the city. Walking was a great way to get around!
Highlights
- Street food tour
- Local markets
- Chinese clan house
- View from high up, such as at a Clan house
- Caudan Waterfront shopping area
- Post office and museum
- Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site
- St Louis Cathedral
- Natural History Museum
- Le Dauguet hiking area
- Long Mountain Park
Before you go
- Port Louis is the capital of Mauritius and also the region, which is mostly made up of the city and its suburbs
- The culture is mostly a mix of people from Indian, African, European and Chinese backgrounds
- Historically, Mauritius has been colonised by Portuguese, Dutch, French and British
- Almost everyone speaks English except some vendors at local markets
- Local shops and the museum close at noon on Saturday
Transport
- To get to Port Louis from Trou aux biches, I took a local bus. I found the stop easily, but there was no schedule nor an indication of the route. My bus just said Express, and the driver confirmed it was going to Port Louis bus depot
- Once in Port Louis city, it is easy to get around by foot
Accommodation
- I stayed in the beach area in Trou aux biches and went to Port Louis for a day trip. so didn’t stay over.
- As usual I recommend checking reviews on Booking.com or using AirBnB
Food
The highlight of my visit to Port Louis was definitely the walking food tour. Not only did I have two excellent local guides, but I got to try a lot of delicious foods.
Additionally, we stopped by a lot of local shops and the Port Louis Market to look at ingredients. Along the way, my guides also bought some snacks to try. We stopped for longer at a few places including a Chinese bakery, a market stall for fresh puri, and Chinese dumplings in an alleyway food stall. Everything was delicious and different from what I have tried before.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a tour guide?
A: No, but it is nice to have a local guide to explain the life in Port Louis. I especially enjoyed the street food walking tour
Q: Do people speak English?
A: Yes, almost everyone speaks English
Q: Is it a walkable city?
A: Yes, it is a walkable city
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