Beautiful Blue Sea and Sky! Top 5 Tourist Spots in the Capital of Mauritius, Port Louis

Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, is a port town by the sea. Despite being the largest city in Mauritius, it’s a small city where you can easily visit all the main tourist spots in half a day. In recent years, it has gained attention worldwide as a resort destination lined with luxurious hotels. Surrounded by coral reefs, the crystal-clear waters are teeming with colorful fish that swim fearlessly at your feet.

The serene ocean also makes Port Louis a haven for marine sports, offering popular activities such as diving, snorkeling, and cruising. But the city isn’t just about its beautiful waters! From shopping to casinos, Port Louis is packed with attractions to delight every visitor. Today, we’ve handpicked the best of Port Louis to showcase its charm!

1. Caudan Waterfront Complex

The Caudan Waterfront Complex is a relatively new tourist spot in Port Louis. It is a commercial facility where you can find everything from apparel shops and duty-free stores to restaurants. With many stores catering to tourists, you can conveniently find everything you need here, from daily goods to souvenirs.

Located right in front of the harbor, the Caudan Waterfront Complex is also a popular dating spot among young locals in Port Louis. On weekdays, the shops are mostly crowded with tourists, while weekends draw in locals, making the area lively. Many boats are anchored in the harbor, and seagulls can be seen searching for food from the roofs of these boats. Sitting on a bench and enjoying this peaceful view is one of Port Louis' attractions.

The casino and game center attached to the complex are also popular with tourists. Fathers can enjoy the casino, while mothers and children can shop—making it a great destination for families!

2. Blue Penny Museum

In one corner of the lively Port Louis Waterfront area, you’ll find the charming Blue Penny Museum with its white walls and blue doors. Despite its small size, this museum is filled with exhibits, such as Mauritius' history and maritime maps, offering an impressive collection.

The main attraction of the museum is the Blue Penny stamp, said to be the oldest stamp in Mauritius. In 1847, England issued the world’s first postage stamps, with only 1,000 printed—500 one-penny and 500 two-penny stamps. Today, only a few remain, making them some of the world’s most valuable stamps. The stamps are so iconic that Port Louis is often associated with them.

This museum is the only place in the world where you can see both types of stamps displayed together. Even after 150 years, tourists from all over the world visit to catch a glimpse of these legendary stamps. Be sure to stop by during your visit to Port Louis!

3. Natural History Museum

Mauritius’ symbol, the dodo, can be seen on immigration stamps, banknotes, and tourist brochures. The dodo was an endemic flightless bird that survived due to the absence of mammals on the island.

However, the dodos were said to have gone extinct because they lacked fear of humans and didn’t know how to escape. The taxidermy of the dodo can be seen at the Natural History Museum in central Port Louis. Although the museum once had a valuable skeleton, it is now replaced with a replica due to poor preservation. To date, only one full skeleton has been discovered, and even in Port Louis, the dodo is known as “The Phantom Bird.”

Another interesting feature is the world map, which centers Africa. It’s a perfect souvenir story for Port Louis tourists! This is a must-visit spot when in the city.

4. Postal Museum

The Postal Museum, located in central Port Louis, stands out as it is housed in the former Central Post Office from the 1870s. Originally used as a railway postal station, its back still has the train platform, making it a tourist photo spot.

Inside, exhibits detail the history of postal services, telegraphs, and telephones. It’s popular with tourists and local students alike. In the past, slaves carried mail on foot, and recipients paid upon delivery. The museum showcases how telegraph technology evolved to modern times.

A highlight is the stamp collection from the 1800s, featuring flowers, coastal themes, and royal portraits. Many stamps are exclusive to this museum, so don’t forget your camera!

5. Domaine les Pailles

Located about 5 kilometers from Port Louis, the Domaine les Pailles Nature Park spans an impressive 3,000 acres.

Port Louis, once a city dominated by sugarcane fields and heavily reliant on sugar production, reflects its history in this park. Domaine les Pailles, originally a sugar plantation, has been transformed into a natural park. Visitors can still explore its sugarcane fields, herbal gardens, and the remnants of an old sugar factory and rum distillery.

The park’s vast grounds offer attractions such as train rides and horse-drawn carriages. A favorite among tourists is the safari tour, which uses a dedicated jeep to traverse the park. Visitors can see plants and wildlife unique to Mauritius. Despite having a guide, the tour through the forest offers an exciting adventure, ending at a viewpoint 400 meters above sea level. Here, you can overlook Port Louis, a secret spot accessible only to those on this tour.

◎ Summary

How was it? We’ve introduced an amazing tourist spot in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius.

The American author Mark Twain, known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, once described Mauritius’ beauty by saying, "God created Mauritius, and then made heaven as its copy." Even now, the island is rich in nature, with a sweet, nostalgic scent of burning sugarcane in the air. Sometimes, it’s nice to escape the city noise and go on a journey where you can relax by the sea. It’s sure to refresh both your body and mind.

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Beautiful Blue Sea and Sky! Top 5 Tourist Spots in the Capital of Mauritius, Port Louis