Port Louis Central Market
The capital's bustling covered market: spices, tropical fruit, street food and craft in a wave of colour and sound.
The Central Market is the sensory heart of Port Louis and the largest covered market in the city, running since colonial times. Under its old iron roof, stalls overflow with tropical fruit, pyramids of spices, fresh vegetables, herbal remedies and Mauritian street snacks. Try the local favourites, a dholl puri or a cold alouda drink, from the food stalls.
Around the edges and nearby you'll find the craft market, good for souvenirs, textiles, vanilla and rum, and it's an easy walk from here into the colourful streets of Chinatown. It's loud, friendly and full of everyday island life, and vendors are used to visitors, so it's easy to browse, taste and bargain.
The market runs daily from early morning to around 5:30pm but winds down by noon on Sundays. Krishna knows his way around and can point you to the best stalls and help you haggle.
North Tours
Caudan Waterfront
Port Louis's harbourside quarter: shops, restaurants, a craft market and the Blue Penny Museum by the sea.
The Citadel (Fort Adelaide)
A 19th-century British hilltop fort with the best panoramic view over Port Louis and its harbour.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
One of the oldest botanical gardens in the southern hemisphere: giant water lilies, rare palms and centuries of tropical plants.