Walking Route Through Port Louis

Walking the capital

Port Louis is compact enough to cover on foot in a morning. Start by about 09:00, wear sturdy shoes because drains run open beside the pavements, and finish before dusk. Skip Sundays, when most of the centre is closed. Summer from November to April is hot and humid, so carry water.

A self-guided heritage route

  1. Le Caudan Waterfront and the Blue Penny Museum. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 09:30 to 16:00, and the 1847 stamps are lit for 10 minutes at quarter past each hour.
  2. Aapravasi Ghat. This UNESCO World Heritage Site on Quay Street commemorates the indentured labourers who arrived from India from 1834. Entry is reported free, with weekday hours of about 09:00 to 16:00 and Saturday until midday. Confirm with the Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund before you travel. Walk through quietly.
  3. Place d’Armes and Government House. Look at Government House from the outside.
  4. Jardin de la Compagnie and the Natural History Museum. The museum, beside the garden, shows the dodo. Hours are reported as 09:00 to 16:00 on most weekdays, with a later Wednesday start and a half day on Saturday, so check at the door.
  5. Central Market. Try dholl puri, alouda, gateau piment and boulettes. Prices are low and stalls take cash only. Mornings are best.
  6. Chinatown and the Chinese Friendship Gate.
  7. Fort Adelaide. The fort on Sebastopol Hill is a steep uphill walk from Plaine Verte, or a short taxi ride. Late afternoon light is best for the views over the city and harbour.

Allow a morning for the route without long museum stops. Going inside the Blue Penny Museum and the Natural History Museum turns it into a full day.

A guided street food walk

The Taste Buddies Port Louis Street Food Tour runs for about three hours from about 10:30. It meets near the casino at Caudan Waterfront and takes at most 8 people per booking. Stops include Jardin de la Compagnie, Chinatown and market food. Resellers list it at around EUR 50, with other listings at USD 58 to 63, so compare before you book. The operator is at tastebuddies.mu.

Staying safe on foot

  • Keep to lit, busy streets and finish your walk before dusk.
  • Government advice is not to walk alone at night in poorly lit areas, especially the backstreets of the business district.
  • Petty crime is common in Port Louis.
  • Check your government’s current travel advice, and avoid demonstrations.

Getting to the start

The Metro Express runs from the Port-Louis Victoria station to Curepipe, daily from 06:00 to 19:00. Taxis are easy for short hops, such as the climb to Fort Adelaide.

Read more: Sightseeing in Port Louis and Attraction tours in Port Louis .

Street food and city tours can be compared on GetYourGuide . Official pages: Taste Buddies , Blue Penny Museum and Metro Express .