Best places to visit in Mauritius: top cities, regions and sights

Mauritius is small but the roads are slow, so the useful decision is not which sights to tick off but where to sleep. Two bases cover almost everything: one on the west or south-west coast for sunsets, Le Morne and the Black River Gorges, and one in the north or east for calm lagoons, boat trips and restaurants. Port Louis and Chamarel work as day-trips from either.

Le Morne is the strongest single base on the island: a mountain peninsula with a lagoon on both sides, kite and windsurf schools, and a beach that faces the sunset. The Le Morne Brabant trail starts early and takes about three hours return to the viewpoint; go at 07:00 before the cloud builds and the rock gets hot. The peninsula is also a UNESCO-listed site linked to the history of escaped slaves, which is worth reading about before you climb.

Flic en Flac, 30–40 minutes north, is the budget and mid-range alternative: a long beach village with restaurants, dive shops and easy access to Port Louis. South of Le Morne, Chamarel has the coloured earth and waterfall, and the Black River Gorges National Park has marked trails from short walks to half-day hikes. Both are day-trips by car; there is little reason to sleep there unless you want early trail starts.

Grand Baie is the north's resort hub: calm water, boat trips to Gabriel and Flat Islands, and the densest cluster of restaurants and shops on the island. It suits travellers who want to walk to dinner and book tours without a car. The north is also the easiest place to arrange a catamaran day or a dive.

In winter, the north and west are more sheltered than the east, which is why the parent itinerary suggests swapping Belle Mare for Grand Baie in the windy months. Cap Malheureux, at the northern tip, has the small red-roofed chapel and views across to Coin de Mire.

Belle Mare is a long white-sand beach with resort after resort and the shortest boat ride to Île aux Cerfs, the lagoon islet with beaches and a golf course. October to December is the pick for this coast; in the winter months the trade winds make the sea choppier.

Mahébourg, in the south-east, is the historic town nearest the airport, with a small museum and the Blue Bay marine park a short drive away. It is a practical one- or two-night stop before an early flight, and the snorkelling at Blue Bay is among the easiest on the island. Curepipe, on the central plateau, is a cool-weather town with the Trou aux Cerfs crater; it is a half-day stop rather than a base.

The capital packs the island's history into a walkable morning: the Central Market, Aapravasi Ghat (a UNESCO site marking the arrival of indentured labourers), the Blue Penny Museum and Fort Adelaide, the citadel above the city. Go on a weekday; the market is quiet on Sundays and some sights close. Lunch on street food near the market, then finish on the Caudan waterfront.

Most travellers visit Port Louis as a day-trip from the west or north coast. Staying one night only makes sense if you want the market at opening time or have business in the city.

Rodrigues lies about 600 km east of Mauritius and is reached by a short flight from the main airport. It is quieter, greener and better for walking and lagoon days than for resorts. Port Mathurin has a small capital feel and a Saturday market. Allow 3–4 nights, fly midweek, and keep the last night near the main airport if your onward flight is early.

Rent a car or hire a driver-guide for day-trips; public buses are cheap but slow and rarely useful for sightseeing. Drive on the left. Book lagoon and islet trips a day ahead in high season. Cyclones are possible in the wetter months, so keep the first and last nights flexible if you are travelling January to March.