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Blue Penny Museum
Whether or not you fully understand the philatelic obsession with the Mauritian one penny and two-pence stamps of 1847, the Blue Penny Museum is far more wide ranging than its name suggests, taking in the history of the island's exploration, settlement and colonial period. It's Port Louis' best museum, well lit and designed with a fantastic selection of maps, photographs and engravings from different periods in history, as well as a gallery for temporary exhibitions and a good shop.
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Champ de Mars Racecourse
This racecourse was a military training ground until the Mauritius Turf Club was founded in 1812, making it the second-oldest racecourse in the world. Mauritian independence was proclaimed here in 1968. Within the racecourse stands a statue of King Edward VII by the sculptor Prosper d'Épinay, and the Malartic Tomb, an obelisk to a French governor.
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Chapel and Shrine of Marie Reine de la Paix
The modern Chapel and Shrine of Marie Reine de la Paix is a popular spot for prayers, and the ornamental gardens offer views over the city. The most important place of pilgrimage for Mauritian Christians is the shrine of Père Laval on the city's northern outskirts.
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Chinatown
The Chinese have traditionally occupied a quietly industrious position in the life of Port Louis. The region between the two 'friendship gates' on Royal St forms the centre of Port Louis' Chinatown. Here you'll see the rich mercantile life of the hard-working Chinese community, the busy Chinese restaurants and groceries and the streets echoing with the unmistakable clatter of mah jong tiles.
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Company Gardens
It's a real pity that Company Gardens has such a sleazy atmosphere as it's by far the most attractive park in the city, with its vast banyan trees, huge number of statues, quiet benches and fountains. During the day it's perfectly safe (though keep your wits about you), but you should avoid it at night when it's a flashpoint for muggings, drug deals and pimps. Once the vegetable patch of the French East India Company in early colonial times, it's now best known for its statues of local sculptor Prosper d'Épinay and the much-loved musician Ti-Frère.
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Domaine Les Pailles
Just a few miles outside of the capital the strange sugar estate turned theme park Domaine Les Pailles has been transformed into a cultural and heritage centre that makes for an enjoyable day or half-day excursion. The facilities include rides in horse-drawn carriages, a miniature railway, a working replica of a traditional ox-driven sugar mill, a rum distillery producing the estate's own brew, a spice garden, a quad-biking circuit and a children's playground. There is also a selection of upmarket restaurants.
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Fort Adelaide
Fort Adelaide, also known as the Citadel, resembles a Moorish fortress. Built by the British, the fort sits high on the crown of the hill, offering splendid views over the city and its harbour. The quickest route up is via Suffren St. Allow around 10 minutes for the climb.
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Government House
Government House is a beautiful French colonial structure dating from 1738, although it was added to later. Outside it stands a typically solemn statue of Queen Victoria in full 'we are not amused' mode.
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Jummah Mosque
The Jummah Mosque, the most important mosque in Mauritius, was built in the 1850s, and is a delightful blend of Indian, Creole and Islamic architecture - it would look equally at home in Istanbul, Delhi or New Orleans! Visitors are welcome in the peaceful inner courtyard except on Fridays and during the month of Ramadan.
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Mahé de Labourdonnais Statue
At the quayside end of Pl S Bissoondoyal, the best-loved statue in the city has become its emblem throughout Mauritius.
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Mauritius Postal Museum
The rather lacklustre two-room Mauritius Postal Museum beside the central post office houses a mishmash of commemorative stamps and other postal paraphernalia from around the world. These include copies of the famous 'Post Office' stamps of 1847, though you can now see the originals in the Blue Penny Museum. There's also a decent display of 19th-century and early-20th-century communication devices. The museum shop sells replica first-day covers of the famous stamps, which make unusual souvenirs.
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Municipal Theatre
This appealing theatre on Jules Koenig St has changed little since it was built in 1822, making it the oldest theatre in the Indian Ocean region. Decorated in the style of the classic London theatres, it seats about 600 on three levels, and has an exquisitely painted dome ceiling with cherubs and chandeliers. Photos of Margot Fonteyn, who danced here in 1975, adorn the foyer. Performances are in the evenings - usually at . Unless you get lucky and someone lets you glimpse inside, you'll need to buy tickets for a performance to visit.
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Natural History Museum
There's only one real attraction at the small but proud Natural History Museum and that's to see the famous - though somewhat grubby - reconstruction of a dodo. Scottish scientists assembled the curious-looking bird in the late 19th century, using the only complete dodo skeleton in existence. The rest of the museum's three halls get marks for trying, but the majority of the other exhibits are a sad testimony to the fact that fish don't readily lend themselves to the process of taxidermy.
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Père Laval's Shrine
The shrine of the French Catholic priest and missionary Père Jacques Désiré Laval is something of a Lourdes of the Indian Ocean, with many miracles attributed to visits to the priest's grave. The padre died in 1864 and was beatified in 1979 during a visit by Pope John Paul II. He is credited with converting 67,000 people to Christianity during his 23 years in Mauritius.
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Photography Museum
The small but engaging Photography Museum , down a lane opposite the Municipal Theatre, is the labour of love of local photographer Tristan Bréville. He's amassed a treasure trove of old cameras and prints, including several daguerreotypes (the forerunner of photographs) produced in Mauritius in 1840, just a few months after the technique was discovered in France. The museum also contains a vast archive of historical photos of the island, only a tiny fraction of which are on display.
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Place S Bissoondoyal
Port Louis' most imposing boulevard is named after Sookdeo Bissoondoyal, a senior Mauritian politician, independence leader and, eventually, opposition leader against Ramgoolam, who died in 1977. The road that bears his name is lined with royal palms and leads up to Government House. At the quayside end of the avenue is the statue of Mahé de Labourdonnais.
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Pope Hennessy St
A row of striking, colonial-era bungalows and a grey-stone secondary school, built in 1893, mark the top end of Pope Hennessy St.
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SSR Memorial Centre for Culture
This simple house museum near the Jardin Plaine Verte was the home to Mauritius' father of independence, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, from 1935 until 1968. It's an interesting exhibit on his life, with some fascinating photographs, a collection of his personal belongings and even films about the great man, beloved by all Mauritians.
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St James Cathedral
Inaugurated in 1850, St James has a peaceful, wood-panelled interior with plaques commemorating local worthies.
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St Louis Cathedral
The austere but busy St Louis dates from 1932 and is popular with the Chinese community.
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