Getting to Port Louis and Around by Metro Express, Bus and Car

Port Louis sits on the north-western coast of Mauritius, connected to the international airport in the south-east and the plateau towns of Curepipe, Quatre Bornes and Rose Hill by the island's main four-lane motorway and a modern electric light-rail line.

From SSR International Airport (MRU) to Port Louis

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) at Plaisance lies 48 kilometres south-east of central Port Louis. Outside weekday morning rush hour (when commuters funnel north into the capital), the drive along the M1 motorway takes 45 to 55 minutes:

• Official Airport Taxis and hotel transfers: licensed white taxis wait outside the arrivals hall and take the M1 straight past Moka and Réduit before descending into the Port Louis harbour bowl or continuing fifteen minutes further north to Balaclava.
• Public Express Bus (Route 198): budget travellers with light bags can ride the direct bus from the airport bus stand to Victoria Urban Terminal in Port Louis in around 75 to 90 minutes, paying the conductor in Mauritian rupee cash.

Riding the Metro Express light rail and city buses

Within the densely populated urban corridor stretching from Curepipe and Phoenix through Quatre Bornes, Rose Hill and Ebène into Port Louis, the Metro Express light-rail system is the smoothest way to beat road congestion. Modern low-floor Urbos trams call at Victoria Station (adjacent to Caudan Waterfront and Central Market) and terminate at Place d'Armes / Aapravasi Ghat Station right in the historic heart of the city. Purchase a rechargeable MECard or single-trip paper QR ticket from the station vending machines and tap on the platform validator before boarding.

Driving into Port Louis and where to park

Traffic in Mauritius drives on the left. Narrow one-way streets in Chinatown and around Central Market use timed paper parking coupons (vignettes) sold at petrol stations, which can be fiddly for visitors. Instead, drive straight off the M1 into the multi-storey paid car parks at Le Caudan Waterfront and explore the entire centre on foot, saving your hire car for Pamplemousses Botanical Garden and Le Pouce.