Things to do — Port-Louis

The historic heart of Port-Louis concentrates around the harbour. Aapravasi Ghat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006, is the essential first stop: this landing quay bears witness to the arrival of indentured workers from India in the 19th century, who shaped present-day Mauritian identity. A few minutes' walk away, the Central Market is a sensory explosion — spices, exotic fruits, coloured textiles and street-food stalls where Mauritian biryani and dholl puris go for under €5. Start here before 9:00 to beat the heat and the crowds.

Along the waterfront, the Caudan Waterfront is the modern pulse of the city: shops, Creole restaurants, cafés and the Bank of Mauritius Currency Museum sit side by side facing fishing boats and cargo ships. The Jummah Mosque, built in 1852 and one of the most important in the Indian Ocean, opens to visitors outside prayer times. The Municipal Theatre, a colonial building from 1822, is one of the oldest theatres in the southern hemisphere and hosts performances year-round.

Higher up on the hill overlooking the city, the Citadel Fort Adelaide — nicknamed 'Le Pouce' (The Thumb) by Mauritians — offers a 360-degree panoramic view over Port-Louis, the harbour and the mountains. The 30-minute walk from the centre is well worth the effort. Below it, Champ de Mars is the oldest racecourse in the southern hemisphere: on race days (May to November), the atmosphere is electric, with packed stands and authentic popular fervour. Even off-season, the green circuit at the foot of the mountains deserves a stroll.

The Chinatown and Bazar districts hide small shops, Buddhist temples and Cantonese-Mauritian eateries rarely mentioned in guidebooks. A 10-minute drive away, the Company Garden — one of Mauritius's first botanical gardens — is a calm green island in the middle of the urban bustle.