Cities in Mauritius

When you think of Mauritius, you probably think of lounging around on sandy beaches while feeling the salty sea breeze in your hair and the crystalline water lapping at your feet. Yes, Mauritius is all that, and more. The capital city of Mauritius, one of the most popular destinations to visit in the country, is a melting pot of glitz and glamour harmonising beautifully with traditions and customs from its 300-year-old past.

Lush greenery, crystalline turquoise water and a perpetual rainy season are probably the first three things that can be used to describe Curepipe. One of the most well-known cities in Mauritius, Curepipe, also known as La Ville-Lumière (meaning City of Lights) is built on one of the island’s highest plateaus and is renowned across the entire country for its cool, rainy climate and its plethora of upmarket shopping destinations.

White sand beaches stretching for miles, glittering azure water as far as your eyes can see, colourful coral reefs peeking out from amongst the frothy waves, an idyllic laid-back vibe lingering in the air, and a riot of colour wherever you look, these sentences can easily sum up Grand Baie in a nutshell. Situated in the Mauritian district of Rivière du Rempart, Grand Baie (also known as Grand Bay) is a very popular tropical island retreat that serves as one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

Once a sleepy little fishing town in Mauritius, today, Flic en Flac has grown to be one of the most popular tourist areas in Mauritius, coming a close second to Grand Baie. With its name translating to ‘Free and Flat Land’, which used to be an old Dutch proverb, Flic en Flac originally started out as a village used as hunting grounds for wild birds and ducks, but today it is one of Mauritius’ foremost tourist destinations, with visitors flocking to the town all year round to soak in the sun and the sea.

Maheberg is a village in Mauritius. Touring Mahebourg can prove to be pretty tiring because of the numerous historical sites and spellbinding sights the place has in store for you. This makes the need for a relaxing spot a dire necessity for the tourists where they can catch their breath again. It sits on the south-east coast about ten minutes from the international airport, which makes it the first or last stop on many trips. The waterfront, the Monday market and the National History Museum are the draws, and boats leave from here for Ile aux Aigrettes, the island nature reserve in the lagoon.

Also known as Central Flacq, this is the metropolitan area of Flacq District and is one of the most developed and famous villages in Mauritius. What attracts the tourists to Centre de Flacq is its pleasant market town and excellent restaurants. The city was developed with the appearance of the French in the 18th century. One can also find jewellery and handicrafts at lower prices in this city.

St Pierre is a village in the district of Moka in Mauritius. The climatic conditions are usually cold, and hence, this place is commonly visited in summer when the sun is bright and out during the daytime and it chilly during nights. The island is made up of several nearby smaller islands. It sits inland in the Moka district on the central plateau, roughly halfway between Port Louis and the south, and is a residential and commercial town rather than a sight. Most visitors pass through it on the way to the Bagatelle shopping mall or the Moka mountain walks nearby.

More often referred to as Bel Air, it is a village in the Flacq district of Mauritius and has a population of 17,605. Bel-Air Riviere Seche is home to two Unesco world heritage sites nearby. It lies on the east side of the island in the Flacq district, in sugarcane country a few kilometres inland from the Belle Mare coast. It is a working village with a church, a market and little tourism of its own, and it is mainly useful as the turn-off for the east-coast beaches and hotels.