Popularly known for its cobalt-blue seas, white-sand beaches and luxury resorts, Mauritius is a traveller’s paradise in the Indian Ocean presenting a relaxing holiday experience for all.
Though people visit this mesmerising land for an ideal beach vacation, street shopping in Mauritius is the most indulging and exciting experience, offering plenty for every budget, from surgically carved handicrafts to nostril-tingling rum.
Read on and know about some of the best street markets in Mauritius:
Port Louis Central Market
A huge market in the capital city of Mauritius, the Central Market is popular among locals as “Bazaar Port Louis”. The market is operational since Victorian times and is where you can shop for local clothing, artisanal jewellery, musical instruments, glass sculptures and various handcrafted goods. You will find the market crowded even during the weekdays and can utilise your bargain skills to get the best deals.
Le Craft Market
Located in Port Louis close to the central market, Le Craft Market welcomes visitors with a refreshing fragrance of the scent of teak meddled with mahogany. The market houses 36 stalls spread over two floors wrapped in warm tropical colours in a cosy atmosphere. You can have a long stroll through the market and shop for colourful beach sarongs, semi-precious stones, wooden sculptures, embroidered linen, spices, a unique array of regional handicraft and cultural traditions from Mauritius, Madagascar and Rodrigues, and the sought-after Mauritian RUM.
The Mahebourg Market
A unique market in the fishing village of Mahebourg which is open only once a week on Monday, the Mahebourg Market is just a walk away from the sea and astonishes visitors with an array of colonial buildings. It is the most bargain-friendly market in Mauritius where you can buy some local crafts and fantastic souvenirs. Food lovers can try here a number of traditional dishes such as Dholl Puri, biryani, Chinese noodles and a variety of Creole and Mauritian cuisines. Besides, you can also get your hands of some traditional Indian and Chinese goods, local spices, fruits, vegetables, electronics and a lot more.
The Flacq Market
The largest open market in Mauritius, the Flacq Market is an ideal place to sharpen your bargain skills, to purchase souvenirs to take back home and to see locals shopping for their daily needs. The tropical fruits and sweets stalls in the market are a treat to watch and appeal visitors to purchase some. The market is quite busy on all days; however, it is a better option to visit on weekends. Moreover, there is no chance you’ll not buy a few t-shirts, hats, and some local tea from here.
The Quatre-Bornes Market Fair
A delightful, merry market place, the fair of Quantre-Bornes is where you can treat your eyes to the beauty of a variety of lined-stalls. Opened on Tuesdays and Sundays only, this ephemeral market is where you can shop for garments and fashion accessories. It is an ideal shopping paradise for Mauritian shoppers, and appeals visitors with its reasonable prices. You can buy sweaters and fleece clothing during winters and get your hands on some cool T-shirts and shorts in bright colours during summers. Besides, you should not miss trying the famous dishes served here such as gato-piment, samosas and gato arouille.