Arrival & Transport

Airport

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) is located in the southeast of the island, near Mahébourg. It is Mauritius' only international airport and is modernly equipped with duty-free shops, currency exchange offices, car rental counters, and SIM card sales.

Direct Flights from the German-speaking Area

• Condor: Direct flights from Frankfurt (approx. 11.5 hours). The cheapest option from Germany, tickets from around 450€ return in economy class.
• Eurowings Discover: Direct flights from Frankfurt, seasonal.
• Air Mauritius: The national airline flies directly from Paris (CDG) and London — often a good option with a feeder flight from Germany. Service and comfort at a good level.
• Emirates: Via Dubai (DXB) — often the cheapest premium connection and can be combined with a stopover in Dubai.
• Turkish Airlines: Via Istanbul (IST) — good service, competitive prices.

Flight time: Nonstop approx. 11–12 hours. With a stopover, depending on the route, 14–18 hours. The time difference is +3 hours (CET) or +2 hours (CEST) — pleasantly little jet lag!

From the Airport to Accommodation

The airport is located in the southeast — most hotels are in the north or west. Transfer options:

• Hotel Transfer: Most hotels offer transfers (often included in luxury resorts). Book in advance!
• Taxi: Fixed prices, bookable at the taxi counter in the airport. Grand Baie: approx. 1,500–2,000 MUR (30–40€), Flic en Flac: approx. 1,200–1,800 MUR (25–35€), Le Morne: approx. 1,000–1,500 MUR (20–30€).
• Rental Car: Counters at the airport (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, local providers). From 1,200 MUR (25€) per day. Note: Left-hand traffic!
• Bus: Theoretically possible (line to Mahébourg, then transfer), but impractical with luggage.

Rental Car — The Best Choice

For maximum flexibility, a rental car is the best option. Mauritius is small (65 x 45 km) — you can reach any point on the island from any other in a maximum of 90 minutes. The roads are well developed, the signage is decent, and despite left-hand traffic, you quickly get your bearings.

• Prices: From 1,200 MUR (25€) per day with local providers, 1,500–2,500 MUR (30–50€) with international ones. Automatic is standard.
• Left-hand traffic: Mauritius drives on the left (British heritage). The adjustment is easier than feared — after a day it feels normal. Caution at roundabouts: clockwise!
• Speed: Speed limit 40–60 km/h in towns, 80–110 km/h on main roads. The M1 motorway (Port Louis → Airport) has 110 km/h.
• Fueling: Gasoline costs approx. 60 MUR/liter (1.20€). Gas stations are widely available.
• Parking: Paid in cities (buy parking coupons at kiosks). Usually free at beaches and attractions.

Public Buses

The bus network in Mauritius is surprisingly good and dirt cheap. Buses connect all cities and most villages. Fares: 15–70 MUR (0.30–1.40€) — even for a trip across the island! The buses are simple but reliable. Express buses (red) are faster than the regular ones (blue). Schedules are loose — buses run every 15–30 minutes on main routes, less frequently on secondary routes. Departure usually from the central bus station of each city.

Taxis

Taxis have no meters — agree on the price beforehand! Often inflated prices are quoted for tourists. Guideline: Short distance within a city 200–400 MUR (4–8€), longer distance (e.g., Grand Baie → Port Louis) 600–800 MUR (12–16€). Many taxi drivers offer themselves as day drivers (3,000–5,000 MUR / 60–100€ for the whole day) — a good deal if you don't have a rental car and want to see a lot.

Scooter & Bicycle

Scooter rental is available in tourist areas (from 800 MUR / 16€ per day). Helmets are mandatory! For brave riders: Mauritius is small enough to be circumnavigated in a day. Bicycle: Only for trained cyclists — the roads have no bike lanes, traffic is dense, and the heat is brutal. E-bikes are increasingly being offered (from 1,500 MUR / 30€ per day).