Mauritius
Airports in Mauritius: which one to fly into
Fly into Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (MRU) — it is the only international airport serving Mauritius, in the south-east near Mahébourg. Allow 45–75 minutes and €35–60 by taxi to the north or west coast, or pick a first base in the south-east if you land late. Rodrigues needs a separate 1 h 30 flight.
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GuideMauritius
Key facts
- Main international airport
- Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (MRU), south-east near Mahébourg
- Other international airports
- None — MRU is the only one; Rodrigues has a domestic airport
- Airport to north or west coast
- 45–75 min by taxi; €35–60
- Airport to Grand Baie
- About 1 h 15 by hire car
- Metro Express to the airportcheck
- Does not reach the airport — check extensions
- MRU to Rodrigues
- 1 h 30 flight; €200–350 return; strict baggage limits
- Taxi fares
- No meters; agree the fare before departure
Details
Mauritius has one international gateway: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, code MRU, on the south-east coast near Mahébourg. Long-haul arrivals from Europe, the Gulf, South Africa and Asia land here, and every first trip starts with the same question — how far is your hotel from this corner of the island.
The airport sits roughly opposite the main tourist coasts. The north (Grand Baie) and the west (Flic en Flac, Le Morne) are the longest transfers; the south-east and east (Belle Mare) are closer. If you land in the evening, a first night near Mahébourg or in the south-east saves a tired drive, and you can move to your main base the next morning.
For Rodrigues, the small island dependency east of Mauritius, there is no road or ferry alternative worth considering for most travellers: a domestic flight of about 1 h 30 from MRU is the practical route, with return fares in the €200–350 band and tight baggage limits — check with the operator before you pack.
Onward transport from MRU is by taxi, pre-booked transfer or hire car. Taxis have no meters, so agree the fare before you get in. Buses exist but are slow and thin after 18:00, and the Metro Express light rail does not serve the airport — check whether extensions have opened before you plan around it.
| Airport | Code | Role | Getting there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International | MRU | Only international airport; near Mahébourg, south-east | Taxi 45–75 min to the coasts, €35–60; hire car to Grand Baie about 1 h 15 |
| Rodrigues airport | check | Domestic gateway to Rodrigues | 1 h 30 flight from MRU, €200–350 return; strict baggage limits |
Transfer times and fares are 2026 estimates; traffic on the Port Louis motorway peaks 07:00–09:30 and 16:00–18:30.
Tips
Book a transfer or agree a taxi fare before landing if you arrive after dark; the drive to the north or west coast is long and there is no meter to fall back on.
Match your first base to your arrival time. Landing late and driving 75 minutes across the island is the most common first-day mistake; a night in the south-east costs less than a wasted evening.
If you plan day-trips, a hire car (€30–50 a day, driving on the left) is usually cheaper than airport-to-coast taxis plus daily drivers, but pick it up after a night's sleep rather than at the terminal.
Check baggage rules carefully for the Rodrigues flight — limits are stricter than on international services.
- Agree taxi fares before departure — no meters.
- Allow extra time on the Port Louis motorway at 07:00–09:30 and 16:00–18:30.
- Metro Express covers central towns, not the coasts or the airport — check extensions.
- Few buses run after 18:00.
Questions people ask
Which airport should I fly into for Mauritius?
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International (MRU), near Mahébourg in the south-east. It is the only international airport on the island, so every long-haul route lands there. Rodrigues is reached by a separate 1 h 30 domestic flight from MRU.
How do I get from the airport to the city in Mauritius?
Taxi or pre-booked transfer: 45–75 minutes and €35–60 to the north or west coast, with the fare agreed before departure because there are no meters. A hire car to Grand Baie takes about 1 h 15. Buses are cheap but slow and rare after 18:00.
Which airlines fly to Mauritius from the US and UK?
Check current schedules: UK service is typically direct or one-stop via the Gulf or Europe, while US routes usually connect through the Gulf, Europe or South Africa. MRU is the arrival point for all of them — check with the airlines for 2026 timetables.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialMauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
- officialAirports of Mauritius
- secondaryWikivoyage – Mauritius