Grand Baie

The north coast’s liveliest resort town, wrapped around a sheltered bay.

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Hero image: mwanasimba from La Réunion, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Grand Baie sits on a deep, sheltered bay on the north-west coast of Mauritius. Once a quiet fishing settlement, it is now the island’s busiest resort town, with a waterfront lined with restaurants, bars, shops and boat operators, and a wide spread of hotels, guesthouses and holiday apartments in the streets behind.

It is the natural base for travellers who want choice and activity rather than seclusion. The bay itself is calm and full of moored boats; the better swimming beaches are a short way north at Pereybère or south-west at Mont Choisy and Trou aux Biches, which makes Grand Baie a practical hub for the whole North Coast.

Where to stay and what to book

Places to stay

Veranda Grand Baie & SpaView detailsTilakaz Grand BaieView detailsLe Zenith Centre de Grand BaieView detailsCozy Townhome Near Beach in Heart of Grand BaieView details

Browse all accommodation here

Why visit Grand Baie

Grand Baie suits travellers who want everything within reach: places to eat every night, supermarkets and pharmacies, boat departures from the bay and easy access to several of the north coast’s best beaches. It is also one of the few places on the island where evening life does not revolve around a hotel.

The trade-off is that it is busier and more built-up than most of the coast. If you are looking for a quiet beach outside your door, stay at the edges of town or in one of the neighbouring villages and come into Grand Baie when you want it.

The bay and the town

The bay is a working harbour as much as a beach, with pleasure boats, fishing boats and catamarans at anchor. The public beach in the town centre is small and can be busy at weekends, when Mauritian families come up from the plateau towns. The main coast road runs along the waterfront, and the commercial centre — restaurants, banks, a covered bazaar and shopping centres — is concentrated within walking distance of it.

Accommodation is spread across the town and the neighbouring areas of Pointe aux Canonniers, Pereybère and Mont Choisy. Inland streets hold many apartments and guesthouses; the shoreline towards Pointe aux Canonniers has more hotels.

Boat trips and the northern islets

Grand Baie is the main departure point for catamaran and speedboat trips to the islands off the north coast, including Coin de Mire (Gunner’s Quoin), Île Plate and Îlot Gabriel. Trips typically combine sailing, snorkelling and time on a beach; conditions beyond the reef depend on wind and swell, and operators adjust routes accordingly.

Glass-bottom boats, parasailing, diving and undersea walks also operate from the bay. Offerings change from season to season, so compare current operators rather than relying on old recommendations.

Beaches near Grand Baie

For swimming, most visitors head a little way out of town. Pereybère, just to the north, has a sheltered public beach popular for snorkelling. To the south-west, the long beaches of Mont Choisy and Trou aux Biches are among the most attractive on the island, with shallow lagoons and casuarina shade.

Further north, Cap Malheureux offers views across to Coin de Mire from beside its red-roofed chapel, and the quieter villages of the north-east coast are within a short drive.

Getting there and around

Grand Baie is on the far side of the island from Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, which lies in the south-east. The usual route is the motorway through Port Louis and then north on the M2, so allow for traffic around the capital, especially at peak commuting times.

Within town, the centre is walkable. Taxis are easy to find, buses connect Grand Baie with Port Louis and the north-coast villages, and a hire car is useful if you want to explore the north at your own pace.

Best time to visit

Mauritius has a warm, humid summer from about November to April and a cooler, drier winter from about May to October. The north coast is relatively sheltered from the south-east trade winds, so it remains a good base in winter, when the east and south can be breezy.

The cyclone season falls in the summer months. Cyclones are not an every-year certainty for any given week, but you should follow official bulletins if you travel between November and April.

How long to stay

Three to five nights works well if Grand Baie is your only north-coast base. Use it for a boat day, a visit to Pamplemousses and the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanical Garden, a trip into Port Louis and time on the beaches at Pereybère and Mont Choisy.

If Mauritius is a longer trip, combine a stay here with a second base on a contrasting coast, such as the south-west around Le Morne or the south-east around Mahébourg.

Nearby destinations

PereybèreA small, popular public beach in a sheltered cove north of Grand Baie.Read the Pereybère guide →Trou aux Biches & Mont ChoisyLong, gently shelving lagoon beaches on the north-west coast.Read the Trou aux Biches & Mont Choisy guide →PamplemoussesThe island’s historic botanical garden, famous for its giant water lilies.Read the Pamplemousses guide →

Frequently asked questions

Is Grand Baie a good base for a first trip to Mauritius?

Yes, if you want restaurants, shops and activities on the doorstep. If you prefer a quiet beach and little else, a smaller village such as Pereybère or Trou aux Biches may suit you better, with Grand Baie a short ride away.

Can you swim at Grand Baie?

The bay is sheltered, but its town beach is small and the water is shared with moored boats. Most visitors swim at the nearby beaches of Pereybère, Mont Choisy and Trou aux Biches.

How do I get from the airport to Grand Baie?

By taxi, pre-arranged transfer or hire car via the motorway through Port Louis. Public buses are possible but involve changes and are slow with luggage.

Plan the rest of your trip

• North Coast region guide
• Where to stay on the North Coast of Mauritius
• Self-drive Mauritius
• Mauritius travel planning
• All Mauritius destinations

Official sources for Grand Baie

Opening hours, entry fees, boat and transport schedules, access rules and park conditions change; check the official source before you travel.

• Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) — official visitor information
• Mauritius Meteorological Services — forecasts, warnings and cyclone bulletins

Where to stay, and what to book

Browse Grand Baie accommodation or the wider North Coast accommodation catalogue, and see Mauritius tours and activities for boat trips and excursions. See also where to stay on the North Coast.