Mahébourg's main attraction is its National History Museum, housed in the colonial mansion where the wounded commanders of the 1810 Battle of Grand Port were taken to recover — the only naval victory Napoleon's forces achieved over the British during the Napoleonic Wars. The collection spans the full arc of Mauritian colonial history, from the era of the Dutch through French and British rule.
Beyond the museum, the town's waterfront and market are worth exploring for the texture of real Mauritian life, away from the resort strip. Blue Bay Marine Park, a short drive south, is the best snorkelling site on the island, with exceptional coral and fish diversity. The nearby Île aux Aigrettes nature reserve — a coral island being restored to its pre-human state — offers guided encounters with giant tortoises and rare endemic birds.