Mahébourg's waterfront faces Grand Port Bay, the largest lagoon on Mauritius, and the promenade along the seafront is the social heart of the town. In the late afternoon, locals walk, cycle, and sit out watching the water. The view across the bay takes in the mountains of the south coast and, on clear days, the distant outline of Île aux Aigrettes.
The bay itself was the site of the 1810 naval battle that is commemorated in the National History Museum. The calm protected waters are used by local fishermen, and you can often watch traditional pirogues heading out or returning with their catch. The whole waterfront area has been upgraded in recent years with a pleasant esplanade, benches, and good lighting.