Reunion Island
Reunion Island feels intense and layered, a French Indian Ocean island shaped by volcanoes, mountains, Creole culture, and constant movement.
People come mainly for contrast, because the island changes quickly in scenery, weather, culture, and pace, making travel feel active, textured, and never repetitive.
May to November is usually easiest, with cooler, drier weather that suits hiking, road trips, and longer days outside.
Average temperatures are roughly 24 Cº / 75 Fº on the coast, however higher areas are cooler and microclimates change fast.
Tourists choose Reunion Island for immersion and challenge, so they usually seek depth, local character, outdoor freedom, and experiences that feel genuinely connected.
It also suits travelers who want good infrastructure without losing the raw feeling of an island still shaped by nature.
Meanwhile, the mood stays energetic, multicultural, and outdoorsy, more about movement and discovery than passive beach time, even on the calmer west coast.
Reunion Island in images
Know before you go
Reunion Island is a French Indian Ocean department, special for fitting volcano, mountains, lagoon, and mixed Creole heritage into one compact trip.
May to November is usually easiest for cooler, drier weather, and five to seven days lets most travelers balance coast, volcano, and highlands.
Base yourself in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains for beach time or in Cilaos or Hell-Bourg for mountain air, a rental car works best, though Car Jaune buses cover major routes.
Lunch often starts around noon, dinner around 7:00 to 8:00 pm, service is included, budgets feel mid to high, and the smartest hassle-saver is booking cars early and swimming only where lifeguards and flags allow.
Accomodation
Exploring Authentic Reunion Island
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Top things to do in Reunion Island
In one day, stay west for the lagoon or north for Saint-Denis, because cross-island drives eat time and weather shifts fast.
With two to three days, group Reunion Island by zones: iconic volcano in the southeast, more local Hell-Bourg or Cilaos in the highlands, then Saint-Gilles for sunset, a week lets hikers add Mafate, usually with a guide or gîte booking.
Piton de la Fournaise is the iconic half-day to full-day plan, free on the main trail and roughly €60-€90 guided from Saint-Pierre, for rain, kids, or seniors, Maison Folio in Hell-Bourg is easier, about one hour, around €7, and best before late crowds.
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Must try local flavours.
On Reunion Island you must Start with cari, rougail saucisse, bouchons, and samoussas. They define Reunion cooking, from lunch plates to quick snack-counter bites, and show its Indian, African, and French roots.
Add gâteau patate for dessert and rhum arrangé or fresh juice to drink. Locals usually eat hot dishes at lunch, snacks late afternoon, and dinner around 7 pm, best in marchés, snack bars, or table d’hôte kitchens.
Say, “Un cari poulet, piment à part, s’il vous plaît.” Expect about €3-€6 for snacks and €12-€25 for meals, vegetarian cari, cheese samoussas, and nonalcoholic juices are common, and tipping stays minimal because service is included.
Authentic, high quality local favourites
On Reunion Island, a real local favourite means a place residents return to on ordinary weekdays, not just somewhere tour groups stop.
Look for marchés, snack bars, beach shacks, and table d’hôte homes with short menus, fresh turnover, Creole dishes simmering, and a mixed local crowd.
Good orders include cari, bouchons, and seasonal fruit juice, Saint-Paul suits market grazers, Saint-Gilles casual sunset eaters, and Hell-Bourg slower mountain lunches.
Go early for markets, midday for Creole kitchens, expect € to €€ most of the time, check parking and steps in older areas, and skip places with oversized menus or multilingual hard-sell hosts.
4 Most Popular Itineraries + 2 Secret Spots You Can’t Miss
West Coast Classic: Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, L’Hermitage, Boucan Canot, Saint-Leu, Saint-Paul Market, Cap La Houssaye
Volcano and Wild South: Plaine des Sables, Pas de Bellecombe, Piton de la Fournaise, Grand Brûlé, Anse des Cascades, Sainte-Rose
Cirques and Creole Villages: Salazie, Hell-Bourg, Maison Folio, Voile de la Mariée, Cilaos, Piton des Neiges viewpoints
North and East Culture Route: Saint-Denis, Grand Marché, Le Barachois, Sainte-Suzanne, La Vanilleraie, Saint-André
Secret Spot, Memory Route: Grande Chaloupe Lazaret, La Grande Chaloupe railway path, Le Port, Villèle Museum, Saint-Gilles heights, Cap Homard
Secret Spot, Sud Sauvage Details: Plaine des Grègues, Maison du Curcuma, Grand Coude, Bourbon Pointu coffee area, Manapany, Cap Méchant
Festivals and events calendar
Dipavali, Tamil festival of light, usually October or November, annual, 2 to 5 days, mainly Saint-André, mostly free, go before sunset for parades, expect busy streets and parking pressure.
Cavadee, Tamil devotional procession, usually January or February, annual, about one day, several towns, free to watch, arrive early for temple areas, some roads close briefly.
Sakifo Musik Festival, major music event, usually June, annual, 3 to 4 days, Saint-Pierre, ticketed, buy passes early, nearby lodging and transport get tighter.
Grand Raid Réunion, trail-running showcase, usually October, annual, about 3 to 4 days, islandwide, free to watch, choose one checkpoint, rooms book out far ahead.
Fèt Kaf, abolition remembrance and Creole culture, every December 20, annual, one main day, islandwide, mostly free, arrive early for concerts, expect fuller roads and busy towns.
Leu Tempo Festival, street arts and live performance, usually May, annual, about 4 days, Saint-Leu, mixed free and ticketed, late afternoon is best, downtown traffic gets heavier.
Recommended shop for authentic, high quality gifts and souvenirs
Grand Marché, Saint-Denis: Indian Ocean handicrafts with real local turnover, buy baskets, bertel bags, vanilla. €€. Best value is comparing inner stalls. Upper town, weekday mornings are calmer.
Saint-Paul Open-Air Market: producer-led food stalls and crafts, strong on local flavor, buy vanilla, spices, geranium goods. €€. Friday or Saturday seafront, arrive early for parking.
Maison du Curcuma: family-rooted turmeric specialist in Plaine des Grègues, buy turmeric, spice blends, gift packs. €€. Best value comes after the visit. South coast, car useful.
La Vanilleraie: historic vanilla workshop with serious quality control, buy pods, powder, extract. €€€. Mixed packs stretch value. Sainte-Suzanne, combine it with an east-coast drive.
Saga du Rhum Boutique: museum shop for authentic island rum products, buy arranged rum, cane syrup, tasting sets. €€€. Go after the tour, and keep a designated driver.
Discover the Authentic Reunion Island
