Tuesday, October 6
LIVE
Hell-Bourg – ReunionPiton de la Fournaise – ReunionCilaos – ReunionSaint-Gilles-les-Bains – ReunionPiton des Neiges – Reunion
📍 Hell-Bourg📷 regulator974 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
🌍 Africa🗓️ Best: May–Nov

Reunion ✓

Volcano hikes, deep cirques and Creole flavours

🕒 –:– local time0 stories this week0 sources 6 top placesCapital Saint-Denis

Advertise with usYour brand hereTop banner · 728 x 90Book this space →
Reunion📸 Photo album · 7 photos · Ultra-HD
Reunion📜 History of Reunion

The story of Reunion

Réunion is a young volcanic island that rose from the Indian Ocean around three million years ago, and unlike most places it had no Indigenous population. Arab and Portuguese sailors knew of it from at least the early 16th century, but it remained uninhabited, cloaked in forest and crowned by smoking volcanoes. France claimed the island in the mid-17th century, naming it Île Bourbon after the royal dynasty, and the first permanent settlers arrived in the 1660s.

Under the French East India Company, the island became a plantation colony, first for coffee and later for sugar cane. Enslaved people were brought from Madagascar, East Africa and India to work the fields. Some escaped into the rugged interior, and the mountain cirques of Cilaos, Salazie and Mafate still carry names linked to these 'marrons' who sought freedom there. During the French Revolution the island was renamed Réunion, and it was briefly occupied by Britain during the Napoleonic Wars.

Read the full history

Slavery was abolished on 20 December 1848, a date celebrated each year. Afterwards, indentured workers came from India, China and elsewhere, creating the island's extraordinary cultural blend. Réunion became an overseas department of France in 1946, and is today an outermost region of the European Union, with modern infrastructure alongside its Creole traditions.

For visitors, Réunion is a hiker's paradise and a cultural melting pot. Its UNESCO-listed peaks, cirques and ramparts offer some of the world's most dramatic trails, while the Piton de la Fournaise is one of the planet's most active volcanoes. Tamil temples, Catholic churches, mosques and Chinese pagodas stand side by side, and Creole cuisine and maloya music reflect the island's layered history.

Timeline

  1. c. 1507Portuguese sailors sight the uninhabited island
  2. 1642France claims the island
  3. 1665First permanent French settlers arrive
  4. 1793Island renamed Réunion
  5. 1848Abolition of slavery
  6. 1946Réunion becomes a French overseas department
  7. 2010Peaks, cirques and ramparts listed by UNESCO
Reunion 🛂 Visa & entry

Entry rules depend on your passport and change often.

  • European Union – EU member – EU/EEA citizens can travel and stay freely.
  • Eurozone – Uses the euro.

Before you book, check the official rules for your passport:

The latest visa and entry news for Reunion appears below as soon as publishers report it.

🛰️ The agents haven't spotted fresh news about Reunion in the last few days – here is the travel guide, plus the latest from nearby countries.

Reunion✨ 10 best things to do in Reunion

Things to do in Reunion

  1. Hike to Piton de la FournaiseWalk across lava fields to the crater rim of one of the world's most active volcanoes.
  2. Trek the Cirque de MafateExplore a roadless cirque reachable only on foot or by helicopter.
  3. Sunrise on Piton des NeigesClimb the Indian Ocean's highest peak for a breathtaking sunrise.
  4. Take a helicopter flightSoar over waterfalls, cirques and volcanic landscapes.
  5. Canyoning in CilaosAbseil and slide down waterfalls in the island's deep canyons.
  6. Swim in the lagoon at Saint-GillesSnorkel on the island's coral reef in calm lagoon waters.
  7. Visit Hell-BourgWander colourful Creole houses in one of France's most beautiful villages.
  8. Paraglide over Saint-LeuFloat above the lagoon with sweeping coastal views.
  9. Eat a cariTaste the island's signature curry with rice, beans and rougail.
  10. Explore the Saint-Pierre marketBrowse fruit, spices and crafts at a lively Creole market.
Reunion🗺️ Where to visit in Reunion

Where to go in Reunion

  • Piton de la FournaiseSoutheast · active volcanoA lunar landscape and one of the world's most active volcanoes.
  • 📍
    Cirque de CilaosInterior · cirqueDramatic mountains, thermal springs and canyoning.
  • 📍
    Cirque de SalazieInterior · waterfallsLush cliffs, cascades and the village of Hell-Bourg.
  • Cirque de MafateInterior · hikingRemote villages and multi-day treks without roads.
  • Saint-Gilles-les-BainsWest coast · beachesThe island's main beach resort with lagoons and nightlife.
  • 📍
    Saint-DenisNorth · capitalCreole mansions, temples and a seafront promenade.
  • 📍
    Saint-PierreSouth · coastal townA lively town with markets, a beach and nightlife.
  • 📍
    Le Maïdo viewpointWest · lookoutSweeping views over the Cirque de Mafate at sunrise.
Reunion✨ Must-do experiences
  • Hike to the Piton de la Fournaise crater
  • Trek between villages in Mafate
  • Go canyoning in Cilaos
  • Snorkel in the Hermitage lagoon
Reunion🍽️ Taste of Reunion
  • Rougail saucisse – sausages in spicy tomato sauce
  • Cari – Creole curry with chicken, fish or pork
  • Samoussas – crispy fried pastries
  • Bouchons – steamed dumplings of Chinese origin
Reunion🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Reunion

Best time to visit Reunion

Réunion has a tropical climate with warm, wet summers and mild, dry winters. The east is much wetter than the sunny west, and the highlands can be cool or even frosty.

BestMay-November – the cooler, drier season, perfect for hiking.
ShoulderApril and December – warmer with some rain, fewer crowds.
AvoidJanuary-March – hot, humid cyclone season with heavy rain.
30°💧💧💧Jan
30°💧💧💧Feb
30°💧💧💧Mar
29°💧💧Apr
27°💧May
26°💧Jun
25°💧Jul
25°💧Aug
26°💧Sep
27°💧Oct
28°💧Nov
29°💧💧Dec

Typical daytime highs and rain in Saint-Denis (approximate averages).

Reunion🎉 Festivals & events in Reunion
  • December 20
    Fèt KafCommemorates the abolition of slavery with maloya music and gatherings.
  • October-November
    DipavaliTamil communities celebrate the festival of lights with parades and lamps.
  • October
    Grand RaidA famously tough ultra-trail race across the island known as the 'Diagonale des Fous'.
  • January-February
    Chinese New YearDragon dances and festivities in Saint-Denis and other towns.
Reunion🧭 Reunion itinerary ideas

How many days in Reunion?

5 daysVolcano and coast

Day 1 Saint-Denis. Day 2 Piton de la Fournaise, Day 3 Cilaos, Day 4-5 Saint-Gilles for the lagoon and beaches.

10 daysHiker's Réunion

Day 1 Saint-Denis, Day 2-3 Salazie and Hell-Bourg, Day 4-6 trek across Mafate. Day 7 Cilaos and canyoning, Day 8 Piton de la Fournaise, Day 9-10 Saint-Gilles and Saint-Leu.

Reunion🎒 Backpacking Reunion – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $60–90 a day

  • Car Jaune buses link coastal towns cheaply, but renting a car is easier for the interior.
  • Mountain gîtes in Mafate and Cilaos are affordable and social – book ahead in high season.
  • Eat at snack bars and roadside stalls for samosas and bouchons.
  • Many hikes are free and well-marked, making Réunion great for budget adventurers.
  • Visit in shoulder months to save on flights from mainland France.
Reunion🛡️ Safety & money in Reunion

Stay safe

  • Réunion is safe for travellers, but take normal precautions with valuables.
  • Shark risk is significant outside protected lagoons – swim only in authorised areas.
  • Check volcano and weather conditions before hiking, as mountain fog and rain come quickly.
  • Bring proper hiking gear and water – trails are steep and demanding.

Money

  • Réunion uses the euro.
  • Cards are widely accepted, but carry cash for small gîtes and markets.
  • Tipping isn't expected, though leaving small change is appreciated.

Emergency: 112 · 17 police · 18 fire · 15 ambulance

Reunion🛬 Getting to Reunion

Roland Garros Airport near Saint-Denis has flights from Paris, Mauritius, Madagascar and other Indian Ocean islands. Pierrefonds Airport in the south handles some regional flights.

✈️ Cheap flights to Reunion: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Reunion💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Reunion
  • Réunion is part of France and of the European Union, lying in the Indian Ocean.
  • Piton des Neiges is the highest peak in the Indian Ocean.
  • Some of the world's highest recorded rainfall totals over a few days were measured in Réunion.
  • The island's Creole language is widely spoken alongside French.
  • Réunion has no native land mammals besides bats.
Reunion❓ Reunion travel FAQ

Reunion travel questions

Is Réunion safe for tourists?

Yes, Réunion is generally safe. The main hazards are natural, including sharks outside lagoons and changeable mountain weather.

When is the best time to visit Réunion?

May to November is ideal for hiking with cooler, drier weather. January to March is the cyclone season.

How many days do you need in Réunion?

Five days covers the volcano and coast. Ten days or more is better for trekking the cirques.

Do I need a visa for Réunion?

It depends on your passport. Réunion has its own entry rules within France, so check the official government site or embassy before you travel.

What language is spoken in Réunion?

French is official, and Réunion Creole is widely spoken. English is less common, so a few French phrases help.

Reunion💰 What a trip costs
$$$price level
$60–90backpacker / day
$140–240mid-range / day

Approximate daily cost per person (stay, food, local transport).

Reunion🚌 Getting around

Renting a car is the easiest way to explore, though mountain roads are very winding. Car Jaune buses connect the coastal towns and some interior villages.

Reunion🛕 Sacred & spiritual places
  • Notre-Dame-des-Laves – Church famously spared when lava flowed around it in 1977
Reunion🤝 Local etiquette
  • Greet shopkeepers with 'Bonjour' when entering
  • Dress respectfully in temples and churches
  • Stay on marked trails and respect hiking signs

📰 Older Reunion stories Everything our agents ever found – keeps loading as you scroll

🧭 Nearby countries

Mauritius
MauritiusTurquoise lagoons, volcanic peaks and a mix of cultures
Madagascar
MadagascarLemurs, baobab avenues and wild island landscapes
Comoros
ComorosPerfume islands of volcanoes, vanilla and quiet reefs
Seychelles
SeychellesGranite boulders, white sand and giant tortoises
Mozambique
MozambiqueIndian Ocean islands, coral reefs and Portuguese charm
Malawi
MalawiThe warm heart of Africa and its great freshwater lake
Eswatini
EswatiniA small kingdom of game reserves, culture and mountain trails
Tanzania
TanzaniaSerengeti safaris, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar beaches
Advertise with usYour brand hereBottom banner · 970 x 90Book this space →