What to See in Réunion

last edited Dec 11, 2019

Contributions version #1 created Dec 11, 2019 Report this page

Location Map of Réunion

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Réunion has a collection of sites inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2010. This collection, called "Pitons, Cirques and Ramparts of Réunion Island," covers about 40% of the department's area and includes the island's two volcanoes (Piton des Neiges and Fournaise), the three cirques (Mafate, Cilaos, and Salazie), as well as the Plaine des Palmistes.

The Coastline

Boucan Canot
A well-frequented and pleasant beach resort officially located in the municipality of Saint-Paul.

Bras Panon
A small town in the northeast of Réunion, about thirty kilometres from Saint-Denis.

Étang Salé
A seaside locality with a black sand beach just before Saint-Louis when coming from the north. The town is home to a crocodile farm.

L'Ermitage Beach
In the shade of the casuarina trees, this is the island's longest beach. Like Boucan and Saint-Gilles, it is part of the Saint-Paul municipality.

Saint-André
It's the largest city in the northeast of Réunion. It has Tamil temples and a small amusement park.

Saint-Benoît
It’s the last town on the east coast when coming from Saint-Denis.

Saint-Denis
The prefecture of Réunion has only a few old buildings and two museums. For tourism, the city mainly serves as the arrival point on the island.

Saint-Gilles
Located on the northwest coast and officially part of the Saint-Paul municipality, it is the main seaside resort of Réunion, with its share of (large) hotels and its marina. You can surf or go diving here. Saint-Gilles is also home to the Réunion aquarium and a lovely landscaped garden ("Eden Garden").

Saint-Joseph
This is the southernmost municipality in the department. On its outskirts, you’ll find several beaches, including Manapany, a favorite among surfers, as well as the beautiful Langevin River with its small waterfalls.

Saint-Leu
A seaside resort between Saint-Pierre and Saint-Denis with great surfing, diving, and paragliding spots. In the town, you can visit several museums (salt museum, Stella Matutina sugar cane museum, Mascarin botanical conservatory) as well as a sea turtle observation centre ("Kelonia").

Saint-Louis
One of Réunion’s "major towns" with over 50,000 inhabitants, though not necessarily one of the most tourist-focused.

Saint-Paul
This large municipality is best known for its "localities"; including Saint-Gilles, Boucan Canot beaches, and Maïdo Peak. In Saint-Paul itself, however, you can visit the Marine Cemetery, where many pirates are buried, and the Cave of the First French.

Saint-Philippe
This large village in the south of Réunion marks the start of the stunning Lava Route. Here you can visit the garden of perfumes and spices.

Saint-Pierre
It is the third-largest urban area in Réunion. A lively seaside resort with its waterfront and marina.

Sainte-Marie
East of Saint-Denis, the town is home to Roland Garros Airport and houses several religious sites (Black Virgin, Jesuit cemetery, etc.).

Sainte-Rose
A locality in the southeast of Réunion, at the end of the Lava Road. The village is famous for its church, Notre Dame des Laves, encircled by a lava flow (now solidified) in 1977.

Natural Heritage

Anse des Cascades
The sea, a small landing stage for fishermen's boats, an expanse planted with palm trees, and waterfalls cascading down the surrounding basalt cliffs.

Grande Anse
A very pretty little beach south of Saint-Pierre. It’s particularly busy on weekends.

The Blowhole
A powerful spray of sea water shooting several metres high. This natural wonder is located on the coastline of the municipality of Saint-Leu.

Langevin River
In the south of the island, a small road follows the river to the Grand-Galet waterfall. You can hike in the surrounding area.

Sainte-Suzanne River
This small river in the northeast of Réunion is fed by beautiful waterfalls (including Niagara Falls). You can also go canyoning here.

Lava Route
This section of the RN2, running from Saint-Philippe to Sainte-Rose in the south of the island, is one of the most beautiful on Réunion. Skirting the rugged coastline, it crosses the Grand Brûlé, a vast area where lava flows from the Piton de la Fournaise’s numerous eruptions have solidified.

Coastal Road
This is the national road that circles the island along the coast. For visitors, it’s essentially a scenic route that reveals the island’s diverse landscapes and the striking contrasts between the developed west coast and the wilder east.

Tamarins Scenic Route
This is the former coastal road linking Saint-Paul to L'Étang-Salé, now paralleled by a faster route. The original road runs along the coastline, offering some beautiful marine landscapes.

The "Hauts" (Inland Areas)

Cilaos
At the heart of the island and the cirque of the same name, Cilaos is famous for its wine and lentils. But it is also, and above all, a base for exploring the surrounding area, especially on foot.

Hell-Bourg
This hamlet in the municipality of Salazie is certified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France". Several waterfalls and hikes to explore in the surrounding area.

Le Tampon
It is the main inland city and the gateway to the scenic route leading to the heart of the island, particularly to Piton de la Fournaise.

Plaine des Palmistes
A commune between Plaine des Cafres and Saint-Benoît on the RN3 road that crosses the island through its centre.

Salazie
In the northern part of Réunion, the small town of Salazie lies at the heart of the cirque of the same name, offering numerous hiking opportunities.

Natural Heritage

Cilaos Cirque
This vast valley, with the town of Cilaos at its heart, is a favorite among visitors for its landscapes and hiking opportunities. Like the island's other cirques, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Mafate Cirque
It's the most isolated and beautiful of Réunion's three UNESCO-listed cirques. Accessible only by hiking trails.

Salazie Cirque
It’s a stunning cirque with beautiful landscapes, waterfalls like "Bridal Veil Falls," and above all, countless hiking opportunities.

Belouve and Bébour Forests
A stunning high-altitude forest complex stretching between Plaine des Palmistes and the Cirque de Salazie, perfect for hiking.

Maïdo
It’s a rocky peak overlooking the Mafate cirque. A highly popular tourist destination (the second most visited site on the island), it offers not only stunning landscapes and panoramic views but also hiking opportunities and a mountain-biking trail that descends all the way to Saint-Gilles, by the sea.

Réunion National Park
This new label brings together all the cirques and other peaks in the island’s centre, now also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area covers over 40% of Réunion’s territory.

Pas de Bellecombe
This pass offers an extraordinary viewpoint over the Fournaise and is the most visited natural site on Réunion.

Piton de la Fournaise
This is the (very) active volcano of Réunion. You can hike here and sometimes even witness its eruptions from the "Pas de Bellecombe". It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Piton des Neiges
This is the summit of Réunion (3,070 m) and can be climbed on a trek. Nearby is the impressive Trou de Fer canyon, which has become a tourist attraction thanks to helicopter flyovers and canyoning opportunities.

Cafres Plain
A high plateau on the volcano route between Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise. The area is a great starting point for hikes in these directions. It’s also on Cafres Plain that the Volcano House is located—a superb museum dedicated to volcanism.

Plains of Sands
A stunning desert expanse of volcanic scoria between the Plains of Cafres and the Piton de la Fournaise. It’s crossed by the volcano road.

Volcano Road
A highly popular route, this magnificent little road starts from the upper part of the Tampon municipality (Bourg Murat) and ends at the Pas de Bellecombe, which overlooks the Piton de la Fournaise volcano.

Takamaka Valley
A beautiful valley in eastern Réunion. It is one of the wettest places in the world. Canyoning and rafting are possible here.