Things to do in Réunion

25 things to do in Réunion

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Hike to the rim of the Piton de la Fournaise crater

  Trek across lunar landscapes to the edge of one of the world's most active volcanoes, where you can peer into the red-hot caldera.

  Pas de Bellecombe, Réunion Island

• Watch sunrise from the summit of Piton des Neiges

  Begin an early morning hike to the highest peak in the Indian Ocean, where dawn breaks above a sea of clouds with views of the island’s three cirques.

  Cilaos trailhead, Réunion Island

• Canyoning in the Trou de Fer gorge

  Descend into the 'Iron Hole', a deep canyon filled with waterfalls, including the dramatic cascade that plunges 300 meters into the mist.

  Salazie, Réunion Island

• Explore the remote villages of Cirque de Mafate on foot

  Trek into this isolated caldera, accessible only by trail, where colorful Creole hamlets like La Nouvelle and Marla offer a timeless mountain escape.

  Mafate, Réunion Island

• Swim in the turquoise pools of Bassin Bleu

  Follow a short jungle path to a series of clear pools fed by a waterfall, where you can cool off in emerald water surrounded by basalt cliffs.

  Saint-Philippe, Réunion Island

• Taste authentic cari poulet at a local table d’hôte in Cilaos

  Savor a spicy chicken curry simmered with local spices, served with rice, grains, and rougail, in the cozy setting of a family-run guesthouse.

  Cilaos village

• Learn about rum-making at La Saga du Rhum museum

  Discover the history of Réunion’s rum industry through interactive exhibits at this former family distillery, ending with a tasting of award-winning rums.

  Saint-Pierre

• Snorkel in the lagoon of L’Ermitage-les-Bains

  Glide over coral gardens teeming with butterflyfish and parrotfish in the calm, protected waters of the island’s best swimming beach.

  Ermitage-les-Bains, Saint-Gilles

• Visit the miraculously spared Notre-Dame des Laves church

  See the Catholic church that survived the 1977 lava flow, which split and flowed around it, leaving a surreal testament to faith and geology.

  Piton Sainte-Rose

• Paraglide above the turquoise lagoon of Saint-Leu

  Soar from the heights of Saint-Leu, catching thermals over sugarcane fields before landing on the beach with panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.

  Saint-Leu

• Hike through the cloud forest to Trou de Fer viewpoint

  Follow a trail through the misty Forêt de Bélouve, alive with tree ferns and endemic birds, to the edge of a vertiginous viewpoint overlooking the ‘Iron Hole’ canyon.

  Forêt de Bélouve, Salazie

• Walk through the lava tube of the 2004 eruption

  Explore a subterranean tunnel formed by flowing lava, illuminated by headlamps, revealing frozen waves of basalt and stalactite-like formations.

  Tunnel de Feu, Saint-Philippe

• Stroll the colorful market of Saint-Paul along the seafront

  Browse stalls piled high with spices, handwoven baskets, tropical fruits, and local crafts at one of the island’s liveliest open-air markets.

  Saint-Paul

• Attend a maloya music session at a kabar in Hell-Bourg

  Feel the pulse of Réunionese identity as drummers, singers, and dancers perform this UNESCO-listed traditional music in a village square or bar.

  Hell-Bourg, Salazie

• Drive along the wild coast to Cap Méchant

  Stop at dramatic cliffs where waves explode against black lava formations, with views of sugarcane fields and the vast ocean stretching to Antarctica.

  Cap Méchant, Saint-Philippe

• Taste fresh lychees and vanilla at Bras-Panon market

  Sample the fragrant local lychees (in season) and hand-pollinated Bourbon vanilla pods directly from growers in this small eastern town.

  Bras-Panon

• Visit the colonial Jardin de l’État in Saint-Denis

  Wander through historic gardens planted with rare endemic trees, past the natural history museum housed in a former governor’s residence.

  Saint-Denis

• Descend into the crater of Commerson for a surreal hike

  Trek down into an ancient volcanic crater now blanketed in lush vegetation, passing through bamboo and giant heather on the way to the bottom.

  Plaine des Cafres

• Sunset drinks with a view over the bay of Saint-Gilles

  Sip a rum cocktail at a beachfront bar as the sun sinks into the Indian Ocean, casting golden light over the moored sailboats.

  Saint-Gilles-les-Bains

• Go whale watching off the coast of Saint-Leu (June to October)

  Board a zodiac to witness humpback whales breaching and slapping their fins, with the volcanic peak of Piton des Neiges as a backdrop.

  Saint-Leu

• Visit the Musée de Villèle to understand plantation history

  Explore a former sugar plantation house and its slave quarters, which provide a sobering insight into Réunion’s colonial past and the history of slavery.

  Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts

• Canyoneering down the Langevin River waterfalls

  Rappel beside huge cascades like Grand Galet, slide down natural water chutes, and jump into crystal-clear pools in a wild tropical gorge.

  Langevin, Saint-Joseph

• Discover the hidden Anse des Cascades, a bay of waterfalls

  Walk among palm trees and flamboyants to a picturesque cove where several waterfalls tumble directly onto a rocky beach, a feast for the senses.

  Anse des Cascades, Sainte-Rose

• Try samoussas and bonbons piments at a street stall in Saint-Denis

  Bite into crispy triangular samosas stuffed with cheese or meat, and spicy lentil fritters, the island’s favorite savory snacks.

  Saint-Denis

• Take a scenic helicopter flight over the cirques and volcano

  Hover above the dramatic amphitheaters of Mafate, Salazie, and Cilaos, then circle the smoking crater of Piton de la Fournaise for an unforgettable aerial perspective.

  Saint-Pierre heliport