5 Best Places to Visit in Réunion

Réunion packs an active volcano, three vast mountain amphitheatres, waterfalls tumbling straight out of the rainforest and a coral-reef coastline onto an island you can drive around in a day. A large part of its interior is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it's one of the best hiking destinations anywhere in the Indian Ocean. Here are five places that show what makes it worth the long flight.

1. Piton de la Fournaise

One of the most active volcanoes in the world, rising to about 2,632 metres in the island's south-east and erupting frequently — often more than once a year. The classic viewpoint is Pas de Bellecombe, on the rim of the Enclos Fouqué caldera, reached by a scenic road across the reddish, moon-like Plaine des Sables; from there a marked trail leads down across old lava flows toward the summit crater. Access is closed during eruptions, so check the prefecture's current status before you set out.

2. Cirque de Cilaos

One of Réunion's three great cirques — huge amphitheatres of cliffs left behind by the collapse of the island's older volcano, Piton des Neiges. The road up to the village of Cilaos is famous for its hundreds of tight hairpin bends, and the village itself, with its white church of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, is known for its thermal springs, lentils and wine. It's also the most popular starting point for the climb to the summit of Piton des Neiges, the highest point in the Indian Ocean at just over 3,000 metres.

3. Grand Galet Falls

Also known as the Cascade de Langevin, this curtain of waterfalls spills down a mossy, fern-covered cliff in the Langevin river valley near Saint-Joseph, in the island's wild south. It's one of the most photographed spots on Réunion, reached by a short walk from the road, and the river pools below are a favourite spot for locals to cool off on hot days.

4. The west-coast lagoons

Réunion's calm, swimmable beaches sit along the drier west coast, where a fringing coral reef shelters shallow lagoons from the Indian Ocean swell — the white line of breaking surf offshore marks the reef edge. The stretch from Saint-Gilles-les-Bains through L'Hermitage and La Saline is the best known, and the reef is protected as part of the Réunion Marine Nature Reserve, so snorkellers can see plenty of fish in knee- to waist-deep water.

5. Saint-Denis

Réunion's capital sits on the north coast, where most visitors arrive through Roland Garros airport. Its seafront faces a pebble shoreline rather than a sandy beach, and the town is best explored on foot: Creole villas with wrought-iron verandas line Rue de Paris, the Jardin de l'État botanical garden sits at its top end, and the Barachois seafront promenade is where locals gather at sunset.

Staying connected while you travel

Mobile coverage is strong along the coast and in the main towns, including Cilaos and Saint-Denis, but it gets patchy on remote hiking trails and in the deepest valleys of the cirques — download offline maps before heading into the mountains. A travel eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming for anyone without an EU mobile contract.

Running a promo code for Réunion right now:

Telekonek

15% off your first order — WELCOME15

-15%

Stay connected in 200+ countries the moment you land — skip the roaming bills and SIM swaps on your very first trip.

Public promo Ends Oct 21, 2026

WELCOME15 Get this deal

Airalo

15% off your first Airalo eSIM with NEWTOAIRALO15

-15%

New customers only, first order; the discount is capped at $3 per Airalo's terms.

Public promo Ends Dec 31, 2026

NEWTOAIRALO15 Get this deal

Roamless

Welcome Gift — Free Single Global eSIM + 10% off

-10%

Get your free Single Global eSIM now. Use code WEB101 for 10% off your first purchase.

Public promo

WEB101 Get this deal

New to eSIMs? Read our beginner's guide on how they work, compare all Réunion eSIM plans side by side, or see our best eSIM for Réunion guide.