Réunion is a French overseas region and department in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Madagascar and 200 km south-west of Mauritius. This volcanic island of extraordinary drama packs an active volcano, three steep-walled cirques, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain core, dense rainforest, and a warm lagoon into 2,512 km². It is simultaneously French enough to accept euros and credit cards everywhere, and exotic enough to feel like another world entirely.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Réunion.
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1
Piton de la Fournaise
One of the world's most active shield volcanoes, with eruptions occurring every year or two, often flowing across the surrounding Plaine des Sables lava desert rather than exploding violently. The standard visit is the hike from the Pas de Bellecombe car park down into the caldera and up to the crater rim, roughly 2-3 hours each way over bare lava rock with no shade. The Maison du Volcan in Bourg-Murat explains the eruption history and lets you see webcam feeds when the summit is closed to hikers.
Tip: Check the volcanic alert level before driving up; the trail closes without notice during eruptions. · Start at first light, as cloud usually covers the summit by late morning. · Carry at least two litres of water, since the lava has no shade or water sources. · Wear sturdy closed shoes; the sharp lava rock wears out thin soles. · Visit mid-week for fewer hikers on the trail. · Fill the fuel tank in Bourg-Murat, as there are no services at the car park.
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2
Cirque de Mafate
The most isolated of Réunion's three volcanic cirques, reachable only on foot or by helicopter since no road reaches its floor. A dozen or so small hamlets like La Nouvelle and Marla sit scattered across the terraced interior, connected by a network of steep ridge-and-valley trails that multi-day trekkers use to move between gîtes. The lack of vehicle access is what preserves the near-total quiet inside the amphitheatre of cliffs.
Tip: Book gîte beds well ahead through the Maison de la Montagne, especially in July and August. · Start early; cloud typically fills the cirque by mid-morning. · Carry cash and supplies, as no cash machines or large shops exist inside. · Plan the climb out carefully; it is much harder than the descent. · Pack rain gear even in the dry season, as weather shifts quickly. · Pay for drinks and snacks at the gîtes, which carry everything in on foot.
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3
Cirque de Cilaos
A volcanic amphitheatre reached by a mountain road with well over a hundred hairpin bends, ending at the spa town of Cilaos which grew up around thermal springs discovered in the 19th century. The cirque is now a base for hiking to Piton des Neiges, Réunion's highest peak, and for wine growing at unusually high altitude for the tropics. The drive itself, cut into the cliff face with several one-lane tunnels, is as much a feature of a visit as the town.
Tip: Drive the access road in daylight, as the tunnels are narrow and hairpins tiring. · Go in the morning, before afternoon cloud fills the cirque. · Allow extra time on market days when delivery trucks slow the road. · Try the local lentil dishes and wine in the village. · Stop at the tourist office for current trail conditions. · Take the Car Jaune line 4 if uncomfortable driving mountain roads.
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4
Cirque de Salazie & Hell-Bourg
The greenest and wettest of the three cirques, its steep slopes covered in tree ferns and laced with waterfalls fed by some of the highest rainfall on the island. Hell-Bourg sits inside it as the cirque's main village, historically a thermal spa town for colonial-era visitors before a landslide destroyed the original springs. The road in passes the Voile de la Mariée waterfall, a set of thin cascades that give the cirque its reputation for lushness.
Tip: Plan waterfall viewing for the morning, before cloud builds up the valley. · Carry a rain jacket, as showers can arrive at any hour. · Stop at the roadside pullout for the best view of the Voile de la Mariée. · Visit after rain when all the waterfall strands are flowing. · Take Car Jaune line 18 from Saint-André if not driving. · Drive carefully; the RD48 is narrow and winding in places.
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5
Le Maïdo Viewpoint
A cliff-edge lookout at the western rim of Cirque de Mafate, reached by a paved road that climbs from the coast at Saint-Paul through several vegetation zones to over 2,000 metres. From the platform the Mafate hamlets and their surrounding ridgelines are laid out below in one continuous panorama, which is otherwise only seen by trekkers on multi-day walks inside the cirque. It's also a known spot for watching the sunrise above a sea of clouds.
Tip: Arrive before 06:30 for sunrise, as cloud fills the cirque by mid-morning. · Bring warm layers; the summit is much cooler than the coast. · The car park closes at 18:30, so plan the return drive accordingly. · Visit on a weekday in the dry season to avoid crowded car parks. · Fuel up before leaving Saint-Paul, as the road climbs steeply. · Carry a hot drink for pre-dawn arrivals.
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6
Plaine des Sables
A high-altitude lava desert between Bourg-Murat and the Pas de Bellecombe trailhead, its reddish-grey volcanic gravel and total lack of vegetation giving it a landscape unlike anywhere else on the island. The access road crosses it in a series of switchbacks before dropping to the Piton de la Fournaise car park, and the plain itself is often compared to Mars-like or lunar terrain because of its color and barrenness. It formed from ash and cinder deposits rather than solid lava flows.
Tip: Fill up with fuel in Bourg-Murat; no services exist on the plain. · Visit in the morning for clearer light and fewer clouds. · Bring a hat, sun protection and water, as there is no shade. · Check eruption status before driving, as the road closes during eruptions. · Pack a windproof layer for sudden temperature drops. · Stay on marked areas near fragile cones.
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7
Hell-Bourg Village
A small village inside Cirque de Salazie known for its cluster of well-preserved 19th-century Creole houses with carved wooden lambrequin trim, built during the town's era as a spa resort. It's regularly cited among the most beautiful villages in France for this concentration of traditional architecture packed into a compact, walkable centre. Its position deep in the cirque, ringed by green cliffs, is part of what gives the streets their closed-in, mountain-town feel.
Tip: Walk the village on foot, as streets are narrow and parking is limited. · Arrive in the morning for clearer mountain views. · A loop of the main lanes takes under an hour; allow longer for museum houses. · Carry a rain jacket, since showers are frequent. · Eat lunch at a Creole restaurant, which can fill at weekends. · Take Car Jaune line 18 from Saint-André if not driving.
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8
Anse des Cascades
A small cove on the volcanic east coast near Sainte-Rose where several freshwater cascades drop directly from the cliff into a grove of coconut palms right at the shoreline, with the Indian Ocean crashing against black lava rock just beyond. Fishing boats are traditionally launched from the cove, and the flat palm-shaded area around the falls is set up with picnic tables. It sits close to the 1977 lava flow at Piton Sainte-Rose, so it's often visited alongside that site.
Tip: Visit on a weekday morning to avoid weekend picnic crowds. · Combine the stop with Notre-Dame-des-Laves church nearby. · Do not swim in the sea, as swell and currents are strong. · Wear shoes with grip, as paths can be slippery. · Restaurant lunch service runs Tuesday to Sunday. · Bring a rain jacket for passing showers.
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9
Grand Bassin & Voile de la Mariée
Grand Bassin is a natural amphitheatre at the bottom of a cirque where two waterfalls, including the Voile de la Mariée (Bridal Veil), drop into a pool ringed by steep cliffs. There's no road in: the hamlet is reached only on foot, either by a steep descent from Bras Sec or via a cable-car-assisted trail from Bourg-Murat, and a handful of creole families still live there without vehicle access. The payoff is the view down into the cirque and the pools at the bottom, which are used for swimming when water levels allow.
Tip: Start early so the climb out is not in afternoon heat. · Carry plenty of water; the return climb is the hardest part. · Wear sturdy shoes, as steps can be slippery after rain. · Visit in the morning for best light on the waterfall. · Swim only when water levels are low and calm. · Weekdays are quieter than weekends.
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10
Plage de l'Hermitage
This is the widest stretch of the lagoon-protected beach on Réunion's west coast, where a coral reef offshore keeps the water calm and shallow enough for swimming and snorkelling year-round. The sand is bordered by filao trees that provide shade close to the water, and the shallow lagoon here is one of the more reliable spots on the island to see reef fish without a boat. It sits at the edge of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, so cafés and rental shops are a short walk away rather than on the beach itself.
Tip: Swim within the lifeguarded area, staffed 09:00–17:00 in season. · Stay in sandy channels and avoid stepping on the coral. · Arrive in the morning for shade and calm water. · Use reef-safe sun protection and a hat. · Rent snorkel gear from nearby shops. · Visit on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds.
Attractions by category
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Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide to visit Piton de la Fournaise?
No guide is required for the main summit trail (Pas de Bellecombe trailhead) when the volcano is not erupting. The trail is well-marked. Guided tours add expertise; book with Réunion Découverte at +262 262 26 06 10.
Is Cirque de Mafate accessible without hiking?
Helicopter transfers to Mafate are available from Héli Réunion at Saint-Pierre aerodrome (tel: +262 262 55 67 00); one-way from €120 per person (~$130). There is no road access.
Is Réunion safe for tourists?
Yes. The west coast lagoon is safe for swimming with shark barriers. East and south coast swimming is prohibited. Follow OVPF volcanic alerts before visiting the volcano.