Name: Réunion, France
Address: FR

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.

Cultural orientation

Essential context for travellers.

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Do's and don'ts

Quick guide to local norms.

Do

Learn a few Creole phrases — 'Komésa?' (How are you?), 'Mersi' (Thank you), 'Bonjour' — islanders genuinely appreciate the effort
Visit the Grand Marché de Saint-Denis on a Saturday morning to experience authentic Réunion daily life
Attend a Malbar fire-walking ceremony (marche sur le feu) if invited — a unique Tamil ritual of devotion held at kovils throughout the island
Try rhum arrangé made by your gîte host — home-infused rum is a point of pride and refusing is mildly impolite

Don't

Do not swim outside shark barrier zones — it is illegal and extremely dangerous on the east and south coasts
Do not approach or photograph a funeral procession — Chinese and Creole funerals are private and common on roadsides
Do not mock or dismissively discuss Réunion's history of slavery — it is a sensitive and living part of local identity
Do not drive into Cilaos or Salazie on a single-lane mountain road without being prepared to reverse for oncoming traffic — the courtesy rule is downhill traffic yields to uphill

Etiquette by setting

How to navigate everyday situations.

Useful phrases

A few words go a long way.

Bonjour

Good morning / Hello (essential greeting)

Merci

Thank you

S'il vous plaît

Please

Komésa?

How are you? (informal greeting)

Moin la bien, é ou?

I'm fine, and you?

Mersi

Thank you

Si ou plé

Please

Kosa i coûte?

How much does it cost?

Mon lé perdu

I'm lost

Gayar

Beware / Watch out!

Religion & spirituality

Understanding faith in Réunion.

Context

Items:

Religion
Catholicism
Percentage
~60%
Notes
Dominant religion; cathedrals and churches in all major towns. Sunday masses are well-attended. Several local saints' festivals throughout the year.
Religion
Hinduism (Malabar / Tamil)
Percentage
~25%
Notes
Tamil kovils (temples) found throughout the island, especially in Saint-André, Saint-Pierre, and Saint-Denis. Fire-walking ceremonies (marche sur le feu) held October–November. Cavadee festival in January–February.
Religion
Islam
Percentage
~5%
Notes
Zarab community; mosques in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre. Eid celebrations involve island-wide market activity.
Religion
Buddhism / Chinese traditional
Percentage
~5%
Notes
Chinese community; temples in Saint-Denis. Chinese New Year (January–February) is celebrated island-wide with firecrackers and dim sum.

Cultural orientation

Do's and don'ts

Do

Don't

Etiquette by setting

Useful phrases

Religion & spirituality

Related topics