Africa · Eastern Africa
Réunion
Réunion Island
🏛️ Capital
Saint-Denis
👥 Population
896,175
📐 Area
2,511 km²
💱 Currency
euro (€)
🗣️ Languages
French
📞 Calling Code
+262
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+04:00
🌐 Region
Africa / Eastern Africa
About Réunion
Réunion is a volcanic island in the Indian Ocean that stops you in your tracks — an overseas region of France where the world-class hiking and raw geological drama of one of Earth's most active volcanoes coexist with turquoise lagoons, French patisseries, and one of the most diverse cuisines you'll ever encounter. Located about 700 kilometers east of Madagascar, this small island of roughly 2,511 square kilometers is a place of staggering contrasts: its western coast lined with resort beaches and calm lagoon waters, its mountainous interior sliced by three dramatic calderas carved by ancient volcanic collapses.
The cirques of Mafate, Salazie, and Cilaos are the island's crown jewels — vast, cathedral-like amphitheaters surrounded by walls of basalt and tropical forest, accessible primarily on foot. Mafate, where no roads penetrate, can only be reached by hiking trails or helicopter, and its isolated hamlets feel like windows into another era. The Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world's most active shield volcanoes, erupts multiple times each year and draws volcanologists and adventure travelers to witness rivers of lava pouring across the moonscape of the Plaine des Sables.
Yet Réunion is equally about sensory pleasure — the perfume of ylang-ylang and geranium grown for the French perfume industry, the warmth of "Creole" culture that has blended African, Indian, Chinese, and European influences into something unique and joyful, and tables laden with a cuisine so complex and delicious it has earned UNESCO recognition. This is France with a tropical soul, and it will leave you wanting to return.
The cirques of Mafate, Salazie, and Cilaos are the island's crown jewels — vast, cathedral-like amphitheaters surrounded by walls of basalt and tropical forest, accessible primarily on foot. Mafate, where no roads penetrate, can only be reached by hiking trails or helicopter, and its isolated hamlets feel like windows into another era. The Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world's most active shield volcanoes, erupts multiple times each year and draws volcanologists and adventure travelers to witness rivers of lava pouring across the moonscape of the Plaine des Sables.
Yet Réunion is equally about sensory pleasure — the perfume of ylang-ylang and geranium grown for the French perfume industry, the warmth of "Creole" culture that has blended African, Indian, Chinese, and European influences into something unique and joyful, and tables laden with a cuisine so complex and delicious it has earned UNESCO recognition. This is France with a tropical soul, and it will leave you wanting to return.
History & Background
Réunion was uninhabited when Arab navigators first recorded it in the 9th century and again when Portuguese explorers stopped briefly in the 16th century. The French East India Company established a permanent settlement on the island in 1665, naming it Bourbon. The island's economy was built on the labor of enslaved Africans and Malagasy people who worked the coffee and sugarcane plantations that transformed the landscape from the 17th century onward. After slavery's abolition in 1848 — on August 20, the date now celebrated as the island's liberation day — the plantation system relied on indentured workers brought from India and China.
Réunion became a French department in 1946, giving its residents full French citizenship and access to France's social welfare systems, fundamentally transforming the island's political and economic trajectory. The decades following departmentalization brought significant investment in infrastructure, education, and health. Today Réunion is a thriving overseas region of France and of the European Union, balancing strong ties to the French mainland with an intensely local Creole identity that continues to evolve and assert itself through arts, language, and cultural activism.
Réunion became a French department in 1946, giving its residents full French citizenship and access to France's social welfare systems, fundamentally transforming the island's political and economic trajectory. The decades following departmentalization brought significant investment in infrastructure, education, and health. Today Réunion is a thriving overseas region of France and of the European Union, balancing strong ties to the French mainland with an intensely local Creole identity that continues to evolve and assert itself through arts, language, and cultural activism.
Culture & People
Réunion's culture is a living testament to the island's history as a crossroads of peoples from four continents. The term "Creole" here refers not only to the French-based Creole language spoken alongside French, but to a broader cultural identity forged from the intermingling of French, African Malagasy, Indian (Tamil and Malabar), Chinese, and Comorian heritages. This "métissage" — cultural mixing — is a source of immense island pride and is visible in every aspect of daily life, from festivals and religious observances to music, art, and cuisine.
The calendar brims with cultural celebrations: the Diwali festival of lights, the Tamil fire-walking ceremony (Cavadee), the Chinese New Year parade in Saint-Denis, and the island's own Fête du Safran in Plaine-des-Cafres. The maloya — a hypnotic, Africa-rooted musical form born from the island's history of slavery — has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Séga music and dance, shared with neighboring Mauritius and the Seychelles, provides the lighter, more festive counterpoint. Réunionnais are deeply proud of this rich plurality and welcome visitors warmly into its celebration.
The calendar brims with cultural celebrations: the Diwali festival of lights, the Tamil fire-walking ceremony (Cavadee), the Chinese New Year parade in Saint-Denis, and the island's own Fête du Safran in Plaine-des-Cafres. The maloya — a hypnotic, Africa-rooted musical form born from the island's history of slavery — has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Séga music and dance, shared with neighboring Mauritius and the Seychelles, provides the lighter, more festive counterpoint. Réunionnais are deeply proud of this rich plurality and welcome visitors warmly into its celebration.
Food & Cuisine
Réunion's cuisine is one of the most celebrated in the Indian Ocean world, recognized by UNESCO as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage alongside maloya music. The signature dish is rougail saucisse — pork sausages simmered in a piquant tomato and chili sauce served over white rice with red beans — a dish that encapsulates the island's Creole spirit in every bite. Carry-rice (cari) dishes featuring chicken, duck, pork, shrimp, or octopus cooked with turmeric, ginger, and tomatoes are ubiquitous and endlessly varied, each family jealously guarding its own recipe.
Street food culture centers around samosas (samoussa), bouchons (steamed Chinese pork dumplings), and the addictive bonbon piment (chili fritters). Achards — pickled vegetables or fruit spiced with turmeric, chili, and curry leaves — appear as condiments at virtually every meal. The island grows exceptional Bourbon Pointu coffee, recognized as one of the finest in the world, and produces vanilla, ylang-ylang, and Sichuan pepper used both locally and in French haute cuisine. For dessert, try tarte tatin made with local pineapple or a rum-soaked guava cake from any patisserie in Saint-Denis.
Street food culture centers around samosas (samoussa), bouchons (steamed Chinese pork dumplings), and the addictive bonbon piment (chili fritters). Achards — pickled vegetables or fruit spiced with turmeric, chili, and curry leaves — appear as condiments at virtually every meal. The island grows exceptional Bourbon Pointu coffee, recognized as one of the finest in the world, and produces vanilla, ylang-ylang, and Sichuan pepper used both locally and in French haute cuisine. For dessert, try tarte tatin made with local pineapple or a rum-soaked guava cake from any patisserie in Saint-Denis.
Top Attractions
- Piton de la Fournaise — One of the world's most active volcanoes, offering hiking across surreal lava fields to a smoking caldera that regularly produces spectacular lava flows.
- Cirque de Mafate — An isolated, roadless caldera accessible only on foot, dotted with remote hamlets where Creole communities maintain a way of life virtually unchanged for generations.
- Cirque de Cilaos — A dramatic highland basin ringed by peaks, famous for its thermal baths, embroidery tradition, and lentil cultivation at altitude, surrounded by breathtaking viewpoints.
- Piton des Neiges — The highest peak in the Indian Ocean at 3,070m, requiring a pre-dawn summit hike rewarded by sunrise views stretching across ocean clouds to Mauritius on clear days.
- Saint-Denis — The island's sophisticated capital blends French colonial architecture, a vibrant Creole market, excellent restaurants, and the extraordinary Jardin de l'État botanical garden.
- Lagon de Saint-Gilles — The island's premier beach and lagoon destination, offering protected snorkeling, glass-bottomed boat tours, and a lively resort strip with excellent seafood restaurants.
Practical Travel Tips
- Réunion uses the euro and French electrical standards (230V, Type E plugs) — it functions exactly like mainland France for most practical purposes.
- Rent a car to explore the island fully; public buses cover the coast but are infrequent to interior highland areas.
- Book guided hikes or gîtes (mountain lodges) in the cirques well in advance, particularly for Mafate which requires overnight stays.
- Check volcanic activity reports from the Piton de la Fournaise observatory (OVPF) before planning summit excursions.
- French is the official language; Creole is spoken widely, but French alone will get you everywhere.
- Shark risk exists along the west coast outside the lagoon — always swim within the netted or patrolled areas.
- Travel insurance that covers mountain rescue is strongly recommended for hikers tackling the cirques or the volcano.
Visa Overview
As an overseas region and integral part of France and the European Union, Réunion follows French and EU visa regulations. EU and EEA citizens require only a national identity card to enter. Citizens of countries with EU visa-free agreements — including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK — may visit for up to 90 days without a visa. Travelers from other nations should check requirements and apply for a Schengen visa through a French consulate or embassy. No vaccinations are mandatory, though standard tropical travel vaccinations are recommended.
Getting Around
Renting a car is the most convenient way to explore Réunion, and international driver's licenses are recognized. The main ring road circles the island's coast and is well-maintained; mountain roads into the cirques can be narrow and steep. Car rentals are available at Roland Garros International Airport and in Saint-Denis. An extensive public bus network (Car Jaune) covers the coastal route and connects to some inland towns, though frequency drops significantly in rural areas. Taxis are available but expensive; agree on the fare before departing.
Safety Notes
Réunion is one of the safest destinations in the Indian Ocean with low violent crime rates and French-standard public services. The main safety considerations are natural: volcanic activity on the eastern side of the island, cyclone risk from December to March, and shark attacks along the western coast outside designated protected swimming zones. Flash flooding can close hiking trails in the cirques with little warning. Always register hike plans with the ONF forest service, heed warning signs, and check weather and volcanic activity forecasts before any outdoor adventure.
Live Exchange Rates
Current exchange rates for currencies used in Réunion.
euro (EUR) €
Updated: 2026-08-20
euro (EUR) €
Updated: 2026-08-20
| Currency Code | Rate |
|---|---|
| 1INCH | 13.498135 |
| AAVE | 0.012207 |
| ADA | 6.274808 |
| AED | 4.289988 |
| AFN | 76.455547 |
| AGIX | 20.529179 |
| AKT | 2.272266 |
| ALGO | 14.189848 |
| ALL | 92.685141 |
| AMD | 424.027941 |
| AMP | 3,045.105625 |
| ANG | 2.092390 |
| AOA | 1,072.800048 |
| APE | 9.083432 |
| APT | 2.088233 |
| AR | 0.628490 |
| ARB | 13.355611 |
| ARS | 1,748.796683 |
| ATOM | 0.782760 |
| ATS | 13.760300 |
| AUD | 1.643352 |
| AVAX | 0.172446 |
| AWG | 2.090968 |
| AXS | 1.295990 |
| AZM | 9,928.939944 |
| AZN | 1.985788 |
| BAKE | 1,679.319615 |
| BAM | 1.955830 |
| BAT | 18.681877 |
| BBD | 2.336277 |
| BCH | 0.005530 |
| BDT | 142.135736 |
| BEF | 40.339900 |
| BGN | 1.955830 |
| BHD | 0.439220 |
| BIF | 3,474.425125 |
| BMD | 1.168138 |
| BNB | 0.001869 |
| BND | 1.485327 |
| BOB | 13.417154 |
| BRL | 6.049165 |
| BSD | 1.168138 |
| BSV | 0.072958 |
| BSW | 3,223.258550 |
| BTC | 0.000017 |
| BTCB | 19.735463 |
| BTG | 2.662160 |
| BTN | 111.698989 |
| BTT | 4,293,633.870463 |
| BUSD | 1.167363 |
| BWP | 15.712392 |
| BYN | 3.531873 |
| BYR | 22,892.119768 |
| BZD | 2.346397 |
| CAD | 1.612335 |
| CAKE | 0.724865 |
| CDF | 2,677.850523 |
| CELO | 18.665735 |
| CFX | 26.670481 |
| CHF | 0.932977 |
| CHZ | 91.379841 |
| CLP | 1,076.533162 |
| CNH | 7.856221 |
| CNY | 7.856620 |
| COMP | 0.063387 |
| COP | 3,566.077193 |
| CRC | 525.908198 |
| CRO | 23.443031 |
| CRV | 4.477219 |
| CSPR | 437.376052 |
| CUC | 1.167965 |
| CUP | 30.951080 |
| CVE | 110.2700 |
| CVX | 0.722160 |
| CYP | 0.585274 |
| CZK | 24.169588 |
| DAI | 1.167995 |
| DASH | 0.036762 |
| DCR | 0.098876 |
| DEM | 1.955830 |
| DFI | 1,173.949573 |
| DJF | 207.474605 |
| DKK | 7.475781 |
| DOGE | 15.559342 |
| DOP | 68.222254 |
| DOT | 1.475899 |
| DYDX | 10.619105 |
| DZD | 155.028351 |
| EEK | 15.646640 |
| EGLD | 0.411187 |
| EGP | 59.168004 |
| ENJ | 46.163995 |
| EOS | 17.699426 |
| ERN | 17.522076 |
| ESP | 166.3860 |
| ETB | 189.840962 |
| ETC | 0.177060 |
| ETH | 0.000517 |
| EURC | 1.007090 |
| FEI | 1.166659 |
| FIL | 1.735227 |
| FIM | 5.945730 |
| FJD | 2.570325 |
| FKP | 0.858509 |
| FLOW | 40.402035 |
| FLR | 181.679512 |
| FRAX | 1.178113 |
| FRF | 6.559570 |
| FTT | 5.628028 |
| GALA | 810.679960 |
| GBP | 0.858509 |
| GEL | 3.043474 |
| GGP | 0.858509 |
| GHC | 129,258.080826 |
| GHS | 12.925808 |
| GIP | 0.858509 |
| GMD | 86.563737 |
| GMX | 0.171685 |
| GNF | 10,251.220328 |
| GNO | 0.009637 |
| GRD | 340.750000 |
| GRT | 83.486314 |
| GT | 0.167849 |
| GTQ | 8.891317 |
| GUSD | 1.170061 |
| GYD | 242.978961 |
| HBAR | 16.482536 |
| HKD | 9.160613 |
| HNL | 31.229263 |
| HNT | 6.739420 |
| HOT | 3,459.133937 |
| HRK | 7.534500 |
| HT | 10.285845 |
| HTG | 151.930830 |
| HUF | 363.912152 |
| ICP | 0.503691 |
| IDR | 20,795.129467 |
| IEP | 0.787564 |
| ILS | 3.479186 |
| IMP | 0.858509 |
| IMX | 11.165802 |
| INJ | 0.251490 |
| INR | 111.698989 |
| IQD | 1,521.432984 |
| IRR | 1,605,485.093482 |
| ISK | 142.210760 |
| ITL | 1,936.270000 |
| JEP | 0.858509 |
| JMD | 183.506639 |
| JOD | 0.828210 |
| JPY | 184.981804 |
| KAS | 43.807615 |
| KAVA | 28.379937 |
| KCS | 0.160141 |
| KDA | 248.775858 |
| KES | 151.206276 |
| KGS | 102.263782 |
| KHR | 4,704.545984 |
| KLAY | 47.524124 |
| KMF | 491.967750 |
| KNC | 11.038440 |
| KPW | 1,051.169108 |
| KRW | 1,627.923719 |
| KSM | 0.379386 |
| KWD | 0.360072 |
| KYD | 0.970366 |
| KZT | 538.830177 |
| LAK | 26,188.725142 |
| LBP | 104,412.210169 |
| LDO | 3.447439 |
| LEO | 0.125630 |
| LINK | 0.111452 |
| LKR | 384.367548 |
| LRC | 146.833407 |
| LRD | 211.504891 |
| LSL | 18.807871 |
| LTC | 0.024865 |
| LTL | 3.452800 |
| LUF | 40.339900 |
| LUNA | 26.419400 |
| LUNC | 23,121.482124 |
| LVL | 0.702800 |
| LYD | 7.391687 |
| MAD | 10.810712 |
| MANA | 17.424385 |
| MBX | 56.487447 |
| MDL | 20.024216 |
| MGA | 5,003.343056 |
| MGF | 25,016.715279 |
| MINA | 27.334818 |
| MKD | 61.674485 |
| MKR | 0.000804 |
| MMK | 2,452.453344 |
| MNT | 4,202.281258 |
| MOP | 9.435431 |
| MRO | 465.248150 |
| MRU | 46.524815 |
| MTL | 0.429300 |
| MUR | 54.867428 |
| MVR | 18.057908 |
| MWK | 2,016.268235 |
| MXN | 19.797147 |
| MXV | 2.259844 |
| MYR | 4.722522 |
| MZM | 74,543.965010 |
| MZN | 74.543965 |
| NAD | 18.807871 |
| NEAR | 0.670043 |
| NEO | 0.641778 |
| NEXO | 1.564265 |
| NFT | 4,147,709.312915 |
| NGN | 1,573.132375 |
| NIO | 42.861444 |
| NLG | 2.203710 |
| NOK | 10.896422 |
| NPR | 178.802157 |
| NZD | 1.965174 |
| OKB | 0.011409 |
| OMR | 0.449610 |
| ONE | 1,619.106291 |
| OP | 13.152159 |
| ORDI | 0.317301 |
| PAB | 1.168138 |
| PAXG | 0.000261 |
| PEN | 3.914147 |
| PEPE | 403,253.666827 |
| PGK | 5.244348 |
| PHP | 71.979185 |
| PI | 12.998716 |
| PKR | 322.928610 |
| PLN | 4.318860 |
| POL | 14.310295 |
| PTE | 200.482000 |
| PYG | 6,989.685768 |
| QAR | 4.252024 |
| QNT | 0.019769 |
| QTUM | 1.618321 |
| ROL | 52,463.807106 |
| RON | 5.246381 |
| RPL | 0.751167 |
| RSD | 117.347658 |
| RUB | 98.112485 |
| RUNE | 2.738814 |
| RVN | 448.100204 |
| RWF | 1,712.919923 |
| SAND | 28.281148 |
| SAR | 4.380519 |
| SBD | 9.345534 |
| SCR | 16.944618 |
| SDD | 70,107.285017 |
| SDG | 701.072850 |
| SEK | 11.024123 |
| SGD | 1.485327 |
| SHIB | 246,536.287597 |
| SHP | 0.858509 |
| SIT | 239.640000 |
| SKK | 30.1260 |
| SLE | 26.764891 |
| SLL | 26,764.891300 |
| SNX | 5.698820 |
| SOL | 0.013769 |
| SOS | 662.486214 |
| SPL | 0.194690 |
| SRD | 44.162051 |
| SRG | 44,162.051242 |
| SSP | 6,622.133568 |
| STD | 24,659.830261 |
| STN | 24.659830 |
| STX | 8.955080 |
| SUI | 1.655196 |
| SVC | 10.221211 |
| SYP | 15,185.884647 |
| SZL | 18.807871 |
| THB | 38.354550 |
| THETA | 7.772011 |
| TJS | 10.714711 |
| TMM | 20,438.152755 |
| TMT | 4.087631 |
| TND | 3.385351 |
| TOP | 2.782662 |
| TRL | 56,017,507.438721 |
| TRX | 3.497140 |
| TRY | 56.017507 |
| TTD | 7.896346 |
| TUSD | 1.169893 |
| TVD | 1.643352 |
| TWD | 37.189827 |
| TWT | 2.920863 |
| TZS | 3,091.766548 |
| UAH | 52.172341 |
| UGX | 4,340.252567 |
| UNI | 0.319007 |
| USD | 1.168138 |
| USDC | 1.167877 |
| USDD | 1.168659 |
| USDP | 1.169374 |
| USDT | 1.168573 |
| UYU | 46.737715 |
| UZS | 13,720.168830 |
| VAL | 1,936.270000 |
| VEB | 90,679,061,617.2383 |
| VED | 904.759628 |
| VEF | 90,475,962.821118 |
| VES | 904.759628 |
| VET | 240.660059 |
| VND | 30,514.748068 |
| VUV | 138.166522 |
| WAVES | 5.923568 |
| WEMIX | 6.035916 |
| WOO | 105.900228 |
| WST | 3.145984 |
| XAF | 655.957000 |
| XAG | 0.017462 |
| XAU | 0.000260 |
| XAUT | 0.000261 |
| XBT | 0.000017 |
| XCD | 3.162080 |
| XCG | 2.092390 |
| XCH | 0.824540 |
| XDC | 41.993825 |
| XDR | 0.853050 |
| XEC | 166,599.965148 |
| XEM | 2,495.030510 |
| XLM | 6.801196 |
| XMR | 0.002735 |
| XOF | 655.957000 |
| XPD | 0.000879 |
| XPF | 119.331742 |
| XPT | 0.000648 |
| XRP | 1.052739 |
| XTZ | 5.362280 |
| YER | 276.931742 |
| ZAR | 18.807871 |
| ZEC | 0.002081 |
| ZIL | 480.563218 |
| ZMK | 21,882.679521 |
| ZMW | 21.882680 |
| ZWD | 422.749282 |
| ZWG | 31.154616 |
| ZWL | 77,846.793734 |
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Cities in Réunion 23
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Cities in Réunion 23
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Visa Requirements
Check what visa a citizen of Réunion needs to enter any country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the capital of Réunion?
The capital of Réunion is Saint-Denis.
What currency does Réunion use?
Réunion uses the euro (€) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Réunion?
The official language(s) of Réunion include French.
What is the population of Réunion?
Réunion has a population of approximately 896,175 people.
What region is Réunion in?
Réunion is located in Africa, specifically in the Eastern Africa subregion.
What is the international calling code for Réunion?
The international dialing code for Réunion is +262.
What time zones does Réunion observe?
Réunion observes the following time zone(s): UTC+04:00.
What is the current time in Réunion?
The local time in Réunion is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Réunion?
Réunion covers a total area of 2,511 km².
How many states or provinces does Réunion have?
Réunion is divided into 4 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Réunion in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Réunion in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Réunion?
Visa requirements for citizens of Réunion vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.