Things to do in La Réunion: Attractions and places to visit

1. Cap Jaune

The Cap Jaune is a 50 meter high rock wall that is located in the south of La Réunion directly at the sea. The golden rock alone stands out impressively from the blue of the sky and the sea. But it gets really spectacular when you rope down to the wall and can admire the monumental building of nature from below.

Then the dimensions suddenly become clear – and together with the violently blazing waves that collide with black volcanic rock, a majestic spectacle for all the senses emerges. The wall can only be reached by a 30-minute walk from the Rue de la Marine in Vencendo. It’s worth it!

2. Whale Watching La Réunion

A whale watching tour on R̩union should not be missing under any circumstances. No matter how often you may have seen the gentle giants of the sea Рit is always a fascinating experience. And the first encounter with the marine mammals is unforgettable anyway. The whale season off the southwest coast of the island is mainly from June to September. Often you can even see the huge animals from the beach. Of course you can get really close to them only with a boat. Although there are limits to that:

For reasons of species protection, certified providers may only approach whales up to 50 metres. This is certainly a comprehensible and supportive measure – and even from this distance the big mammals are an amazing sight! The best place for whale watching tours is St. Gilles. In the harbour of the small town there are excursion boats in all sizes and equipment – from the small nut shell to the more or less luxurious yacht with on-board catering.

3. Road to Cilaos

A masterpiece of architecture is the road to Cilaos, which leads from St. Louis over 420 curves to the village of Cilaos. The scenic sights that are offered on this route are almost unbeatable. At first it goes at a snail’s pace from the valley steadily up into the mountains.

Partly the road is single lane, but throughout in a good condition. Once at the top, a magnificent panoramic view awaits the holidaymaker. In addition, many beautiful hiking trails have their starting point here. Also the place Cilaos with its small alleys, which invite to stroll, is a real sight!

4. Trou de Fer

The Trou de Fer is a gorge in the shape of a basin in the middle of the island. At this fascinating place waterfalls cascade into the valley from six different sides. On their up to 300 meter deep fall into the Trou de Fer they produce a mighty roar. A moderately strenuous hike takes about an hour and a half to reach a viewing platform that offers a fantastic view of the gorge. Off

The starting point for the hike is the Gite de Bélouve, which can be reached after a drive along an adventurous road. The landscape in this region is beautiful, the vegetation lush. Then it goes over footbridges, steps and forest ground through a real fairy tale forest. For the way back there is the possibility to choose an alternative route that is slightly longer. No matter what you choose, you must have seen this place in the middle of the mountains lined with rainforests.

5. Cirque de Salazie

There is also rainforest in Cirque de Salazie en masse. The easiest to reach basin of the island is also the greenest. It can only be reached via an access road from the northeast. For this distance alone you should take some time and recharge the batteries of the camera. It passes idyllic streams and waterfalls as well as green slopes – in short:

A landscape like from a picture book! Hell-Bourg is one of the most beautiful sights in France and has been awarded several times. It goes without saying that there are also delicious hearty and sweet crêpes in the alleys. There are also many footpaths from here to explore the Cirque de Salazie.

6. Piton de la Fournaise

The volcano Piton de la Fournaise is one of the most active volcanoes on earth. However, its annual eruptions are not classified as dangerous. The last eruption took place in 2007, when the lava even reached the sea, which is still visible on the coast today. The crater can be reached in a five-hour hike. From above there is a breathtaking panoramic view over the island landscape – divided into two parts:

Dark moon landscape on one side and glittering sea on the other. Wonderful contrasts, great views and a physical activity that is easy to manage for averagely trained people Рa wonderful combination. Thus, the fascinating Piton de la Fournaise is naturally one of the most popular sightseeings on La R̩union.

7. Cap Méchant

La Réunion also has a rock gate like the famous Azure Window, which collapsed some time ago. It is located in the south of the island near the town of Saint-Joseph and can be easily reached by car. The surf is particularly strong here and crashes with loud roaring against the mighty lava rocks.

However, bathing at Cap Méchant is strictly forbidden. On the one hand, a strong surf prevails here, on the other hand, there are always larger occurrences of white sharks at this coastal section. So even courageous adventurers will probably not be able to enjoy the bathing fun at this point.

8. Grand Anse

One of the most beautiful beaches of La Réunion is the Grand Anse, which is about 15 minutes south of St. Pierre. In this picturesque place, lined with palm trees, many inhabitants do water sports or relax in the neighbouring park. As on many beaches, there is an area protected by rocks where you can swim.

Here with large stones not only the strong surf is dampened, but also any risk of a shark attack is excluded. By the way, don’t panic: There are enough bathing places on the whole island where one can plunge into the turquoise blue floods.

9. Turtle station Kélonia

The Kélonia Aquarium in Saint-Leu, which specialises in sea turtles, is one of La Réunion’s most popular tourist attractions. Opened in 2006, the facility cares for injured and sick sea dwellers, first and foremost turtles. Among other things, there is a huge open-air pool.

They are puffed up, monitored and, as far as possible, released back into the wild. The aquarium is therefore less a zoo than a meaningful institution for the protection of the animals. It is open daily and especially worth a visit on a rainy day.

10. Market in St. Paul

Another great experience is a visit to the weekly market in St. Paul, which has a colourful potpourri of goods on offer. On weekends you can browse diligently. The range extends from spices, fruit and vegetables to souvenirs and colourful clothing.

The stands are situated directly at the sea and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Because many locals shop here, prices are at a comparatively low level. It is also a great opportunity to get a glimpse of local life and taste some of the delicacies.

Best time to visit La Réunion

We recommend the following months as best time to travel for exploring the attractions and acivities of La Réunion:

April, May, June, July, August, September, October, and November

You can find more information about the weather, including all climate data, on our climate page for La Réunion.