REUNION
Flight to Saint-Denis, Reunion from 704 €
Practical Information
Before departure, you must have:
- a valid ID card
- or a valid passport
The information regarding customs and police formalities is provided for reference only. Corsair cannot be held responsible if you are not compliant with the authorities' requirements.
To prepare your trip, we recommend contacting the Réunion Island Tourism Board in Paris:
90 rue La Boétie - 75008 Paris
Phone: +33 (0)1 40 75 02 79
Website: www.reunion.fr
Corsair’s Train + Air offer for trips to Reunion Island
With Corsair airline, traveling to Réunion Island from mainland France is simple. To accommodate all travelers, the Corsair offer is available in 19 French cities. What exactly is this offer? Quite simply, it allows you to connect a French city (Marseille, Lyon, Lille, etc.) to Paris Orly airport with a single ticket. For example, if you live in Lille, you depart from Lille Flandre station for a 1h30 train ride to Massy TGV in the Paris region. Then, a shuttle takes you in just 20 minutes to Orly, where your flight awaits. Réunion is not the only destination offered by Corsair in the Indian Ocean—Madagascar, Mauritius, and Mayotte are also available.
Good to Know
No vaccinations are required for a round trip to Réunion. However, don’t forget sunscreen, sunglasses, and mosquito repellent.
When to go to Reunion Island?
The dry season, from May to October, offers a cooler and drier climate, ideal for outdoor activities. Temperatures range between 20 and 25°C, and rainfall is scarce. It is also the best time to observe humpback whales between June and September. The wet season, from November to April, is warmer and more humid, with higher temperatures. Tropical showers are frequent, making the forests lush and green. Water activities such as diving and surfing are particularly enjoyable. The peak tourist seasons, July–August and December–January, are the busiest and can be more expensive. For a quieter experience, choose the low seasons, April–May and September–October.
When to book a ticket to Reunion?
To enjoy affordable fares, it is strongly recommended to book your tickets more than six months in advance, especially if you plan to travel to Réunion during school holidays. Additionally, to benefit from lower prices, it is best to book your tickets during the week.
What is a flight to Saint-Denis, Reunion like?
From mainland France, it takes about 11h30 to reach Réunion Island. By choosing Corsair, you can enjoy Wi-Fi access for all your devices during the flight.
On site
Store and service hours
Shops are generally open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m. Some may close for a lunch break between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. On Sundays, hours are often reduced, or stores may be closed.
Most service providers are open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and often Saturday mornings.
Local markets, such as the Saint-Paul market, are generally open on Fridays and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Some markets may also open on Sunday mornings.
Transportation
The CITALIS urban transport network operates 56 lines serving Saint-Denis, Sainte-Marie, and Sainte-Suzanne. Depending on your travel plans, car rental is also a popular alternative.
Safety
Be cautious when swimming in the sea, as shark attacks have occasionally been reported in certain areas. For safe swimming, always follow the instructions indicated on the signage placed near the beaches.
Holidays and Festivals
- Chinese New Year
- Cavadee Festival in Saint-Leu, Saint-André, and Saint-Louis
- Labor Day on May 1st
- Bras-Panon Agricultural Fair
- Sakifo Musik Festival in Saint-Pierre
- Grand Boucan Carnival in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
- National Day on July 14th
- Choca Festival in L’Entre-Deux
- Vacoa Festival in Saint-Philippe
- Pilgrimage of Our Lady of La Salette in Saint-Leu on September 19th
- Dipavali Festival
- Cafres Festival (Fèt kaf’) and Abolition of Slavery Day on December 20th
Must-Sees in Saint-Denis, Reunion
The city of Saint-Denis boasts a very rich historical heritage. Its monuments, parks, museums, and Creole houses allow you to fully immerse yourself in the history of the island.
Le Barachois, La Roche Écrite, and the Saint-Denis Cathedral are undoubtedly among the must-sees in Saint-Denis, Réunion.
For a stroll through downtown Saint-Denis
Walking past the prefecture and the former town hall, you will discover the old Creole houses along Rue de Paris, including Villa Déramond Barre and Maison Carrère. You can then explore the Grand Marché and the Petit Marché.
Monuments and Museums
Among the monuments, visit Saint-Denis Cathedral, the former town hall, the Noor al Islam Mosque, and the church in the Saint-Jacques neighborhood.
The Léon Dierx Museum (which houses an important Impressionist collection), the Natural History Museum, and the Dodo Beer House are also well worth a visit.
Parks and Gardens
The Jardin de l’État offers a fantastic collection of fruit trees and exotic species. There, you can also discover the Natural History Museum of Réunion. Colorado Park is one of the city’s main parks, a popular gathering and celebration spot for all the residents of Saint-Denis.
A natural space just minutes from Saint-Denis
Colorado Park is a large natural area located slightly higher up (300m). A starting point for many hiking and mountain biking trails, it also features a golf course.
Gastronomy
A mainly Creole cuisine with Indian influences
Even though you can find Indian, Chinese, and of course “metropolitan” French restaurants, Réunion’s cuisine remains primarily Creole.
The gastronomy of Réunion Island is a rich and flavorful blend of Creole, French, Indian, and Chinese traditions.
Some typical dishes
A few typical dishes of the island include: chicken cari, fish cari (cari being a signature preparation of Réunion tables), civets (such as rooster or duck), and Creole pâté. The latter is usually presented as a pie with filling. One of the island’s culinary musts is rougail saucisse: a spicy tomato-based sauce, called rougail, in which smoked sausages are cooked.
Products and markets
Local products from Réunion are diverse and reflect the richness of its land. Among the essentials are agricultural rum and spices like “safran péi” (local turmeric). Tropical fruits such as lychees and mangoes, as well as exotic vegetables like chayote, are also abundant.
The island’s markets, especially those of Saint-Paul and Saint-Pierre, are lively places where you can discover a wide variety of culinary specialties. These markets offer an authentic immersion into Réunion’s culture and gastronomy.
Drinks
Local drinks abound on Réunion Island. The most famous is agricultural rum. Many tropical fruit juices are worth tasting, such as lychee, mango, and guava.
In addition, you’ll find good-quality French wines at attractive prices. Also, try “New World” wines, such as those from South Africa, which are often excellent.
Don’t forget to taste coffee-vanilla. In supermarkets, you’ll find bottles of “Pause Café,” which are in fact coffee-vanilla punches with a coffee liqueur taste.
Restaurant hours
Restaurants are generally open for lunch from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Some may remain open continuously from 12 p.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., especially in tourist areas.
Climate
The island’s climate is tropical maritime
Moderated by the proximity of the ocean, coastal temperatures range between 18 and 31 °C.
The dry season, cooler, lasts from May to November (rare rain and mild temperatures), while the wet season, warmer, lasts from November to April. In October and December, the season feels like spring, with lush vegetation. www.meteofrance.com
Cooler in the highlands
At higher altitudes, temperatures can drop to 4 °C and rarely exceed 25 °C.
In the mountains, the thermometer can even fall below zero. At 1,800 m, frost is common, especially at night in July and August.
Roland Garros Airport - Reunion Island
Roland Garros Airport in Saint-Denis is the main airport of Réunion. It is located about 7 kilometers from downtown Saint-Denis. The airport is well equipped with services such as shops, restaurants, currency exchange offices, and car rental agencies.
Several options are available to reach downtown Saint-Denis from the airport.
Taxis are available outside the airport and provide a fast, direct way to reach the city center. The trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Bus lines also connect the airport to downtown Saint-Denis. Line C of the Citalis network is particularly convenient for travelers. Buses run frequently, and the trip takes about 30 minutes.
Several car rental agencies are located at the airport, offering the possibility of renting a vehicle for greater flexibility. This allows you to move freely around the island and explore its various attractions.
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