Cheap Flights to Reunion

Discover Reunion

Réunion, previously known as île Bourbon, is a French overseas island lying in the Indian Ocean. It is situated east of the island of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius, and is an outermost region of the European Union. Réunion is known as a tourist destination for its tropical climate, spectacular volcanic landscapes, mountain scenery, and white sandy beaches. The capital city is Saint-Denis, but most of the white sand beaches can be found in the west coast, in Saint-Gilles. Saint-Pierre is also an important town on the island, while Saint-Leu is a prime destination for surfing.

What to see & do

Conservatoire botanique national de Mascarin - Located in Saint-Leu is a 12.5-hectare national conservatory and botanical garden Conservatoire botanique national de Mascarin, formerly Conservatoire et Jardin Botanique de Mascarin, open to the public daily (except Mondays). There is an admission fee charged. The primary focus of the conservatory is on management and monitoring of plant species in their natural habitats. The garden, which takes up three hectares, contains approximately 4,000 plant species that are endemic to the Mascarene Islands. The collections are divided into seven sections: Réunion collection, Lontan plants, Orchard, Succulents, Palm trees, Orchids, and Bamboo ravine.

Cilaos - Cilaos is a town and commune located in a caldera known as Cirque, and is best known as a paradise for hikers. The highest point in the commune and on the island is Piton des Neiges or Snow Peak, a massive shield volcano rising to 3,069 metres (10,069 feet). It is also considered to be the highest point in the Indian Ocean. The three medium-difficulty tracks leading up to the peak are from Cirque de Salazie, Cirque de Cilaos, and La Plaine des Cafres.

Saint-Gilles - Saint-Gilles is a village on the west coast of the island, located in the commune of Saint-Paul, and is the site of the most popular seaside resort in Réunion. The most notable attractions in Saint-Gilles are the surfing spots Boucan Canot and Roches Noires, the Casino of Saint-Gilles, the botanical garden the Garden of Eden, the waterfalls of Saint-Gilles River, and the carnival-like party Grand Boucan.

How to get around within Réunion

Réunion is said to have more than its fair share of cars, as evidenced by jam-packed road networks during peak hours. In order to get around this (or at least minimise the hassle), travellers should avoid peak hours and know the many options for getting around Réunion. Taxis can be hailed off the street but can be quite expensive, especially if coming from the airport. There are 13 lines of Car Jaune, or Yellow Buses, for intercity travel, as well as local buses. Most of the buses operate between 6AM and 6PM. The schedule can be found online. Getting around Réunion is also possible by air: some helicopter and airplane companies offer guided tours by air around the island of Réunion and through the nearby islands. Sea travel is also possible through the two major ports in the island: Le Port and Pointe des Galets.

How to get there

Réunion is served by two airports: Roland Garros Airport and Pierrefonds Airport. The main airport is the larger of the two, Roland Garros Airport, situated near Saint-Denis. It receives scheduled flights from Paris, Antananarivo, Bangkok, Chennai, Dzaoudzi, Johannesburg, Mahé, Mauritius, Moroni, Nosy, Antsiranana, Sainte-Marie, and Marseille. The flights are provided by Air Austral, Air France, Air Madagascar, Air Mauritius, Corsair International, and XL Airways France. Pierrefonds Airport in Saint-Pierre also receives flights from Mauritius via Air Austral and Air Mauritius.