12 Best Things to Do on Réunion Island

Réunion is hands down the most unique place I’ve visited. It’s nicknamed “the intense island” and after spending four days there, I can totally see why.

It’s home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes, dramatic landscapes made up of waterfalls, forests and mountains, and you can’t swim at the majority of beaches because of the sheer number of sharks.

So this might not be the island for you if you like leisurely days at the beach, visit nearby Seychelles or Mauritius for that. But if you love the outdoors and epic landscapes, you’re going to love Réunion.

Aerial view of rugged black volcanic cliffs on the coastline, with pine trees lining the edge and turquoise waves crashing against the rocks under the afternoon sun.

The creation of Réunion island

Réunion was formed from two volcanoes, Piton de la Fournaise, which is still active today, and Piton des Neiges, which is dormant (it last erupted 20,000 years ago).

When Piton des Neiges stopped erupting, it begun to break down, and over time, the land collapsed inwards in some places, creating three bowl-shaped valleys, which are called cirques. The three cirques are:

Cirque de Mafate – the most remote cirque, only accessed by hiking or helicopter
Cirque de Cilaos – a spa town known for hot springs and vineyards
Cirque de Salazie – known for greenery and waterfalls, and you can drive right through it

I’ll be talking about the cirques throughout this guide, so I think understanding what they are is helpful before we start.

1. Hike to Cap Noir viewpoint

Cap Noir is one of the most famous viewpoints on Réunion island, with jaw-dropping views of Cirque de Mafate.

Cap Noir is a great way to get a quick glimpse of Mafate without embarking on a huge trek. Obviously you won’t get the full experience of hiking into the Cirque, but the views are still very impressive.

The walk to the viewpoint only takes around fifteen minutes from the car park, but it gets full very quickly, so go early, or you can park on the road and walk up.

Dramatic aerial view of jagged green mountain peaks in Réunion Island’s Cirque de Mafate, with deep valleys, winding trails, and distant cloud-topped ridges under a bright blue sky.

2. Enjoy lunch at Les Letchis

Les Letchis is a beautiful restaurant located on the Rivière des Marsouins on the east of the island.

There’s a large indoor restaurant but the real magic is outside, where you can sit amongst the lush green gardens overlooking the river and surrounded by nature.

Outdoor dining area set in a lush tropical garden, with two tables under the shade of tall trees and a dramatic cliff covered in greenery in the background.

The restaurant specialises in local Creole cuisine, and it’s a really popular place so make sure you book in advance. I definitely over ordered here, as I didn’t realise that the curry would come with so many sides.

But everything was delicious, with a lot of the ingredients grown on site.

Close-up of a colorful Creole meal served on a table beside a river, featuring rice, bread, vegetables, curry, and a bright yellow drink, surrounded by trees and rocks.

Wooden pathway lined with tropical plants leading to a charming building with a decorative gabled roof, set against a backdrop of forested cliffs and a clear blue sky.

A bright pink bougainvillea flower in full bloom surrounded by dense green leaves and stems, illuminated by sunlight.

3. Drive the D48 to Salazie

The D48 is one of the most scenic roads in Réunion. It runs from Saint-André to Salazie, and driving it is one of the best things to do in Réunion.

It’s one of the most beautiful drives I’ve ever done, with vast mountains lining the road, dramatic waterfalls, and lush greenery.

I drove along this road several times during my trip and I never got bored of the views.

I saw it in the sun and in a heavy downpour of rain, and I actually think it was even more magical in the storm, it had a really mystical feel about it.

Aerial view of a small village nestled in a deep green valley, surrounded by forested mountains with steep cliffs and scattered clouds.

Winding road lined with tropical trees and flowering bushes, curving toward a white gate at the base of a densely vegetated hill.

Straight mountain road in misty weather, flanked by tall cliffs and dense greenery, with utility poles running along the left side.

4. Visit the waterfalls in Salazie

As you’re driving alone the D48 road, you’ll pass some of Réunion’s most famous waterfalls.

Cascade Blanche

Cascade Blanche is a bright white waterfall that plunges over 600 metres down the side of the cliff, and the first one you’ll see on your drive.

The contrast of the water against the greenery that surrounds it is an incredible sight.

You can hike to get closer to the waterfall, but I just stopped to see it from the side of the road.

It’s easy to miss, especially on a foggy day, so your best reference point is once feel water on the roof of your car, you’ll want to pull over almost immediately into the layby on the left.

That water on your car is actually the Cascade Pisse-en-l’Air (yes, that does mean “piss in the air”) which runs down the cliff onto the road.

Tall, narrow waterfall cascading down a steep green mountain face partially lit by sunlight, with the peak disappearing into misty clouds.

Wide view of a towering waterfall flowing through a deep, lush valley, with sunbeams highlighting the dense forest and steep slopes.

Cascade Salazie

Drive a little further along the road and you’ll spot Cascade Salazie on your right. You can’t access this waterfall by foot, but you get a great view of it from the road.

Slender waterfall cutting through a wall of dense green forest, plunging down a reddish-brown cliff surrounded by tall trees and vibrant vegetation.

Cascade du Voile de la Mariée

Just ten minutes further and you’ll find Cascade du Voile de la Mariée. There’s parking at the side of the road, and you can then cross over to the viewpoint.

Voile de la Mariée translates to “Bride’s veil”, and it gets its name because of its many cascades that look like a veil flowing behind the bride.

A series of waterfalls cascade down a lush, green mountainside covered in dense forest and steep vegetation under a partly cloudy blue sky.

Tall, narrow waterfalls stream down a high, forested cliff in multiple tiers, surrounded by rich greenery and framed by treetops at the base.

5. Bassin La Paix

Bassin La Paix is a waterfall and natural pool, near Saint-Benoît on the east of the island.

The road to the waterfall is very remote, so remote in fact that I questioned whether I was actually going the right way, but eventually I stumbled upon a load of cars parked on the side of the road.

You can access the waterfall by taking a path from the car park, followed by some steps down. It’s a great spot for swimming so make sure you bring your trunks.

Narrow canyon with jagged volcanic rock walls and calm, deep blue water running between them, bordered by trees and brush.

Small waterfall flowing into a circular, dark pool beneath an overhanging rock ledge, with trees and greenery above and around the canyon.

Scenic view of a natural gorge with layered mini waterfalls, surrounded by dense jungle vegetation and steep rocky walls.

6. Sunset at Boma

Boma is a beach club located on Boucan Canot beach, on the west of the island.

Boucan Canot is a huge beach, with a large swimming area that has nets in place to keep it safe from sharks.

Sunset view over a beachside restaurant shaded with parasols and straw canopies, with beachgoers visible near the shoreline in the golden light.

Boma is the perfect place to watch the sunset, with a delicious cocktail menu, good food, and regular DJ sets.

Silhouetted trees and tropical leaves set against a vibrant orange sunset sky, with the sun glowing just above the horizon.

Silhouettes of people standing near the ocean as the sun sets, casting a warm golden light across the waves and sandy beach.

Cozy beach lounge area with cushioned seating and overhead string lights, facing the ocean at sunset with visitors relaxing by the sea.

7. Relax at Grand Anse Beach

Grand Anse Beach is located on Réunion’s south coast.

It’s the kind of beach you’d see on a postcard, with palm trees covering the sand and running the whole way along the shore.

Open sandy space with scattered palm trees and a clear view of the ocean waves under a bright blue sky, casting long tree shadows on the ground.

It’s a really long beach with plenty of space, as well as a few restaurants and a large car park.

I saw lots of groups gathered here for picnics so it’s a great place to visit if you have children.

Swimming is only allowed in the rock pool at the far end of the beach, not in the open ocean, due to the risk of sharks.

Person sitting in a folding chair under trees at the edge of a beach park, overlooking the ocean through palm trees and golden sand.

Palm trees and scattered rocks frame a view of the beach and sea in the background, with a white tent partially visible among the trees.

Aerial view of a palm-lined beach bordered by a forested cliff and turquoise ocean waves, with a few tents and visitors on the sandy ground.

Grand Anse Beach is also a great place to watch sunset, the views are absolutely beautiful with the palm trees framing the ocean.

Golden sunset over the ocean, with the sun low above the horizon casting warm light on the waves and silhouetted beachgoers in the foreground.

8. La Marine Langevin

La Marine Langevin is where the Langevin River meets the Indian Ocean and it’s the craziest place I visited in Réunion.

Black volcanic rocks line the coastline and waves crash into them, shooting metres up into the air.

Rocky volcanic coastline with a lone palm tree and crashing waves under a clear blue sky, bathed in late afternoon light.

There’s a footpath here so you can walk along next to the water and see the waves up close, and it’s an amazing thing to witness. It’s a really wild place that reminds you of the force of nature.

Powerful ocean wave splashing high against black volcanic rocks, framed by a silhouetted tree and the glowing horizon in the background.

Palm tree beside a dramatic splash of seawater rising over jagged lava rocks, with the sun casting long shadows on the dry coastal ground.

9. Ti Sable Beach

Ti Sable is a black sand beach located on the south coast of the island. You can’t swim here due to the presence of sharks but it’s a really beautiful place to visit.

The beach is in a cove enclosed by towering cliffs, and with the dramatic waves crashing ashore, it has an otherworldly feel.

I’d recommend visiting later in the day for softer lighting that really adds to its magic.

Peaceful ocean scene with white waves rolling onto shore under a clear blue sky, framed by agave and coastal vegetation in the foreground.

Late afternoon view of a black sand beach bordered by tall cliffs and misty waves, with a few people playing at the shoreline under soft golden light.

Closer aerial shot of a secluded black sand beach at the base of tall volcanic cliffs, with pine trees and tropical plants lining the cliff top and a few people relaxing on the sand.

Powerful ocean waves roll onto a narrow black sand beach tucked beneath dark cliffs, with a small village nestled among palm trees and vegetation above the shoreline.

Aerial view of a rugged black sand beach with crashing white waves, surrounded by steep cliffs and dense tropical greenery on Réunion Island. Small houses are visible on the lush hillside in the background.

10. Sant-Pierre market

Sant-Pierre is a town on the Southwest coast of Réunion, and every Saturday, there’s a market, visited by both locals and tourists.

Shoppers browse fresh produce under colorful canopies at a lively outdoor market, with people examining fruits and vegetables in the shade of palm trees on a sunny day.

There’s fresh, local produce, handcrafted clothes and bags, freshly made drinks and food, as well as souvenirs and even livestock.

It’s a great place to experience local life, but I’d recommend getting there early as it does get extremely busy.

Pile of vibrant red and green bell peppers displayed at a market stall, with tomatoes in pink bowls and a handwritten price sign reading “3.50€/kg poivron rouge.”

Pile of green and orange papayas displayed at a market stall with a handwritten cardboard sign reading “Réunion Papaye 3€/kg” in the center.

Assorted dried fruits and nuts arranged in plastic bins at a market stall, including dried pineapple slices, mango, apricots, cashews, and almonds, each labeled with small black signs.

Open-air farmers market scene with vendors selling fruits and vegetables from behind blue crates, engaging with customers under shade canopies.

11. Rivière De Langevin

I actually didn’t have any intentions of visiting Rivière De Langevin, but I drove past it on my way to Cascade de Grand Galet and I had to get out and see what was going on because the whole river was lined with people having picnics and bbqs.

The river is absolutely beautiful – it runs through a valley and is surrounded by lush greenery, with clear water and natural pools where people were swimming to cool off from the heat.

Rivière De Langevin is also one of the best places to go canonying in Réunion, with several companies running tours.

People swim and relax in a natural rock pool surrounded by rugged lava stones and dense green forest at the base of a steep, tree-covered hill.

Quiet, clear natural pool nestled among volcanic rocks and lush greenery, with sunlight filtering through the trees along the riverbank.

12. Cascade de Grand Galet

Cascade de Grand Galet, also called Cascade Langevin, is part of the Rivière De Langevin, and one of the most famous waterfalls on the island.

It’s made up of a large natural pool surrounded by cliffs, with multiple waterfalls running down.

You can drive right up to the waterfall and park next to it. There’s a viewpoint in front of the waterfall, or you can climb down if you prefer to get up close.

Stunning top-down view of multiple waterfalls cascading into a deep blue pool, surrounded by mossy rocks and dense green foliage at the Cascade Langevin waterfalls.

Waterfalls cascade down a moss-covered cliff into a deep turquoise pool, with a small group of people sitting on volcanic rocks near the edge of the water.

Tall, narrow waterfalls stream down a rugged cliff face into a dark, tranquil pool, surrounded by lush vegetation and misty rock walls.

Getting around Réunion

The best way to get around Réunion is by hiring a car. This is an island for exploring off the beaten track places and a lot of the trailheads aren’t accessible by public transport.

So much of the adventure on Réunion comes from going at your own pace, stopping at the side of the road to take in the views, and spending as much time as you want in each place without worrying about bus timetables.

I used Discover Cars to book my car hire for Réunion. They compare lots of different providers so you can pick the best price. I picked my car up from the airport and it was really straightforward. There’s a car hire centre within walking distance of the terminal.