What to book before you travel to Réunion?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length

Weekend One week Two weeks

6 activities to book · about €405 per person

Saint-Denis and the north

Days 1-2

Days 1-2The Creole capital, guidedHalf dayThe villas, temples, mosque and cathedral of Saint-Denis, and the history of the people who built them.€15Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 1-2Le Chaudron market and Creole housesHalf dayOne of the island's big street markets, with spices, fruit and samosas, then a walk past the painted wooden houses.€10Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Le Barachois, the seafront and its cannons · The painted Creole houses · The Jardin de l'État and its natural history museum · The seafront promenade

All activities in Saint-Denis on GetYourGuide

The cirques of Mafate and Salazie

Days 3-4

Days 3-4Guided hike into MafateFull dayA day on the trails of the only cirque without a road, where supplies still come in by helicopter.€40Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 3-4Helicopter flight over the cirques45 minCilaos, Mafate and Salazie from above in under an hour, with the waterfalls of Trou de Fer if the weather allows.€280Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The cirque of Salazie and the Bridal Veil falls · Hell-Bourg, listed among the most beautiful villages of France · The Bélouve forest and its viewpoints · The viewpoints over the cliffs and peaks

All activities in The cirques of Mafate on GetYourGuide

Piton de la Fournaise and the south

Days 5-7

Days 5-7Hike to the volcano's craterFull dayFrom the Pas de Bellecombe down into the caldera and up to the rim of Dolomieu crater, about five hours there and back. The trail closes during eruptions.€25Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 5-7Plaine des Sables and Pas de Bellecombe, guidedHalf dayThe red and black ash plain on the road to the volcano, then the viewpoint over the caldera.€35Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The view of the volcano from the Pas de Bellecombe · The Plaine des Sables, red and black ash · The Route des Laves, across lava flows set solid down to the sea · The springs and freshwater pools of the south

All activities in Piton de la Fournaise on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Réunion cost?

€405 per person if you do them all, across 6 bookings. The most expensive is "Helicopter flight over the cirques" at €280, the cheapest "Le Chaudron market and Creole houses" at €10. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Réunion without booking anything?

12 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with Le Barachois, the seafront and its cannons, The painted Creole houses, The Jardin de l'État and its natural history museum, The seafront promenade. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Saint-Denis and the north, with 2 activities to book, against 2 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From Half day for the shortest to Full day for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Réunion guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Réunion, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→