Where to stay in Réunion
Roughly twelve miles of lagoon on a single coast sum up the island's swimming spots. The real draw lies higher up, across three massive volcanic calderas and an active volcano you tackle before the sun comes up.
Three bases below, stretching from the west coast to the highlands. A beach hotel runs ~ $111 to ~ $230, while a mountain guesthouse in the interior basins costs ~ $70 to ~ $140. Figure out what time you want to hit the trailheads first, and everything else falls into place.
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Even the drive itself is a feast for the eyes.
How many nights in each area?
Everything boils down to one question: are you willing to switch bases to save two hours of driving in the morning? Here is how the usual timing breaks down.
- One week, 7 nights: 3 nights on the west coast, 2 in the cirques, 2 near the volcano. The only split that gets you the lagoon, a cirque hike, and a sunrise at Pas de Bellecombe.
- Ten days: The same core structure, with an extra night in Cilaos and one in the wild south. This is the format that lets you hike two days in a row without heading back down.
- Four nights: Two main bases: the west coast for the lagoon, and the Plaines for the volcano. Better to skip the cirques on this timeframe than rush through them by car without stopping.
- Beach getaway: Everything stays on the western coast, accepting that the volcano requires a day trip with a departure around 3:00 AM. It is totally doable, and it is what most visitors choose.
At a glance: our picks by traveller type
Pick the profile that fits you and go straight to the recommended area.
Map of the areas in Réunion
See how the areas sit relative to one another before choosing your base. Click a name to jump to its description.
The western coast, from Saint-Denis to Saint-Leu Leeward Coast
for the beach, the lagoon, and touching down
This is the only coast protected by a reef, meaning it is the only place you can actually swim without worry. Saint-Gilles, L'Hermitage, and Saint-Leu pack in the island's hotels. Saint-Denis up north is where you land and stock up on supplies. Kolo calls it lively and cosmopolitan, with everything you need to stock up before tackling the many rugged outdoor excursions. The downside is logistical. From this coast, the volcano is over a two-hour drive away, and the trailheads sit too far out for a standard wake-up call.
You can easily relax, have fun, rest, and above all stock up before taking on the many athletic excursions you can do on Reunion Island!
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
LUX* Saint Gilles Resort Luxury
Creole architecture set in a grove of coconut palms and casuarina trees right by the lagoon. Easily the finest address on the coast, and the priciest.
Hotel Le Recif, Ile de la Reunion Mid-range
Creole villas spread across three acres of gardens with two pools in L'Hermitage. A solid pick for a family wanting the lagoon within walking distance.
Relais de l’Hermitage Saint-Gilles Mid-range
One hundred yards from the beach in L'Hermitage, featuring swimming pools and tennis courts. Conveniently located for mixing beach days with trips up into the Hauts.
Pros
- The only swimmable lagoon on the island, protected by its reef
- Nearly all the hotels, restaurants, and rental agencies
- The main airport and shops, handy before heading up into the heights
Cons
- Over a two-hour drive to the volcano, factoring in the morning wake-up
- A heavily developed coast, nothing like the landscapes of the interior
The cirques of Cilaos and Salazie Hauts
for hiking and traditional Creole villages
Two massive mountain amphitheaters carved out of the ancient volcano, connected to the coast by hairpin turns that are part of the adventure. Libau considers the Salazie cirque the most gorgeous spot he laid eyes on during his trip, pointing out that even the drive is a visual feast. Cilaos serves as base camp for hikers at the foot of the Piton des Neiges, packed with guesthouses and family-style tables d'hôtes. You get cool mountain nights, local lentils on your plate, and trailheads starting right from the village.
Without a doubt the most incredible place I explored on Réunion. Lush greenery combined with stunning waterfalls makes it the absolute top spot on the island.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Chambre gite d'étape les Carillons Budget
Mountain guesthouse right in Cilaos, steps from the trailhead for Piton des Neiges. Classic Highlands style: simple, warm, and well-positioned.
Pros
- Hitting the trails straight from the village with zero need for a car in the morning
- Creole country cooking served at a table d'hôte, which is hard to find down on the coast
- Crisp night air, a welcome relief after hiking all day
Cons
- Long, winding switchbacks that test anyone prone to motion sickness
- Zero ocean swimming and very limited options if rain rolls in
The volcano, the high plateaus, and the rugged south coast Highlands & South
to reach Pas de Bellecombe by sunrise
This area exists for one primary reason, and it is a game changer. ManonM describes the climb up the Piton de la Fournaise: getting up well before dawn, hiking in the breaking day and morning chill until the sun casts its first rays. Staying in Bourg-Murat puts Pas de Bellecombe forty minutes away, whereas driving up from the beach would take over two hours. Heading down toward the south, the coastline turns wild, lacking reefs or lagoons, featuring fresh lava flows and the rock pools of Grand Galet.
Getting there means waking up well before dawn and heading to the Pas de Bellecombe. It means walking through the breaking dawn and the freezing cold. Then suddenly, the sun shoots out its first rays and the whole environment transforms.
The towns in this area
What to see and do in this area
Where to stay in this area
Maison a Bourg- Murat proche de la cité du volcan Budget
Right in the village of Bourg-Murat, with the Cité du Volcan just steps away. Location is everything here, making an antesunrise departure possible without tackling the coastal highway.
Pros
- Forty minutes from Pas de Bellecombe, compared to two hours from the coast
- Stays cost less here than elsewhere, in both gîtes and bed-and-breakfasts
- The wild south and its lava flows are half an hour away
Cons
- Cold nights and frequent fog up on the Plaines
- Very few restaurants, and nothing stays open late
Our tips for booking the right place
- The volcano is all about when you wake up.: The climb starts from Pas de Bellecombe and happens early, before the clouds roll in and the heat sets in. ManonM talks about getting up « well before dawn ». From Bourg-Murat, that means heading out at five; from Saint-Gilles, at three. A night in the Plaines costs less than a night on the coast and saves you two hours of sleep.
- Driving into the cirques is part of the experience.: Expect an hour and a half of hairpin turns to climb up to Cilaos or Salazie, and do not treat it as a routine transfer: Libau notes that « even the drive blows you away ». Plan the ascent for the morning, when the cirques are clear, and avoid driving it at night.
- Stock up down below before heading up.: The highlands rely on guesthouses and family-style dinner tables, with few shops and limited hours. Kolo nails the role of Saint-Denis: it is where you « stock up before taking on the rugged hikes ». Doing your grocery shopping on the coast keeps you from eating dinner two nights in a row at the exact same spot due to a lack of options.
- Booking everything on the western coast while planning to visit the volcano « on a whim one morning »: that means leaving around 3 AM, and the rest of the day is shot.
- Sleeping in Saint-Denis to tour the island: the city is handy for arriving and stocking up on supplies, but it sits far from both the lagoon and the hiking trails.
- Choosing the cirques for a beach trip: there is no ocean, the roads take forever, and you rarely head back down just for a swim.
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