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Voykit pocket guide · Réunion
Saint-Gilles
Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
Saint-Gilles is the west-coast beach base: swim in the lagoon zones only, keep the early morning for hikes inland, hire a car for anything beyond the coast strip, and check the sea and cyclone alerts before every plan.
Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is a resort strip on Réunion's west coast: a marina and promenade, the L'Hermitage lagoon to the south and Boucan Canot beach to the north. It is the dry, sunny side of the island and the usual base for the lagoon, but the cirques and the volcano are a winding drive away and cloud closes the peaks by late morning. Shark risk restricts swimming on most of the coast, so the lagoon and supervised zones are the places to swim. A hire car makes the island work; the four clusters here cover the coast for two or three days.
- Country
- Réunion
- Local name
- Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
- Best months
- Apr · May · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Nov
- Time zone
- Indian/Reunion
- Stay
- 2 days: Lagoon morning, Saint-Gilles port, Saint-Paul market
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry €50 in small notes for market stalls, snack stands and parking. Contactless limits are as in France.
- Daily spend
- Budget €40–70 excl. bed · Mid €70–140 excl. bed · High €140+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a SIM at an operator shop in Saint-Paul or the shopping area (passport needed). Check that Réunion is covered by your plan.
- Emergency
- Any emergency (EU-wide) 112 · SAMU (medical) 15 · Police / gendarmerie 17 · Fire and rescue 18
- Plugs
- 230 V; European two-round-pin sockets (types C and E). Bring an adapter if you are from the US, UK, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
- Tipping
- Service is included in French prices. Round up or leave €1–3 for good service; 5–10% at a nicer restaurant is generous; taxis are rounded up.
- Water
- Tap water is generally safe; use bottled after a cyclone or heavy rain.
- Toilets
- Cafés, beach facilities at L'Hermitage and Boucan Canot, the marina and the market square; you may need to buy a drink.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Espresso or café crème | €1.60–3.00 |
| Baguette | €1.10–1.30 |
| Dodo beer, bar | €3–5 |
| Cari or bol renversé at a snack | €9–14 |
| Restaurant cari, with rice | €14–22 |
| Fish main at a marina restaurant | €22–34 |
| Samoussa or bouchon, each | €1.00–1.60 |
| Whale watching, adult | €45–70 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Roland Garros Airport (RUN)
- RUN to Saint-Gilles: a hire car or a pre-booked transfer, 50–80 minutes by road; the risk is a late flight and a rental desk that has closed.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Roland Garros Airport (RUN) (Aéroport Réunion Roland Garros) | Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other French cities; Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar, Johannesburg and other regional routes (check current airlines) | Hire car or taxi about 50–80 minutes to Saint-Gilles via the coast road and Route des Tamarins |
| Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) (Aéroport de Pierrefonds) | A few regional flights (check whether any are scheduled) | Hire car or taxi 45–60 minutes |
| Bus terminals in Saint-Paul and Saint-Gilles (Gare routière de Saint-Paul) | Kar'Ouest on the west, Car Jaune for the rest of the island | Local buses link Saint-Paul and Saint-Gilles about every 20–30 minutes in the day (check) |
Typical fares
- RUN → Saint-Gilles, taxi
- €100–140, 50–80 min
- Saint-Gilles → Saint-Paul market, taxi
- €25–35, 20–25 min
- Hire car, per day
- €40–75, 2026 estimate; book before you fly
- Bus, one ride
- About €2–4, check the operator
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside a cluster and take a hire car or taxi between them. The Route des Tamarins expressway makes the coast quick; buses run on the coast road but do not reach the dawn hike starts or the cirques on a useful schedule.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Port and promenade, Roches Noires, the L'Hermitage back-beach path |
| Hire car | €40–75 a day (2026 estimate) | Saint-Paul, Boucan Canot, the lagoon and any cirque or volcano day |
| Taxi | €10–15 for a short hop; €25–35 to Saint-Paul | Dinners, the airport and short hops |
| Bus (Kar'Ouest, Car Jaune) | About €2–4 a ride (check) | Saint-Paul and towns along the coast road |
| Bicycle or scooter | Rentals about €15–30 a day (check) | The coast path and short hops |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. A hire car pays for itself if you go inland; taxis are costly and few after dark.
- Late at night
- No rail. Buses on the coast road run limited hours: field-verify before relying on one.
See and do
01Swim and snorkel in the L'Hermitage lagoonLagon de l'Hermitage
The safest and calmest water on the coast; go early and stay inside the supervised zone.
Hours: best 07:00–10:00 · Price: Free; gear about €8–15 · Time: 1.5–3 hHours: best 7:00 AM–10:00 AM · Price: Free; gear about €8–15 · Time: 1.5–3 h · -21.0745, 55.2297
02Saint-Paul marketMarché forain de Saint-Paul
The best market on the coast for fruit, vanilla, spices and snacks; a real local morning.
Hours: best Friday or Saturday, 07:30–09:30 · Price: Free; €10–20 to eat · Time: 1–1.5 hHours: best Friday or Saturday, 7:30 AM–9:30 AM · Price: Free; €10–20 to eat · Time: 1–1.5 h · -21.0093, 55.2698
03Whale watching from the marinaObservation des baleines et sorties en mer
Humpbacks visit the west coast from about July to October; the best half day on the water.
Hours: best Morning, July to October · Price: €45–70 · Time: 2.5–3 h · -21.0576, 55.2290
04Marina promenade at sunsetPort de Saint-Gilles
The easiest evening in town: boats, cafés and a flat walk.
Hours: best 17:00–19:00 · Price: Free; a drink or dinner · Time: 1–2 hHours: best 5:00 PM–7:00 PM · Price: Free; a drink or dinner · Time: 1–2 h · -21.0580, 55.2287
05Boucan Canot sunsetPlage de Boucan Canot
The prettiest beach for a drink; look at the surf, swim only where it is open.
Hours: best 17:00–18:15 · Price: Free; €8–20 for a drink · Time: 1–2 hHours: best 5:00 PM–6:15 PM · Price: Free; €8–20 for a drink · Time: 1–2 h · -21.0432, 55.2292
06Roches Noires beachPlage des Roches Noires
A walkable beach beside the marina with dark volcanic rocks and a lively weekend crowd.
Hours: best Early morning or late afternoon · Price: Free · Time: 45–90 min · -21.0550, 55.2252
07Saint-Paul marine cemeteryCimetière marin de Saint-Paul
Seafront graves, the La Buse pirate story and the poet Leconte de Lisle's Saint-Paul roots; a short historic pause after the market.
Hours: best Morning · Price: Free · Time: 20–30 min · -21.0087, 55.2708
08Kelonia turtle centre in Saint-Leu
Rescued sea turtles and a good exhibit; a fine rain-day or afternoon plan.
Hours: best Afternoon · Price: About €10–14 adult · Time: 1.5–2 h
09Maïdo dawn lookout
The best view of the Mafate cirque; the cloud arrives by 09:00.The best view of the Mafate cirque; the cloud arrives by 9:00 AM.
Hours: best First light · Price: Free; fuel · Time: 3–4 h with the drive
10A cari lunch
The dish that tastes like the island; do it on a slow lunch hour.
Hours: best 12:00–13:30 · Price: €9–22 · Time: 1–1.5 hHours: best 12:00 PM–1:30 PM · Price: €9–22 · Time: 1–1.5 h
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saint-Leu (Kelonia and the coast) | Car 25 minutes south | Half day |
| Maïdo lookout (Mafate) | Car about 1.5 hours | Half day, early start |
| Cilaos | Car about 2 hours from Saint-Louis on 400 bends | Full day |
| Piton de la Fournaise | Car about 2.5 hours | Full day |
| Saint-Pierre | Car about 50–60 minutes | Half day |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creole snack: bol renversé and samoussas | Bol renversé or a samoussa lunch · Snack stands near the port | €7–12 | Budget |
| Bakery breakfast and picnic stop | Pain au chocolat, coffee and a baguette · Saint-Gilles bakeries | €3–6 | Budget |
| Saint-Paul market food stalls | Market grazing: samoussas, bouchons, fruit · Saint-Paul market | €5–12 | Budget |
| Creole cari lunch near the port | Cari with rice and rougail · Streets behind the marina | €14–22 | Mid-range |
| L'Hermitage beach kiosk | Grilled fish or a salad on the sand · L'Hermitage beach | €12–25 | Mid-range |
| Boucan Canot sunset terrace | A Dodo beer or rhum arrangé at sunset · Boucan Canot | €8–20 | Mid-range |
| Marina fish restaurant | Catch of the day, tuna or marlin, and a bottle of wine · Marina terraces | €30–55 | Higher-end |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Kitchens close early: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | €55–90 a night | Saint-Gilles centre, side streets behind the port | Guesthouses, studios, small apartments |
| mid | €100–190 a night | Port, Boucan Canot, L'Hermitage back beach | 3-star hotels, apartment-hotels, villas with a pool |
| high | €220–450 a night | L'Hermitage beach front and Boucan Canot | Beach resorts, boutique hotels |
Per room per night in euro, 2026 estimate; July, August and Dec–Jan holidays add 25–60% and rooms sell out.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbon-zhoor |
| Good evening | Bonsoirbon-swahr |
| Goodbye | Au revoiroh ruh-vwahr |
| Please | S'il vous plaîtseel voo pleh |
| Thank you | Mercimehr-see |
| Excuse me | Excusez-moiex-koo-zay mwah |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaîtla-dee-syon seel voo pleh |
| Not too spicy | Pas trop piquantpah troh pee-kahn |
| I would like a cari with rice | Je voudrais un cari avec du rizzhuh voo-dray uhn ka-ree ah-vek doo ree |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sah koot |
| Where is the beach? | Où est la plage ?oo eh la plazh |
| Is it safe to swim here? | On peut se baigner ici ?on puh suh beh-nyay ee-see |
| How are you? (Creole) | Koman i lé ?ko-man ee lay |
| Thank you (Creole) | Mersimer-see |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say bonjour when you enter a shop, café or small restaurant and au revoir when you leave. A missing greeting reads as rude.
- Tipping: Service is included in French prices. Rounding up or leaving €1–3 for good service is common; 5–10% in a nicer restaurant is generous.
- Beach clothes: Swimwear is for the beach; put a shirt on before you walk into shops, bakeries and restaurants.
- Temples and churches: Cover shoulders and knees; remove shoes at a Tamil temple when asked and do not step on the threshold.
- Marine reserve: Do not stand on coral, feed fish or take shells and live animals; the lagoon is a protected marine reserve with fines.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people at markets or at religious ceremonies; the fire-walking festivals are worship, not a show.
- Dining: Lunch is 12:00–14:00 and dinner from about 19:00; kitchens close early, so arrive by 20:30. The bill is not brought until you ask (l'addition, s'il vous plaît).
Red lines
- Say bonjour when entering a shop or small restaurant.
- Réunion is multi-faith: cover up and remove shoes at temples when asked.
- Do not leave valuables visible in a parked hire car.
Scams and watch-outs
- Car break-ins at beach car parks and viewpoints: leave nothing visible in the car, including a charger or a jacket.
- Unlicensed touts on the marina selling cheap boat trips without papers: book with a licensed operator and ask for a receipt.
- Roadside 'bourbon vanilla' at very low prices: buy sealed, weighed packs from a shop or a stall you trust.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover from the airport or one day between flights. Skip: Saint-Paul, the boat trips and any inland day.
- 07:307:30 AMBakery breakfast near the port
- 08:308:30 AMLagoon swim and snorkel at L'Hermitage
- 12:3012:30 PMCari lunch behind the marina
- 17:005:00 PMMarina promenade at sunset
2 days
A short beach break. Skip: The cirques, the volcano and the whale boats.
Day 1 — Lagoon and marina
- 08:008:00 AMLagoon morning
- 12:3012:30 PMCari lunch
- 17:005:00 PMPromenade and dinner at the port
Day 2 — Market and sunset
- 07:307:30 AMSaint-Paul market
- 17:005:00 PMSunset at Boucan Canot
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Île de La Réunion Tourisme (official): www.reunion.fr/
- France-Visas (official entry rules): france-visas.gouv.fr/
- Wikivoyage — Saint-Gilles-les-Bains: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
- Réserve naturelle marine de La Réunion (official): www.reservemarinereunion.fr/
- Wikivoyage — Réunion: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/R%C3%A9union
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Saint-GillesSaint-Gilles-les-Bains
Pouvez-vous m'emmener à cette adresse, s'il vous plaît ?
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Lagon de l'HermitageL'Hermitage lagoon
- Marché forain de Saint-PaulSaint-Paul market
- Observation des baleines et sorties en merWhale watching and boat trips from the port
- Port de Saint-GillesSaint-Gilles port and promenade
- Plage de Boucan CanotBoucan Canot beach
- Plage des Roches NoiresRoches Noires beach
There is no US, UK, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand embassy on Réunion: the nearest are in Paris or the region. Write your own embassy's 24-hour line here before you fly.
French is the working language; English is spoken in most hotels and at the marina but not reliably at bakeries, small snacks or in the countryside. A few words of French go a long way.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/saint-gilles). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.