Broadly safe for most visitors, with only routine travel precautions needed. Public health and infrastructure are well developed.
Regional breakdown
Réunion sits east of Madagascar and is part of France. The capital, Saint-Denis, runs along the north coast and hosts most government offices, the main hospital and Roland Garros airport. Travellers usually arrive there before heading inland or south. The west coast holds the busiest tourist strip. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, Saint-Leu and L'Hermitage draw visitors for lagoon swimming, surfing and sunset bars. These beaches sit inside a marine reserve, but shark attacks have happened outside the protected lagoon. Local rules ban swimming and surfing on most unprotected stretches of the west and south coast. Look for signs and follow them. The interior is dominated by three volcanic cirques: Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie. Hikers cross them on the GR R1 and GR R2 trails. Mafate has no roads, only footpaths and a helicopter pad. Piton de la Fournaise, in the south-east near Sainte-Rose, is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Access closes during eruptions, and the prefecture posts updates. Cyclone-prone towns on the wild south coast include Saint-Philippe and Saint-Joseph.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance does not publish a separate page for Réunion. It falls under the France travel advice, last updated on 18 February 2026. The February update mainly covered the European Entry-Exit System at the border, not Réunion-specific risks. The official advisory guidance keeps France at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, last reissued on 28 May 2025. The reasons given are terrorism and civil unrest on the mainland. The France page lists separate advisories for several overseas territories such as French Guiana, Guadeloupe and Martinique, but does not name Réunion. In practice. travellers heading to Réunion should read the France guidance and check official advisory guidance's country information page for any island-specific notes before flying.
What travellers should know
Réunion uses the euro and runs on French law, French healthcare and EU consumer rules. UK passport holders need a valid passport and, from 2025, must clear the EU Entry-Exit System on arrival. Stays of up to 90 days in any 180 do not need a visa. The main hospital network is in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, and standards are close to mainland France. Bring a GHIC or travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, since the island is remote. The two biggest natural hazards are sharks and weather. Swim only inside the lagoon zones marked by buoys, and never enter the water at dusk, in murky conditions or after heavy rain. Cyclone season runs from November to April, and roads in the cirques can close after storms. Dengue circulates year-round, so use repellent. Petty theft happens in tourist car parks and at trailheads, so do not leave bags in vehicles. Driving is on the right, mountain roads are narrow, and the coastal ring road carries heavy traffic at peak hours.