A tour of the island’s best markets | Île de la Réunion Tourisme

In the Reunion sunshine, discover a whole festival of colour, fragrance and spicy aromas… The markets of Reunion Island are amazingly lively places and a big favourite among the people who live here.
Reunion is a land of delicious fruit and vegetables from “lontan” (days gone by), cultivating or importing these marvels of the land. Some of these products used in the local cuisine have become Reunion Island emblems, such as the lychee, the Victoria pineapple and the José mango, which have even been enhanced to the point of becoming “the best in the world”.
Some produce is seasonal – mangoes from October to January, lychees in November and December – while others are available all year round, like bananas, tomatoes, papayas, coconuts, etc.
Multi-coloured, multi-flavoured, multi-scented Reunion… Just take a stroll through the island’s markets to appreciate the full diversity of the produce available. You’ll find a haphazard array of fruit, vegetables, spices, flowers and poultry, alongside pandan hats and bags, and much more.

All the pleasures of the senses combined

Make your break an exceptional one with family or friends. A plunge into the culture of Reunion Island is a real feast for the eyes as well as your tastebuds.

The famous Saint-Paul market is held all day on Fridays, and Saturday mornings, much to the delight of local residents and tourists alike (local crafts).

The market in Le Chaudron, on Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings, is very busy.

There are permanent indoor markets in Saint-Pierre, Saint-Denis (small market & main market) and Saint-Leu (crafts).

Saint-Suzanne market is held on Tuesdays. Follow the guide to the market and help to cook a Creole-style curry over a wood fire, with the North Intercommunal Tourist Office.

Fruit and vegetable growers’ markets are emerging all over the island. The Eperon market at Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts is well worth a visit.

In Reunion Island, every town, village and islet flaunts its own traditional specialities. For example, you’ll find:

the most flavoursome chayotes and peaches in Salazie,
the best lychees in Bras-Canot,
the tastiest lentils in Cilaos,
the sweetest guavas in La Plaine-des-Palmistes,
garlic in Petite-Ile,
the best vanilla pods in Bras-Panon and Saint-André,
the most brightly-coloured turmeric and saffron in Saint-Joseph and La Plaine-des-Grègues,
and the heaviest coconuts in Saint-Paul.