Réunion
Réunion in December
🌧️ Rainy seasonWarm, a little humid and often rainy.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why December scores 8.5What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.6
- ✓Warm (30°C highs / 23°C lows)
- !Humid (dew point 20°C)
- !Wet: ~160 mm rain, ~1 heavy-rain days
- Air quality9.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~6 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards9.5
- !Tropical cyclone: Edge of the South Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Safety baseline8.5
- ·Normal precautions
| Dec | Jul | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.5 Excellent | 9.6 Excellent |
| Season | 🌧️ Rainy season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 30° / 23° | 25° / 18° |
| Rain | 160 mm | 51 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 20° | dew pt 16° |
| PM2.5 | 6 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Saint-Denis weather-station normals. Rainfall: Saint-Denis weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Abolition of Slavery (20 Dec)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore RéunionEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyRéunion is a volcanic French island in the Indian Ocean, with Saint-Denis as its capital. Visitors come for dramatic hiking in the cirques, an active volcano, and a rich Creole culture mixing African, Indian, Chinese and French influences.
Fête Kaf (Abolition of Slavery Day)Every year20 December every year
A public holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery in Réunion in 1848, celebrated with maloya music and gatherings.
Why go: Many shops close, and there are free concerts and cultural events.
Where: Island-wide
Coming up later
Bastille DayEvery year14 July every year
France's national day, with parades and fireworks.
Why go: A public holiday with evening fireworks in many towns.
Where: Island-wide
Grand Raid (Diagonale des Fous)Date variesUsually October (dates vary)
A famous ultra-trail race crossing the island's mountains.
Why go: Accommodation and some trails get busy; check for trail closures.
Where: Across the island, finishing in Saint-Denis
DipavaliDate variesUsually October or November (follows the Hindu calendar)
The Tamil festival of lights, with parades and illuminations.
Why go: Saint-André's parade is a colourful public event worth planning around.
Where: Mainly Saint-André
Piton de la Fournaise
One of the world's most active volcanoes, with a lunar landscape and a hiking trail to the crater rim.
💡 Start very early before clouds roll in, and check whether access is open, as it closes during eruptions.
Cirque de Mafate
A remote volcanic amphitheatre reachable only on foot or by helicopter, with small hamlets and multi-day hikes.
💡 Book gîte accommodation well ahead and carry enough water.
Cirque de Cilaos
A mountain cirque known for thermal springs, lentils and wine, reached by a famously winding road.
💡 The road has hundreds of bends; take motion sickness precautions.
Cirque de Salazie and Hell-Bourg
The greenest cirque, full of waterfalls, with the Creole village of Hell-Bourg and its colourful houses.
Piton des Neiges
The highest point in the Indian Ocean, climbed overnight to see sunrise from the summit.
💡 Bring warm layers; it can be near freezing at the top.
Cari
The island's everyday curry of chicken, fish or pork cooked with tomato, onion, turmeric and spices, served with rice and beans.
💡 Creole restaurants and roadside snack bars.
Rougail saucisse
Smoked sausages simmered in a spicy tomato sauce.
💡 Family restaurants and take-away shops.
Samoussas and bouchons
Fried triangle pastries and steamed dumplings, popular snacks from Indian and Chinese traditions.
💡 Snack bars and markets across the island.
Rhum arrangé
Rum infused with fruit, vanilla or spices.
💡 Restaurants and bars, often served after meals.
Bourbon vanilla
Fragrant vanilla pods from the island where hand pollination of vanilla was pioneered.
💡 Markets and vanilla plantations in the east of the island.
Rhum arrangé
Bottles of flavoured rum in many fruit and spice varieties.
💡 Markets, supermarkets and gift shops.
Spice mixes
Local curry powders and massalé spice blends.
💡 Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul markets.