Saint-Paul
Introduction
Saint-Paul sits on the far western edge of Réunion, a commune in the French overseas department of the same island. From here you are on the west side of Réunion, with the rest of the island stretching away to the east.
Getting around
Saint-Paul sits on Réunion's west coast, and the practical reality is that it works as one stop on a wider island transport network rather than a place with its own dense urban transit system. There is no rail, metro or tram to use here, so plan your movements around the island's inter-city buses. The backbone of public transport is Car Jaune, which covers the north, west, south and east of the island and brings Saint-Paul and the surrounding west-coast resorts within reach. Buses are air-conditioned, have on-board WiFi and information screens, and are accessible to all. Two lines matter most for Saint-Paul: Line T, the tourist line running between Sainte-Marie and Saint-Pierre via the beaches and the airports, which operates seven days a week and stops in the Saint-Paul area at Gare de Saint-Paul, Boucan Canot, Les Aigrettes, Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, Roches Noires, Filaos Saint-Gilles and La Saline les Bains; and Line ZO, which runs between Sainte-Marie and Saint-Pierre along the Route des Tamarins from Monday to Saturday and does not run on Sundays, so plan weekend travel around Line T or a taxi.
- Buy tickets at the stop or on board; children under 12 travel at half price and under-threes travel free.
- For more than a ticket or two, get a contactless yPass card (buy and recharge at Car Jaune points of sale, online or through Car Jaune partners) or use the M-Ticket app to buy and validate on your phone. Paper tickets are still sold at agencies and on vehicles.
- Validate on boarding: scan your yPass, or have the QR code on your paper ticket or M-Ticket ready.
- Check real-time schedules in the "Timetable" section at www.carjaune.re or scan the QR code at your stop before setting out, especially for less frequent services.
- From Roland Garros Airport, Line T connects the airport with Saint-Paul stops including Gare de Saint-Paul, Boucan Canot, Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and La Saline les Bains, with departures from early morning until evening; Line ZO also serves the airport on some journeys, Monday to Saturday.
- Taxis operate 24 hours a day in front of the airport terminal, and car hire at the airport includes vehicles with a driver (VTC) for transfers, evening journeys, excursions and hiking departures and returns — the more reliable choice if you arrive late, leave early or are heading to a trailhead.
- Walking works for local errands and beach-to-accommodation trips, but not for moving between the scattered coastal settlements and resorts, which are spread along the coast and connected by bus and road.
Three days in Saint-Paul
Day one begins in Saint-Paul proper, the French colonial town on Réunion's west coast. From there, head to the coast at Boucan Canot, Les Aigrettes, Gilles, Bains, Roches Noires and Filaos Saint, where the beaches and waterfront give you an easy first taste of the island. Buses run on the Car Jaune network, with WiFi on board; buy a paper ticket or a QR ticket, and validate it when you board.
- Start in Saint-Paul
- Coastal stops: Boucan Canot, Les Aigrettes, Gilles, Bains, Roches Noires, Filaos Saint
- Car Jaune buses; paper or QR ticket; validate on boarding
Day two takes you south along the coast to La Saline and on to Saint-Pierre, where the Gare is the transport hub. Line ZO and Line Sainte-Marie serve the area, so check the timetable before you set out. Sundays run a reduced service, so plan around it.
- La Saline and Saint-Pierre
- Gare at Saint-Pierre
- Line ZO and Line Sainte-Marie; check the timetable; reduced service on Sundays
Day three is for the Route des Tamarins and Sainte-Marie. From Roland Garros Airport, taxis and VTC are available if you prefer not to take the bus. If you are travelling on a Monday or Saturday, confirm the timetable first, and remember to validate your ticket.
- Route des Tamarins and Sainte-Marie
- From Roland Garros Airport: taxis and VTC
- Check the timetable; validate your ticket