Quick answer. Réunion is part of France and the EU and uses the euro. Take euros from one of the two bank machines in the public hall rather than the exchange desk, and decline any offer to charge you in dollars or pounds. The Car Jaune island buses cost a flat EUR 2: lines to Saint-Denis, and line T down the west coast via Saint-Gilles to Saint-Pierre. A taxi to central Saint-Denis costs roughly EUR 20 to 40, and to Saint-Gilles far more. Most visitors hire a car. BNP Paribas Réunion is not a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner: BNP's partnership covers mainland France only.
Where to get euros at RUN
At RUN the cheapest euros come from a bank machine with a card that has no foreign transaction fee. Figures assume the euro equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank ATM with a no-FX-fee card | Public hall | Network rate | ~$100-102 |
| Bank ATM with a BoA debit card | Public hall | BoA's $5 non-network fee and 3% international fee | ~$108 |
| Exchange desk | Public hall | Wide spread plus commission | ~$106-112 |
| Accepting 'charge in USD' at any machine | Anywhere | +5-10% conversion markup | ~$105-110 |
Bank machines at Réunion (RUN), the bus station and the taxi rank
Roland Garros is on the north coast, a few kilometres east of Saint-Denis, the island's capital. Almost every long-haul flight comes from Paris, about 11 hours away, with regional routes to Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar and South Africa. The public hall has two bank machines open around the clock and a Crédit Agricole branch, plus an exchange desk whose rates you should ignore. The island's banks are the familiar French names, BNP Paribas Réunion, Crédit Agricole, BRED, Caisse d'Epargne and La Banque Postale, and their machines work exactly as in Paris. Two traps: Bank of America's alliance with BNP Paribas stops at the French mainland, and although Réunion is in the EU, it is outside Schengen, so some visitors need a visa that a Schengen visa does not cover. The Réunion money guide covers island prices, VAT and the hiking costs.
Public arrivals hall
Air France, Air Austral, Corsair, French Bee, Air Mauritius and the regional carriers
Two bank machines in the public area, open 24 hours, and a Crédit Agricole branch in daytime. Withdraw euros, and if the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, refuse. The car hire desks and the bus station are a short walk away.
Bus station (between car parks P1 and P4)
Car Jaune island buses, Citalis Saint-Denis buses and the Jetcar shuttle
Car Jaune lines to Saint-Denis and line T along the west coast via Boucan Canot and Saint-Gilles-les-Bains to Saint-Pierre cost a flat EUR 2. Citalis local buses cost EUR 1.30. The Jetcar express shuttle to Saint-Pierre costs about EUR 20. Carry small change for the driver.
Taxi rank
Licensed island taxis
Outside arrivals. Taxis are metered on the Réunion tariff. Ask whether the driver takes cards before you set off; many do, not all. For the west coast, a hire car or the bus is far cheaper.
Do you actually need cash at Réunion (RUN)?
Not for the bus or a hire car. A little, for the island's markets and snack bars:
Car Jaune bus to Saint-Denis (EUR 2): About 20 minutes; frequent on weekdays.
Car Jaune line T to Saint-Gilles and Saint-Pierre (EUR 2): About 1 hour to Saint-Gilles via the coast road.
Taxi to central Saint-Denis (roughly EUR 20-40): About 15-20 minutes; ask about cards first.
Taxi to Saint-Gilles-les-Bains (roughly EUR 60-90): About 45 minutes on the coast road; a hire car is usually cheaper.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Réunion (RUN) to Saint-Denis?
Not much. The Car Jaune bus costs EUR 2 and is easiest with coins, and hire cars and most taxis take cards. Carry some euros for the island's markets, roadside fruit stalls, snack bars selling samosas and bouchons, and mountain gîtes.
Can I order euros before flying?
Not needed: the machines in the hall give euros at the network rate. CEI Currency Exchange ships euros to a US address in 2-5 days if you want cash in hand on landing.
Does Réunion use the euro?
Yes. Réunion is an overseas department of France and an outermost region of the European Union, and its currency is the euro, with the same notes and coins as mainland France. It is, however, outside the Schengen area for border purposes.
Is BNP Paribas in Réunion part of the Global ATM Alliance?
No. Bank of America's alliance partner is BNP Paribas in mainland France. The partnership does not extend to BNP Paribas Réunion or the other overseas banks in the group, so a BoA debit card pays BoA's 5 dollar non-network fee and 3 percent international transaction fee at any machine on the island.
How much is the bus from Réunion airport?
Car Jaune island buses charge a flat 2 euros per journey, including the lines from the airport to Saint-Denis and line T to Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and Saint-Pierre. Local Citalis buses in the Saint-Denis area cost 1.30 euros, and the Jetcar express shuttle to Saint-Pierre about 20 euros.