Mauritius or Réunion? Choose Mauritius for a beach holiday: lagoons, white-sand beaches and easy swimming on most coasts. Choose Réunion for hiking and mountain scenery: cirques, an active volcano and the Piton des Neiges, with the euro and the simplest entry rules of the two. If white-sand beaches win, our comparison Mauritius or Seychelles sharpens the choice on the Indian Ocean side.
The two islands, about 45 minutes apart by air, share the same seasonal rhythm: a dry austral winter from May to November and a hot, humid summer with cyclone risk from November to April. They differ in relief and in their relationship with the sea. This comparison draws on our guides to Mauritius and Réunion and on the official climate normals in our « when to go » pages.
Mauritius or Réunion: key points
- Beach and lagoon: Mauritius, clearly
- Hiking and spectacular nature: Réunion, clearly
- Best time: May to December in Mauritius (best from September to mid-December); May to November in Réunion
- On-the-ground budget: close, about $65 to $110 a day in Mauritius and $80 to $125 in Réunion on a tight budget
- Entry rules: Réunion is a French overseas department and part of the EU (passport, no visa for 90 days for UK citizens); Mauritius needs a passport, an onward ticket and an online travel form
- Combination: easy, the two islands are about 45 minutes apart by air
Mauritius or Réunion: comparison table
| Criterion | Mauritius | Réunion | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best time | May to December, best from September to mid-December | May to November; September-October very balanced | Tie |
| Climate (coast) | 27 °C (81 °F) to 32 °C (90 °F); October is driest (15 mm (0.6 in) at Port-Louis) | 25 °C (77 °F) to 30 °C (86 °F); February is wettest (279 mm (11.0 in) at Saint-Denis) | Mauritius: drier on the coast |
| Budget (tight) | About $65 to $110 a day | About $80 to $125 a day, car rental included | Mauritius (slightly) |
| Budget (comfortable) | About $170 to $335 a day | About $170 to $280 a day | Réunion (slightly) |
| Time zone | UTC+4 | UTC+4 | Tie |
| Entry rules | No visa for stays up to 60 days; passport, onward ticket, online form (see below) | French overseas department: no visa for up to 90 days for US and UK citizens (see below) | Depends on your passport |
| Currency, language | Mauritian rupee; English official, French and Creole spoken everywhere | Euro; French and Creole | Réunion |
| Type of trip | Beach, lagoons, water sports, beach hotels | Hiking, volcano, cirques, boat trips | Depends on the project |
| Swimming | Lagoons on most coasts; currents in the south | Restricted (shark risk): west-coast lagoon and supervised areas | Mauritius |
| Crowds | French school holidays and public holidays | July-August, All Saints (Grand Raid) and public holidays | Tie |
| Safety | Safe island; petty theft; cyclones from November to April | Hiking and swimming risks; cyclones from November to April | Tie |
Climate: the same seasons, but Mauritius is drier on the coast
Both islands have a dry, mild austral winter (May to October-November) and a hot, humid, cyclone-prone austral summer, with the highest risk from January to March. Réunion is more contrasted because of its relief: the east coast gets several times more rain than the west coast, and it is 8 to 10 °C (14 to 18 °F) cooler in the highlands. In lower-lying Mauritius, the west and north stay driest; the east and south catch the trade winds and more showers.
| Month | Mauritius (Port-Louis) | Réunion (Saint-Denis) | Better choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | ⚠️ 31.5 °C (89 °F) / 131 mm (5.2 in) | ⚠️ 30.2 °C (86 °F) / 270 mm (10.6 in) | Mauritius |
| February | ⚠️ 31.4 °C (89 °F) / 160 mm (6.3 in) | ❌ 30.3 °C (87 °F) / 279 mm (11.0 in) | Mauritius |
| March | ⚠️ 31.5 °C (89 °F) / 83 mm (3.3 in) | ⚠️ 30 °C (86 °F) / 264 mm (10.4 in) | Mauritius |
| April | ✅ 30.7 °C (87 °F) / 87 mm (3.4 in) | ⚠️ 29.2 °C (85 °F) / 133 mm (5.2 in) | Mauritius |
| May | ✅ 29.3 °C (85 °F) / 48 mm (1.9 in) | ✅ 27.6 °C (82 °F) / 96 mm (3.8 in) | Tie |
| June | ✅ 27.6 °C (82 °F) / 24 mm (0.9 in) | ✅ 26.2 °C (79 °F) / 67 mm (2.6 in) | Tie |
| July | ✅ 26.7 °C (80 °F) / 18 mm (0.7 in) | ✅ 25.4 °C (78 °F) / 51 mm (2.0 in) | Tie |
| August | ✅ 26.8 °C (80 °F) / 19 mm (0.7 in) | ✅ 25.5 °C (78 °F) / 55 mm (2.2 in) | Tie |
| September | ✅ 27.7 °C (82 °F) / 17 mm (0.7 in) | ✅ 26 °C (79 °F) / 48 mm (1.9 in) | Tie |
| October | ✅ 28.8 °C (84 °F) / 15 mm (0.6 in) | ✅ 27 °C (81 °F) / 43 mm (1.7 in) | Tie |
| November | ✅ 30.2 °C (86 °F) / 24 mm (0.9 in) | ✅ 28.3 °C (83 °F) / 62 mm (2.4 in) | Tie |
| December | ✅ 31.1 °C (88 °F) / 85 mm (3.3 in) | ⚠️ 29.5 °C (85 °F) / 160 mm (6.3 in) | Mauritius |
In short: from May to November both islands are in good season. In December and April, Mauritius keeps the advantage. From January to March both are exposed to cyclones, but Réunion is much wetter, especially on the east coast and in the highlands, where some trails close after heavy rain. For details: when to go to Mauritius and when to go to Réunion.
Budget: close, but structured differently
The ranges in our guides largely overlap. In Mauritius accommodation varies enormously: apartments and guesthouses at about $30 to $55 per person, while big beach hotels cost far more. Street food (dholl puri, farata) lets you eat for about $10 to $20 a day, and buses are very cheap.
In Réunion prices are close to those of mainland France, often slightly higher for food, and a rental car is almost essential: it is the biggest expense after the flight. On the other hand, hikes are free. In both cases flights are much more expensive during French school holidays.
Entry requirements and practicalities
US citizens
Mauritius: according to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov, last updated December 8, 2025), you need a valid passport with at least one blank page, evidence of onward or return travel and proof of sufficient funds. No visa is required, and your passport is stamped on arrival for 60 days. The Department also recommends filling in the online « Mauritius All-in-One Travel Digital Form » no more than 72 hours before travel.
Réunion: the State Department has no separate Réunion page; its Mauritius page notes that French overseas departments such as Réunion are not part of the Schengen Agreement and refers travelers to the Embassy of France. Check the entry rules with the Embassy of France before you book.
UK citizens
Mauritius: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 19 October 2026), your passport must be valid for your whole stay and have one blank page. You can visit without a visa for up to 60 days and must show proof of onward or return travel. You must fill in the Mauritius All in One travel form online before you arrive and show the printed QR code at the airport.
Réunion: according to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, checked 12 November 2026), Réunion is an overseas department of France and part of the EU. Your passport must expire at least three months after your planned departure, and you can visit without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business.
In Mauritius you drive on the left, the currency is the Mauritian rupee and sockets are often of the British type; French is spoken everywhere in daily life, which makes a stay easier. Réunion uses the euro, and its health system is the French one.
Mauritius or Réunion by profile
Honeymoon and couples
Advantage Mauritius. Beach hotels, calm lagoons in the north and west, catamaran trips, sunsets over Le Morne or Flic en Flac: Mauritius is designed for beach stays. Réunion suits active couples better, who prefer gîtes, hiking and sunrise viewpoints.
Families
Advantage Mauritius for swimming, Réunion for simplicity. In Mauritius the calm lagoons suit children well, and distances are short (about 1 h 30 from north to south). In Réunion swimming is limited to the west-coast lagoon and supervised areas, but entry is simple for UK citizens, the euro is used and the health system is familiar to many Europeans.
Hiking and sport
Advantage Réunion, without hesitation. The Cirque de Mafate, reachable only on foot, the Piton des Neiges (3,070 m / 10,072 ft), the Piton de la Fournaise, the Bélouve forest and the Trou de Fer: the « Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island » are UNESCO World Heritage. Mauritius has some fine walks (Black River Gorges, Le Morne), but on a different scale. For kitesurfing, however, the Le Morne lagoon is very popular.
Tight budget
A tie. Mauritius starts slightly lower (about $65 a day) thanks to buses and street food. Réunion, car rental included, starts around $80 a day, but its main activities, hiking and viewpoints, are free. Travelling outside French school holidays (May-June, September) lowers the bill on both islands.
Whales and marine life
A tie. Humpback whales can be seen roughly from June to October in Réunion and from July to October in Mauritius, off the west coast in both cases. Mauritius has the edge for snorkeling, with the Blue Bay marine park; Réunion has Kélonia, the sea turtle observatory at Saint-Leu.
Culture and food
A tie. Both islands are mixed societies, with Hindu temples, mosques, churches and pagodas. Mauritius has Port-Louis, the UNESCO-listed Aapravasi Ghat and the sacred lake of Grand Bassin. Réunion has the Creole houses of Hell-Bourg and the Rue de Paris in Saint-Denis. On food: carry and rougail saucisse on one side, dholl puri, rougaille and mine frite on the other.
Why not both?
It is the simplest combination in the Indian Ocean: the two islands are about 45 minutes apart by air. With two weeks, a logical split is to start with a week in Réunion for hiking (west coast, Cilaos or Mafate, volcano), then finish with a beach week in Mauritius. Ideally go between May and November, when both islands are in their dry season: September and October are particularly good, with whales still around.
Our verdict
- You dream of lagoons and doing nothing: Mauritius
- You want to walk and see a volcano and cirques: Réunion
- You are travelling in December or April: Mauritius, which is drier
- You want the lightest entry rules and no currency exchange: Réunion (for UK citizens; check your own passport rules)
- You have two weeks between May and November: both, as a combination
Frequently asked questions
Which is the prettier island, Mauritius or Réunion?
It depends on what you are looking for. Mauritius is the island of lagoons and beaches; Réunion is that of mountains, cirques and a volcano, listed as UNESCO World Heritage. For a beach stay choose Mauritius; for hiking, Réunion. To prepare the island’s flagship hike, read our guide to the Piton de la Fournaise, Réunion’s volcano.
When is the best time to go to Réunion and Mauritius?
From May to November, in the dry austral winter, for both islands. September and October are the most balanced months. Mauritius stays pleasant until mid-December; from January to March both islands are in full cyclone season.
Which month should you avoid in Mauritius and Réunion?
February is the wettest month and the peak of the cyclone season on both islands. January and March are also exposed to cyclones.
Which island is cheaper?
The budgets are close: about $65 to $110 a day in Mauritius and $80 to $125 in Réunion on a tight budget, excluding flights. Mauritius can work out cheaper in apartments and with street food; its big beach hotels are very expensive.
Can you swim in Réunion?
Yes, but only in permitted areas: the west-coast lagoon (L’Hermitage, La Saline, Saint-Leu) and supervised areas. Elsewhere swimming is restricted because of the shark risk.
How long is the flight between Réunion and Mauritius?
About 45 minutes. The two islands are therefore easy to combine on one trip.
Further reading
- Our Mauritius travel guide and when to go to Mauritius
- Our Réunion travel guide and when to go to Réunion
- Travel to the Seychelles, another Indian Ocean archipelago
- Maldives or Seychelles: which should you choose?
- All our destination comparisons
Our sources
- World Meteorological Organization (World Weather Information Service): Port-Louis station normals
- Météo-France: 1991-2020 normals for Saint-Denis Gillot and the south-west Indian Ocean cyclone season
- U.S. Department of State, Mauritius country information (travel.state.gov, last updated December 8, 2025)
- UK FCDO, Mauritius (GOV.UK, updated 19 October 2026) and Réunion (GOV.UK, checked 12 November 2026)
- Comparison based on our published guides (re-read 13 October 2026); exchange rate: European Central Bank reference rate of 23 October 2026 (€1 = US$1.1193)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.