Markets are the best gateway to Reunionese culture: you taste, you chat and you discover fruit found nowhere else. Saint-Denis has several, each with its own atmosphere.
The Grand Marché
Under its beautiful 19th-century metal frame on rue du Maréchal Leclerc, the Grand Marché focuses on crafts: basketry, woodwork, fabrics, spices, vanilla and rhum arrangé. The ideal place to find a souvenir.
The Petit Marché
Also on rue du Maréchal Leclerc, the Petit Marché is the market for everyday fruit, vegetables, herbs and spices. You will find chillies, turmeric (the local “safran”), leafy greens and, depending on the season, lychees, mangoes or passion fruit.
The Chaudron open-air market
East of the centre, the large Chaudron open-air market is one of the liveliest on the island. It is held on certain mornings of the week: ask at reception for the current days and times.
Seasonal fruit to try
- Lychees: from late November to January, the star of the austral summer.
- Mangoes: from December to February.
- Victoria pineapple: small, very sweet, available almost all year round.
- Passion fruit, strawberry guavas, papayas, star fruit: depending on supply.
Our tips
- Come early in the morning: more choice and less heat.
- Bring cash, as not all stalls accept cards.
- Try a samosa or a bonbon piment on the spot, and for dishes, read Reunion Island food: what to eat.
Where to stay in Saint-Denis?
Hôtel Select welcomes you in Saint-Denis, 8 minutes from Roland Garros Airport: 24/7 reception, free covered parking, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms and a breakfast buffet from 6 am. Our team speaks French, English, Creole and Hindi and is happy to help you plan your outings.