Car hire at Roland Garros Airport: the complete guide

Réunion Roland Garros Airport sits in the commune of Sainte-Marie, about ten minutes east of Saint-Denis, the island's main town. It is the principal gateway to Réunion, handling almost every flight from mainland France, Mauritius and the wider Indian Ocean.

The second airport, Pierrefonds, lies in the south (Saint-Pierre) and mainly serves regional flights. So depending on where you land, you collect your car in the north or in the south.

The principle is simple: you book online before you leave, and agree the pick-up point at the airport (or immediately nearby) with the agency. Once you have landed and collected your bags, you take the car and you are independent straight away.

On Tropiloc, you can see at a glance the vehicles offered with pick-up at Roland Garros, compare several local agencies and book the car that suits you — without queueing at a desk on arrival.

Many flights from mainland France land early in the morning after an overnight journey. That is precisely when having booked ahead changes everything: you do not depend on the opening hours of a crowded desk, and you head straight to your accommodation to rest.

Do give your real arrival time when you book: agencies organise the handover around it.

The right choice depends on your plans:

• Beach holiday in the west, couple or solo → a city car is plenty: cheap to run and easy to park.
• Full road trip, cirques and highlands → an SUV is more comfortable on mountain roads.
• Family or group → a 7-seater or a van to travel together with the luggage.

To help you decide, our guide on how much car hire costs in Réunion breaks down prices by category.

From Roland Garros, allow roughly:

• Saint-Denis: 10–15 min.
• West coast (Saint-Gilles, l'Ermitage, Saint-Paul): 40–50 min via the coast road.
• South (Saint-Pierre): about 1 hr along the west coast.
• East (Sainte-Suzanne, Saint-Benoît): 20–40 min.

The coast road (RN1) can be busy at peak times around Saint-Denis, so leave a little margin in the morning. Once past it, the island opens up in front of you.

The best advice is also the simplest: do not leave the car to chance once you are there. In high season the best vehicles and the best prices are gone before the planes land. Booking online means the right car at the right price, ready when you touch down.

See cars with pick-up at Roland Garros Airport on Tropiloc — vetted local agencies, unlimited mileage, free cancellation.