Saint-Denis is the official administrative capital of Réunion, located on the island’s northernmost point, close to the mouth of the Rivière Saint-Denis. The capital is an essential introduction to the multiple, flavoursome colours of Réunion. The lively streets in the city centre reflect the cocktail of the different ethnic groups and cultures of Réunion. The city has many neighbourhoods including Le Barachois, Bellepierre, Bois-de-Nèfles, Les Camélias, Centre-ville, Champ-Fleuri, Ruisseau des Noirs, Saint-François, Saint-Jacques, La Source, La Trinité, and Vauban to name just a few. None of these districts are reserved for one cultural group, on the street corners you will find the old boutiques run by the Chinese community and on rue Marechal-Leclerc, shops managed by Indian Muslims. All this, just like the Creole cari, makes a beautiful melting pot, where the customs and traditions from three continents rub shoulders.

There are numerous attractions to visit in the capital including cultural sites like the Léon Dierx art gallery and museum, the Artotheque and other art galleries. There are several theatres and music stages like the Grand Marché Theatre, Champ Fleuri, and La Fabrik, as well as religious buildings that include the Noor-e-Islam mosque, the biggest on the island that was built in 1905 and is the oldest existing on French soil. The Creole houses and buildings dating from the East India Trading Company, in particularly the Maison Deramond and the Prefecture, are popular attractions when open to the public on National Heritage Days.
The ‘Grand Marché’ selling Indian Ocean handicrafts and the ‘Petit Marché’ for fruit, vegetables, and spices are worth a visit, as is La Montagne with its adventure playground, and the Colorado Golf Course. For more outdoor activities, the Barachois seafront park is lovely for a stroll and the picnic area at Le Brûlé provides a spot for relaxing. There are surrounding walks that pass by the Maniquet waterfall, and treks to La Roche Écrite - a summit overlooking Saint-Denis, offering impressive views over the city, that are also very popular.

The Jardin de l'État – the historic state botanical gardens that includes a natural history museum is also a popular attraction. The garden was built between 1767 and 1773 and was originally known as the Jardin du Roy. The gardens are planted with trees and spices brought from outside the island by Pierre Poivre, and are home to around fifty species of tree. The garden's golden era occured at the beginning of the 19th century, when its plants were tended to by famous botanists such as Joseph Hubert, Nicolas Bréon and Jean-Michel-Claude Richard. At that time the garden contained 2000 species and 7000 of its plants were distributed to the islanders in 1825 as part of a scheme to improve the colonial agriculture. Today the garden houses a bust of Pierre Poivre and the Wallace fountain and its main entrance faces the historic Rue de Paris. There are various hotels in the capital which you can use as a base to explore the island, including the Mercure Creolia Hotel, and the Austral Hotel.