St. Denis RUN Airport Shuttle

Less than 5 miles (8 km) from downtown, Roland Garros Airport is just a short drive from paradise – get there fast by booking a shuttle from either area companies or local executive providers, enjoying views of the coast from Rue Léopold Rambaud, a scenic road that runs through Sainte-Clotilde, eventually connecting to the iconic Lancaster Boulevard of Saint-Denis.

Have your shuttle drop you off in a neighborhood that fits your trip’s attitude, going with classic views of the Saint-Denis River in the Bas de la Rivière neighborhood, or go with something surrounded by all the fun, choosing between the coastal charm of Barachois, located along the northern bank, or the central museums, parks, and churches of Centre. For something close to downtown but away from the buzz, head west across the river toward La Petite Ile, also considering Le Butor and Les Camélias to the east.

Be sure to keep all information and documents close, starting with your shuttle reservation. Print out your confirmation email when it arrives, doing the same with other hotel bookings and tours. As far as personal documents go, take added measures to secure yourself abroad, scanning passports, prescriptions, and other identification, then storing them online in case worse comes to worst. Choose between several cloud storage services, or simply email the scans to yourself for safe-keeping, also considering organizers and folders to secure them on your person.

About Roland Garros Airport
Located in the charming town of Sainte-Marie, Roland Garros Airport is a fifteen-minute drive from downtown. Enjoy quietude along with convenience by booking a room in the small shoreline area, the closest options being Villa Hélèna B&B, which offers mountainous views, and Villa Lotus, home to full kitchens, living rooms, and a pool. Further west toward Sainte-Clotilde are more business-friendly hotels, including the 3-star Tulip Inn, waterside Le Cap Vert, and ritzy Hotel Mercure Créolia.

If you find yourself stuck at the airport, have fun with what’s on-site, either by sifting through Aelia Duty Free, home to perfume, sweets, and wines, or by heading to the shopping mall and food court on level 2. Drinks and snacks can be found at either Air Lounge Café, home to breakfast and coffee, or Soleil, which offers fresh-squeezed drinks and smoothies. Take time to walk up the main lobby’s staircase for a glimpse at the indoor waterfall as well, or meditate at the interfaith chapel on the ground level.

If you do plan to book a room close to the airport, or the nearby NORDEV Exposition Centre, have fun with what’s in the immediate area, heading to the Centre Commercial Carrefour Grand Nord, located across the river from the convention center and home to department stores, a grocery market, and various local vendors, or enjoy a long walk across the connected Sentier Littoral Nord greenbelt, heading west for a slow creep into downtown’s Le Barachois neighborhood, or east for more rural adventures that lead to Cascade Niagara.

Sainte-Marie Destinations
The capital of the French island of Réunion, Saint-Denis is known for its 19th-century architecture and lush meridian tropics, giving it the most distinct color pallet in the world. Get a feel for the city’s unique history by spending the afternoon museum-hopping, heading to Musée Léon-Dierx for a look at classical paintings and statues, afterward switching the mood to natural history, discovering oceanic fossils and jungle wildlife dioramas at the Muséum D'histoire Naturelle de La Réunion. For some family-friendly fun, take the kids to Parc du Colorado, home to innovative jungle gyms, shaded trails, and a relaxing waterfall. Unwind by doing some shopping at the city’s buzziest markets afterward, choosing between the local handicrafts at Grand Marché de Saint-Denis, or the modern stores at Centre Commercial Carrefour Grand Nord.

Save the best for last by spending time with the island’s core, seeing everything under one roof at Jardin de l'État, the city’s mainstay botanical garden home to horse carriage rides, tree houses, and a fine mix of stately gardens and wild tropics, or seeing the real thing for yourself at Providence Forest, located southwest of the city and offering a warm-up to the central mountains and volcanoes of Réunion, something easy to see if you keep going toward the center, finding otherworldly vistas at Piton des Neiges, taking time for the famed observation deck and multiple waterfalls from Voile de la Mariée, all while looking forward to the underrated views at Col des Boeufs, located on the south end of the island but worth the long drive when you see the sun’s dusk settle over the mountainscape.

Lounges at Saint-Denis Airport
- Le Club Austral: Location unknown. Perks include free Wifi, reading material, drinks, and snacks, plus disability access and flight information monitor.
- Salon Guetali: Location unknown. Perks include free Wifi, showers, drinks, snacks, and TVs, plus disability access and flight information monitors.
- Air France Lounge: Location unknown. Perks include free Wifi, showers, reading material, drinks, snacks, and TVs, plus disability access and flight information monitors.