1 GB
Valid for 7 days
$5.99
$5.99 per GB
eSIM for Réunion
Réunion is a French department dropped in the Indian Ocean, and it is a driving island. You land at Roland Garros near Saint-Denis, pick up a rental car, and spend the week on the coastal ring road and the switchbacks up to Cilaos, Salazie and Maïdo. Almost nothing runs on a fixed schedule: trailheads, gîte check-ins, a canyoning meeting point, a sunrise slot at Pas de Bellecombe. All of it is arranged by phone.
A FairSIM eSIM connects to Orange Réunion or SFR Réunion, the two networks on the coverage sheet. Orange Réunion carries 5G in the main urban areas and 4G around the island; SFR Réunion is 4G. That is enough for Google Maps on the RN1, Météo-France radar before a hike, and a WhatsApp message to a gîte in Mafate when you get back into signal.
One local rule matters more than any data question. Since 2013 a prefectural order restricts swimming, surfing and bodyboarding outside the protected lagoons and supervised zones on most of the coast, because of shark risk. Signs are posted at the beaches and the rule is enforced. The other one: access to the volcano at Pas de Bellecombe closes when the prefecture raises the alert level, so check the status the morning you drive up rather than the night before.
Réunion eSIM plans
Wholesale rates in US dollars, with nothing added at checkout. Buy in the FairSIM app and the plan is on your phone in seconds.
How long is your trip?
All plans. Pick a trip length to narrow the list.
- Get it in the app for Réunion
5 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for Réunion$11.99
$2.40 per GB
- Best value
10 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for Réunion$19.99
$2.00 per GB
Unlimited
Valid for 15 days
Get it in the app for Réunion$49.99
Speed policy shown in the app
Coverage in Réunion
- 4G LTE
- 5G
- Orange RéunionThe largest network on the island, with 5G in the main urban areas and 4G around the coastal ring and up into the cirque roads.
- SFR RéunionThe second network, marketed as SFR Réunion and operated by Société Réunionnaise du Radiotéléphone. 4G and 3G, strong along the populated west and south coasts.
Typical speed: Fast 4G along the coastal ring and in the towns, with 5G speeds on Orange Réunion where it is deployed. Expect slower or patchy service inside the cirques, in the deep ravines and on the high plains.
Saint-Denis, Saint-Paul, Saint-Gilles, Saint-Pierre, Le Tampon and the airport are well covered. Signal holds on most of the road to Cilaos and Hell-Bourg, then thins fast: Mafate, the Trou de Fer trails, parts of the Plaine des Sables and the ridge above Maïdo can have nothing at all.
How much data do you need in Réunion?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Hiking the cirques, 1 to 2 weeks
GR R1 and GR R2 sections, Mafate hut to hut, Cilaos and Salazie.
Why data matters: Offline maps downloaded in advance, Météo-France alerts before each stage, gîte confirmations by phone or WhatsApp, and photo uploads once you drop back into coverage.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Rental car road trip
The coastal ring plus the three cirque roads and the volcano.
Why data matters: Google Maps and Waze for the RN1 bottlenecks around Saint-Denis, volcano access checks, restaurant and activity bookings, and fuel and parking searches.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
West coast beach week
Saint-Gilles, L'Hermitage and Saint-Leu with the family.
Why data matters: Lagoon and beach rules, surf and weather checks, paragliding and boat trip bookings, streaming for the kids in the evening, and video calls home.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Réunion plus Mauritius island hop
A short hop across to Mauritius, sometimes with Mayotte or Madagascar added.
Why data matters: Two plans bought in one app, flight changes, transfer pickups and check-in codes, with data live the minute you land on the next island.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Long winter stay or remote work
A month in Saint-Pierre or the Plaine des Cafres between hikes.
Why data matters: Video calls, Personal Hotspot for the laptop when the gîte Wi-Fi gives up, cloud backups of photos, and weekend trip planning.
- 7 days
- 20 GB
- 14 days
- Unlimited
- 30 days
- Unlimited
What your home carrier charges in Réunion
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for Réunion start at $5.99 and never bill per day.
Réunion is an outermost region of the European Union, so EU roaming rules apply to it. That is good news if you hold a French or EU SIM and bad news for nobody else: most non-EU carriers file Réunion separately from France, so check your own destination list rather than assuming.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per day for most destinations outside Mexico and Canada | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line, $6 for extra lines | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Orange France / EU carriers | Included in your domestic allowance; Réunion sits inside the EU roaming zone, so EU and French plans usually roam at home rates | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| EE / Vodafone UK | UK carriers left the EU roaming regime, and Indian Ocean islands are not always in their daily pass zones. Check whether Réunion is listed before you rely on a pass | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra (Australia) | Réunion is not among the main International Day Pass destinations, which means pay-as-you-go roaming rates. Confirm with Telstra before departure | from $5.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
- 1
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
- 2
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
- 3
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for Réunion
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi and switch the line on after landing at Roland Garros. Validity typically starts at the first connection to a Réunion network.
Download Google Maps offline for the whole island plus the Visorando track for each hike. Mafate, the ravines and parts of the volcano road have no signal.
Check the prefecture's volcano alert level the morning you drive up. Access to Pas de Bellecombe and the Plaine des Sables closes during eruptions and in bad weather.
Swim only in the protected lagoons and supervised zones. The shark-risk order restricts swimming and surfing on much of the coast, and the signs are not decoration.
In cyclone season, January to March, follow Météo-France vigilance levels. Orange and red alerts close roads, trails and shops, and you are expected to stay put.
Book a rental car before you arrive and expect narrow, steep roads with slow trucks. Allow far more time than the distance suggests, especially to Cilaos.
Carry a power bank. Cold mornings at altitude, GPS tracking on a long hike and a day of photos will flatten a phone before you get back to the car.
Keep your home SIM active for one-time bank codes, and turn its data roaming off so nothing bills by the megabyte.
Apps you will actually use
- Google Maps reliable for the whole road network; download the island offline before you head into the cirques.
- Waze widely used locally for the daily jams on the RN1 and around Saint-Denis at rush hour.
- Météo-France rain radar, cyclone alerts and the vigilance levels that decide whether a trail or a road is open.
- Visorando hiking routes with GPS tracks for the cirques; download the track while you still have signal.
- Moovit bus routes and timetables for Car Jaune between towns and Citalis in Saint-Denis.
- WhatsApp how guides, gîtes, canyoning outfits and car hire desks actually reply.
- Air Austral boarding passes and schedule changes for the regional hops to Mauritius, Mayotte and Madagascar.
- Google Translate French menus and signs, and a hand with Creole place names and spoken Creole.
There is no Uber in Réunion. Taxis are booked by phone or at a rank and are expensive over distance, so most visitors hire a car at the airport. Mafate has no road access at all: you walk in or fly in by helicopter, and gîtes are booked ahead through the island's reservation service rather than on arrival. Card payment is standard everywhere along the coast; carry some cash for small gîtes and roadside stalls.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Hotels, holiday rentals and cafés along the west and south coasts usually have workable Wi-Fi, and the airport and the bigger malls have free networks. Inland is a different story. Gîtes in Mafate, Cilaos and on the Plaine des Cafres often run on limited connections or none, and heavy rain takes links down. Treat Wi-Fi as a bonus for backing up photos in the evening, not as your plan for navigation or weather checks.
Local SIM card or eSIM in Réunion?
Orange Réunion and SFR Réunion both sell prepaid mobile lines through their own shops in Saint-Denis, Saint-Paul, Saint-Pierre and the big malls, and there is operator presence at Roland Garros airport. Because Réunion is French territory, buying a line means French identity registration at the counter, and the useful data bundles are usually sold as monthly offers rather than tourist packs. Shops keep French hours: long lunch closures and almost nothing open on Sunday, which is awkward when you land late or head straight for the mountains.
A FairSIM eSIM is installed over Wi-Fi before you fly, roams on the same Orange Réunion or SFR Réunion towers, and needs no paperwork or shop visit. It is data only, so keep your home number active in the second slot for bank codes and calls, with its own data roaming switched off. If you already hold a French or EU SIM, check your plan first: EU roaming rules cover Réunion and you may not need anything extra.
Good to know before you land in Réunion
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Plug type
- Type E (French two-pin with earth pin); Type C plugs fit the sockets
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency number
- 112 for everything; 15 medical (SAMU), 17 police, 18 fire and mountain rescue
- Language
- French; Réunion Creole spoken everywhere day to day
- Time zone
- UTC+4, no daylight saving
- Capital
- Saint-Denis
Réunion eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Réunion?
Yes. An unlocked eSIM phone connects to Orange Réunion or SFR Réunion with a travel eSIM. On iPhone that means XS, XR or newer; most recent Android flagships and Pixels support eSIM too.
Which network will my Réunion eSIM use?
Orange Réunion or SFR Réunion. Orange Réunion has the broader footprint and carries 5G in the main urban areas; SFR Réunion is 4G. The app shows the network for each plan.
Is there 5G in Réunion?
Yes, on Orange Réunion in the main urban areas, with 4G LTE elsewhere on the island. SFR Réunion is 4G only. If your phone has no 5G support you fall back to 4G, which is fine for everything travel-related.
I have a French or EU SIM. Do I need an eSIM at all?
Probably not. Réunion is an outermost region of the EU, so EU roaming rules apply and most French and EU plans work there on your home allowance. Check your plan's small print, since some low-cost offers cap overseas department use.
Will I have signal in Mafate or on the volcano?
Not reliably. Mafate, the Trou de Fer trails, the deeper ravines and stretches of the Plaine des Sables have little or no coverage on either network. Download maps and tracks before you set off and tell someone your route.
Can I use Personal Hotspot in Réunion?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot, with no separate cap. Useful when a gîte's Wi-Fi is unusable.
Can I make phone calls with the eSIM?
FairSIM plans are data only, with no local number. Calls go over WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal, which are not restricted in Réunion. Keep your home SIM active if you need your own number.
Should I install the eSIM before or after I land?
Before. Install it over Wi-Fi at home, then turn on the line and data roaming once you arrive. The airport has free Wi-Fi if you need to finish setup there.
How much data do I need for a week in Réunion?
A week of driving, maps, weather checks and messaging runs about 5 to 10 GB. Add more if you stream in the evening, work from the island or share a hotspot with the family.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
Traveling beyond Réunion?
Get your Réunion eSIM in the app
Plans from $5.99. Install before you fly, track your data live, and top up in seconds if you need more.
Download on theApp Store
iPhone XS or later · iOS 17.4+ for one-tap install
