If you want to discover France’s DOM/TOM side, beaches and coconut trees, follow our guide to the French overseas islands: where and when to go ? In this guide, we have listed all the French overseas islands with practical information (how to get there, how to get around, when to go) and tourist information (what to do there).
French overseas islands: Guadeloupe
Bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Guadeloupe is located 575 km north of Venezuela, 739 km from the Dominican Republic, 2,176 km from Miami (United States) and 6,732 km from Paris. Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are the main inhabited lands of this archipelago composed of several islands and islets.
How do we get there?
From Orly airport, the average flight time is 8 hours . Landing at Guadeloupe Airport – Pôle Caraïbes, the only international airport capable of receiving long-haul aircraft. There is a 5-hour time difference in winter and 6 hours in summer with Guadeloupe. That is to say that when it is 12 o’clock in mainland France, it is 7 o’clock (in winter) and 6 o’clock (in summer) in Pointe-à-Pitre.
When are we going?
The temperatures are pleasant all year round and range between 26°C and 33°C on average . Guadeloupe has 2 seasons, but remains pleasant in all seasons. Find the weather in this overseas department on our page dedicated to the climate of Guadeloupe.
What do we do there? The essentials
Here are the must-sees for your trip to Guadeloupe:
Land transport:
- Bus : You will find buses from Pointe-à-Pitre or Basse-Terre serving all the municipalities. The timetables are variable and the stops are on demand.
- Taxis: Their prices are set by prefectural decree. Be careful, prices are high outside built-up areas.
- Car rental : There are many rental companies, but in high season it is advisable to make your reservation before your arrival.
Transport maritime :
- Departures for Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia from the Pointe-à-Pitre ferry terminal.
- Departures for Marie-Galante and Désirade from Saint-François and Pointe-à-Pitre.
- Departures for the Saintes also from Trois-Rivières and Pointe-à-Pitre.
- Regular departures from Marigot and Gustavia Connection to St Martin, Saba and St Barth.
Air transport:
- Several companies provide connections between the islands of Guadeloupe and the Caribbean : Inter-islands: Air Caraïbes, Air Antilles Express, Liat.
French overseas islands: Martinique
Nicknamed “the island of flowers”, Martinique is located in the Caribbean, more precisely in the Lesser Antilles archipelago.
How do we get there?
It takes about 8 hours to fly from Paris . Landing at Martinique Aimé-Césaire International Airport located 12 km south of Fort-de-France. The time difference is 5 hours in winter and 6 hours in summer. When it is 12 noon in Paris, it is 6 or 7 am in Fort-de-France.
When are we going?
The best time to fly to Martinique remains the dry season . But you can check the weather month by month if your vacation dates do not correspond with this period.
What do we do there? The essentials
Here are the must-sees for your trip to Martinique:
Land transport:
- Bus: Due to the imprecise timetables, this is an unreliable means of transport in Martinique. It is still usable in Fort-de-France and its suburbs. The main stations are located on Boulevard du Général-de-Gaulle in Fort-de-France.
- Taxis: there is a large fleet of private taxis in Martinique, mainly parked at the Lamentin airport, in Fort-de-France and in front of the big hotels. Be careful: they are quite expensive and the prices are not fixed. It is better to agree with the driver before the trip to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
- Taxi-co: these are private minibuses that make regular trips to Fort de France. Be careful; they only leave when they are full and do not have a schedule. Stops are made on demand at the side of the road.
- Car rental: This is the most efficient way to be able to discover the island freely. Plan to book before your arrival. Conditions: be at least 21 years old, have had a license for more than a year and have a credit card.
Transport maritime :
- Ferries provide travel between the islets and avoid the many traffic jams
French overseas islands: Reunion
An overseas department located in the Indian Ocean, Réunion is in the Mascarene archipelago less than 700 kilometers from Madagascar and less than 200 kilometers from Mauritius.
How do we get there?
It takes between 10 and 11 hours from Paris to get to Reunion Island. There are 5 companies that provide these connections. Landing at Roland-Garros airport located in Sainte Marie. The time difference is 3 hours in winter, and 2 hours in summer. When it is 12 noon in Paris, it is 3 p.m. in Reunion.
When are we going?
To choose your departure date for Reunion, consult our month-by-month weather page.
What do we do there? The essentials
Here are the must-sees for your trip to Reunion:
How do we get around?
Land transport:
- Bus: Several lines provide good service to the island. Be careful, after 6 p.m. there are not many bus connections.
- Taxis: They are very expensive and ultimately quite rare.
- Car rental: This is the best way to explore the island, but certainly also the most expensive. There are some precautions to take, especially on winding mountain roads. It’s also worth noting that Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre often experience traffic jams , as do smaller towns.
Air transport:
In Saint-Pierre, in the south of the island, Pierrefonds Airport has limited capacity and serves as a shuttle to the main airport and as a terminal for island flights to Mauritius and Madagascar and those to Paris with a stopover at La Réunion Roland-Garros Airport.
French overseas islands: Mayotte
Located in the Comoros archipelago, Mayotte is made up of two main islands, Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre , and several other small islands including Mtsamboro, Mbouzi and Bandrélé.
How do we get there?
It will take you about 10 hours from Paris to reach Mayotte without a stopover . Landing at Dzaoudzi-Pamandzi International Airport, near Dzaoudzi (Petite-Terre) on a very short runway next to the sea. The time difference is +2 hours in winter and +1 hour in summer.
When are we going?
It’s warm year-round, but it’s best to visit during the less rainy months. Check out Mayotte’s climate month by month to optimize your trip.
What can we do there? The essentials
Here are the must-sees for your trip to Mayotte:
How do we get around?
Land transport:
Don’t expect to find a very developed public transport network in Mayotte.
- Car rental : this is the preferred means of transport. Be careful, you must have held your driver’s license for at least one year and be 21 or 23 years old for some companies.
- City taxis: These are found in Petite-Terre and Mamoudzou. They can accommodate multiple passengers, and stops are available on demand. Before getting in, check that the vehicle is licensed. A sticker on the windshield will be proof of this.
- Bush taxis: These are the ones that handle trips in rural areas of Grande Terre. This is an air-conditioned bus that will only take off when the driver deems there are enough people for the trip! They stop on demand on the sides of the roads. Don’t be in a hurry!
Transport maritime
- To connect the islands of Grande-Terre and Petite-Terre, pedestrians and motorcyclists can take the barge. During the day, there are ferry services every half hour, while at night, the ferry service runs every hour. The crossing takes 15 minutes.
- Cars and trucks will use the arena.
French overseas islands: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Located in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a French archipelago in North America composed of two main islands : Saint Pierre, the smaller but more populated, and Miquelon itself consisting of two peninsulas; Grande Miquelon and Langlade.
How do we get there?
First, you will need to take a flight to Canada. The best is to land in Montreal. Then travel either by sea or by plane, depending on the season of arrival.
- By sea: it is possible from April to September and sometimes until November. Departure from Newfoundland. There are rotations until November, but they are less frequent: only on weekends.
- By plane: take a flight to St. John’s, Newfoundland (40 minutes), Halifax, Nova Scotia or Montreal (approximately 3 hours) with an ATR from Air Saint-Pierre.
A direct flight from Paris to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon exists, but only from June to September.
When are we going?
It’s up to you to choose your flight date by looking at the climate month by month on our page dedicated to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
What do we do there? The essentials
How do we get around?
Land transport:
- Due to its small size, the archipelago does not have a very developed road network.
- To get around each island, there are several possible solutions: taxi, minibus, car rental, bicycle rental, etc.
- The archipelago does not have a railway.
Transport maritime
There are boat connections:
- Between Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
- Between Saint-Pierre and Langlade
French overseas islands: French Polynesia
Made up of five archipelagos comprising 118 islands (76 inhabited), French Polynesia is located in the southern Pacific Ocean, 6,000 kilometers from Australia .
How do we get there?
Several companies share international connections: Air Tahiti Nui, Air France, Air New Zealand, Lan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and Aircalin. Landing at Tahiti Faa’a International Airport, the main airport in French Polynesia. The time difference is -11 hours with Papeete. At 10 a.m. in Paris, it will be 11 p.m. in Papeete.
When are we going?
Polynesia is accessible all year round. However, you can compare temperatures and humidity levels to choose your departure date.
What do we do there? The essentials
Here are the must-sees for your trip to French Polynesia:
How do we get around?
Land transport:
Road infrastructure is very limited with only one coastal road . Traffic is very intense in Tahiti. If you are driving during rush hour…patience is required!
Air transport:
- Domestic air transport is provided by the French Polynesian airline , Air Tahiti, which serves approximately 60 destinations. Air travel remains the fastest way to travel within the archipelago.
- There are no fewer than 10 flights to Bora-Bora.
- For the Marquesas Islands, the plane connections are supplemented by helicopter flights. It is not accessible to all budgets, but the view is worth it. For example, allow 10 minutes of flight between Papeete and Moorea.
Transport maritime :
- Papeete is home to the most important port in French Polynesia. It receives more than 1.7 million travelers per year. Especially those going to Moorea.
- There is also a regular inter-island service between the many islands, provided by many private companies. They are done by ferries, catamarans or cargo-schooners (a cheaper solution, but not very fast). There are also shuttles by speedboat or small speedboats.
French overseas islands: Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin
French islands of the Lesser Antilles, Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin bathe in the Caribbean. The two islands are 25 kilometers apart.
How do we get there?
In Saint-Barthélemy you will land at the “Rémy de Haenen” airport. While in Saint-Martin, your plane will land on the runways of the “Princess Juliana” international airport, located on the Dutch part of the island. By stopping over in Pointe à Pitre, you can land at the Espérance regional airport located in Grand Case in the French part of the island.
The time difference is -5 hours. At noon in Paris, it will be 7 hours .
When are we going?
The climate in both islands is quite similar. Find it on our two pages dedicated to the weather month by month in Saint-Barth and Saint-Martin.
What do we do there? The essentials
Here are the must-sees for your trip to Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy:
How do we get around?
saint barth
- No public transport in Saint Barth.
- Best means of transport : a car or 2 wheels that you can easily rent.
- Taxis at the airport and port.
Saint Martin
- Minibus connections in the Quartier d’Orléans, Philipsburg, Marigot and Grand-Case. The stops are not very visible and the trips stop around 7 p.m.
- Vehicle rental
- Taxis recognizable by a logo . The rates displayed at the airport are fixed.
French overseas islands: Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia
If you want to go as far away from France as possible while staying in France, Wallis and Futuna is where you should go. Located in the southern hemisphere 16,000 km from mainland France, the overseas collectivity includes 3 islands; Wallis, Futuna and Alofi.
- To get there, you will certainly make a stopover in New Caledonia from where flights operated by the Aircalin company serve Hihifo airport 3 times a week by Airbus A320.
- Between Wallis and Futuna, the same company provides connections with a twin-engine DHC-6 Twin Otter.
- Time difference: +10 hours with New Caledonia and 11 hours with Wallis and Futuna .
When are we going?
Choose your departure date by comparing the weather in Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia.
What do we do there? The essentials
How do we get around?
New Caledonia:
- Bus: There are several public transport companies that are very convenient in Noumea.
- Inter-island sea connections : this is the most used means of transport for these trips.
- Car rental: several agencies are available.