Reunion Island is on UTC+4 all year, with no daylight saving. That's 3 to 4 hours ahead of the UK and 2 to 3 hours ahead of Paris, depending on whether Europe is on summer or winter time.
The current time in Reunion Island, and the time difference with where you are, calculated automatically.
Reunion Island stays on UTC+4 year-round, with no daylight saving. The time difference shown automatically accounts for daylight saving time in your country.
When it's 12pm in London, it's 3pm in Reunion Island in the European summer and 4pmin winter. For the island's weather, see the complete Reunion Island weather guide which details the 4 climate zones and 2 seasons.
Reunion Island is on UTC+4 all year round, sometimes written RET (Reunion Time), with no daylight saving. So the time difference with Europe only changes because the UK and mainland France change their clocks twice a year (last Sunday of March and last Sunday of October).
For European travellers, it's one of the easiest long-haul time zones to cope with: just 2 to 4 hours' difference. Most people adjust within a night, with no real jet lag.
The UK and mainland France change their clocks twice a year; Reunion Island doesn't. So the gap varies with the season: 3 or 4 hours from London, 2 or 3 hours from Paris.
The UK moves to UTC+1 and France to UTC+2, while Reunion Island stays on UTC+4. Difference: +3 hours from London, +2 hours from Paris.
The UK goes back to UTC+0 and France to UTC+1, while Reunion Island stays on UTC+4. Difference: +4 hours from London, +3 hours from Paris.
In the tropics, day length barely changes: between 10 hours 50 and 13 hours 10 depending on the season, compared with roughly 8 to 16 hours in Paris.
The summer solstice is on 21 December: the longest days, with golden light early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Start early to make the most of them.
Twelve hours of daylight and twelve of darkness. Skies are often clear at sunrise and sunset, ideal for photography and for stargazing up in the mountains.
The winter solstice is on 21 June: shorter days, dark by 6pm. The later sunrise is ideal for the Piton des Neiges climb, and sunsets on the west coast are quick.
Reunion Island shares UTC+4 with Mauritius, the Seychelles and Dubai. Here's how it compares with other major cities (a minus sign means the city is behind Reunion).
| City | Time zone | vs Reunion (European winter) | vs Reunion (European summer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | UTC+0 / UTC+1 | −4h | −3h |
| Paris (mainland France) | UTC+1 / UTC+2 | −3h | −2h |
| Johannesburg | UTC+2 | −2h | −2h |
| Mauritius | UTC+4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mayotte | UTC+3 | −1h | −1h |
| Madagascar | UTC+3 | −1h | −1h |
| Seychelles | UTC+4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dubai | UTC+4 | 0 | 0 |
| Bangkok | UTC+7 | +3h | +3h |
| Sydney | UTC+10 / UTC+11 | +6/7h | +6/7h |
| New York | UTC−5 / UTC−4 | −9h | −8h |
Useful when planning your days: shops, restaurants, public offices and local markets. All times are local.
From Europe, with only 2-4 hours' difference, jet lag is minor. A few habits help you adjust from the very first night.
Via Paris, the usual overnight flight leaves at 9-10pm and lands in Saint-Denis at 10-11am local time. Sleep 4-6 hours on the plane, don't try to catch up on sleep when you arrive, and get some sun from the first morning.
No naps before 6pm. Eat at local times (lunch at 12pm, dinner at 7pm) and go to bed at 9-10pm. Get sunlight in the morning and afternoon to reset your body clock.
Easier than the way out. Sleep on the overnight return flight (there's time for 8-9 hours). When you get home, go to bed early on the first evening and get some sun the next morning. It takes 24-48 hours to adjust.
Article updated in September 2026.