Things to do in Saint-Pierre

Saint-Pierre is the South's working capital, not a detour on the way to the volcano. The covered market runs daily and the Saturday forain market spills along the seafront from early morning to around 1pm, though stalls and closing times vary and are worth checking on arrival.

The seafront promenade fills up at night, with the densest bar and restaurant scene on the island. At the Isautier distillery on the edge of town, the Saga du Rhum walks you through cane-to-bottle production, entry typically a few euros.

Pierrefonds airport, about 10 minutes west of the centre, is the island's second gateway after Roland-Garros, useful if you land straight into the South rather than connecting from Saint-Denis.