13 Things To Do in Grenoble and Where to Stay

Grenoble will always have a special place in my heart. It was the city I chose to move to when I decided to uproot my life outside the United States. I know what you’re thinking. Why did I move to Grenoble of all places?! Well, I spent a year living in Grenoble while pursuing my degree at Grenoble Ecole de Management. At the time, this Grenoble university was one of the few around the world which offered what I wanted to study. And the courses were in English!

But I digress…

Surrounded by the towering Alps, Grenoble is an extremely flat city. It’s not glitz and glamour like Paris or the French Riviera at all, but it’s definitely an experience in its own right. Especially, in the winter.

Oh man. Winter in Grenoble is cold. There’s snow (oh hey Alps) and during the month of December, there’s a Christmas market with all the French specialties like hot wine, potatoes and cheese, and meat.

Coming from the U.S., I’ll be quick to say that Grenoble is a small city in comparison (population of ~159,000 living in the heart of the city), but it is an important one. It’s home to several universities and major companies like Schneider Electric. Scientific research is big here in areas such as physics and computer science.

Though I decided to leave Grenoble after one year, it’s somewhere I find myself revisiting once every so often. And so, I’d like to share my recommendations for things to do and places to stay in Grenoble.

Things to do in Grenoble

Visit the Bastille

The Bastille is a former military fort built in the 19th century, and today it remains one of the most important sites in Grenoble. It sits on the edge of Grenoble at 476m above sea level and offers the best panoramic views of Grenoble and the surrounding mountains!

The best way to get up to the Bastille is to take a ride on the téléphérique, or cable cars. Starting in the city center, the téléphérique crosses the Isère River and you instantly begin to get a glimpse of Grenoble from above.

My favorite time of day to visit the Bastille is just before sunset. You’ll get to see the city while the sun is out, and also experience Grenoble come alive at night.

A round-trip ride in the cable car costs about €9. Operating hours vary by season, but during most of the year, the last cable car from the Bastille to Grenoble is at midnight.

If you want to be active on this trip, skip the cable car and walk up to the Bastille instead. The path to the Bastille begins at Jardin des Dauphins and is a gentle incline. Put on some comfortable walking shoes and enjoy the view of Grenoble as you walk to the top.

Walk along the Isère River

The residents in Grenoble are quite active, so it’s no surprise that you’ll find walking and biking paths along the Isère River. One of my favorite places to walk is along the river near Porte de France and down towards the Grenoble Archaeological Museum. Look at how colorful the buildings are!

Self-Guided tour through town

Grenoble city center is made of narrow pedestrian streets and alleys. The town is filled with short buildings that serve as apartments at the top half, and shops and restaurants on the bottom floor. I recommend starting at Place Victor Hugo and going towards the Place Grenette Fountain. From there, walk through the narrow streets towards Jardin de Ville, or city garden.

For your very own walking guide map, click here!

Grenoble Archaeological Museum

If you’re a history buff, then stop by Grenoble’s Archaeological Museum housed in a 12th century church, Saint Laurent. The museum showcases almost 2,000 years worth of history including graves dating back to the 4th century and a crypt from the 6th century.

The museum is located at the base of the Bastille so you could easily do a combo trip of visiting the museum and getting up to the Bastille. Entrance to the museum is free.

Natural History Museum

I must admit that the collection at Grenoble’s Natural History Museum is quite impressive. With 1.5 million objects in its repository, you could easily spend a few hours in the museum. The Natural Museum’s artifacts gives you a glimpse into the Alpine wildlife.

At the museum, you’ll also find a lush 20,000 m² botanical garden, the Jardin des Plantes. To experience the local flora in the outdoor garden, be sure to visit in the Spring or Summer.

Entrance to Grenoble’s Natural History Museum is €5. Fortunately, access to the museum is free the first Sunday of each month and if you’re under the age of 26.

Grenoble Museum

Despite being such a small city, the Grenoble Museum is home to quite the art collection. Some paintings date back as far as the 13th century, with artworks showcased from artists around the world.

The Grenoble Museum houses permanent collections in several themes: antiquities, modern, contemporary, graphic arts, along with historical masterpieces covering impressionism, romanticism, and baroque just to name a few.

Entrance to the Grenoble Museum is €8.

Ski in the Alps

If you’re a ski or snowboarding fan, could you really pass up an opportunity to ski in the Alps? Several mountain chains surround Grenoble: Vercors, Chartreuse, Belledonne, and Oisans, and each offers slopes for all ski levels.

The closest ski slopes to Grenoble are 30 kilometers way in Chamrousse. A day pass will run you about €36, and they also offer weekend and night ski passes.

All ski resorts surrounding Grenoble are accessible by bus with Skiligne. For example, a bus ride from Grenoble bus station to Chamrousse takes one hour and costs €8. You can also purchase a round-trip bus ticket which includes a one-day ski pass for about €35.

The ski slopes are normally open between December and April.

Have coffee at one of the oldest cafes in France

Café de la Table Ronde in Grenoble is the 2nd oldest café in France. It opened in 1739, surviving through the several wars grappled in France. Most notably, Café de la Table Ronde was known for welcoming German resistance fighters during the Second World War.

Try traditional raclette at La Ferme A Dede

Raclette cheese originates from Switzerland and the Rhône-Alpes region in France. Grenoble, situated in the heart of Rhône-Alpes, is the perfect place to try raclette.

The best restaurant in Grenoble to have an authentic raclette experience is at La Ferme A Dede. There are two La Ferme A Dede restaurants in Grenoble, both of which are extremely popular. You will definitely need to make a reservation in advance!

Raclette is commonly eaten with potatoes and meat. At La Ferme A Dede, the price of the raclette experience is about €20 per person.

Along with the giant cheese half-wheel that will be placed on your table, you’ll be served a plate of charcuterie and potatoes to enjoy the raclette with. When the server brings the cheese wheel, they’ll be more than happy to demonstrate how you must scrape the cheese off the wheel as it melts.

I must warn you: Authentic French cheese stinks. It’s supposed to. If you have a sensitive sense of smell, then La Ferme A Dede might not be for you. If you still want to visit the restaurant, I recommend reserving a table outside so you’re not overwhelmed by the smell.

Eat at Ciao A Te, the best Italian restaurant in Grenoble

The Italian border is about 2 hours away from Grenoble. Having such close proximity to Italy has allowed Italians to make a home in Grenoble, many of whom have opened up restaurants. So despite Grenoble being in France, I can’t help but to recommend eating in one of the city’s most popular restaurants, Ciao A Te. Yes, an Italian spot!

Ciao A Te was my absolute favorite restaurant while I was living in Grenoble, and I have made it a point to eat there every time I return. My last visit to Grenoble was in 2020, and Ciao A Te was as delicious as ever! You’re guaranteed to get fresh food made daily and a very satiating serving size for the price you pay. Each bite is so heavenly, you won’t want your food to end!

This restaurant is very popular, so you will need to make a reservation in advance. Ciao A Te is only open for lunch and dinner.

Best day trips from Grenoble

Though there are several things to do in Grenoble, there are some picturesque places to visit around the city as well. Annecy, Geneva, and Lyon make the best day trips from Grenoble as all of these destinations are within two hours time and accessible by public transportation.

Annecy

Annecy is so quintessential France. The town sits on the edge of the clear lake, which shares the same name, and is surrounded by the massive mountain chains of the Alps. To some, Annecy is considered the Venice of the Alps, in reference to the canals which through the city.

Walk mindlessly through the narrow streets, enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants mentioned in the Michelin Guide, have a mid-afternoon coffee or wine break like at the Café des Arts. And be sure to save time for strolling around the lake! If the weather is warm and sun is out, rent a paddle boat as a way of getting around the lake.

Consider visiting Annecy in Autumn. The green, yellow, and orange leaves brighten up the city! And though it could be a bit chilly, the landscape is so picturesque that you won’t regret visiting this town.

To get from Grenoble to Annecy, take a direct train with SNCF for ~€22 and arrive in under two hours.

Geneva

Want to hit up two countries in one visit? You’re in luck because Switzerland is not far from Grenoble. In fact, many people who work in Geneva live in France. They do, after all, share the Alps mountain ranges.

Geneva is the financial center of Switzerland, and so unsurprisingly, it’s home to many financial institutions and organizations like UNICEF. Some things to do and places to see on a day trip to Geneva include Lake Geneva, Hans-Wilsdorf Bridge, United Nations’ Palais des Nations, the broken chair, and Jardin Anglais.

By car, Geneva is within a two hours’ drive. You can also take a direct train with SNCF from Grenoble to Geneva in two hours at a cost of ~€30.

Lyon

Lyon is in the top three largest cities in France (alongside Paris and Marseille). If you’ll be visiting Grenoble, situated in the Rhône-Alpes, then a visit to Lyon is a must whether it’s for a day or two!

Lyon is considered to be the gastronomy capital of France. At the time of this writing (early 2020), there are 19 Michelin star restaurants in Lyon: 15 which have one star and 4 restaurants which have two stars.

If you’ll be going to Lyon on a day trip, I’m sure you’re wondering what to do. I recommend taking in the panoramic views of Lyon from the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, eating lunch in Vieux Lyon (old town), and strolling through the Parc de la Tête d’Or to experience nature and animals in the middle of this bustling city.

If you enjoy history, you’ll be happy to know you can visit some of the oldest Roman ruins ever to be discovered in France, like the Lyon Amphitheater known as Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules and the Grand Theater.

Going between Lyon and Grenoble is quite easy as there are several direct trains running between both cities. The train ride lasts just under 1h30 and costs ~€20-25.

Where to stay in Grenoble

Grenoble is a big, small town and pretty much anywhere in the city center is the best place to stay. Ideally, you should be looking for hotels in and around Alsace Lorraine, Victor Hugo, Hubert Dubedout, and Les Halles.

Alsace Lorraine

Alsace Lorraine is a stone’s throw away from the Grenoble train and bus stations, and is easily accessible by tram. Several of Grenoble’s tram lines go to Alsace.

Victor Hugo

Staying in the Victor Hugo neighborhood will put you right in the middle of everything you’ll need during your stay: proximity to the Grenoble bus and train station, restaurants, shops, and Isère River. Victor Hugo is also just steps from the narrow pathways of the old town.

Hubert Dubedout

Place Hubert Dubedout is perfectly placed in the center of Grenoble and is right on the Isère River. It’s conveniently close to the Bastille, delicious restaurants like La Toscana, and cafes and bars.

Les Halles

Les Halles sits right on the edge of the city center so staying in this neighborhood means you’ll be close to all the action, yet far enough to enjoy some peace at night.

This neighborhood is home to one of Grenoble’s food markets with fresh fruit and vegetables. Grenoble’s tourism office is also located here, and is a great source of information for activities to do in and around the city.

Getting to Grenoble

There are 2 international airports accessible from Grenoble: Lyon Saint Exupéry (LYS) and Geneva Airport (GVA).

Lyon Airport to Grenoble

The closest airport is in Lyon, France. Once you arrive in Lyon, you have two ways to reach Grenoble:

Rent a car
Take the bus to Grenoble Gare

Buses between Lyon Airport and Grenoble run all day, everyday. The buses are operated by BlaBlaBus . Tickets cost €15 one way if you purchase directly at the airport, or €12 if you purchase online. BlaBlaBus runs 1-2 buses an hour depending on the time of day.

Upon arrival at Lyon Airport, follow the signs to the bus terminal. When you arrive, buy your bus ticket from one of the kiosks. If you have any problems, there will be an airport employee there to assist you. Buses to Grenoble run about every hour. Depending on when your flight arrives, there’s a chance you’ll have to wait for the next bus.

Travel time between Lyon Airport and Grenoble bus station is 1 hour.

Geneva Airport to Grenoble

Buses between Geneva Airport and Grenoble run daily, but are less frequent than from Lyon. BlaBlaBus also serves this route, and buses depart from the airport every 2-3 hours. The trip lasts 2 hours and costs €25 one way. While the buses are less frequent from Geneva airport, flights in and out of Geneva tend to be cheaper than flights in and out of Lyon.

From Geneva Airport, you can also take a direct train to Grenoble. The journey lasts around 2 hours and costs €35 one way.

If you need to travel back to the airport from Grenoble, you can buy your bus ticket in advance online or at the bus station. To travel to either Lyon or Geneva airports, purchase a ticket with BlaBlaBus and show the e-ticket to the bus driver when boarding.

Bisous.

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Grenoble sits at the foot of the French Alps, one of the most picturesque regions in France. With a few days in Grenoble, this guide highlights things to do, where to stay, and the best day trips from Grenoble!