Grenoble

Travel Guide
Grenoble-Bastille Cable Car featuring a river or creek and a city
The “Gateway to the Alps” is famous for medieval architecture, historic cafés and summer and winter sports in the surrounding snowcapped mountains.

With ski resorts, hilltop forts, national history museums, historic cafés, and picturesque squares lined with centuries-old architecture, Grenoble offers numerous attractions. The city sits at the confluence of the rivers Isère and Drac, encircled by the snow-covered Alps.

Despite its mountain location, Grenoble is a low-lying city. Its flat streets are ideal for exploring on foot. Find major attractions on the south side of the Isère River. Visit Place St. André, the heart of the city’s historic quarter. Admire the breathtaking mountain backdrop from a café terrace amid buildings dating from the Middle Ages. Café de la Table Ronde opened in 1739 and is one of France’s oldest cafés.

Stroll along grand Place Notre Dame to the Musée de l’Ancien Évêché, where steps lead to an ancient crypt below the Eglise Notre Dame. Visit the Museum of Grenoble to see a vast collection of modern art. Spot work by Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso in addition to Flemish, Italian and Renaissance paintings.

Delve into local and national history at the museums located south of the historic center. Discover Grenoble’s involvement in World War II at the poignant Museum of Resistance and Deportation. See displays of alpine flora and fauna at the Natural History Museum.

Go to the leafy Jardin de Ville to ride the Grenoble-Bastille Cable Car, which travels over the Isère River to a hilltop at the base of Chartreuse Massif. The 19th-century Fort de la Bastille offers mountain scenery and city views. Return to the city via a trail passing fortifications and the pretty Jardin des Dauphins. At the trail’s end, the Dauphinois Museum showcases mountain cultures and traditions.

Reach Grenoble by flying to Grenoble-Isère Airport, a 40-minute drive from the city center, or catch a train from major French destinations or Geneva, Switzerland. With over 200 ski resorts in the surrounding region, Grenoble’s snowy winters and warm summers are perfect for outdoor adventures. Come and see why it is called the “Gateway to the Alps.”

Where to stay in Grenoble

Jardin de Ville showing a garden

Grenoble City Centre

4.5/5(19 area reviews)

Historical sites, bars and shopping highlight some notable features of Grenoble City Centre. Make a stop by Place Grenette or Jardin de Ville while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Hubert Dubedout-Maison du Tourisme Tram Stop or Victor Hugo Tram Stop to get around town.

Grenoble City Centre
Fort de la Bastille showing a river or creek and a city

Secteur 2

Historical sites, bars and shopping highlight some notable features of Secteur 2. Make a stop by Jardin de Ville or Place Notre Dame while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Sainte-Claire Les Halles Tram Stop or Notre-Dame Musee Tram Stop to get around town.

Secteur 2
Jardin de Ville featuring a park

Quartier Hyper-Centre

While you're in Quartier Hyper-Centre, take in top sights like Place Grenette or Jardin de Ville, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Hubert Dubedout-Maison du Tourisme Tram Stop or Victor Hugo Tram Stop.

Quartier Hyper-Centre
Grenoble featuring street scenes, a square or plaza and markets

Grenoble Old Town

Noted for its shopping and restaurants, there's plenty to explore in Grenoble Old Town. Top attractions like Place Grenette and Place Notre Dame are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Sainte-Claire Les Halles Tram Stop or Hubert Dubedout-Maison du Tourisme Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Grenoble Old Town
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Secteur 1

4.5/5(7 area reviews)

Secteur 1 is a destination travellers like for its mountain views, and you might hop aboard the metro at Cite Internationale Tram Stop or Palais de Justice Tram Stop to explore sights like WTC Grenoble.

Secteur 1
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Quartier Chorier-Berriat

When in Quartier Chorier-Berriat and the surrounding area, you'll want to check out sights like WTC Grenoble or La Caserne de Bonne and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Saint-Bruno Tram Stop or Berriat-Le Magasin Tram Stop.

Quartier Chorier-Berriat
Residhotel Grenette
Residhotel Grenette
3 out of 5
12 rue de Palanka, Grenoble, Isere
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is HK$415 per night from 6 Apr to 7 Apr
HK$415
per night
6 Apr - 7 Apr
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (823 reviews)
"Spacious rooms in a very walkable area. The receptionists were friendly and helpful. No complaints."

Reviewed on 30 Jan 2024

Residhotel Grenette
Novotel Grenoble Centre
Novotel Grenoble Centre
4 out of 5
7 Place Robert Schuman, Grenoble, Isere
The price is HK$652 per night from 5 Apr to 6 Apr
HK$652
per night
5 Apr - 6 Apr
Stay at this 4-star ski hotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and room service. Popular attractions WTC Grenoble and Minatec are located nearby. Discover ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (560 reviews)
"Nothing I disliked. I like the position of this hotel because it is very convenient for public transport and I like the consistency of the Novotel brand."

Reviewed on 10 Mar 2024

Novotel Grenoble Centre
OKKO Hotels Grenoble Jardin Hoche
OKKO Hotels Grenoble Jardin Hoche
4 out of 5
23 rue Hoche, Grenoble, Isere
The price is HK$737 per night from 30 Mar to 31 Mar
HK$737
per night
30 Mar - 31 Mar
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a fitness center. Popular attractions La Caserne de Bonne and Place Victor Hugo are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (799 reviews)
"Really nice staff, big and bright rooms and really comfortable beds!"

Reviewed on 24 Dec 2023

OKKO Hotels Grenoble Jardin Hoche
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Residhotel Grenette
Residhotel Grenette
3 out of 5
12 rue de Palanka, Grenoble, Isere
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the clean rooms in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (823 reviews)
"Spacious rooms in a very walkable area. The receptionists were friendly and helpful. No complaints."

Reviewed on 30 Jan 2024

Residhotel Grenette
Aparthotel Adagio Grenoble Centre
Aparthotel Adagio Grenoble Centre
3 out of 5
6 Rue Auguste Genin, Grenoble, Isere
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly aparthotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a fitness center. Popular attractions WTC Grenoble and Magasin ...
8/10 Very Good! (565 reviews)
"Great property. I liked having a small kitchen :)."

Reviewed on 9 Feb 2024

Aparthotel Adagio Grenoble Centre
Privilodges Le Hüb Grenoble
Privilodges Le Hüb Grenoble
3 out of 5
25 avenue du Doyen Louis Weil, Grenoble
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and a 24-hour fitness center. Popular attractions WTC Grenoble and Minatec are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (145 reviews)
Hub is a heavenly place for a modest hotel
"Absolutely wonderful property with a living room bedroom toilet and bath shower over 4 rooms ! Excellent staff especially mellisa who gave me tea coffee has tea coffee machine in room plus fridge and cooker ! Grenoble is great and so is hub ! Thoroughly enjoyed compared to my horrible experience ..."

Reviewed on 9 Feb 2024

Privilodges Le Hüb Grenoble
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Grenoble

4.4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
9
" "5 - Excellent 45%
4 - Good
9
" "4 - Good 45%
3 - Okay
2
" "3 - Okay 10%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
6 Nov 2019

Pain and Cie for breakfast is a must. I also highly recommend Les Archers Restaurant.which is very close to the hotel. Atmosphere great and food devine.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
26 Sep 2019

The bastille on a good weather day is definitely a must.You can see for miles.The mountain army museum was very intrresting.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
27 Jul 2019

Sadly underwhelming. Parts of the city were pretty, with beautiful buildings, but we were taken aback by the amount of graffiti everywhere (even at the Bastille) and broken glass where cars had been broken into.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
16 Jun 2019

Burke lovely place to visit

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
22 May 2019

Visit regularly - nice town with fab outdoor activities on tap.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
22 Apr 2019

Grenoble is a fantastic city to visit for a short break of a few days. For a longer break, the city of Lyon has more to offer. Lyon and Grenoble are very easy to travel between with frequent buses (approx 1 hour, €15).