Things to do in Grenoble

Known as the ‘Capital of the Alps’ for its access and proximity to the high mountain ranges that attract so many visitors, Grenoble is also a stunning city in its own right – steeped in history, and close to nature in every way. 

Is Grenoble worth visiting?

It may not be as well known as some other French cities, but Grenoble is pretty magnificent whichever way you look at it – either from the banks of the Isère river, with pastel-coloured houses rising from the trees, or from the great heights of the Bastille overlooking the city. Its most famous son, the writer Stendhal, said that ‘at the end of every street, there’s a mountain’, and that’s the beauty of Grenoble, nestled in a plateau surrounded by the peaks of the Vecors and Chartreuse massifs. 

There’s an Italian feel about the architecture and gastronomy of Grenoble, and a proud history of uprising and resistance. The ‘Day of the Tiles’ in the city in 1788 was a precursor to the French Revolution. It’s also the place Napoleon entered in triumph in 1815, as he sought to reclaim power in France after marching from the Mediterranean coast. Grenoble marks the end of the Route Napoleon, the 201-mile long road trip that retraces that epic journey.

Place Saint-André, Grenoble’s prettiest square 

Driving from Calais to Grenoble

It takes around 8 ½ hours to drive from the LeShuttle terminal at Calais to Grenoble. There are two routes without too much time difference between them. The A16 and A6 autoroute takes you past Amiens, round the western suburbs of Paris and via Lyon. Alternatively, you could take a more easterly route, driving on the A26 via Troyes and Dijon, before picking up the A6 at Beaune and following the Lyon route as before. You will pay similar tolls on both of these routes. 

The best things to do in Grenoble

Historic landmarks and architecture

The HIGH-light of any trip to Grenoble, the iconic cable car

Ride the cable car to La Bastille

One of the essential things to do in Grenoble is to ride the ‘Téléphérique’ cable car from the quayside to the Bastille fort that has overlooked the city for centuries. The distinctive bubble cars take around 4 minutes to reach the Bastille, giving sensational views of Grenoble, the river Isère and the Chartreuse mountains. Return journeys cost less than €10, and there is plenty to do up on the mountain side, from eating at the ‘Téléphérique’ restaurant to exploring the tunnels of the old fortress. 

Wander the Old Town (Vieille Ville)

It’s a joy to stroll along the cobbled streets and quiet squares of Grenoble’s ancient quarter by the riverside. This was the site of the original Roman city, and you can still see the bronze medallions on the pavements marking the line of the old city walls. Grenoble old town is especially atmospheric early in the morning, when the streets are just waking up and the market traders are putting out their stalls in the Place aux Herbes for the daily vegetable market. 

The Fountain of the Three Orders, near Grenoble Cathedral

Explore Grenoble Cathedral

Another of Grenoble’s top attractions, the 13th-century Notre Dame cathedral is actually two churches: the episcopal church and the smaller Saint Hugues church, a rare configuration. The cathedral contains many original and noteworthy features, including a Romanesque portal and high altar of white marble. The cathedral is free to visit, open all year round and easily accessible. The cathedral is part of a group of religious buildings located on the Place Notre-Dame, which includes the remains of an early Christian Baptistery discovered in 1989, and a museum in the Old Bishop’s Palace. 

Admire the Place Saint-André and its historic façades

At the heart of the Vieille Ville is the elegant square of Place Saint-André, home to some of Grenoble’s most illustrious buildings, such as the courthouse and the church of Saint-André. It’s also where you’ll find Grenoble’s oldest café, Café de la Table Ronde, opened in 1739 and the place where the celebrated 19th-century novelist Stendhal, who was born in the city, spent many hours in his early years.  

Outdoor experiences and mountain views

The incredible views from the Bastille fort

Take a day trip into the Vercors Regional Park

Surrounded by mountains, Grenoble is a place to hatch all sorts of adventures, from hiking to mountain biking and cycle touring. The Vercors massif looms over the south-western approaches to the city, a region of high plateaus, dense forests, wide valleys and sweeping limestone gorges. A day’s walk in the Vercors could include the challenging summit of the 2,341 metre peak of Grand Veymont, a panoramic ridge walk to the Pic Saint-Michel, one of the best vantage points in the Vercors, or a more gentle ramble to mountain waterfalls like Cascade Blanche. 

Enjoy panoramic views from the Fort de la Bastille

“I haven't the strength to describe the admirable view, which changes every hundred steps, that one enjoys from the Bastille”, wrote Stendhal. It would have been hard work in Stendhal’s day to clamber up to the fort above Grenoble, but that would only have made the sights from the top even sweeter.  Whichever way you get there today, by cable car, road or footpath, you are rewarded with a staggering panorama of this majestic city, with its terracotta rooftops, winding rivers, meticulously planned boulevards and the soaring mountain ranges beyond. 

Ski or snowboard in nearby mountain resorts

Come ski season Grenoble truly takes on the mantle of ‘Capital of the Alps’. It’s a drive of around 2 ½ hours to the ski resort of Chamonix, but some lesser-known Alpine resorts are much closer to Grenoble. Chamrousse, Vaujany and Alpe du Grand Serre are all about an hour’s drive away, offering quieter slopes but a great range of facilities for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, as well as some challenging terrain too for winter sports experts. 

The ski slopes are within touching distance! 

Discover alpine villages in the Chartreuse Mountains

Hidden in the dense forests and mountains of the Chartreuse Mountains are idylllic villages like Le Sappey en Chartreuse and Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse – wonderfully understated and welcoming in summer, but which really come into their own once the winter snows arrive. Boasting a plentiful range of accommodation, bars, shops and restaurants, these villages become hubs for all kinds of winter sports, from cross-country and downhill skiing to snowboarding. 

Museums and cultural sites

Visit the Grenoble Museum of Art (Musée de Grenoble)

Occupying a central location in the city, a reflection of its importance, the Musée de Grenoble houses a world-renowned collection of art and antiquities which will fascinate the art lover. There are 900 works permanently on display for visitors, including paintings by Caravaggio, Picasso and Monet, sculpture and major pieces of modern art by the likes of Warhol and Matisse. Outside you’ll find a sculpture park. Entrance to the Musée de Grenoble is free, but some temporary exhibitions are ticketed. 

Musée de Grenoble. Milky, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Discover the Archaeological Museum of Saint-Laurent

Across the river from Musée de Grenoble is a stunning Archaeological Museum, housed in a former parish church. In fact the museum is to a large extent the church of Saint-Laurent itself, as a 6th century crypt was discovered here, along with a huge number of artefacts. The archaeology and 2,000 year-old history of the site is brought to life through digital displays, as well as through the power of seeing the layers of construction revealed. The Archaeological Museum of Saint-Laurent is also free to enter. 

Explore the Museum of the Resistance and Deportation

Grenoble was a major centre of the French Resistance movement during World War II, due to its proximity to the Alps, and the city was recognised by General de Gaulle for the part it played in resisting German occupation. This museum charts the history of Resistance nationally and locally, and tells the stories of the people who showed bravery and made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, as well as the deportation of the local Jewish population. 

The best things to do in Grenoble with kids

It may surprise you to learn that Grenoble is actually one of the flattest cities in France, despite being encircled by mountains. So cycling is very popular here, and what could be better than to hire some bikes for the day and take the family around some of the 300km of cycle paths, especially along the riverside? Taking the bubble cable car to the Bastille is always a great thing to do with the children, as is a trip to Grenoble’s largest park, Parc Paul Mistral. 

Plan your visit to Grenoble with LeShuttle

Whether you’re visiting in winter or summer, Grenoble has many attractions, and it’s closer than you think. Get on the road to the ‘Capital of the Alps’ in just 35 minutes with LeShuttle.