10 Best Things To Do In Grenoble, France

Are you looking for the best things to do in Grenoble?

Sitting smugly between the rivers Drac and Isère, Grenoble is the largest metropolis in the French Alps. It’s dubbed “the capital of the Alps” for the same reason and its proximity to the Alpine chain.

Situated in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the southest of France, Grenoble is just over 3 hours by train from Paris. It is best known as a leading scientific research center, housing a series of laboratories and is especially notable in the fields of nuclear physics and microelectronics.

Grenoble is pretty old, too, with the first references to its old name “Cularo” dating back to 43 BC.

In 286 AD, a strong defensive wall was constructed around the small for protection against the Romans. Vestiges of this wall can still be seen in the city today.

It’s an old city. It’s a science hub. It’s near the Alps and the French capital. It’s also an official City of Art and Culture. Grenoble simply doesn’t run out of things to offer to its visitors.

10 Best Things To Do In Grenoble, France

Here are the best things to do in Grenoble.

1. Ride up the “Les Bulles” in Grenoble – France’ oldest cable car

Every year, more than 325,000 people travel through the Grenoble cable car from the city center to the 19th-century military fort La Bastille.

Built in 1934, the Grenoble cable car is the oldest cable car in France. It is also one of the first urban cable cars in the world, after Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Cape Town in South Africa.

These egg-shaped cable cars are known to locals as “Les Bulles” or “the bubbles.” Riding them is the best way to get a bird’s eye view of the Grenoble metropolitan area and the surrounding valley and mountains.

The ride takes about five minutes and is very user-friendly. The aerial cable car is open until 11:45 PM, so even if you come late you’ll still get a chance to see the sunset.

2. Escape to Fort de la Bastille 

Of course, you can’t ride Le Bulles without spending time at La Bastille, an ancient fortress perched on the hills overlooking Grenoble.

Built before the turn of the 17th century to defend Grenoble against enemy attacks, the Bastille is the city’s most visited tourist spot. Roughly 600,000 visitors come to the Bastille every year, half of whom take the cable car from the city center.

This is a must-visit in Grenoble. It’s a good place for hiking, picnic, visit any or all of the 5 museums there – or simply escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and just enjoy its view.

Don’t forget to bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable shoes when walking uphill. Stop every now and then to take in the view from the Geologues terrace – the panorama will simply take your breath away!

3. Visit Grenoble’s storied past

Grenoble is a historical city and you can explore its past in a number of museums such as the Musée Dauphinois on Rue Maurice Gignoux, the Museum of Resistance and Deportation on Rue Hébert, the Museum of the Former Bishopric on Rue Très Cloîtres.

The galleries at the Musée de Grenoble on Place de Lavalette will give you a pretty good summary of the history of European culture from the 13th century to the present day.

Another way to visit Grenoble’s storied past is the Vestiges of the Gallo-Roman Wall which are classified as historical monuments since 1957.

These Roman vestiges can be found in the Musée de l’Ancien Évêché in the historical center of the city, near the Grenoble Cathedral. It’s truly enthralling and free of charge.

4. Discover the enchanting underground world of the Sassenage Cisterns 

One of the most fascinating places you will ever see in Grenoble (and in France), Grotte les Cuves de Sassenage is just 10 to 15 minutes from the city. This ancient hydrogeologic heritage is millions of years old and has inspired various legends and local lores.

This is not such a hard walk to do and doesn’t take long.

However, the way to the caves is hard to find for some so take note to pass the pharmacy on Rue de la Republique, cross the car park to the river on your right, then walk up through the woods and high up on the mountain.

The tiny torches they give for you to use in the cave are a nice touch. Expect to be blown away by the fantastic subterranean rivers and other natural wonders – the place is simply brimming with astounding sights!

5. Stroll the Paul Mistral Park in Grenoble

Situated on Boulevard Jean Pain, Paul Mistral Park is a 67-acre urban park that houses the Grenoble city hall and holds important sporting events such as the 1968 Winter Olympics. This park was named after a former mayor of Grenoble.

Spend at least an hour of slow walking to go around the whole park, or just sitting on the bench and sipping tea or coffee. For partners, this idyllic place is must for a romantic evening stroll.

Be sure to pay attention to the Perrot Tower; it’s the oldest reinforced concrete tower in Europe.

6. Pay homage to literature at Le Couvent Sainte-Cecile 

Saint Cecil Chapel is an old convent now transformed into a museum of books. The neglected chapel was bought by a French publisher in 2005 and has become its headquarters since 2009.

For book buffs, this is your little piece of heaven in Grenoble. There is also a garden restaurant outside for a great gourmet experience.

Go on a weekday as Saint Cecile Chapel closes on weekends.

7. Ride the Saint-Hilaire Funicular

Known in French as Funiculaire de Saint-Hilaire du Touvet, this funicular railway in the Isère département in the Rhône-Alpes region was opened in 1924. It connects Montfort – on the road between Chambéry and Grenoble – with Saint-Hilaire du Touvet.

This funicular ascends 750 meters on the steep Chartreuse mountain, taking you from the valley to the breath-taking Plateau des Petites Roches, where the village of Saint-Hilaire du Touvet is perched 600 meters above. The ride offers panoramic views of the valley and the Belledonne mountain range.

In Saint-Hilaire, do not forget to visit the Laboratoire d’Icare (“The Icarus Laboratory”), a museographic space where you can meet Newton, da Vinci, and Galileo. It’s a place of discoveries, experiences and games on air, flight, gravity, and funicular operation.

This tour is an absolute must when you’re in Grenoble!

8. Go on a paragliding and parasailing adventure in Grenoble

Grenoble, with its great location and the stunning natural wonders found here, is an ideal place for adventure sports.

With the spectacular views of the city and the nature surrounding it, what better way to enjoy it than paragliding and parasailing?

Fly from the beautiful Chartreuse, Belledonne, and Vercors mountains to the Isère River with these trusted paragliding and parasailing operators in Grenoble:

Parapente Grenoble
Address: 13 Rue Auguste Ravier, 38100 Grenoble, France
Phone No.: +33 4 56 45 11 34
Website: www.parapentegrenoble.com

Vertical Aventure
Address: 8 Chemin du Couvent, 38100 Grenoble, France
Phone No.: +33 4 76 40 24 76
Website: www.vertical-aventure.com

Takamaka Grenoble
Address: 1 Quai Créqui, 38000 Grenoble, France
Phone No.: +33 4 80 42 00 70
Website: www.grenoble.takamaka.fr

9. Hit the pistes around Grenoble

With the Alpine chain that offers top-quality pistes within easy reach, Grenoble is truly “the capital of the Alps”.

Famous for its excellent slopes and a handful of nearby resorts for you to choose from, Grenoble is truly an awe-inspiring destination if you’re looking to fuse city weekend charm with snow-covered mountain adventures.

If you’re a beginner, Alpe d’Huez and Les Deux Alpes are the 2 ski resorts that would fit you best. They are both very close to Grenoble. Alpe d’Huez, in particular, has a lot of lovely and wide runs close to the resort. It also offers a beginners’ ski pass which would save you some euros to buy more souvenirs.

10. Shop for authentic Grenobloise souvenirs 

Grenoble is famous for various things, one of them being walnuts. You can buy walnuts and walnut products such as walnut wine and walnut oil to take home to your loved ones.

The green Chartreuse liquor is king in Grenoble, having been made by the Carthusian Monks since 1737. It’s an herbal alcoholic beverage said to improve one’s health, thanks to the 130 herbs, plants, and flowers in its ingredients.

Another old local delicacy in Grenoble is L’Antésite, a beverage made of plants and licorice. You will never run out of flavors to choose from – plus, they’re all natural without sweeteners or sugar.

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