Grenoble

Day 1: First look at the “cuvette” and the Bastille

Ease into Grenoble with a slow morning along the Isère before gaining your bearings from above. You’ll trace the city’s rivers and grid, then rise to the Bastille for the quintessential three-massif panorama that locals never tire of.

• Morning: Stroll the Jardin de Ville and the quays, then take the cable car (les Bulles) up to the Bastille for wide-open views of Belledonne, Chartreuse and Vercors; arrive early for calm terraces and crisp light. If you prefer to walk, climb via Jardin des Dauphins (steep but rewarding; wear decent shoes).
• Midday: Linger on the Belvédère Vauban and the Geologists’ Terrace, then picnic with Saint-Marcellin and saucisson, or book a terrace table on the hill. In hot, hazy summer weather, the clearest views are before lunch or just after a thunderstorm.
• Afternoon: Descend on foot through old fortifications and tunnels, then wander the old town lanes (Place Grenette, Rue Brocherie) and the Saint-Laurent riverside for pastel façades under the Chartreuse cliffs. If you love bridgescapes, continue to Pont de la Citadelle for classic river-and-cliff frames.
• Evening: Watch sunset silhouettes from the quay in Saint-Laurent or the short Montée de Chalemont path. In winter, ride back up for night views—city lights sparkle against snow-dusted ridges (carry a small torch for paths).

Day 2: Chartreuse balconies and city culture

Head north into the Chartreuse for a bird’s‑eye view that makes the Bastille look modest. You’ll pair a cliff‑edge fort panorama with easy city time back on the valley floor.

• Morning: Bus or drive to Le Sappey‑en‑Chartreuse, then hike the GR9 to Fort Saint‑Eynard (allow layers; it’s breezy on the ramparts). If the access road is open (typically late spring–autumn), you can also drive the final kilometres; in winter it’s usually closed—check before you go.
• Midday: Picnic at the fort tables and use the orientation map to name peaks; on crystal‑clear days you may spot Mont Blanc. If the fort facilities are shut (off‑season/weekday), the viewpoint is still superb—bring your own food and water.
• Afternoon: Return to town for a gentle loop through Parc Paul Mistral to see the scaffolded Tour Perret (under renovation) and pause in the shade. If heat or wind picks up, duck into the Musée de Grenoble for an art reset before the evening light.
• Evening: Aperitif in the Championnet neighbourhood (casual terraces with mountain glimpses down the streets), then dinner. Finish with a quiet walk over the Isère footbridges—peaks and pastel façades glow after dusk.

Day 3: Big‑sky finale in Vercors or Belledonne (weather‑led)

Choose your massif based on conditions: go west to the Vercors for a sunset‑friendly, city‑overlook ridge, or east to Belledonne for high‑alpine horizons. Either way, you’ll spend most of the day above the “cuvette” breathing cooler air.

• Morning: Option Vercors: drive/bus to Saint‑Nizier‑du‑Moucherotte and hike to Le Moucherotte (about 3–4 hours return; broad path, spectacular drop over Grenoble). Option Belledonne: head to Chamrousse and take summer lifts to the Croix de Chamrousse, or hike if you prefer—start early for the best visibility and gentler temperatures.
• Midday: Mountain lunch with a view—packed picnic by the Moucherotte hotel ruins or a terrace stop in Chamrousse (check lift/restaurant opening dates outside peak season). Sun protection and at least 1.5 litres of water per person are essential.
• Afternoon: Stay high if the valley is hazy; after storms or in autumn inversions you might get a sea of clouds below. On the way back, a quick pause at the Drac’s Pont d’Oxford gives striking river reflections framed by Vercors and the Bastille hill.
• Evening: If you were in Belledonne, drop to a western vantage for sunset—Bastille terraces or a Vercors balcony road turnout. If you were in the Vercors, finish on the Saint‑Martin‑d’Hères campus lawn (the student‑nicknamed “crique sud”) to watch the Belledonne alpenglow flame pink, then toast your trip back in town.

Notes and tips:

• Public transport: TAG trams and buses reach most city spots; Transisère buses connect to some mountain villages but run less often at weekends—check timetables.
• Weather smarts: Always check high‑altitude webcams before committing; mountain forecasts differ from the city. After rain or a north wind, visibility is exceptional.
• Safety and gear: Even for short viewpoints, wear grippy shoes, carry layers, water and a light rain shell. Trails are waymarked; stick to them. In any emergency, dial 112.
• Budget: Bastille cable car adult return is roughly €9–10; hiking up is free. Summer pedestrian lift passes at Chamrousse cost extra—verify current prices and dates.

By Air

• Grenoble Alpes Isère (GNB) – c.45 km NW. Mostly winter-season flights; 35–45 min by car. Seasonal shuttles to Grenoble bus station.
• Lyon–Saint-Exupéry (LYS) – c.90 km. 1–1h15 by car. Direct TER trains from the airport station to Grenoble (about 1 h). Direct coaches 1–1h30.
• Geneva (GVA) – c.150 km. About 2 h by car. Direct coaches 2–2h30 (more frequent in winter). Trains via Genève/Bellegarde or Chambéry 2h30–3 h.
• Chambéry–Savoie (CMF) – c.60 km. 45–60 min by car. Limited flights; rail via Chambéry to Grenoble 45–60 min.

By Train

• Main station: Grenoble (SNCF), with the city’s bus/coach station (Gare routière) adjacent.
• Paris (Gare de Lyon) – TGV/Intercités: fastest c.2h55–3h15 (some direct; others via Lyon Part‑Dieu or Valence TGV).
• Lyon Part‑Dieu – TER: c.1h15–1h25, frequent services.
• Lyon–Saint‑Exupéry Airport (Aéroport TGV) – TER: about 1 h direct to Grenoble.
• Valence TGV – TER: about 1 h.
• Marseille/Aix – via Valence: typically 2h45–3h30.
• Geneva – 2h30–3 h with 1–2 changes (Bellegarde/Chambéry).

By Coach/Bus

• Grenoble Gare routière (next to SNCF station) is the hub.
• Lyon–Saint‑Exupéry Airport ↔ Grenoble: frequent direct coaches (e.g., BlaBlaCar Bus, FlixBus), 1–1h30.
• Lyon (Perrache/Part‑Dieu) ↔ Grenoble: 1h30–2 h.
• Geneva Airport ↔ Grenoble: 2–2h30 (denser winter timetable).
• Paris ↔ Grenoble: economy/overnight coaches typically 7–9 h.

By Car

• From Lyon: A43/A48, c.1–1h15 (c.110 km).
• From Chambéry/Annecy/Geneva: A41 (Chambéry c.45–60 min; Annecy c.1h15; Geneva c.2 h).
• From Valence: A49, c.1 h.
• From Italy (Turin): via Fréjus tunnel A43/A41, c.3 h.
• Motorway tolls apply. Winter equipment rules (snow tyres or chains) usually mandatory 1 Nov–31 Mar in Isère and neighbouring Alpine departments; allow extra time on peak ski weekends.