Top 10 things to do in Grenoble

The best things to do in Grenoble.

Grenoble, capital of the Alps, offers a wealth of sporting and cultural activities at the crossroads of 3 valleys, in the heart of 3 mountain ranges – the Chartreuse, the Vercors and the Belledone – and close to the cities of Lyon, Valence and Chambéry. Grenoble, served by Lyon airport and regular train services, is an ideal destination for vacations with the family, friends or as a couple.

TOP 10 outdoor activities in Grenoble

1) Take the cable car to visit Fort de la Bastille, overlooking the city from a height of over 500 m, for a magnificent view of the entire Grenoble area. It was the world’s 1st ropeway to be built in an urban environment. Once upstairs, you can visit the 19th-century fort free of charge.

2) Canyoning in the the Furon canyon Located in the commune of Sassenage, 10 minutes from the center of Grenoble, the Furon canyon is one of Isère ‘s biggest canyoning spots. Easy, fun and bucolic, canyoning is a fast-developing sport that offers plenty of great sensations.

3) Paragliding in Saint-Hilaire du Touvet, reputed to be one of the paragliding areas with the most flying days in France, every year Saint Hilaire du Touvet hosts the Coupe Icare, a gathering of all free-flight enthusiasts and professionals. It’s also a great place to discover paragliding.

4) Ski at Les 7 Laux, a small resort but with a large ski area, ideal for freeride enthusiasts.
Renowned for its large, untouched faces on which to carve your first curves, the well-maintained, well-prepared slopes offer interesting vertical drops, and the ski pass is still very affordable.

5) Do a Via-Ferrata: there’s a Via-Ferrata that provides sporting access to the Bastille fort, starting at Place de l’Esplanade in Grenoble. You’ll take on the fortifications through gardens and high stone walls, alternating between rock climbing and wall climbing. If you enjoyed this excursion, you won’t want to miss the Via-Ferrata at Saint-Pierre d’Entremont. It is more panoramic and wild.

6) The super canyon des Ecouges Located in Saint Gervais in Isère, a little further away than its little brother “le canyon du Furon”, the Ecouges canyon would be n°1 if it were just a little closer to Grenoble. This is a large canyon made up of two parts, the first technical and sporting, the second more playful and bucolic – an activity not to be missed!

7) Snowmobiling in Chamrousse, the other ski resort near Grenoble, offers snowmobile tours on a reserved trail, with slopes, straights and slalom between the fir trees.

8) Climbing: Isère has more than 100 climbing sites, some of them very high-level, like the Satan wall above Sassenage, others easier, like the Saint Etienne de Crossey climbing site above Voiron, with more than 200 routes between 3A and 7C, ideal for discovering and perfecting your climbing skills.

9) The Canyoning de l’Infernet If you’re looking for an unforgettable half-day of sport, this is the canyon for maximum thrills. With its deep incision, the atmosphere is guaranteed: the 1st abseiling descent plunges you straight into a mineral and aquatic environment illuminated by streaks of light. Located in the commune of Saint Egrève, this is the most beautiful canyon in the Chartreuse massif.

10) Bars and restaurants in Grenoble: after all your activities, come and recuperate in Grenoble’s many bars and restaurants. Being a student city, life is hectic and festive. There’s no shortage of choice!