Our Hotels in Grenoble

Offering breathtaking vistas of towering, snow-topped Alpine peaks from almost every street corner, Grenoble sits embedded in a basin surrounded by the Chartreuse, Vercors and Belledonne massifs. With a history stretching back around 2,000 years, the "Capital of the Alps" charms visitors with a collection of exceptional museums, a historic quarter packed with cafés and shops, and a buzzing dining scene. Lying at the confluence of the Isère and Drac rivers, the prefecture of the southeastern French departement of Isère is today a European hub for hi-tech research and innovation. And of course, the city has been synonymous with winter sports since hosting the Winter Olympic Games in 1968. Whether the reason for your Grenoble visit is a weekend ski trip, hiking in nearby regional parks or an Alpine city escape, you'll find the perfect base among Accor's portfolio of the best hotels in Grenoble, France.
Le téléphérique Grenoble Bastille

Grenoble

Things to see in Grenoble

Start your Grenoble sightseeing tour at charming Place Saint-André, ringed by pastel-hued mansions and buzzing café terraces, and presided over by the ornate façade of the 16th-century Parliament Palace. A few steps along cobbled streets bring you to the main square, elegant Place Grenette, centred on a fountain adorned with cherubs and dolphins. The 13th-century Cathédrale Notre-Dame features a Roman bell tower – step inside the church to admire the wooden bas reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Christ. You can take a stroll on the medieval ramparts and see Gallo-Roman relics below Place Notre Dame as part of your visit to the museum in the adjoining Old Bishop's Palace, with exhibits documenting the history of the Isére region. Another must on Grenoble's museum bucket list is housed in a 17th-century convent: the Musée Dauphinois Grenoble has an engrossing collection of archaeological finds, artworks and artefacts documenting the social history of the Alps, as well displays on the backstory of skiing. Art lovers are rewarded at the Musée de Grenoble with a priceless collection of works spanning the 13th to 20th centuries by artists ranging from Delacroix and Gauguin to Picasso and Warhol, as well as Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities. In a huge repurposed industrial building, Le Magasin Grenoble is the setting for the National Center for Contemporary Art (CNAC), a multi-disciplinary hub for performing and visual arts, with an exciting roster of events. Perhaps the most iconic of attractions in Grenoble is the Fortde la Bastille, perched high above the city and affording breathtaking views of its surrounding peaks – on clear days you can glimpse Mont Blanc. And the ascent to the fortress is just as legendary – hop into one of the "bubbles" of the 1930s Téléphérique Grenoble-Bastille cable car to be transported over the Isére River and 500 metres up the cliffside in just five minutes. Of course, you don't have to take the cable car – a challenging via ferrata course also leads to the top.

Outdoor activities around Grenoble

The Bastille is also an ideal starting point for hiking trails in the Chartreuse Mountains – a family-friendly path leads via Mont Jalla to Mont Rachais. In fact, your pick from our Grenoble Accor hotels is the perfect base for the network of paths that fans out into the ranges surrounding the city, leading you to Alpine lakes, mountain pastures, hilltop chapels and quaint mountain villages. Looking for something more challenging? There's a choice of climbing courses from via ferrata routes to free-climbing walls. But you don't need to be an experienced mountain goat – the whole family will love negotiating rope courses in the forest canopy or zip-lining down mountainsides at adventure parks near Grenoble. Naturally, the classic among sporting activities around the city is skiing. Your accommodation in Grenoble puts you within easy reach of a host of ski resorts offering alpine slopes for everyone from beginners to downhill daredevils, all with a backdrop of majestic peaks. Chamrousse, the nearest resort, is conveniently accessible by bus, and others including Les Sept Laux, Villard-de-Lans, Les Deux Alpes or Alpe d'Huez are all around an hour's drive away. Prefer the tranquility of Nordic skiing? There's an array of cross-country ski courses near Grenoble where you can glide through snow-dusted forests and across mountain plateaus.

Food and drink in Grenoble

The effervescent Grenoble gastronomic scene offers a tempting plethora of restaurants, cafés, wine bars and brasseries, whether you're in the mood for a relaxed brunch on the terrace or a gourmet meal with stunning Alpine views. Local classics popping up on the best restaurant menus are potato gratin dauphinois,delicate ravioli known as ravioles du Royansfilled with fragrant herbs and cheese, and robust, aniseed-flavoured murçon de la Matheysine pork sausages. Among Grenoble cheese specialities, sample a soft and runny Saint-Marcellin or a mild Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage blue, while Grenoble's renowned local walnuts are delicious in all their forms, from tarts to liqueurs – or simply fresh. Wine production in the Dauphiné region is a well-kept secret, but small growers surprise connoisseurs with excellent Chardonnay, Jacquère and Persan varietals, as well as rare Étraire de la Dui reds. Beloved as an apéritif, a digestive or in cocktails, green or yellow Chartreuse liqueur has a sweet, pungent flavour and reputedly around 130 different ingredients – only a handful of monks know the exact recipe.

The best hotels in Grenoble

Wondering where to stay in Grenoble? Among our selection you'll find the exact Grenoble accommodation to match your needs. For a romantic getaway, we offer a stylish hotel with a spa in Grenoble or a luxury design hotel overlooking the verdant Parc Paul Mistral. You'll also find affordable properties with bed and breakfast options near the train station in the centre, while business travellers will find hotels in Grenoble Sud, in the Europole business district or near the Alpexpo congress centre. Prefer to be a little outside the city? Choose our 4-star hotel with a swimming pool nestled at the foot of the mountains.

When to visit Grenoble

Grenoble is a year-round tourism destination, with skiers descending on the city in winter and hikers arriving in the warmer months. Drawcard annual festivals include the world-music Détours de Babel in March; Cabaret Frappé, with pop and electro, and the Outdoor Short Film Festival of Grenoble – both in July; plus October's Le Millésime wine and music gathering. You can sip mulled wine to the tune of carols on Place Victor Hugo and Place Grenette during December's Christmas markets.

Getting to Grenoble

Fast, direct TGV trains connect Paris and Grenoble in about 3 hours, while the car journey via the A6 autoroute takes 5–6 hours. Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport, around 30 minutes from the centre, mainly serves seasonal budget airline flights, while the nearest major airports for international flights are Lyon Saint-Exupéry or Geneva International Airport.