Day Trips in Grenoble

Grenoble has much to offer the traveler, but taking a few Grenoble day trips can make your vacation even more fulfilling. If you have a day to spare in your itinerary, consider taking any of these exciting day trips from Grenoble:

Biking in the Summer

Less than an hour away are Achard Lake and Richard Lake, small but stunning lakes located in the Rhone-Alpes with panoramic views of the mountainside. During the late spring, summer and early fall, you can rent a bike in Grenoble and bicycle across the French countryside to spend an afternoon at one of these lakes.

Skiing in the Winter

Grenoble and the surrounding areas become a popular resort location during the skiing and snowboarding season, which is late fall, winter and early spring. Stay at one of the ski resorts on the outskirts of Grenoble and you can take a gondola up the Rhone-Alpes. There's a near-daily bus provided by the Actibus service that runs from Grenoble to the nearby ski resorts such as L'Alpe d'Huez.

Head to Italy

One of the best aspects of touring Grenoble is that Torino, Italy (a.k.a. Turin) is a mere two hours' drive away, so you can tour more of Europe during your stay. You can also hop on a train and get there in about an hour. Turin is known for its plethora of museums and its attractive architecture. Over one hundred museums showcase topics like art, culture, cinema, motor vehicles and ancient Egyptian artifacts. Architectural highlights include the San Lorenzo Church, the Piazza Castello and La Mole Antonelliana, which was, at its time of completion in 1889, once the tallest brick building in the world.

Visit Switzerland

Grenoble is also a day trip away from Geneva, Switzerland, making Grenoble an ideal spot for pan-European day trips. Driving to Geneva from Grenoble takes only about 90 minutes and there are trains and buses available as well. In Geneva, take a stroll in three magnificent public parks or in the Jardin Anglais (English Garden), the highlight of which is the floral clock tower. Tour the Voltaire Institute & Museum (the former home of the famed philosopher and author) and see the International Monument to the Reformation, which is dedicated to leaders of the Reformation Movement. You can even take a short boat cruise on the Rhone River.

Head to Paris

If you think you can see the best of what Paris has to offer in a day, you can use one of the high-speed trains that runs between Grenoble and Paris to get there in only 3 hours. (Driving would take around 5 hours.) During your mini trip, make a point to cover the highlights, like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and a restaurant or two in one of the cuisine capitals on the world.