Visit Grenoble in 2 days

Where to Stay in Grenoble

When you have only two days in Grenoble, location matters more than fancy extras: choosing a base that keeps walking times short buys you extra hours for museums, a basilica visit and a relaxed meal. Grenoble is compact but framed by steep hills, so a centrally located room saves you from long climbs and gives you fast access to the attractions you named without wasting time on transit.

The city is organised around a lively centre with a historic core beside the river and residential quarters spreading toward the surrounding slopes. Expect a mix of flat, walkable streets down by the rivers and cobbled, hillier lanes as you head up toward viewpoints. For practical navigation, think in terms of a central ring where most sights cluster and the higher, quieter districts that afford great views but require a short uphill walk.

If you want to be near the Musée de l'Ancien Évêché and the Prefecture, aim for the Vieille Ville and the adjacent Centre-Ville, which put restaurants, museums and the Préfecture within easy strolling distance. The Lycée Champollion sits close to that central band as well, so a flat, central spot makes visits simple. If the Basilique Saint-Joseph de Grenoble is a priority, consider lodging at the base of the hill or slightly north-east of the centre so you can climb up refreshed rather than exhausted.

Transport in Grenoble is straightforward: a dense tram and bus network links the heart of the city with the train station and the hilltop attractions, and the famous cable car—the Téléphérique—whisks you up to the Bastille for panoramic views. If you arrive by train, choosing accommodation near the Gare or a tram stop will make airport or onward-train connections effortless, and many short routes will get you to the Lycée, the Musée and the Préfecture within minutes.

For two days, favour a centrally located, well-connected place with easy check-in and a quiet room facing an inner courtyard rather than a busy street. If mobility or late evenings worry you, pick ground-floor or tram-adjacent options to avoid steep nocturnal walks. Keep choices simple: a nearby base means you’ll spend your time exploring—not commuting—and you’ll leave Grenoble feeling relaxed and satisfied.

Getting Around Grenoble

Grenoble is delightfully compact, which makes its public transport feel approachable even if you’re visiting for the first time. The city’s TAG network of trams and buses threads the centre and suburbs, and the iconic téléphérique to the Bastille is as much a transit ride as a sightseeing moment. Stops are frequent, vehicles are well signed, and because many points of interest sit close together, you’ll often combine a short walk with one tram hop without any fuss. As someone who loves wandering and pausing for coffee, I promise you won’t feel lost—Grenoble’s system was made for easy exploring.

A practical tip about tickets: buy your ticket before you board at the tram stop machines, the kiosks, or via the TAG app if you prefer digital. Single fares are inexpensive (budget roughly a couple of euros for a single ride) and there are day pass options if you plan several trips in one day. Validate your paper or digital ticket as soon as you board or at the validator on the platform—inspectors do check. If you’re staying a few days, loading rides onto a rechargeable card will save time and keep your pockets lighter. 🎫

Use Google Maps (or the TAG app) to plan routes—its transit layer is excellent for Grenoble and will show which tram line to take, how many stops, and the walking time to each stop. If you’re headed up to the Bastille, Google will even combine the tram and téléphérique legs neatly so you don’t miss a connection. I always pull up the route a few minutes before leaving so I can stroll at a relaxed pace instead of racing to a stop. 🗺️

To save money, walk whenever you can—downtown Grenoble is wonderfully walkable and you’ll discover little streets you’d miss from a tram. Buy a day pass only if you know you’ll use it several times; otherwise single tickets or a carnet (a bundle) are cost-effective. If you plan to use public transport a lot or return to Grenoble, a rechargeable option reduces the hassle of repeated purchases and often reduces per-ride cost.

One memory I love: we needed to get from Lycée Champollion to the Musée de l'Ancien Évêché before it closed. I checked Google Maps, saw a one-stop tram option, bought a ticket at the machine, validated it, and hopped on—within ten minutes we stepped off, walked two minutes and were at the museum entrance. The whole trip felt calm and straightforward, and it left time for coffee afterwards. If I can do that on my first day, you absolutely can too. 🚇

What to Pack for Grenoble

I treat Grenoble as a town for slow discovery — churches, crypts, old cemeteries and landmarks tucked between streets and the surrounding mountains. On a 2-day trip you’ll be indoors more than hiking, but you’ll still walk a lot, wait in cool, dim crypts and move between neighborhoods. Below are the essentials I always pack; each one saved me time or frustration on short trips here.

1. Comfortable walking shoes (REQUIRED — e.g., Merrell Moab 2 or Salomon X Ultra): I once walked about 15 miles over two days around Grenoble’s vieille ville and up to viewpoints, and the right shoes made the difference between enjoying a chapel and nursing blisters. These shoes have enough cushion for cobbles and enough grip for damp church steps — important when you’re out for 10+ hours exploring churches and burial places.

2. Cross-body bag (anti-theft style): I keep passport, phone, and a small camera in a cross-body bag and wore it in front when I visited crowded landmarks. I’ve seen pickpockets near transport hubs, so having quick access yet secure closure meant I didn’t fumble during long queues at churches or while reading plaques in crypts.

3. Weather-appropriate layered clothing: Grenoble’s valley can be warm midday and cool inside stone crypts. I’ve worn a light merino base, a thin fleece, and a packable waterproof — on one trip July sun was strong but the crypts stayed at 12–14°C. Layers let you pop into a chilly basilica without shivering and strip off while sitting at a café.

4. Power adapter (Type C/E for France) + small multi-plug: All my devices need charging after a long day of photos and map use. I once arrived without an adapter and had to buy an expensive one at the station. A compact Type C/E adapter (or a universal one) keeps your phone, camera and travel plug all usable in your hotel.

5. Power bank (10,000–20,000 mAh): On a day I wandered 12 miles, using maps and photographing church interiors, my phone died by late afternoon. A 10,000 mAh power bank gave me roughly two full charges; 20,000 is great if you expect long photo sessions or full-day tours without returning to your room.

6. Optional — packable umbrella or light scarf & small notebook: A compact umbrella saved me from a sudden shower once while leaving a chapel, and a scarf is handy for covering shoulders in Catholic churches. I also bring a small notebook to jot historical notes or sketch a tomb inscription — it’s oddly satisfying and memorable.