Grenoble

Buy

If you are looking for a big commercial centre with chain-stores, consider Grand Place (tramway A direction Echirolles). Generally very crowded, especially at weekends. For street shopping, stop at Victor Hugo tramway station (tramway A or B). The tramway station is next to Place Grenette, which is the centre of the city. This area is largely pedestrianized. Small, winding streets house many boutique-style shops, chain-store outlets, traditional French cafés and all the usual city centre paraphernalia If you want a spa/hammam, you'll have to get out of the city and head off to the outskirts such as Echirolles or Meylan. Another shopping centre with chains stores is La Caserne De Bonne (tramway C, direction Seyssin- Le Prisme). There are outdoor sports stores (such as Decathlon or Le vieux campeur). The markets. There are several daily food markets in the city centre. The most centrally located, are at Sainte-Claire Les Halles (near the cathedral) which has a covered food hall (housing cheese and butchers' stalls) as well as the outdoor fruit and vegetable market, and Place aux Herbes. Watch out for the grape-stealing pigeons - a great favourite with children but detested by the stall-holders! The best market is probably L'Estacade (6 days per week), under the elevated railway tracks next to Cours Jean Jaures. The cinemas, you'll find a few within the city centre such as in the pedestrian streets or the multiplex Pathé Chavant. If you want to watch an English/American movie wi…

Eat

If you'd like to have an extensive eatery guide with you on your travels, The Guide du Dahu is probably the best restaurant guide to Grenoble. The work of 20 students of Grenoble business school, it includes 300 pages covering restaurants, bars, culture, sport and nightlife. €2.50 from tabacs and bookshops in the city. The Petit Futé series also offers a Grenoble guide, which has an extensive list of restaurants and other businesses.

You can find many good restaurants in the city centre, roughly between the Train Station, Place Saint-André and Place Notre Dame. The St-Laurent neighborhood (on the northern side of the Isère river) has a number of Italian restaurants and pizzerias. There are also a number of restaurants that line the Rue Brocherie and the area surrounding Place aux Herbes. In the winter, try typical Alpine dishes such as fondue, raclette and the legendary tartiflette. La Ferme à Dédé, at 24, rue Barnave, has a menu with many local and regional specialties. A good traditional option for vegetarians is Ravioles du Dauphiné (cheese dumplings baked in gratin), although it is not unheard of for them to contain meat and you should always ask the waiter first.

Grenoble is also well-known for being the place of origin of the French taco (although a resident of Lyon will beg to differ and will claim the French taco as their own). These have absolutely nothing in common with Mexican or Tex-Mex tacos and are more closely related to kebabs, and if you try to order tacos …

Drink

There are bars and pubs in the downtown area, especially between Place Grenette and Place Notre Dame. Les Frères Berthom, near Place Notre Dame, offers a variety of local brews and a lively ambience. Couche Tard, Bukana, and London Pub cater to Erasmus, international, and American study abroad students.

At Place Saint-André, you will find La table ronde, founded in 1739 as the second oldest café in France to Le Procope in Paris.

In the nearby city of Voiron (25 km northwest of Grenoble) are the Caves de la Chartreuse (+33 4 76 05 81 77), where the famous liqueur is made by the Carthusian Monks. It is claimed to be the largest liqueur cellar in the world. Free guided tours are provided, with a tasting session in the end. Opening hours are 09:00-11:30 and 14:99-18:30 (closes at 17:30 and weekends from November to April, no lunch break in July and August). See for more information.

Stay safe

Grenoble is generally a safe city for tourists, students, and residents. Like any urban area, it’s best to stay aware of your surroundings and take common-sense precautions, particularly at night or in less central areas.

River safety: The Drac River, while appearing calm, can rise rapidly due to upstream dam releases. Avoid walking too close to its banks, especially with children or pets, and respect posted warnings. Crime awareness: Grenoble has had a reputation in French media for higher-than-average crime rates. However, this typically involves issues in specific residential districts and is unlikely to impact visitors. Violent crime is rare in tourist-friendly areas, and the city centre, campus zones, and major attractions are generally very safe. Neighbourhoods to avoid at night: Visitors are advised to avoid wandering through Villeneuve, Village Olympique, and Échirolles after dark. While these areas have seen social tensions and sporadic unrest, they are not tourist destinations and have no key attractions. If you're using tram line A or line E, take extra care when passing through stops like La Bruyère, Arlequin, and Grand'Place late in the evening. Tram and public transport: Pickpocketing is uncommon but can occur during busy times on tram and bus lines, especially at peak hours. Keep an eye on your belongings and use bags that zip or close securely. Prostitution zones: While the Stade Lesdiguières area has historically seen some late-night solicitation, it's typic…