Grenoble Old Town Travel Guide

Grenoble

Grenoble featuring street scenes, a square or plaza and markets
Grenoble showing street scenes, shopping and flowers
Grenoble featuring railway items and street scenes
Grenoble showing markets and food
Grenoble showing heritage architecture and street scenes

Wander the lively streets of this charming area of Grenoble, where very little has changed since the 16th century.

Grenoble’s Old Town is the heart of the city, home to squares and marketplaces that have acted as meeting places for centuries. The Old Town contains numerous examples of beautiful architecture reflecting its 2,000 years of history. Look for the medieval buildings, stately mansions, crumbling Roman walls and old churches as you stroll through the narrow lanes of this neighbourhood.

Dating back as far as 43 B.C., Grenoble was founded as a Gallo-Roman settlement, then known as Cularo. Beginning in the 3rd century, this area became the administrative capital of the city and the Gallo-Romans erected protective walls around the neighbourhood. At the beginning of rue Lafayette, look for the ruins of this original wall. As you continue to walk through the Old Town, try to spot bronze medallions embedded in the streets designating the location where the full wall once stood.

Gaze up at the tall steeple of St. Andrew’s Church, also known as Collégiale Saint-André. Piercing the skyline above the surrounding buildings in Saint André Square, this landmark church is almost impossible to miss.

Don’t miss Place Grenette, one of the city’s main squares since the 17th century. Here, you’ll find a stone fountain depicting cherubs and dolphins, carved by 19th-century sculptor Victor Sappey.

Spend time admiring the former palace of the Dauphinois parliament. This palace’s Gothic and Renaissance façades make it one of the city’s most distinctive buildings.

Stop for a coffee at Café de la Table Ronde, the second-oldest café in France, built in 1739. It’s said that famous 19th-century thinker Stendhal enjoyed sitting at this very café to write.

One of the best times to visit Grenoble Old Town is during the morning, when a busy farmers market is held at Place aux Herbes every day except Monday. The Old Town can be quite busy on Saturdays, when locals and tourists come out to enjoy its many shops and cafés.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Grenoble Old Town

Le Grand Hôtel Grenoble, BW Premier Collection by Best Western

Le Grand Hôtel Grenoble, BW Premier Collection by Best Western

4 out of 5
5 Rue De La Republique, Grenoble, Isere
The price is ฿3,221 per night from 29 Aug to 30 Aug
฿3,221
฿3,664 total
29 Aug - 30 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star boutique hotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (982 reviews)
"Very comfortable bed and the room was very quiet."

Reviewed on 19 Jul 2025

Le Grand Hôtel Grenoble, BW Premier Collection by Best Western
Hôtel de l'Europe Grenoble Hyper Centre

Hôtel de l'Europe Grenoble Hyper Centre

3 out of 5
22 Place Grenette, Grenoble, Isere
The price is ฿2,517 per night from 27 Aug to 28 Aug
฿2,517
฿2,875 total
27 Aug - 28 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Place Grenette and Saint Louis Church ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (144 reviews)
Excellente
"Nous avons beaucoup apprécié"

Reviewed on 31 Dec 2023

Hôtel de l'Europe Grenoble Hyper Centre
OKKO Hotels Grenoble Centre

OKKO Hotels Grenoble Centre

4 out of 5
23 rue Hoche, Grenoble, Isere
The price is ฿2,728 per night from 25 Aug to 26 Aug
฿2,728
฿3,123 total
25 Aug - 26 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star eco-certified hotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (953 reviews)
A pleasant stay in this hotel
"Solo stay for 3 nights on holiday. Some very good points - the breakfast room being available all day and night for free coffee in a very spacious, attractive room is a big positive. The staff are all very helpful and attentive. Location is good being 15 minutes from the heart of the city and with ..."

Reviewed on 11 Jul 2025

OKKO Hotels Grenoble Centre
Residhotel Grenette

Residhotel Grenette

3 out of 5
12 rue de Palanka, Grenoble, Isere
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿1,907 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
฿1,907
฿2,204 total
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,052 reviews)
"Close to everything. Parking really expensive"

Reviewed on 15 Jul 2025

Residhotel Grenette
RockyPop Grenoble Hotel

RockyPop Grenoble Hotel

4 out of 5
9 Rue de Strasbourg, Grenoble, Isère
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ฿3,107 per night from 31 Aug to 1 Sept
฿3,107
฿3,539 total
31 Aug - 1 Sept
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Grenoble. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (202 reviews)
"Very cool property. Clean, had AC, spacious rooms, friendly/helpful staff"

Reviewed on 22 Jul 2025

RockyPop Grenoble Hotel
Appart'City Confort Grenoble Inovallée

Appart'City Confort Grenoble Inovallée

3 out of 5
75 rue Blaise Pascal, Montbonnot-Saint-Martin
The price is ฿2,260 per night from 29 Aug to 30 Aug
฿2,260
฿2,577 total
29 Aug - 30 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified aparthotel in Montbonnot-Saint-Martin. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Château de Serviantin ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (527 reviews)
"Very modern and clean. Check in staff excellent."

Reviewed on 7 Jul 2024

Appart'City Confort Grenoble Inovallée
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Grenoble Old Town

Jardin de Ville featuring a park

Quartier Hyper-Centre

While you're in Quartier Hyper-Centre, take in top sights like Place Grenette or Grenoble-Bastille Cable Car, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Hubert Dubedout-Maison du Tourisme Tram Stop or Victor Hugo Tram Stop.

Quartier Hyper-Centre
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Secteur 2

Historical sites, bars and shopping highlight some notable features of Secteur 2. Make a stop by Grenoble Theater or Place Notre Dame while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Sainte-Claire Les Halles Tram Stop or Notre-Dame Musée Tram Stop to get around town.

Secteur 2
Jardin de Ville showing a garden

Grenoble City Centre

4.5/5(19 area reviews)

Historical sites, bars and shopping highlight some notable features of Grenoble City Centre. Make a stop by Place Grenette or Grenoble-Bastille Cable Car while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Hubert Dubedout-Maison du Tourisme Tram Stop or Victor Hugo Tram Stop to get around town.

Grenoble City Centre
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Ile Verte

Even though there aren't top sights in Ile Verte, you can explore the larger area and take in top sights like Museum of Grenoble. Jump on the metro at Ile Verte Tram Stop to see more of the city.

Ile Verte
Grenoble showing flowers and a park

Quartier Exposition-Bajatière

While you're in Quartier Exposition-Bajatière, take in top sights like Paul Mistral Park or Alps Stadium, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Albert 1er de Belgique Tram Stop or Mounier Tram Stop.

Quartier Exposition-Bajatière
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Quartier Chorier-Berriat

When in Quartier Chorier-Berriat and the surrounding area, you'll want to check out sights like WTC Grenoble or La Caserne de Bonne and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Saint-Bruno Tram Stop or Berriat-Le Magasin Tram Stop.

Quartier Chorier-Berriat

Grenoble Old Town Travel Guide