Car Hire Grenoble Airport

Grenoble Airport – or Grenoble Alpes Isère to give it its full title – is very much the gateway to the Alps. It sits a 45km drive from the city itself, via the D119 and then the A48 south-east. It should take just 35 to 40 minutes before you arrive into Grenoble’s heart.

Driving is on the right-hand side of the road, with overtaking on the left. French motorways are called ‘autoroutes’, and some of them are toll roads – this includes the A48 that serves Grenoble. You can usually pay by cash or card.

The top speed on autoroutes is generally 130km/h in fine weather, with limits dropping to 110km/h on expressways, 80km/h on many rural roads, and 50km/h or lower in cities, towns and villages. If you’re heading to an Alpine resort, check ahead on weather conditions, as roads can sometimes close due to snow, and speed limits can drop accordingly. You should always ensure you check the signs for the route that you are on, as limits can vary by location, road and weather.

Road connections are ample from Grenoble, whether it’s taking the D512 to Chartreuse Natural Regional Park or the D531 to Vercors Park – both are usually under an hour’s drive from the city.

There are magnificent views and fabulous places to be found in all directions. Drive north along the A41 for Chambery, close to Lake Bourget, and continue on for Annecy and discover why it’s nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Alps’. For a longer trip, Avignon is just over two hours away, via the A49 and A7 to the south. It’s a stunning walled medieval town, and one of the highlights of Southern France.

Grenoble has a surplus of natural beauty. Sliced through by the Isère River, with the Alps looming in the near distance, it’s the perfect place to stop and contemplate not just the wonder of nature, but also the manmade ingenuity that built this city.

The river banks alone are stuffed with sights to see, while the historic quarter and the mighty mountains are irresistible to visitors.

City splendour

Before tackling the Alps or array of scenic parks, make the most of the city itself. Grenoble is a vibrant and cosmopolitan place, teeming with galleries and museums, restaurants and cafes. Overseeing it all is the old fortress, Fort de la Bastille. The climb on foot is a long and steep one, so ride the téléphérique to the top – a cable car that has been running since the 1930s. Once you reach the fort, you’ll be rewarded with sensational views across Grenoble and beyond.

Of the rich selection of museums, the Musée de Grenoble is perhaps the pick. The art housed here spans eight centuries, with a famed 17^th-century collection to be marvelled at within. The modern era isn’t neglected either, and you can walk from Picasso to Matisse to Rubens in minutes. Delving even further back, there are antiquities from Rome, Egypt and Greece to be found as well.

Lovers of food are well catered for too, with excellent restaurants covering a range of budgets. Book ahead for Auberge Napoleon, where the chef specialises in luxurious French cooking such as crunchy boar stew or sea bream fillet with bouillabaisse sauce.  Simply delicious.

Alpine adventures

Even outside of winter, the Alps are a sight to behold. If winter sports aren’t your thing, then just opt for some of the mountain drives, offering breath-taking vistas from every angle. However, skiing is a speciality in these parts, as the city is a former host of the Winter Olympics, and car hire from Grenoble Airport puts a number of resorts at your disposal.

Saint Pierre de Chartreuse is one of the best and most popular, but there’s also Chamrousse, Villard-de-Lans and the famous Alpe d’Huez. Find the one that best matches your tastes, and skill level. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there’s a ski slope for everyone here.

On the trail of Napoleon

Grenoble was the final destination for the French military leader Napoleon Bonaparte after he fled Elba in 1815 and marched from the Cote d’Azur to the Alps. There’s a marked road route called La Route Napoleon that you can drive down now, taking you past major landmarks and some stunning sights.

The first of these is Chateau de Vizille, a short drive from Grenoble. It played a key role in the French Revolution and you can explore the history of the building or just admire the landscaped gardens and serene lake. From here, the route heads south to Laffrey Lake, the majestic citadel at Sisteron (which has a Napoleon museum) and Grasse, the home of French perfumes. A sweet-smelling way to end your trip.

From mountaintop views to intriguing art galleries, explore it all with car hire at Grenoble Airport.