Getting There
An important rail and bus junction, Grenoble is easily accessible from Paris and all the cities in this chapter. About 11 trains per day arrive from Paris Gare de Lyon (trip time: 3 1/2 hr.); the one-way fare is 71€ to 96€ ($103-$139). Trains arrive almost every hour from Chambéry (trip time: 30 min.; one-way fare is 9.90€/$14). For information, call tel. 36-35 or 08-92-35-35-35.
Until 2004, Grenoble's airport accepted Air France flights from Paris and the rest of Europe. But when Air France transferred all of its inbound flights to nearby Lyon, air traffic to the airport in Grenoble virtually dried up. Flights arrive to Grenoble from London and Bristol (England). EasyJet and British Airways fly in only September through April, but Ryanair also flies in summer. For more information contact the center at Grenoble's Aéroport Grenoble-Isère (tel. 04-76-65-48-48), 41km (25 miles) northwest of the city center. A shuttle bus meets every flight and takes passengers to and from Grenoble's center; the cost is 4€ ($5.80) each way. A taxi (tel. 04-76-65-46-18) to the town center costs 70€ to 100€ ($102-$145).
FSatobus (tel. 04-72-68-72-17 or 04-76-27-89-29) meets most flights at the Lyon airport and takes passengers to Grenoble. Travel time is an hour; the fare is 20€ ($29) each way, 15€ ($22) students, and 10€ ($15) ages 4 to 12.
If you're driving, take A6 from Paris to Lyon, and then continue on A48 into Grenoble. Depending on conditions, the drive should take 6 to 7 hours.
Visitor Information
The Office de Tourisme is at 14 rue de la République (tel. 04-76-42-41-41; fax 04-76-00-18-98; www.grenoble-isere-tourisme.com). For information about public transportation in Grenoble, call tel. 08-20-48-60-00.
