You’ll find our Avis counter at Grenoble Alpes Isère Airport in the car park just outside the terminal building. Our friendly team waiting to welcome you with the keys to your rental car and will be happy to advise you on the perfect rental for your Alps road trip.

Grenoble Airport is in the town of Saint-Étienne-de-Saint-Geoirs 40km from Grenoble. After picking up your hire car the trip takes around 35min. Join the D1085 and head southeast on the A48 to arrive in the centre of Grenoble.

While its proximity to the main ski resorts in the French Alps makes it a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, there’s plenty to keep visitors entertained in Grenoble beyond skiing. Today it’s a buzzing university and commercial centre known for its fantastic museums, nightlife and food scene.

The Bastille, a fortress perched over the town, is a big attraction. It’s reachable by gondola and offers stunning views of the mountains. The city boasts its fair share of culture including the Musée de Grenoble, which features art by the likes of Pierre Bonnard, Calder and Giacometti, the 13th century Bishops’ Palace which houses the Musée de L’Ancien Évêché and the Musée Dauphinois in a 17th century convent.

The city is also renowned for its cuisine, with famous dishes like fondue, raclette, and tartiflette. The rich gratin dauphinois, sliced potatoes and cream, is also a dish to look out for in restaurants. Expect another local product, walnuts, to appear in many dishes, especially desserts.

With hills and mountain passes to drive, outdoor sports to enjoy and towns and villages to explore, Grenoble Airport is the perfect place to begin your road trip around the Isère region. Pick up the keys to your Avis rental car and enjoy the freedom to explore at your own pace.

Pont-en-Royans

Drive 50 minutes on the A49 to reach the quaint little town of Pont-en-Royans. This was one of the first towns in France to have electricity, and it’s best known for its colourful hanging houses built into the cliffs over the Isère river. Wander medieval houses and small streets on your way down to the riverbank.

Chartreuse

About 40 minutes north of Grenoble on the D512, is the Grand Chartreuse. This is the head monastery of the famous Carthusian monks, hidden in the secluded Chartreuse mountains. Best known for their herbal liqueur, which they have brewed in the local town since 1737, the monks’ history and reclusive lifestyle is presented in a nearby museum.

Grottes de Choranche

The Grottes de Choranche are some of the most dramatic caves in France with enormous stalactites that hang over the underground lake and rivers like natural chandeliers. The Grottes are around an hour’s drive on the A49 from Grenoble.

If you are heading for the slopes, a hire car will be invaluable to carry kit and ferry friends and family to and from the airport between your accommodation and your chosen resort.

You may want the freedom to explore other ski locations or try other winter sports as there’s so much on offer in Grenoble from sledding to ice skating and snowboarding.

A hire car also gives you the option to explore further afield with your Avis rental from Grenoble Airport with this part of south-east of France just waiting to be discovered.

Hiring a car is a popular and easy way to get to the ski slopes. If you have not driven in this part of the world before, we’d advise familiarising yourself with the road rules for driving in France before you travel.

You’ll need winter tyres to be fitted to your car and our team at Avis Grenoble Airport will be able to advise you on the equipment you need plus local conditions at your destination.

As well as operating a park and ride system, car parks are plentiful around Grenoble and there is also ticketed on-street parking in designated orange and purple zones.