Grenoble and the Vercors make a compact three- to four-day itinerary from Geneva Airport: the drive south via Annecy and Chambéry, or via the motorway past Lyon's eastern edge, takes a comfortable morning, and the Vercors plateau begins right on Grenoble's doorstep. AirportsTransfers.ch can drive you from the GVA terminal to your hotel in Grenoble or in a Vercors village, then on to the plateau and back.
- Ideal length: three to four days, one night in Grenoble and two on the plateau
- Route: motorway south through Haute-Savoie and Savoie via Chambéry
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into France near Geneva
- Highlights: the Bastille, Grenoble's museums, the Gorges de la Bourne, Pont-en-Royans, the high plateaus
- Best for: walkers, cyclists, families and anyone wanting quiet mountain landscapes
Grenoble: a city surrounded by mountains
Grenoble sits where the Isère and Drac rivers meet, and from almost any street you can see a mountain: the Chartreuse to the north, Belledonne to the east and the Vercors to the west. The city is a university and research hub, which gives it a young, practical feel rather than a museum atmosphere. The landmark experience is the cable car to the Bastille, whose spherical cabins, known locally as les bulles, rise over the river to the old fortifications. From the top you look down on the city and, on clear days, across to the Mont Blanc massif.
Back in town, the Musée de Grenoble holds a respected collection of fine art from older masters to the twentieth century, and the old quarter around Place Grenette and Place Saint-André has cafés and narrow streets worth an evening stroll. Gratin dauphinois takes its name from this region, the Dauphiné, and walnuts from the Isère valley appear in cakes and liqueurs.
Climbing onto the Vercors plateau
The Vercors is a vast limestone massif rising steeply from the plains, with sheer cliffs on its edges and rolling meadows and forests on top. Several roads climb onto it, some carved directly into the rock. The route through the Gorges de la Bourne follows a narrow road under overhanging walls, while the Combe Laval road is cut into a vertical cliff face with dramatic views over the valley below. These roads are spectacular but narrow, and having a professional driver lets everyone look out of the window rather than at the next bend.
On top, villages such as Villard-de-Lans and Autrans are relaxed bases with walking trails, cross-country skiing in winter and mountain biking in summer. The plateau is also known for its own blue cheese, the bleu du Vercors-Sassenage.
Villages, caves and history
Pont-en-Royans, on the western edge, is famous for its houses suspended above the river Bourne, painted in warm colours and best seen from the opposite bank. Several show caves in the massif open to visitors, such as the Grottes de Choranche, with their underground lakes and fine straw stalactites. The Vercors also holds a significant place in French history as a centre of the Resistance during the Second World War; the memorial at the Col de la Chau and the village of Vassieux-en-Vercors tell that story soberly and are worth an hour of your time.
For walkers, the Hauts Plateaux in the south form a large nature reserve with no roads at all, crossed only on foot. Even a short half-day walk from the edge gives a sense of the emptiness of the landscape.
Suggested plan and practical tips
Day one: transfer from Geneva Airport to Grenoble, Bastille cable car in the late afternoon. Day two: drive up through the Gorges de la Bourne to Villard-de-Lans, with a stop at a cave. Day three: Pont-en-Royans and the Combe Laval road, then a quiet evening on the plateau. Day four: return to Geneva, either directly or with a lunch stop in Annecy, which is only 44 km and about 40 minutes from the airport.
- Some cliff roads can close temporarily after rockfalls or in winter; your driver will check conditions.
- Pack layers: the plateau is noticeably cooler than Grenoble, even in summer.
- Bring walking shoes even if you are not a hiker; many viewpoints are a short walk from the road.
Book the Grenoble and Vercors transfer
AirportsTransfers.ch offers fixed prices per vehicle, displayed before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur waits in arrivals with your name on a sign, follows your flight in real time and waits at no extra cost if you land late. Choose a Mercedes E-Class for up to three passengers, the S-Class for extra comfort, or a V-Class van for up to seven people with bikes or skis. Child seats are supplied on request, and you can add a chauffeur by the hour for the plateau days. Questions about a custom route? Call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
