The information given below will help you organise your visit and stay in Grenoble.

Reminder: the online registration form will be available from mid-November.

This page covers:

Travelling to Grenoble & Site Access Information

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ESRF

The European Synchrotron
71 avenue des Martyrs

38000 Grenoble
France

The ESRF is located in Grenoble in the south east of France, 3 hours away from Paris by train, 2 hours away from Geneva by bus and 1 hour away from Lyon by train.
 

Travel arrangements Travel arrangements

UDM Invited Speakers (Users' talks)  -  Regular participants  -  PostDoc/PhD students

  • Are requested to make their own travel arrangements to and from Grenoble. The ESRF will not cover their travel expenses.

Keynote Speakers and VIPs

  • Travel expenses will be covered by the ESRF up to a maximum amount set by the organisers (details in the invitation letter; in case of doubt they should contact the organisers).
     
  • Important: A travel request must be made prior to the event through the business software SAP Concur regardless if they wish to book travel tickets themselves or through the SAP¨Concur software. This travel request will also open rights for eventual reimbursement claims linked to the event.

    More information can be found on the "Travel information" page of the online registration form.
     

Location How to reach Grenoble and the EPN site

Arriving by train, plane, car or by public transport? Read the dedicated EPN Campus webpage for full information on how to travel to Grenoble.

PDF Map for Access to EPN site
 

Airports Airports

The airports closest to Grenoble are:

Passport and Visas Passport and visas

Please check with the nearest French Consulate or your travel agent, well in advance of the event, for up-to-date information.

We can provide you with an official document ("Convention d'Accueil d'un Chercheur ou d'un Enseignant-chercheur Etranger") to apply for a French visa: consult our information page on "Visa Requirements" and send the requested information to the event organisers to obtain a "Convention d'Accueil".

We will only accept requests for a "Convention d'Accueil" to apply for a visiting scientist French Visa from participants who are registered to the User Meeting and have paid their registration fee.

Bus Local public transport

PDF Grenoble tramway & bus network

Tram line B

PDF Tram B timetable

  • Allows easy access, even at night, to and from downtown Grenoble
  • The terminus "Grenoble Oxford" is located just 350 meters away from the site entrance
  • It serves downtown Grenoble, including the bus and railway station

Purchase of bus & tramway tickets for local public transport

You can buy a pass (one ticket or 10 trips pass) for the tramway & bus network in Grenoble (TAG):

  • In the “Agences de Mobilité” (the closest is on avenue Alsace Lorraine, not far from the railway station)
  • In newspaper and tobacco shops "Tabacs"
  • And at the ticket machines at each tram stop (payment in cash or by credit card)

Badge Site Access and Badge

The EPN site is a restricted area and you will be asked to present yourself at the site entrance on arrival.

You will need to show proof of identification (a valid passport or national identity card). Please ensure you have valid identification with you.

You will be given a badge at the site entrance. Please wear this badge at all times over the whole period of the event. This badge is your site access badge: you will be asked to present it at the site entrance each time you wish to enter on site during the period of the event, so please take it with you if you exit the site.
 

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Accommodation & Catering

Speakers, invited participants and User Organisation Committee members

The ESRF can provide accommodation arrangements for speakers, invited participants and User Organisation Committee members in the ESRF Guesthouse on site (4 nights maximum - from Sunday 9th February to Thursday 13th February 2025), or in Hotels in downtown Grenoble.

Concerned participants must request accommodation arrangements through the online registration form (Accommodation page).

For security reasons, the ESRF Guesthouse is NOT available for accompanying persons and children under 16 are not permitted on site.

i Tram B links the ESRF (Tram B terminus Oxford) to downtown Grenoble in 15 mn, therefore public transportation between downtown hotels and the ESRF will be easy.
 

Regular participants and students

Regular participants and students will have to make and pay for their own hotel bookings.

The ESRF has negotiated prices with conveniently located hotels in the center of Grenoble, near bus and trams stops, or near the train station. A list of these hotels can be found here.

Participants must contact the hotel, preferably by e-mail, and mention the ESRF negotiated prices. Please note that these are 2024 prices that might change slightly in 2025.

You can find more hotels on the dedicated webpages of the Grenoble Tourist Office's website.

i Tram B links the ESRF (Tram B terminus Oxford) to downtown Grenoble in 15 mn, therefore public transportation between downtown hotels and the ESRF will be easy.
 

Meals

The registration fee covers:

  • 3 lunches at the EPN campus restaurant: a special group canteen card will be used by the cashier on presentation of the participants' User Meeting badge.
    For other meals, participants are free to make their own arrangements (you can find information on where to eat on the dedicated webpages of the Grenoble Tourist Office's website).
     
  • Coffee breaks organised during the three days of the event
     
  • The buffet dinner on Monday 10th February
     
  • The cocktail and dinner on Tuesday 11th February

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What to do in Grenoble

Grenoble Area Activities

Consult the Grenoble Tourist Office website for ideas on what to do and what to visit in Grenoble (things to do, places to visit, restaurants, hotels and more).

Details of places to visit in Isère and ski resorts are available on the Isère Tourisme website.

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The Grenoble Tourist Office is located:

14, rue de la République - Grenoble
Tel: +33 (0)4 76 42 41 41
Contact
 

You may also find useful information on the local French websites below:

Cinema Timetables can be found on Allo Ciné. "Pathé Chavant", "La Nef", " Le Melies" and "Le Club" can show films in their native language with subtitles ("vostfr").
Bike Hire Bikes can be hired from Metro Vélo at the Grenoble train station or directly on their webiste.
Walking and Hiking Multiple paths and trails are accessible from the Grenoble metropolis. You can catch a bus or tram to the start off the walks or hikes.
Taxis Grenoblois Tel: +33 (0)4 76 54 42 54

Check also the GIANT web site
 

Shops and services

Shops, banks and postal services can be found in downtown Grenoble. Please note that banks are closed on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Mondays. You will find a list of boutiques and shops at your service in and around Grenoble on the Grenoble Tourist Office website.
 

Weather

February in Grenoble is frequently wet and cold. The average maximum temperature for mid-February is 8°C, and average minimum temperature is 0°C. Frost and snow are possible, so you are advised to bring gloves and warm, weatherproof clothing and footwear. The forecast for Grenoble for the next 4 days is available at The Weather Channel - Grenoble.

If you intend to ski, remember to also pack sunglasses and protective sun cream.

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