Low-emission zone of Grenoble
On 1 January 2017, the city of Grenoble was one of the first French cities to introduce a low-emission zone. Over the years, this low-emission zone has been expanded, so an emissions sticker is now mandatory in the urban area around Grenoble as well. You can read everything about the low-emission zone of Grenoble on this page. Looking for another city? Then check this list of all French cities where an emissions sticker is mandatory. You can read more about the sticker itself on the home page of this website.
The zone is often referred to as the low-emission zone of the Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, as it is no longer limited to just the city of Grenoble.
Map of the low-emission zone in Grenoble
The map above shows Grenoble’s low-emission zone marked in orange. This includes the most recent expansion of the low-emission zone on 7 July 2023. Before that, Grenoble had a smaller low-emission zone limited to the city center. There are also quite a few blue and red lines on the map. These are roads where an emissions sticker is not required. They are explained further below.
In addition to the municipality of Grenoble itself, there are now 12 surrounding municipalities largely within the low-emission zone. These are Échirolles, Eybens, Fontaine, Gières, Grenoble, La Tronche, Le Pont-de-Claix, Meylan, Saint-Égrève, Saint-Martin-d’Hères, Saint-Martin-le-Vinoux, Seyssinet-Pariset and Seyssins.
The low-emission zone of Grenoble
Visitors who do not have an emissions sticker on their windshield are taken into account in Grenoble. There are a number of through roads on which a sticker is never required. The main roads are the A48 connecting Grenoble with Lyon; the A51 heading south and the A41 towards Chambéry which is further to the northeast. On connecting roads, such as the A480 and the N87, a sticker is also not mandatory. These roads are indicated by blue lines on the map above.
There are also a dozen smaller roads that connect the surrounding villages to train stations, tramway lines, hospitals or to provide access to highways. Consider for example the small municipality of Poisat on the outskirts of the metropolis. It is not part of the low-emission zone, but the only roads to the outside world go through the low-emission zones of Grenoble. For this reason Poisat has been given its own road where the emissions sticker is not required. All these roads are marked in red on the map.
Times when the low-emission zone is in effect
When driving through the low-emisson zone of Grenoble, you will only be fined on weekdays between 7 and 19 hours. So if you drive through the low-emission zones early in the morning, in the evening or on weekends, you will not be fined. This is unlike in most other low-emission zones in France, where the rules are in place permanently. It provides tourist without an emissions sticker with plenty of opportunities to visit the city.
Parking outside the low-emission zone
Do you still want to visit Grenoble at times when the rules are in effect? Then you can use one of the many park-and-ride sites. These are easily accessible using the roads marked in red or blue on the map. Sometimes you can even park for free and one of the five tramway lines will take you into the city center. We list some of our recommendations below. We have also indicated them on the map.
- P+R Esplanade: accessible via N481, tramway line E
- P+R Seyssinet-Pariset: accessible via D1532, tramway line C
- P+R L’Etoile: accessible via D1075 and D268, tramway line A
- P+R Plaine des Sports: via Rue des Glairons, tramway lines B, C, D and E
- P+R La Tronche Grand-Sablon: accessible via Avenue du Grand Sablon, tramway line B
Which emissions sticker in Grenoble?
In the ZFE or low-emission zone of the Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, only vehicles with a green, purple (1) or yellow (2) emissions sticker are allowed as of 1 January 2025. If you have no sticker or an orange (3), burgundy (4) or gray sticker (5), you are no longer welcome and will receive a fine. Check out our page on the colors of the French emissions sticker to see what cars qualify for which sticker.
Other low-emission zones nearby
You will find two other low-emission zones in the vicinity of Grenoble, one in Lyon and the other in Saint-Étienne. These cities are located 100 kilometers northwest and 150 kilometers west of Grenoble. If you are driving north, be aware of low-emission zones in Annecy and in Annemasse near the Swiss border. These cities are 100 and 150 kilometers from Grenoble.
What to see and do in Grenoble?
Photo of Grenoble by Laurent Espitallier (CC BY 2.0)
The metropolis of Grenoble is home to nearly half a million people, making it by far the largest city in the Alps. It was once the capital of the former duchy and later French province of the Dauphine. Many historic buildings in the city center still date from this time, such as the Palais du Parlement. Today Grenoble is known for its many museums, educational institutions and as a tourist destination. Very popular is the cable car that takes you from the city to the Bastille. This is a large fortress on a mountain cliff just above the city center.