Skiers and snowboarders will be in heaven stepping foot in this beautiful city. Surrounded by mountains, wherever you look, you'll be amazed at the panorama gracing this South Western town. Grenoble is not only known for its proximity to the French Alps—it has reached world-round renown for being the science centre of Europe, home to a large university, many science facilities and hi-tech multinational companies.

Fans of nature can throw in a visit to the Musée d'Histoire Naturelle, taking in local mineralogy, Alpine wildlife and its very own aquarium. Hiking and climbing may also be high on the agenda for many of you, and, trust us; Grenoble has a lot to offer. Mountain lakes surrounding the city give the chance to get at one with nature and tranquillity. Of course, being so close to the Alps means that you'll find your fair share of attractions, mountain sports centres and ski stations. Not to mention the many areas of natural beauty just waiting to be admired such as the Chartruse and Vercros nature reserves.

Perhaps you're looking for something a little less Attenborough and a little more hardcore? Fret not, a sturdy line of bars and clubs in Place Grenette and Place Notre Dame. The quaint drinking hole, Barberousse, is well worth checking out—with 70 different types of rum to try in a pirate setting, you can't do more kitsch than that. Subway offers some live DJ sets on a regular basis, so don't forget to write that in your diary. Whatever takes your fancy, a night out in Grenoble is one you'll be sure to remember (and do again, and again and again!). The city boasts two airports, should you want to see a bit more of the world (Italy, anyone?) and has good connections to France's other big players, like Paris, Nice, Marseille to name but a few...So what are you waiting for? Get your copy of The Scientist and your skis firmly attached to whisk yourself off to this great city!