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Découvrez la beauté enchanteuse d'Annecy, une ville de la région d' Alpes et Savoie , située au bord du magnifique lac d'Annecy en France . Pour un séjour confortable, vous pouvez choisir parmi une variété d'hôtels à Annecy. Profitez de la vue imprenable sur le lac en séjournant dans un hôtel au bord de l'eau ou optez pour un charmant hôtel au cœur de la vieille ville. Certains campings offrent même un accès direct au lac d'Annecy, où vous pourrez vous baigner et pratiquer des activités nautiques. Pour ceux qui souhaitent explorer la région à leur rythme, la location de vacances à Annecy est une excellente option.  Quel que soit votre choix de vpyage à Annecy, vous serez captivé par l'authenticité de cette ville alpine. Les canaux sinueux, les ruelles pavées, les cafés animés et les sympathique boutiques contribuent à une atmosphère romantique et charmante. Ne manquez pas l'occasion de vous détendre et de profiter de la vie au bord du lac d'Annecy, un véritable trésor niché au cœur des majestueuses Alpes françaises.

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Home » Travel Guides » France » 15 Best Things to Do in Annecy (France)

15 Best Things to Do in Annecy (France)

One of France’s prettiest medieval towns is right on the shore of Europe’s cleanest lake. It just doesn’t get much better than this. Annecy is laced with canals and the historic streets have fun passageways darting off to the sides.

The lake is glorious, bordered on all sides by mountains and with crystalline waters that call your name on hot summer days.

Half the time you may lose yourself staring at scenery – Lac d’Annecy has a year-round gossamer haze – but there’s a breathless amount of activities to do and places to see. This is Europe’s outdoor sports capital after all.

Lets explore the best things to do in Annecy :

1. Lac d’Annecy

Whatever your reason for coming to Annecy, “Europe’s Cleanest Lake” will be in your plans.

Lake Annecy has the quality of staying peaceful at all times of year despite all the activity on its shores If you come in summer you can’t be blamed for passing hours lazing by the transparent waters at one of several beaches around the shore, in awe of the Alpine landscapes.

Two beaches, Plage la Brune at Veyrier-du-Lac and Plage Municipal in Saint-Jorioz, have earned the Blue Flag for the undeniable quality of the water and the facilities like restaurants, play areas and lifeguard patrol.

2. Vieille Ville

Annecy has earned the eminent French label “Ville d’Art”, and just within its compact old town there are 21 historical monuments to be found.

The medieval core on the Thiou River is extremely pretty, with canals, arcaded pedestrian streets and exciting little passageways that have you fumbling for your camera every few steps.

You could put yourself in the capable hands of a guide for the complete inside track on the city’s history and the unexpected vestiges that constantly catch your attention.

On Tuesday there’s a food market in the old centre, which adds real colour and energy to the old streets.

3. Jardins de l’Europe

It’s hard to conceive of a municipal park blessed with better panoramas anywhere in the world.

The Jardins del’Europe are in front of Annecy’s city hall, and before the embankment and Vassé canal were built had actually been a marshy island outside the city.

In the 19th century the city plotted an English garden, and more than 600 deciduous trees were planted around the statue of the pioneering chemist Claude-Louis Berthollet.

In any weather you have to walk down to the water, sit back on a bench and feast your eyes on the peaks around the lake, out to La Tournette high above the southeast shore.

4. Pont Des Amours

There are many picturesque bridges in Annecy, but when it comes to scenery none can compete with this one on the lakeside.

Pont des Amours spans the Vassé canal and connects the Jardins de l’Europe with the Jacquet Promenade, a walkway blessed with yet more sumptuous views of the lake and mountains.

The story goes that any lovers who kiss while on the bridge will be together for life.

The mountain vistas make it a very romantic spot, but you should also look back towards the city along the canal, which is flanked by trees and has charming jetties where small boats are moored.

5. Palais de l’Île

You won’t be the first person to have stood on Pont Perrière for a photo of this fortified palace in the middle of the Thiou, but you have to do it anyway.

Although it has been rebuilt several times in its extensive history, the complex dates to the 1100s and for hundreds of years it was a residence handed down the noble families of the County  of Geneva.

From the 17th century the palace became a prison, and then after the Revolution it had many different functions, as a home for veterans, a warehouse and barracks.

Today it contains exhibitions about Annecy’s architecture and heritage, and you can take a look around the old courtroom, dungeon, cells and chapel.

6. Cathedral and Basilica

Saint-Pierre Cathedral is also admired for the way it interacts with the water, and is partly built over the canals.

Saint-Pierre is a lovely renaissance building, constructed in the 1500s, and if it seems a bit subtle for a cathedral that’s because it wasn’t made one until 1825. Make the steep walk up to the Basilique de la Visitation, high to the south of Annecy.

The tower of this 19th-century church can be seen for miles around and possesses one of the best local views of the city.

Inside are the tombs of two saints, Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal.

7. Château d’Annecy

The seat of the Counts of Geneva, Château d’Annecy dates to between the 12th and 16th centuries, and there are a few good reasons to climb the steep hill up to this building.

You can spend a while pottering around the castle’s towers and halls, and there’s a museum giving you a window on the lifestyle of the itinerant rulers of Savoy.

Poke through the large displays of medieval furniture, beds, chest chairs and tables, as well as more precious illuminated manuscripts.

A lot of visitors opt not to enter the château and instead admire one of the definitive views of Annecy from the terrace.

8. Gorges du Fier

Minutes west of the city is a marvellous river canyon cut by the Fier River.

Even in the French Alps, which are famous for their natural wonders, the gorge is a must-visit.

That’s down to how accessible it is: There’s a series of walkway suspended 25 metres above the river letting you marvel at the odd shapes create by many years of erosion.

In places the gorge is so narrow that the cliffs almost meet overhead, and you’ll be able to touch the rock face on the other side.

There’s also a free path delivering you to a natural pool where people come to sunbathe and swim in the summer.

9. Château de Montrottier

Combine your trip to the Gorges du Fier with this castle, which looks down on the river.

Château de Montrottier dates to the 13th century and is open during the summer months.

The architecture is impressive, with a tall circular tower dominating the landscape.

But the big story here is the collection of Léon Mares, who was a 19th-century explorer and prolific collector.

Mares hoarded priceless items from around the world and when he passed on specified that he wanted the collection to be presented exactly as he left it.

So the 90-minute tour shows you round masses of historic tapestries, antique weapons, armour, period furniture, ceramics, glassware and the many items he acquired while travelling Asia and Africa.

10. Winter Sport

Annecy is close enough to resorts like Manigod, La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand and Saint Jean de Sixt to make it a ski destination.

If you want a more cultured base than a typical village, Annecy is a beautiful place to return to after a day on the slopes and isn’t more than 45 minutes from any of the local ski areas.

They’re all at low altitudes and well-suited to families and newcomers: Manigod for example has 17 kilometres  of wide and an easy slopes, while Le Semnoz offers short-term lift passes by the hour or day, which obviously makes things a lot more flexible.

Highest-rate of all is La Clusaz, with the most challenging runs of all the resorts around Annecy.

11. Watersports

A big directory of companies awaits your business at Lake Annecy in the summer, providing almost any watersport under the warm July sun.

Just to reel off the list, there’s waterskiing and wakeboarding for people who need high-speed, motorised exhilaration.

But you can also push off onto these glistening waters on a paddle-boarding adventure or, if you’re really sure of yourself, try open water swimming.

Due to the easy learning curve paddle-boarding is now a hit with families.

Best of all it gives you an opportunity to look up every now and take in those views .

12. Hiking and Cycling

Around the lakeshore are a load of viewpoints with spellbinding vistas of the lake and mountains.

Getting up to these lookouts is a joy too, as you ramble through upland pasture, orchards and woodland.

Here’s a few to seek out: Le Taillefer, the Semnoz Plateau, the Laudon Circuit, the Oratory in Entrevernes and the La Frasse Pass.

All are achievable for families and you only need a pair of good shoes.

Lake Annecy also has the ultimate greenway for cyclists, starting in the city, running down the lake’s east shore and ending up in Marlens in the Fauverges Valley 35 kilometres away.

13. Local Food

Annecy is cheese heaven as the city is in four designated production areas:  Gruyère, Emmental de Savoie , Emmental français est-central and Tomme de Savoie.

And if you’re really curious about cheese you could track down  rural shops Ferme de l’Angelie and Fromagerie du Cruet selling their cheese on the farm premises, along with homemade jams and sausage.

A lot of freshwater fishers make their living around the lake and anchor their boats in the Vassé: The arctic char, perch and trout that they catch could be on your plate at one of Annecy’s fine restaurants on the same day.

14. Aix-les-Bains

An easy road trip southwest of Annecy is this spa town on the shore of Lac du Bourget, founded by the Romans and wildly popular with Europe’s wealthy in the 19th century.

They came to take the health-giving waters, and during this time fitted Aix-les-Bains with grand Belle Époque hotels, townhouses and a casino.

Whether you feel like gambling, or just to gaze awestruck at the art nouveau interiors, you need to call in at the Casino Grand Cercle.

If you need cosseting after your outdoor excursions at Lake Annecy, Aix-les-Bains is still a top-class spa resort with pools and saunas, and all the restorative treatments you could hope for.

15. Chambéry

Push on a bit further to reach this exquisite Alpine town, with an old centre  that you can’t resist exploring.

The medieval buildings, tight passageways and renaissance arcades have survived the years, but what’s great is that they’re part of a working town, and not kept like museum pieces.

The major sight is the Fontaine des Éléphants, dedicated to Benoît de Boigne, a Napoleonic military man who helped train and lead the Maratha Empire against the British in India.

The Château de Chambéry was another in the roll call of palaces belonging to the Counts of Savoy, and is still a regional government building, but open for tours.

15 Best Things to Do in Annecy (France):

• Lac d'Annecy
• Vieille Ville
• Jardins de l'Europe
• Pont Des Amours
• Palais de l'Île
• Cathedral and Basilica
• Château d'Annecy
• Gorges du Fier
• Château de Montrottier
• Winter Sport
• Watersports
• Hiking and Cycling
• Aix-les-Bains

One Day in Annecy Itinerary: A Day Trip from Geneva

Last Updated on February 28, 2024

by Brittany Scott-Gunfield

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Annecy is a beautiful French Alpine city just 50 km south of Geneva , with a beautiful old town showcasing its unique architecture amongst the canals, as well as an enormous lake and lush mountains all around, waiting for you to explore over one day in Annecy. Nicknamed the Venice of the Alps due to its canals, but with the splendour of Monaco , you won’t be short of things to do on your Annecy itinerary, making for a perfect day trip from Geneva.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Annecy?

There are plenty of things to do in Annecy, however, it’s also a beautiful place to simply walk around and enjoy the pastel colours of the buildings in the old town and the incredible blue of the famous lake and summer sky, interrupted by the green of the surrounding mountains.

In one day, you can explore the old town on foot and enjoy a picnic by the lake, either in the city park or on one of the beautiful beaches on the shores of Lake Annecy.

However, if you have 2 days or a weekend in Annecy, you can also enjoy a hike up to one of the mountain tops in the French Alps for a spectacular view of Lake Annecy, the city and other small towns in the distance.

Ultimately, how many days to spend in Annecy depends on how much time you want to spend adventuring through the magnificent natural landscape.

Getting To & Around Annecy

If you’re taking a day trip to Annecy from Geneva, you can drive South for 50 km on the A41 to be there in less than an hour.

Do be aware that, although Switzerland is part of the Schengen Area, you may still need to show your ID to pass its borders and you have to pay a road tax to drive on Swiss motorways.

You can also find plenty of parking in Annecy, with a 24-hour car park by the central train station.

The train is an equally simple option, with Swiss Railways trains taking just over an hour and departing regularly throughout the day to arrive at Annecy train station, which is within walking distance from the old town and city centre.

Or, you can take a slightly cheaper and shorter journey with Flixbus or Blablabus, or car-share with Blablacar to save even more and take the opportunity of talking to a local to practise your French and find out some of the Haute-Savoie’s hidden gems.

If you prefer to go on an organised Annecy day trip from Geneva, you can take this half-day tour or this half-day tour that takes care of the planning for you.

You can also travel to Annecy from Lyon , with direct trains taking about 2 hours and the drive taking about as much time. This makes visiting from Lyon another great option. You can view train schedules here .

Our route doesn’t venture far out of the old town, which covers an area of a few kilometres, so you can easily walk around it in a day, however, there is a comprehensive bus system in the city, called Sibra, to make it easier to reach the modern centre and outskirts.

You can also rent bikes all over Annecy, with one company, Vélonecy, offering reasonably priced bike rentals per hour or day so you can get around the centre more quickly or venture out on the cycle paths around the lake.

1 Day in Annecy Itinerary

A day is the ideal amount of time to spend strolling along the quaint streets and canals of the old town, before visiting a museum and enjoying a picnic by the lake or a boat trip around Lake Annecy to get a different perspective.

Old Town of Annecy

Annecy Old Town is a beautiful area on one edge of the lake, with Le Thiou Canal running through its heart and smaller streams separating the streets, creating an intricate patchwork of bridges and passageways throughout.

As you spend the beginning of your day in Annecy, notice the colourful houses jutting out over some of the canals, including some ‘hôtels particuliers’ owned by notable families of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Enjoy breakfast in one of the many cafes and restaurants in the area or make a mental note of somewhere to come back to for lunch or dinner to enjoy the gastronomic scene in the city and tuck into some fondue or a tartiflette.

If you visit Annecy in February, you might be lucky enough to see the Venetian carnival; a parade of performers in traditional Venetian costumes who silently walk through the old town streets over one weekend. The costumes are remarkable and well worth stopping by for a photo.

However, if you’re visiting in July, you can enjoy arts festivals that descend on the whole city and admire the sculptures hidden around the street corners, as well as performers and poets.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre

One of the highlights of Annecy’s old town that you can enjoy all year round is Saint Peter’s Cathedral.

Having originally been constructed in the 16th century, due to damage and reparations you can see the contrast between the Gothic interior, shown through the bright stained glass windows and the beautiful symmetry of the Renaissance exterior.

Inside, you can take a moment to cool off from the summer sun while admiring the architecture and catch a glimpse of the enormous 19th-century organ that stands over 7 metres tall. 

Pont Morens

As you continue wandering the old town streets, towards the second stop on your Annecy day trip itinerary, pass over the pretty Pont Morens. From this delightful old bridge with a weir, you can enjoy wonderful views along the canal lined with colourful houses and charming bars and restaurants.

Musée-Château d’Annecy

There are three main museums in Annecy: the Musée-Château d’Annecy, Palais de L’Île and Le Musée du Film d’Animation. However, each museum is relatively small and only a short walk from each other, so you can visit at least two of them in one afternoon.

Just a 4-minute walk from Le Thiou is Annecy’s castle which has been converted into a museum. With numerous artefacts as well as centuries-old paintings and a collection of contemporary art, the Musée-Château d’Annecy has a lot to offer everyone with any kind of historical or artistic interest.

Having formerly served as the official residence of the counts of Geneva – there were many noblemen living in the Duchy of Savoy area so the château changed hands over the centuries – the mediaeval castle was expertly restored into the striking building we see today.

Le Palais de L’Île

Heading back down to the centre of the old town and following Le Thiou, you’ll come across a curious medieval castle sitting in the middle of the canal. Built in the 1100s on top of a natural rocky island in the canal, this small palace has served many different purposes over the centuries.

A prison numerous times in the last millennia, the palace was a mint for the Count of Geneva in the 1300s and was transformed into a courthouse in the late 1500s. In the mid-1800s the palace was briefly a home for the elderly, and more recently a boarding school for carpenters and stone carvers.

You can see evidence of the Island Palace’s long history in its architecture, as additions were made over the years to optimise the palace for its new purposes, before undergoing restoration works in the 1980s and 2016.

Now, the palace is an art and history museum, where you can learn about the island’s history, visit its chapel and see how the 14th-century gold and silver mint worked.

Le Musée du Film d’Animation

Definitely check out the Animated Film Museum, 10 minutes walking southeast of the château or the palace, as it’s free all year long.

Visually detailing the history of animated images and moving pictures, the museum takes visitors on a journey through the history of film and into the minds of the creatives who developed the art form.

Thanks to this museum, which also has a large collection of loaned objects from other countries, Annecy is now a European hub of animation, with its international animated film festival taking place at the beginning of June each year, drawing huge crowds from all over the world.

Lake Annecy

After spending most of your day in the old town and historical sites, it’s time to see the lake.

Shop in Monoprix for a budget-friendly picnic, or find nearby some small shops selling wonderful homemade takeaway meals such as octopus salads, rice dishes and sausages. You can also stop by the Pierre Gay fromagerie for some delicious local cheeses.

Plage des Marquisats

One of the most popular and easy-to-reach beaches on the lake is the Plage des Marquisats, just a 10-minute walk away from the centre towards the South. It can become busy in summer, but this small beach reaching into the crystal clear waters of one of the cleanest lakes in Europe is a great place to have a picnic on a sunny afternoon and venture out for a paddle.

You don’t have to pay to sit at the beach and there are snack bars as well as toilets and showers, so it’s a practical spot to spend a lot of time too.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Annecy on the first Saturday of August, you can watch the huge 2-hour-long fireworks show with music over the lake from here as well!

Jardins de l’Europe

If you’re only having one day in Annecy so don’t want to lug wet clothes around with you, you can have your picnic in the Jardins de l’Europe behind the town hall.

This beautiful park full of trees and small birds gives you stunning views of the lake, with two fountains and a small wild island close to the shore, in front of the statue of French chemist Claude Louis Berthollet from Talloires, on the opposite side of the lake.

The Jardins de l’Europe are a great spot for a picnic as the trees provide a lot of shade and the small friendly birds will come by to pick up your crumbs.

From here you can cross the Pont des Amours to reach Le Pâquier d’Annecy, a large green with walkways through if you want to spend the rest of your afternoon basking in the sun or joining in a football match.

On this side of the lake, there are also a few boat rental agencies so if you have time you can rent a motorboat or pedalo and enjoy your afternoon on the lake.

Have 2 or 3 Days in Annecy?

One of the best things to do around Annecy is to hike up the surrounding hills and mountains to get a stunning view over the lake. If you walk for 40 minutes or take a bus to the opposite side of the lake, a path comes off Avenue de Chavoires leading up the mountain with options of different routes with varying difficulty.

It takes 1 hour to reach Sous Pré Vernet, 1 hour 15 to Talabar, 2 hours 40 to Mont Veyrier and 2 hours 55 to Mont Baron. Be wary, however, if there are fast and slow routes to the same point, the faster routes will be more direct and thus significantly steeper.

If you’ve got 2 days in Annecy and want to get out and about around the lake, there is a 25 km cycle route around the lake which you can enjoy, or simply follow the winding roads. You can even t ake an organised cycle if you prefer to go with a guide.

Thanks to the Tour de France regularly coming through Annecy, with the famous hairpin bends of the Alpe d’Huez not too far away, the roads are very well-kept and suited for all cyclists regardless of experience.

Another option is to spend one day or at least an afternoon out on the lake, so rent any kind of water transport, from motorboats, speedboats and catamarans to pedalos, kayaks and canoes; there are plenty of ways to enjoy the gorgeous lake, just don’t forget your sunscreen.

If you’re a watersports enthusiast and the wind is favourable, you can even rent wing foils or do stand-up paddle yoga in the lake!

If you’re spending a week in the Alps or more than 3 days, you can also drive for around 20 minutes westwards to spend time exploring the spectacular Fier Gorges, with the amazing Château de Montrottier which you can visit.

You can also time your visit to Annecy with the food market that takes place every Wednesday in the Place des Romains for the freshest of picnics, or to simply see the city streets come alive.

Where to Stay in Annecy

Hôtel du Château – This cosy hotel in the centre of Annecy is a great choice for mid-range travellers. There are a number of comfortable rooms to choose from and there is also a continental breakfast available each morning.

Allobroges Park Hôtel – Another lovely hotel in the centre of Annecy, this one has a range of wonderful, clean and comfortable rooms on offer, a delightful terrace to enjoy, breakfast available in the mornings and a restaurant/bar on site.

Aparthotel Adagio – Those after a comfortable self-catering option in Annecy will love this centrally-located aparthotel. They have a number of fully-furnished flats available, ranging in size, and plenty of other amenities to ensure guests have a great stay.

Annecy Hostel – Budget and solo travellers will love this hostel. Centrally located close to all Annecy has to offer, they have both private rooms and dorm beds available along with great common areas and good self-catering facilities.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Annecy hotels!

Annecy may be well known as a beautiful Alpine city, but it’s by no means overloaded with tourists and remains an extraordinary city to visit. Whether you have a week in the Alps or just one day to explore Annecy, you’re sure to fall in love with this dazzling city surrounded by incredible scenery.

Are you planning to visit Annecy? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

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About Brittany Scott-Gunfield

Brittany is a writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from Colchester, England, she is slowly but surely travelling the world as a digital nomad. She loves to hike around different landscapes and has a deep love for travelling around France (and elsewhere in Europe).

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