This week, we’re heading to the Alps: let’s visit Annecy together! What to See and Do in Annecy ?
I’ve been dreaming of discovering the Venice of the Alps for years, and now I’ve finally done it. And the least I can say is that the city didn’t disappoint! Colorful, bucolic, historic, and so close to nature, it’s a real gem of France…
Here is my complete guide to help you plan your visit to Annecy in two days (or more if you want to take your time and enjoy it)! On the agenda: my practical tips, best addresses, and pretty places to visit in Annecy and the surrounding area!
VISIT ANNECY : PRACTICAL TIPS
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How to get to Annecy?
Annecy is located 1.5 hours east of Lyon by car, 1 hour 10 minutes from Grenoble, and 5 hours from Paris.
By train, it takes 2 hours from Lyon, 1 hour 45 minutes from Grenoble, and 3 hours 30 minutes from Paris.
Annecy’s city center is small and very easy to get around on foot, especially from the train station. You can also enjoy the lakefront, close to old Annecy, on foot. For example, it takes about 30 minutes to walk to Albigny Beach from downtown Annecy.
However, if you want to go all the way around the lake, you will need a bike or a car. And only a car will allow you to reach the Col de la Forclaz viewpoint (unless you are a very (very) good cyclist!). Otherwise, it is easy to visit Annecy without a car!
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Where to stay to visit Annecy?
3 places I recommend to visit Annecy
HÔTEL DU PALAIS DE L’ISLE
- In the historical center
- View over the canals
- From 90€
L’IMPÉRIAL PALACE & SPA
- Iconic palace in Annecy
- Lakeside
- From 240€
APPARTEMENT COSY PRES DU LAC
- Great location
- For full independence
- From 150€
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How many days to visit Annecy?
Visiting Annecy in two days allows you to really enjoy it: one day to discover the city and its lake on the old town side, and two days to enjoy the rest of the lake, which is more unspoilt.
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Where to eat in Annecy?
Here are some (very) good places that have been tried and tested, for all tastes and budgets!
– Le restaurant Bon Pain Bon Vin on Rue Filaterie (old town): classic French and Savoyard dishes to share (or not!) in tapas style (small plates), in a warm and informal setting!
– La Fermette on Rue du Pont Morens (old town) for raclette or reblochon sandwiches, a must for cheese lovers!
– Le Clos des Sens (outside the center, accessible by bus): Annecy’s 3-star restaurant, for an exceptional experience or to celebrate a special occasion (reservations required several weeks in advance). The gourmet cuisine is plant-based and lake-based (fish only from the surrounding lakes, no meat), 100% local (less than 100 km), and changes with the seasons.
– La glacerie Perriere (24 Quai Perrière): delicious ice cream to enjoy by the water, with over 70 flavors to choose from!
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What to bring back from Annecy?
The region is full of mouthwatering specialties: local cheeses (abondance, brézain, tomme des Bauges, reblochon, etc.), local charcuterie including diot (sausage) from Savoie, crozets, local beers, Savoie wines, and more. There’s plenty to choose from! You’ll find many local products at La Fermette (rue du Pont Morens).
And for those with a sweet tooth, the gâteau de Savoie is a light and delicious treat! Chocolate lovers will also enjoy the roseau du lac, filled with mountain liqueur.
VISIT ANNECY : THE HISTORICAL CITY AND THE LAKE
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Visit Annecy : the canals
When you visit Annecy, you naturally think of its canals, which have earned it the nickname “Venice of the Alps”. And it must be said that this part of Annecy is very charming! The banks of the Thiou, lined with tall, colorful houses in warm tones, are perfect for strolling.
A few bridges allow you to cross from one bank to the other, while the fortified gates and vaulted passageways create a labyrinthine maze of medieval streets, each one more charming than the last!
Feel free to lose yourself in the pretty streets and look up: you’ll see old signs, statues adorning the facades, and other little details that make old Annecy so charming! I think this is the best way to discover Annecy.
And don’t miss the Palais de l’Île, a former 12th-century fortified house that stands on a rocky island in the middle of the Thiou River. Successively a prison, courthouse, and mint, it is still open to visitors today!
Practical information: the palace is open every day except Tuesday, in summer from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (off-season hours can be checked here) – Full price: €5, reduced price: €2.50, free for children under 12).
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Visit Annecy : the castle
I also recommend venturing a little further from the busy canal district to climb up to Annecy Castle! Former residence of the Counts of Geneva, it now houses a castle museum. The castle walls are particularly impressive!
Don’t hesitate to explore the area around the castle (Chemin des Remparts, Impasse du Trippoz, Côte Saint Maurice), where there are no tourists and the streets are picturesque!
Practical information: the castle museum is open every day in summer from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (off-season opening hours can be checked here) – Full price: €7, reduced price: €4, free for children under 12).
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Discover Annecy’s green spaces
Annecy’s beauty also comes from its close proximity to nature, with its lake with crystal clear, turquoise waters and its green spaces along the lake shore.
You can explore the Gardens of Europe with their majestic trees, catch a glimpse of Swan Island, and stroll along the romantic Canal du Vassé with its boats waiting peacefully under the canopy of plane trees.
Right next door, the famous Pont des Amours bridge awaits you for a souvenir photo of Annecy!
You can also continue your lakeside stroll to Charles Bosson Park, home to the elegant Imperial Palace, built in 1912. The view of the mountains at sunset is sublime!
And right next door, on Albigny Beach, you can go swimming in Annecy!
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Visit lakeside Annecy
No visit to Annecy would be complete without enjoying the lake, just a stone’s throw from the old town, which offers a wide range of activities. Swimming, of course, but also pedal boats, sailing, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing (with a license)… all with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains!
You can even go diving to explore the depths of Lake Annecy. There are many fish and aquatic plants to discover, as well as lake sites and even a shipwreck!
VISIT ANNECY : CYCLE AROUND THE LAKE
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Itinerary to visit Annecy’s Lake
The loop around the lake is 42 km long and starts in the center of Annecy, heading towards the Imperial Palace. The morning light on the city of Annecy and its iconic hotel is superb!
As you set off, you will quickly see the turquoise color of the lake’s water, which is so characteristic of the lake… The cycle path then continues through a series of villages along the eastern shore of the lake.
This is where you will encounter the only major climb of the route, before descending to the pretty village of Talloires. Don’t hesitate to stop here: the village and its bay are well worth a visit! The small villages of the Haute-Savoie region are full of charm!
The journey continues along the lake (you can go swimming at Angon beach), before reaching Doussard, a little way back from the lake, but perfect for a refreshment break!
A little further on is the pretty Château de Duingt, which you may have spotted from the other side of the lake… Don’t hesitate to leave the trail for a few moments to admire it, as it’s well worth a detour with its high crenellated tower perched on its island.
The trail then moves away from the lake on the west bank and into more rural landscapes. But if you want to cool off, you can take a short detour to the beach at Saint Jorioz, which is ideal for swimming!
There is a beach with lifeguards (the only sandy beach on the lake) and a green area next to the pier with spectacular views of the lake and mountains.
Finally, you can tackle the last few kilometers to reach Annecy!
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Practical tips to ride around the lake
Allow 3½ hours without stopping, or 5½ hours with a snack break and a swim to cover the 42 km… Don’t hesitate to start the loop early in the morning in summer, as there is little shade along the route! There is a bike path (not always separate from the road) all the way.
For bike rental, we chose the Yaka pédaler shop, which offers excellent advice. The shop is in the center of Annecy and charges €20 per day for a hybrid bike and €40 for an electric bike. You can rent bikes for 2 hours, 4 hours, or a full day.
If you decide to cycle around Lake Annecy, be aware that you should definitely do it clockwise, as there is a long, very steep hill in the other direction, which is impossible to climb on a bike that is not a road bike.
For refreshments, there are a few water fountains around the lake on the outskirts of Annecy, and good bakeries and grocery stores in Doussard that are perfect for a picnic break halfway through.
OTHER IDEAS TO VISIT ANNECY
Here are some other ideas to extend your stay in Annecy without going too far!
– Hiking: the possibilities for hiking around Annecy are endless!
You can hike to Semnoz for a panoramic view of Lake Annecy and the Alps, or to Mont Veyrier from the Col du Pré Vernet, or even on the Tournette trail from Montmin!
– The Fier Gorges: a spectacular canyon that you can explore thanks to a footbridge perched above the river. Thrills guaranteed!
– Admire the view from the Col de la Forclaz
Between the villages bordering the lake, the beauty of Lake Annecy, and the mountains surrounding it, all the ingredients are there for superb panoramic views, especially when you’re up high!
If you’re traveling by car, I highly recommend taking the pretty road that climbs above Talloires to the Col de la Forclaz viewpoint. The panorama is sublime, with the lake on one side and superb rocky peaks such as the Pointe de la Beccaz on the other. It’s also a paragliding launch site!
– The Bauges Mountains (25 minutes away): a rocky fortress nestled against the Alps, the Bauges Mountains await you for beautiful hikes surrounded by greenery.
– Aix-les-Bains and Lake Bourget (30 minutes away): the largest natural lake in France, Lake Bourget is a real gem! Its viewpoints, pretty villages, Hautecombe Abbey, and turquoise waters are definitely worth a visit!
– La Clusaz (40 minutes away): this pretty family resort surrounded by alpine peaks welcomes mountain lovers in both winter and summer!
– Le Grand Colombier and the Ain (1 hour away): a department less well known than Haute-Savoie, but well worth a visit! Read my article on the most beautiful places in the Ain!
Coming soon on La Marinière en Voyage…
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