Give the arcaded old town and the Palais de l’Île a morning, then get on the water: an hour’s cruise from the quays is €19, and the Voie Verte greenway runs 33 km down the western shore. Add the château for the view over the roofs, then one summit or one flight, the Semnoz road to 1,699 m or the Col de la Forclaz take-off.
Updated · Wimup Editorial
Annecy is a lake town that behaves like a small alpine capital. Turquoise water sits at the end of the old town’s canals, the Bauges and the Aravis rise straight out of it, and almost everything worth seeing is inside a loop you can ride in a day.
The Thiou runs out of the lake through the medieval centre, which is why the arcaded lanes read as canals. Rue Sainte-Claire is the spine, and the Quai de l’Île is where every photograph of Annecy is taken. Come before nine to have it to yourself.
The stone prow in the middle of the canal is a 12th-century house that has been a mint, a courthouse and a prison. Inside it is a small local-heritage museum, and the joint ticket with the château is the one to buy.
The counts of Geneva ran their county from this hill after they lost Geneva itself. The oldest part, the Tour de la Reine, is 12th century. Go for the terrace over the roofs as much as the collections, and note that it closes on Tuesdays.
The park behind the town hall is the town’s front garden, planted with mature trees and open to the lake. The 1845 footbridge at its edge is the Pont des Amours, and the local story is that a kiss taken mid-span lasts.
The free municipal beach a fifteen-minute walk along the lakefront from the centre, and the one to pick with children: the water stays shallow a long way out. Lifeguarded through July and August, and busy by eleven.
A former railway line, now 33 km of traffic-free tarmac from Annecy down the western shore to the Val de Chaise. Ride as far as Duingt and turn back, or close the full circuit of the lake on the eastern road for about 40 km.
The pass above Talloires is one of Europe’s busiest free-flight sites, and the tandem operators shuttle up from the lakeshore. Flights run 10 to 30 minutes depending on the package. The terrace at the top is worth the drive on its own.
The Compagnie des Bateaux has worked this lake since 1886 and now runs an electric fleet. A one-hour loop is €19 for adults and €12.50 for children aged 4 to 12; the 90-minute version, which reaches the southern end, is €22.
A walkway bolted to the rock carries you through a slot the Fier cut to 60-odd metres deep, ten kilometres west of town. It runs 15 March to 15 October and costs €6, which makes it the cheapest hour in the region.
The ridge on the lake’s western side tops out at 1,699 m at the Crêt de Châtillon, with Mont Blanc on the skyline in clear weather. Cyclists know it as a 17 km climb averaging about 7 percent straight out of town.
One star in 2026. Stéphane Dattrino cooked as sous-chef at Le Clos des Sens before this.
The locals’ beach, lawn behind it, showers and toilets, lifeguarded in July and August.
A hundred metres of shore with pontoons, diving boards and a paddling pool. Paying 10:00 to 18:00 in July and August.
The eastern-shore twin, also Blue Flag, and the trailhead for Mont Veyrier.
Built 1922 to 1930 on the Crêt du Maure, holding the tombs of François de Sales and Jeanne de Chantal.
Seat of the diocese and listed since 1906. The Gothic choir is 15th century.
Begun in 1422 as a Dominican chapel, and the oldest of the old town’s four churches. Two 15th-century wall paintings survive.
The highest peak above the lake at 2,351 m. From the Chalet de l’Aulp it is about 950 m of climb over six and a half hours, with cables and ladders near the top.
A 3.7 km loop from Veyrier-du-Lac to two summits at 1,291 m and 1,295 m, under two hours.
A 68-hectare reserve created in 1977 on the wooded headland between Menthon and Talloires.
Boards and kayaks rent from around €17, with bases at Sévrier, Veyrier-du-Lac, Talloires and Doussard.
The canals, the arcades and the château hill. Loud on market mornings, quiet by ten at night.
A residential town in its own right until the 2017 merger, under 3 km from the centre and holding the Plage d’Albigny.
The southern lakefront: the Bonlieu cultural centre, the quays and the Marquisats beach.
About 35 km north and roughly an hour and a half by train. Bring a passport or EU identity card.
A medieval village on Lake Geneva, listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France. About an hour and a quarter by car.
The spa town on the Lac du Bourget, France’s largest natural lake. Around two hours by train and bus.
Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, 07:00 to 13:00 along rue Sainte-Claire. Tuesday is the food-only edition.
Open since 1935 and run by a Meilleur Ouvrier de France, on rue Carnot. The Reblochon counter is the reason to come.
Costumed promenades through the old town, free to watch. The 2026 edition ran 27 February to 1 March.
Marathon and shorter distances along the lake shore, run over a weekend in mid-April.
Trail running around the lake through the mountains, from short loops to the full circuit.
The industry’s week. The 50th edition ran 21 to 27 June 2026, with the Mifa market inside it.
Four days of street performance across the town, from jugglers to urban poets. Free.
A 70-minute pyrotechnic show over the water from 21:45, watched by about 150,000 people.
On the second Saturday, close to 600 animals parade through town behind the herders coming down.
Close to 200 chalets across the centre, the quays and the Jardins de l’Europe.
The nearest hub, about 36 km north. Direct coaches reach Annecy in roughly 50 minutes. The train needs a change at Annemasse and takes closer to two hours.
France’s nearest large airport, 125 km west. Coaches run to Annecy in about an hour and twenty; the train takes around three hours twenty with a change.
A short walk north of the old town. Five direct TGV services a day reach Paris Gare de Lyon in about four hours, and TER trains run the Aix-les-Bains to Annemasse line.
Potatoes, lardons and onions baked under a whole Reblochon.
Half a wheel scraped over potatoes, charcuterie and cornichons.
A tartiflette built on crozets, the region’s small square buckwheat pasta.
Alpine cheeses melted with white wine, eaten with bread on a fork.
Arctic char from the lake, usually pan-fried and served plainly.
The other lake fish on Annecy menus, lighter than char and cheaper.
Savoyard pork sausages simmered in white wine, with potatoes or lentils.
A very light sponge, usually lifted with lemon zest.
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