Discover the best things to do in Annecy, a pretty canalside town in southeastern France on the banks of Lake Annecy, from hilltop castles and historic prisons to boat trips and waterside walks.
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Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Alps’, Annecy in southeastern France combines a perfectly preserved old town criss-crossed by canals with a turquoise lake and stunning mountain scenery. With the sun shining, colourful buildings reflected in the canals and an ice cream in hand, it gives Colmar a run for its money for the title of France’s prettiest town.
Annecy isn’t somewhere which has a lot of famous sights to tick off, but rather somewhere perfect for a bit of wandering, eating and drinking. The town’s compact size means you can easily spend a few hours exploring and then relax for the afternoon on a lakeside beach or waterside terrace. So here’s my pick of the best things to do in Annecy.
The best things to do in Annecy, France
Meander around Annecy’s canals
Annecy’s old town – the Vieille Ville – has more waterways than roads, surrounded by pretty, pastel-coloured 16th- and 17th-century buildings. The water comes from the River Thiou, which at only 3.5km long is one of Europe’s shortest rivers, connecting the River Fier to Lake Annecy. But what it lacks in length, it makes up for in scenic views.
The River Thiou splits and rejoins around the old town, creating islands linked by arched bridges which are draped in flowers in the spring and summer. A network of narrow pedestrianised streets and passages take you past turreted castles, boutiques and a seemingly endless number of gelateria where you can get your ice cream fix.
The ‘Venice of the Alps’ also has plenty of cafés and restaurants, most of which have tables lined up along the riverside to soak up the sunshine. Annecy’s medieval Vieille Ville is somewhere to go wandering, get lost and see what you might discover.
Visit the old prison
Right at the heart of Annecy’s Vieille Ville is the Palais de l’Île – the town’s most famous and photographed building. It was built back in the 12th century on a triangular island that lies between two forks of the river. It looks like a miniature fairytale castle, but has actually been used as a mint, courthouse, prison and even an old people’s home.
Today the Palais is home to a small museum (entry €4–€5) with exhibits on local history and architecture. But it’s best appreciated from the outside. Take a walk through the old town at night when you can see it all lit up. Lights in the canals shine upwards and the turrets at the front of the Palais are illuminated from inside so it glows in the dark.
Climb up to the castle
Built on a hilltop, the Château d’Annecy towers over the town. It was built as a residence for the Counts of Geneva and Dukes of Genevois-Nemours from the 13th–16th centuries, but was later damaged by fire and abandoned in the 17th century. It was then turned into a barracks before being bought by the town after WWII and restored to its former glory.
Now it’s used as a museum with a couple of different sections – one on regional heritage with furniture, sculptures and art, and the other with exhibits about the people and wildlife living around the lake (entry €6.50–€7). Don’t miss the castle’s terrace, which has a fantastic panoramic view down into the old town and out across the lake.
Stock up at the market
I can never resist a French market, with their huge piles of colourful vegetables and pungent cheeses. And Annecy’s market has one of the best locations, running along the bridges and narrow streets of the old town. Markets are held on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 7am–1pm, selling fresh local produce from fish to flowers.
You can check out the local specialities, with stallholders often letting you have a taste first. Worth trying are the tasty sausages made with flavours like mushroom and hazelnut. And the creamy reblochon cheese, used in mountain dishes like tartiflette.
If you’re in Annecy on the last Saturday of the month, there’s also a big arts, crafts and flea market (brocante) from 8am–6pm on Rue Sainte-Claire with 150 stalls.
Kiss on the Pont des Amours
The Pont des Amours – or ‘Bridge of Love’ – is one of Annecy’s most famous viewpoints, with the Vasse Canal on one side and the lake on the other. This iron pedestrian footbridge was built in 1907 and lies on the edge of the pretty Jardins de l’Europe.
Legend has it that if two lovers kiss in the middle of the bridge they will stay together for life. Or less romantically it may have had a history as a meeting point for prostitutes. Either way it’s a picturesque spot to soak up the views, especially at sunset.
Set sail on Lake Annecy
France’s third largest lake, Lake Annecy is known as the blue lake, and you can definitely see why when the sun hits its clear water. It’s Europe’s cleanest lake (though I wouldn’t drink it) with water coming from snow melting in the Alps. There are walking and cycling paths along the edge of the lake, as well as sandy beaches in the summer.
A trip on the lake is one of the top things to do in Annecy. A choice of one-hour or 90-minute boat trips (€19–€22 adults) takes you on a circuit around the lake, past small lakeside villages and an island castle, backed with snowy mountain peaks.
There are also lunch and dinner cruises on the MS Libellule from spring to autumn. And water taxis link Annecy with villages around the lake if you want to walk one way.
Head into the Aravis mountains
There are enough things to do in Annecy to keep you busy for a few days. But if you’ve got more time, the town is surrounded by some spectacular mountain scenery that’s easy to access. The Aravis mountain range is around 40 minutes’ drive away and is home to four ski resorts – La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand, Manigod and Saint Jean de Sixt.
Local buses connect Annecy with the main ski resorts in 40–60 minutes, or you can hire a car for the day. Visit the pretty Savoyard village of La Clusaz or head on up the zig-zagging road to the Col des Aravis mountain pass for stunning views of Mont Blanc.
In winter you can ski, go snowshoeing or take a husky ride. Or in summer the area is popular with cyclists, but you need to be fit – the pass has been on the Tour de France route several times. There are also a couple of restaurants serving traditional mountain specialities, as well as a tiny chapel dedicated to St Anne, protector of travellers.
The details
When to visit Annecy, France
Annecy has a temperate oceanic climate despite being inland, which means it rarely gets too hot or too cold. In summer, average high temperatures lie around 27ºC/81ºF during July and August, but Annecy can get very busy. Spring and autumn are lovely times to visit, with highs of 17–22°C (63–72ºF) in April/May and September/October.
Rain is spread throughout the year, with slightly higher levels from September–November. Though on average there are 10–14 days a month with rainfall, so pack an umbrella. Winter sees average highs of 6° (43°) and lows of -2°C (28°F), with occasional snow.
How to get to Annecy
The nearest airport to Annecy is Geneva International Airport, 50km away. You can get to Annecy from the airport in 50 minutes using the BlaBlaCar bus, which starts from €6.60. There’s also a train route but it’s slower and involves one or more changes.
You can also travel to Annecy from Paris by train,* with direct high-speed TGV services from Paris Gare de Lyon to Annecy in under four hours. Or there are direct trains from Geneva (1.5 hours) and Lyon (2 hours) – which has another international airport.
The train station is 10 minutes’ walk from the old town and Annecy is compact and easy to get around on foot. If you want to explore further afield, there are bikes* and ebikes* available for hire which are perfect for following the flat lakeside paths.
Where to stay in Annecy
For classic old-school glamour, book a stay at the L’Impérial Palace* on the waterfront, a 20-minute walk from town. This gleaming white hotel has hosted Winston Churchill and Edith Piaf since it opened in 1913. Today it has 91 rooms and suites across six floors, as well as a host of facilities including a casino, pool and spa, restaurants and bars.
Le Pélican* is a four-star hotel, originally built in 1820 as an almshouse and renovated with a new extension. It has 94 rooms and 6 suites, decorated in blues and greys, some with views of the lake and mountains, as well as a heated outdoor pool with a terrace and bar. You can also pick up breakfast from the in-house bakery, or dine in the bistro.
Or you can’t get a much better location than the Hôtel du Palais de l’Isle,* overlooking the old prison. Rooms are good value, with a mix of standard single/twin/doubles and family suites, some with views over the rooftops. There’s also a bar and breakfast room.
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