Best things to do in Annecy
Set on a sparkling turquoise lake, Lac d’Annecy is one of the most beautiful and popular resort towns in the French Alps. Its delights lie in its historical monuments and stunning scenery.
Viewpoints and panoramas
Lake Annecy: Without question one of the most picturesque lakes in Europe, Lake Annecy offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains.
Mont Veyrier: For a widescreen view of Annecy and its lake, hike to the top of Mont Veyrier. It’s a moderately challenging walk, but the views from the top make it worth every step.
The best districts
Museums
Musée du Château: This illuminating museum up in the castle holds a broad range of folk art and handicrafts from across the region.
Observatoire Régional des Lacs Alpins: The castle’s second museum presents some intriguing exhibits about the geology and marine life of the local lakes.
Parks and gardens
Historical monuments
Palais de l'Isle: Serenely pitched between two bridges in the middle of the Canal du Thiou, this is the town’s signature landmark. A small 12th-century stronghold, beautifully constructed out of the local stone, it variously served as a fortified residence, mint, court and prison.
Château d'Annecy: Former home of Genevois counts, there has been a castle on this site since the 11th century, but the Nemours found the old fortress a little too rough for their taste and added more refined living quarters in the 16th century.
Day trips in the area
Gorges du Fier: Awe-inspiring landscape of often bizarre geology, with eroded cliff faces, narrow rock fissures and curiously sculpted boulders; once inside the 300m-long gorge, you traverse a high-level walkway pinned to the gorge side. Spectacular!
Yvoire: Absurdly pretty medieval village, where narrow cobbled lanes lined with artisan shops and chunky stone-built houses slope down to the water’s edge, and every street corner seemingly abounds with colourful flowers.
Activities for families in Annecy
Whether it's chilling out by the (lakeside) beach or trying out different activities, there are many and varied things to do as a family in Annecy.
Beaches: Yes, there are beaches in the Alps! So if you (or, as is more likely, the kids) have had enough of traipsing around town, then you might consider retreating to one of the town’s two excellent, albeit grassy, beaches - one of which, on the western shore just south of the port, is shallower and therefore much better suited to families.
Lake cruises: On Lake Annecy, Compagnie des Bateaux run several boats daily from the quai Napoléon-III, including a one-hour trip, and a two-hour jolly which briefly stops off at various points around the lake.
Aquariums and zoos: The Aquarium du Lac d’Annecy may be small, but it’ll keep the young ones entertained for a good couple of hours.
Free things to do in Annecy
The town is relatively small and hardly packed with sights, which is a good thing as it means that most of your Annecy holidays are spent in the beautiful, and largely free, outdoors.
Beaches: It may come as a surprise to learn that there are beaches here, but there are, and excellent they are too: one is located near the Imperial Hotel, while the other is on the western shore just south of the port. Both have shower and toilet facilities, and are fully supervised.
Town strolls: Many of the Old Town’s houses are ringed by canalside railings overflowing with geraniums and petunias in summer; added to the cool shade offered by the arcades, these flowers make the town’s pedestrianised streets a delight to wander around on a sunny day.
Festivals and events: Annecy hosts numerous free events throughout the year, notably summer’s Music Festival, with various stages across town hosting all genres, from rock and pop to reggae and tango, and all for free; while the lake’s annual Firework Festival is always nothing less than spectacular.
Nature and outdoor activities
On offer here are some of the most exciting outdoor activities anywhere in the country, from kayaking and tandem paragliding to superb road cycling and gentle valley walks.
Cycling: This is an especially enjoyable means of appreciating the beauty of the Lac d’Annecy. Cycling the 40km road circuit of the lake is a very popular Sunday morning activity among sporty Annéciens; a traffic-free cycle route follows the west shore down to Faverges.
Hiking: The surrounding hills offer walking and mountain-biking excursions to suit all levels of ability and fitness. Experienced walkers should enjoy the relatively undemanding ascent of La Tournette (2351m) on the eastern side of the lake, while gentler walks and cycle routes are plentiful in the forested Semnoz mountains on the lake’s west side.
Tandem Paragliding: For the ultimate adrenaline rush, head for the nearby Col de la Forclaz, which has a reputation for being one of the best tandem paragliding centres, not just in the Alps but in all of Europe.
Water sports: The lake’s clear, placid waters draw kayakers from all over, so whether you bring your own equipment, rent some, or have a lesson, this is one activity that any adventurous visitor to Annecy should try.
