Annecy holidays

How to reach Annecy

• Flight time: There are no direct flights to Annecy. Flights to Geneva Airport take about 1 hour 30 minutes from London.

• Transfer time: From Geneva Airport, you can take a bus or train to Annecy. The bus takes around 50 minutes, while the train journey is about 1 hour 30 minutes.

• Price: A bus ticket from Geneva Airport to Annecy costs approximately €10 one-way, a train ticket around €15. A taxi from Geneva Airport to Annecy will cost around €100-€150.

Weather and best time to visit Annecy

Choosing when to take your holidays to Annecy will depend on how you wish to spend your time-do you want to enjoy the warmth of summer for example, or get in some skiing over the winter season?

• April to June: Spring is a lovely time to visit Annecy, the weather starting to warm up nicely with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C. Rainfall is moderate and you can enjoy around 8-10 hours of sunshine daily. The lake looks especially magical at this time of year.

• July to August: Summer is peak tourist season when the town’s streets take on a life of their own. Temperatures range from 20°C to 30°C, rainfall is low, and there are about 10-12 hours of sunshine daily.

• September to November: The best time to visit Annecy is September and October, when the town empties of its summertime tourists, leaving behind crisp, cool autumn weather and fabulous colours. Temperatures range from 10°C to 20°C and you can still expect 7-9 hours of sunshine daily.

• December to March: Winter in Annecy is lovely, with temperatures between -1°C and 7°C and the lake looking magical. However, with several ski resorts located nearby, it does get busy so book ahead. Snowfall varies, but clear, crisp days with 5-7 hours of sunshine are the norm.

Practical information

• Spoken languages: French is the main language, but Swiss, Italian and English are all widely spoken here.

• Local habits and customs: Tipping is not expected in French culture as the service is already factored into the price of your meal.

• Health and safety: Annecy is generally very safe. The healthcare system is excellent, with several hospitals and clinics.

• Currency: France uses the Euro (€). ATMs are widely available, and most places accept credit and debit cards.

• Getting around: Annecy is small enough to navigate on foot, but the local bus system, SIBRA, is excellent; in July and August, free local buses whisk visitors around the lake. There’s excellent bike rental at Roul’ ma poule, which also has another branch just around the lake at 47 av du Petit Port renting kayaks and paddleboards.

• Electricity and plug types: Voltage is officially 230V, using plugs with two round pins. UK travellers will need an adaptor.

• Time zone: Annecy is on Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT, and observes Daylight Saving Time.

• Required travel documentation: UK travellers need a valid passport. No visa is required for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

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

• Old Town (Vieille Ville): A bewitching warren of passages and arcaded houses that date from the 16th century and are divided by peaceful little branches of the Canal du Thiou.

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

• Jardins de l'Europe: Beautiful lakeside park blessed with formal gardens, fountains and sculptures of various luminaries - just the spot for a picnic.

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.

Annecy’s geographical location is reflected in its Swiss and Italian culinary influences, but what you will find is plenty of good old-fashioned mountain food, mostly involving cheese.

Some typical dishes

• Raclette: This lip-smacking dish involves melting Raclette cheese and scraping it over potatoes, pickles and cured meats; perfect after a day on the slopes.

• Tartiflette: Another deliciously cheesy dish made with Reblochon cheese, potatoes, onions and lardons.

• Fondue Savoyarde: A classic cheese fondue made with a blend of local cheeses, white wine and garlic; hunks of crispy bread are then dipped into the melted cheese.

Meat dishes

• Diots: Savoyard sausages cooked in white wine and served with polenta or potatoes.

• Potée Savoyarde: A thick-set meat and veg stew comprising pork, cabbage and various root vegetables, which is then simmered slowly for a rich, deep flavour.

Fish and seafood dishes

• Perch fillets: Sourced from Lake Annecy, perch fillets are usually pan-fried and slathered with a creamy lemon sauce, accompanied by rice or vegetables.

• Féra: Another local fish from the lake, fera is typically grilled or baked and served with a simple herb butter or lemon sauce.

Street food

• Croques monsieur or croques madame: You’ll find these variations on the toasted cheese-and-ham sandwich at many street stands.

• Beignets de pomme de terre: Potato fritters served hot and crispy from market stalls.

Sweets and desserts

Tarte aux myrtille is a blueberry tart made with wild blueberries from the mountains - there's also faisselle aux myrtilles, blueberries with a soft, creamy yoghurt-like cheese - while bugnes are light and crispy, deep-fried pastries dusted with powdered sugar.

Local drinks

• Vin de Savoie: The region produces some excellent wines, including crisp whites like Apremont and Chignin, and light reds such as Mondeuse.

• Chartreuses: Powerfully alcoholic herbal elixirs ranging from the better-known green and yellow variants to a number of gentler fruit and nut liqueurs.

• Génepi: A traditional alpine liqueur made from the génépi plant, which grows high in the mountains, and is usually taken as a digestif after a meal.