The Alpine city of Annecy is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful in France. Located in the Haute-Savoie region of south-east France, on the borders of Italy and Switzerland, this good-looking town sits at the tip of an aquamarine lake of the same name, Lake Annecy, surrounded by the snowcapped Annecy Mountains.
It’s one of my favourite places in France and I visit regularly, spending time wandering in the old town of Annecy and swimming or paddling on the lake.
There’s lots to do here and really you want more than one day in Annecy but if you are pressed for time then this Annecy itinerary will show you how to make the most of your time in this beautiful corner of France.
How to spend one day in Annecy
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Located just 40 minutes from Geneva airport and within easy distance of numerous small villages and mountain resorts including La Clusaz, Le Grand Bornand and Morzine, where I often spend time in the summer, it’s easy to combine a day trip to Annecy with time in the Alps.
My recommendation – especially if it’s your first time in Annecy – is to start your visit in the old town, the vieille ville.
This is particularly true if you are visiting during the summer months when the town gets very crowded. Arrive in time for a morning coffee and croissant and there will be far fewer people wandering the cobblestone streets than if you arrived later in the day.
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Morning: The Old Town
Sightseeing on an empty stomach is no fun, especially when there are so many good places to have breakfast in Annecy. The best place to start your one day in Annecy tour, however, is Pâtisserie Café Sébastien Vauxion.
Located on Rue de la Poste, this patisserie and cafe was opened by Sébastien Vauxion, who was named Gault & Millau Pâtissier of the Year 2023 and who is the only Michelin-starred pastry chef. So you can guarantee that the pastries here will be nothing short of perfect.
Once you’ve finished your coffee and croissant it’s time to explore and the best place to start is at the Château d’Annecy.
Château d’Annecy
The former home of the Counts of Geneva, the Château d’Annecy (Annecy Castle) perches on a rocky promontory overlooking the town and the lake. Abandoned as a residence in the 17th century, it was later used as army barracks and during the Second World War it provided shelter to homeless families.
Today the castle is an art museum but if you are pressed for time I would not recommend going inside. Instead, take the short walk up the cobbled streets to the castle for views over the terracotta rooftops of Annecy’s old town.
The best lake and mountain views are from the castle courtyard but you will need to buy a ticket to the museum to enter, even if you only want to snap photos of the pristine lake below.
Annecy Old Town
A walking tour is the best way to really get to know Annecy and I’ve enjoyed a couple of excellent tours of the city with guides Emmanuelle Roth and Aude Thierrin.
If walking tours are not your thing or you don’t have time, then the best way to enjoy Annecy’s old town is by simply wandering.
Often called the ‘Venice of the Alps’ owing to its flower-lined canals and pastel-coloured houses, the town is unbelievably pretty. Although many of the buildings have been transformed into restaurants and souvenir shops, this is still very much a living and working community.
On Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays a market is held in the old town.
Tuesdays is a food market with stalls filled with local meats, cheeses and produce. On Fridays and Sundays, stall holders sell local produce plus all manner of other goods including clothes and textiles.
On the last Saturday of the month a flea market takes place in the Old Town where up to 200 stalls sell everything from ceramics and cheeses to antiques, paintings and even ski kit.
There are also some lovely shops in Annecy Old Town. Le Tetras is a pretty gift shop sells beautiful traditional Savoyard pottery and there are lots of brocante (antique) shops. You’ll also find lots of stores selling local Haute-Savoie cold meats and cheeses.
Palais de l’Île
The most recognisable building in Annecy is the Palais de l’Ile that stands in the middle of the Thiou river.
The 12th century building – that’s often said to resemble the shape of a ship – has served many functions, acting as a coin mint, a residence and a courthouse. But it’s its role as a prison that was the most enduring.
During the French Revolution, its cells were crowded with prisoners and even during World War II, when it had already been officially designated as a Historical Monument, the historic building was once again used to house prisoners.
Today, the Palais de l’ile is a history museum showcasing the history of Annecy.
Panels detailing the city’s long past sit within the hearing rooms – where criminals were once interrogated – on the first floor but it’s the building itself that I find most fascinating.
The ground floor prison cells offer a sobering look at what life must have been like for prisoners locked up here and on the first floor, the Banches are were business was once carried out and the vaulted rooms where coins were once produced.
You can buy a combined ticket for the Chateau d’Annecy and the Palais de l’Isle.
Lunch at Le Freti or a picnic in Jardins de l’Europe
There are lots of restaurant options in Annecy but like many popular tourist towns, not all of them are brilliant. Le Freti on the other hand is a great place for lunch or for dinner.
Recently taken over by a new owner, the small restaurant specialise in local cheeses with lots of traditional Savoyard options on offer including fondue, raclette, and tartiflette.
If you are visiting during the summer months and not in the mood for a gooey calqueon of cheese then don’t worry, Le Freti also does a really tasty range of salads, including my favourite, salad with warm goat’s cheese.
For dessert head to Le Glacier des Alpes, the oldest ice cream store in town, or Rose des Neiges is a pretty tea room and chocolaterie.
Pont des Amours
Between Lake Annecy and the Old Town is Jardins de l’Europe, the European Gardens. This grassy space on the edge of the lake is the ideal spot for a picnic lunch with plenty of shaded spots. A handful of permanent sculptures pepper the gardens and there’s a playground if you happen to be visiting Annecy with kids.
Nearby is Pont des Amours (Lover’s bridge) is a picture-perfect bridge that connects Pâquier Esplanade with Jardins de l’Europe.
A wooden bridge stood here originally followed by a cast iron bridge and then the riveted steel arch bridge that you see today. Legend has it that if you kiss someone on this bridge you will be united for life, so choose wisely! Even if you don’t pucker up, however, it’s a great spot for snapping photos of the lake.
Afternoon: Lake Annecy
Annecy’s old town is an undeniably beautiful place but the real star of the show is Lake Annecy.
At just under 15 kilometres long, Le Lac d’Annecy is the third largest lake in France and is famous for its clear blue waters, the cleanest of any lake in Europe.
The lake is divided into two distinct basis, the Grand lac and the Petit lac and water sports take place in both with seemingly countless to choose from.
Over the years I have tried kayaking, paddle boarding and even free diving in the lake but you can also try wind surfing (or foil surfing), sailing, water-skiing, diving and, of course, swimming.
Boat rides on Lake Annecy
A boat ride is a wonderful way to explore the lake. The Compagnie des Bateaux run regular hour-long tours of the lake with a commentary (French only).
The boat trip doesn’t take in the entire length of the lake, rather they cover part of the Grand lac, sailing past enormous mansions and luxury villas lining the northeastern shore of the lake. This is Annecy-le-Vieux, a residential area and the 4th largest city in the Haute-Savoie department.
The tours also pass Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, a medieval castle overlooking the lake that’s said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. You can visit the castle on a guided tour.
Boat tours depart from near the entrance to the old town and tickets can be purchased at the office located on the bridge between the lake and the old town (where Palais de l’ile stands).
If you’d rather a more intimate boat tour then Annecy Lounge Boat offer private excursions on the lake or, for something really special, you can take a ride in a beautifully renovated and fully electrified wooden launch.
There are also a number of places along the lake shore where you can hire a pedal boat, as well as those fun pedal boats with slides that are ideal for families.
A bike ride around Lake Annecy
One of the best ways to enjoy Lake Annecy is on two wheels, especially given that cycle paths run around the lake shores.
Bikes are available to hire near the lake (near the Pont des Amours) including tandem bikes, electric bikes, and cargo bikes for families. Bcyclet also have children’s bikes for hire; they require a minimum two-day hire unless you hire one of their guides for the day (or half-day).
Cycle Classic Tours is another bike rental option and Roul’ Ma Poule is another. Although you will see other bike rental options around.
Lake Annecy’s Beaches
Beaches pepper then lake’s shoreline, providing the perfect spot for whiling away an afternoon. Some beaches are free and some do charge. The following are some of the best.
Saint Jorioz is a great option if you are visiting Annecy with kids. Located opposite the Dents de Lanfon and the Tournette mountain, there’s a diving board, children’s paddling pool, pontoons and games including volleyball and pétanque.
Talloires is another good option for families. With a large grassy area, a diving board and a slide there’s also a paddling pool for kids. It’s supervised by lifeguards during summer months too.
Menthon-Saint-Bernard offers plenty of shade plus showers, toilets and a snack bar. There’s also a swimming area for kids.
For more beach ideas see here.
Other outdoor activities on and around Lake Annecy
There are also hiking, mountain biking, canyoning, ultra running trails and via-ferrata opportunities. Annecy is also one of the best places to learn paragliding – some 150,000 flights take place here every year. Try Flyeo.com, Airmax Parapente or Annecy Adventure.
Dinner on Lake Annecy
Whether you choose to have dinner or lunch on the lake, it’s really worth making a reservation for a meal with views of Lake Annecy.
I’ve dined at a couple of lakeside restaurants including Chez Ma Cousine, which sits right on water’s edge in the Petit lac d’Annecy and, more recently La Cuillère à Omble, which has a terrace overlooking the lake (separated by the road). La Cuillère à Omble is family run and specialises in fish dishes. The food is excellent although service was a little slow when we visited.
Both restaurants can be accessed by boat so one option is to hire a boat – or book a water taxi – and enjoy an entrance worthy of a Hollywood star as you pull up to the restaurant’s dock.
You may choose to swap dinner on the lake for a lunchtime booking (the best time for watching multi-coloured paragliders float high above the mountains and turquoise waters) and enjoy dinner in the old town instead.
Where to stay in Annecy
If you do decide to stay longer in Annecy (and I highly recommend that you do) then there are lots of accommodation options. On my most recent visit, I stayed in an OVO Network chalet, Chalet Bleu Infini, in La Clusaz, which is about 45 minutes away.
Although not ideal if you only want to stay in Annecy, this is a good option if you want to combine your city visit with time in the mountains. They do also have lake villas and apartments closer to Annecy
The four-star Imperial Palace is one of the fanciest address in town but for something a little more intimate, try the eight room Yoann Conte, a five-star Relais * Chateau property located on the lake’s eastern shore.
More affordable accommodation options include Hôtel Petit Letraz. Located by the water on Lake Annecy’s western shore, it’s a drive (or boat ride) away from the old town but the contemporary hotel is wonderfully welcoming and good value.
For more hotel and holiday home inspiration, take a look at the map below.
The best time to visit Annecy
Annecy is a year-round destination. The summer months, particularly during school holidays, are very crowded and traffic can be terrible. If summer is the only option available to you then make sure to arrive early to not only ensure parking but to enjoy the Old Town without too many people.
Spring and Autumn are great times to visit. Winter is beautiful although many of the lake activities are not open.
How to get to Annecy
Annecy is just 50 kilometres from Geneva airport and regular buses and trains run to Annecy train station, which is just a short walk from the old town. There are also direct TGV trains to Paris and regional express trains (TER) to Lyon, Valence, Grenoble, Chambéry and Chamonix.
