Things to Do in Annecy: Old Town, Lake and Mountains
Annecy packs a lot into a small area: a canal-lined old town, one of the clearest lakes in Europe, and mountains rising straight from the shore. You can wander medieval lanes in the morning, swim or cycle in the afternoon and watch paragliders drift down from the peaks at sunset.
Quick answer: the best things to do in Annecy are walking the old town and its canals, seeing the Palais de l’Isle, swimming at a lake beach, cycling the lakeside greenway, taking a boat trip and visiting the villages of Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard. If you are adventurous, add a tandem paragliding flight or a hike with lake views. Two to three days is enough to enjoy the town and lake without rushing.
Still deciding whether to go? Read is Annecy worth visiting first; for history and local specialties, see what Annecy is famous for.
Annecy Old Town and Canals
The Vieille Ville is the heart of any visit. The Thiou river and its canals run between pastel houses, arcaded streets and flower-covered bridges, which is why Annecy is often nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps” (a cliché, but an understandable one).
- Rue Sainte-Claire: the main arcaded street, lined with shops and cafés.
- Quai de l’Évêché and Quai Perrière: the most photogenic canal views.
- Pont des Amours: the “Lovers’ Bridge” over the Vassé canal, between the Jardins de l’Europe and the Pâquier lawns, with views down the lake.
- Old town market: held on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings, with Savoyard cheeses, charcuterie and produce.
- Basilique de la Visitation: a short climb above town, with views over the roofs and lake.
Go early or in the evening in summer: by late morning the narrow lanes are packed with day-trippers.
Palais de l’Isle and the Château d’Annecy
The Palais de l’Isle is the triangular stone building in the middle of the Thiou, shaped like a ship’s bow. Built in the 12th century, it has served as a residence, a courthouse and a prison. Inside, a small museum covers the building’s history and the architecture and heritage of Annecy.
Up the hill, the Château d’Annecy, the former residence of the Counts of Geneva, now houses the town museum, with regional art, Alpine furniture and exhibits on the lake. The terrace view alone justifies the short climb. A combined ticket for both sites is usually available; check current opening days.
Swimming and Beaches on Lake Annecy
Lake Annecy is known for its clean water, the result of a sewage system built around the lake from the 1960s. In summer, water temperatures often reach the low 20s °C (low 70s °F). Our article on whether Lake Annecy is clean explains more.
| Beach | Where | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Plage d’Albigny | Annecy-le-Vieux, east of the center | Large lawns, free, very popular with locals |
| Plage des Marquisats | Southwest of the old town | Close to the center; walkable |
| Plage de l’Impérial | Next to the Impérial Palace | Fee-paying, with facilities |
| Sévrier and Saint-Jorioz | West shore, on the cycle path | Easy to combine with a bike ride |
| Talloires and Angon | East shore | Beautiful setting below the mountains |
Some beaches are free and some charge a small entry fee in high season, with lifeguards only in summer. Arrive early on hot weekends: parking around the lake fills quickly.
Cycling the Lake Path
The Voie Verte du Lac d’Annecy, a car-free greenway built on an old railway line, runs along the west shore from Annecy to the southern end of the lake and continues toward Albertville. Riding the full loop around the lake is about 43 km; most of it is flat, but the east-shore section between Bout-du-Lac, Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard uses roads and includes a steep climb.
- Easy option: ride from Annecy to Sévrier or Duingt and back on the greenway.
- Full loop: allow half a day with stops; an e-bike makes the eastern climbs easy.
- Bike rental shops are near the start of the greenway and in lakeside villages.
- In summer, start early: the path gets busy with families, joggers and rollerbladers.
Boat Trips and Paddleboarding
Seeing Annecy from the water is a highlight. The Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d’Annecy runs panoramic cruises of about an hour, as well as longer services that stop at lakeside villages, so you can sail to Talloires and back or combine a one-way boat trip with cycling.
You can also rent pedal boats, small electric boats (no license needed), kayaks and stand-up paddleboards along the quays and at most beaches. Mornings are usually calmest; afternoons can bring wind.
Talloires, Menthon and the Lakeside Villages
- Talloires: on the east shore, a small resort village with a former abbey, a pretty bay and views across to Duingt.
- Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard: a turreted castle above the lake, still owned by the same family for centuries and open for visits in season.
- Duingt: a village on a promontory at the narrowest point of the lake, with a picturesque (private) château on the water.
- Veyrier-du-Lac: a quieter base with lake access and the trailhead for Mont Baron.
- Réserve Naturelle du Bout du Lac: a protected wetland at the southern tip with walking trails and birdlife.
Paragliding and Hiking
Annecy is one of the best paragliding spots in Europe. Tandem flights usually take off from the Col de la Forclaz above Talloires and land near Doussard or Perroix by the lake. No experience is needed, flights last roughly 15 to 30 minutes, and operators will reschedule if the weather is unsuitable. Book a day or two ahead in summer.
For hiking, choose by your fitness:
- Col de la Forclaz viewpoint: drive up and walk a few minutes for the classic view down the lake.
- Mont Veyrier and Mont Baron: a half-day hike from Veyrier-du-Lac with views over Annecy.
- Le Semnoz: a mountain ridge above the west shore, reachable by car, with easy walks and big Alpine views.
- La Tournette: the highest peak above the lake (about 2,350 m), a long day hike with some exposed sections, for experienced hikers only.
- Cascade d’Angon: a short walk to a waterfall on the east shore.
Lake and mountain lovers might also enjoy our list of the most beautiful lakes in France.
Day Trips from Annecy
| Destination | Approx. time by car | Why go |
|---|---|---|
| Gorges du Fier | 15–20 minutes | Walkway through a narrow canyon (open spring to autumn) |
| Geneva | 45 minutes | Lakeside city, international museums, the Jet d’Eau |
| Aix-les-Bains and Lac du Bourget | 45 minutes | Spa town on France’s largest natural lake |
| Chamonix | About 1.5 hours | Mont Blanc, the Aiguille du Midi and glacier views |
| Yvoire | About 1 hour 15 minutes | Medieval village on Lake Geneva |
Food and Events
Savoyard food is mountain food: tartiflette, fondue, raclette and reblochon cheese, plus féra (a lake fish) on many lakeside menus. Lighter options and lake-view terraces are easy to find in summer.
- June: the Annecy International Animation Film Festival fills the town.
- Early August: the Fête du Lac, a ticketed fireworks show over the lake. Accommodation sells out far in advance.
- October: the Retour des Alpages celebrates cows coming down from summer pastures.
Practical Tips
- Getting there: Geneva airport is about 45 minutes away; direct TGVs from Paris take roughly 3.5–4 hours. Check current timetables.
- Parking: use the large underground car parks or park-and-ride; the old town is pedestrian.
- Costs: Annecy is not cheap in summer; our guide to whether Lake Annecy is expensive has budget tips.
- Best time: June and September offer warm weather with fewer crowds; July and August are the liveliest and busiest.
How to Spend Two Days in Annecy
| Day | Morning | Afternoon and evening |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Old town, canals and market (Tuesday, Friday or Sunday); Palais de l’Isle | Château d’Annecy, then a swim at Plage d’Albigny and sunset on the Pâquier lawns |
| Day 2 | Cycle the greenway to Sévrier or Duingt, or take the boat to Talloires | Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard and the Col de la Forclaz viewpoint (or a tandem flight) |
With a third day, add a hike on the Semnoz or Mont Veyrier, the Gorges du Fier, or a day trip to Chamonix.
Summary
Annecy rewards a slower visit: walk the canals early, spend the afternoon on or in the lake, and save one day for the mountains, whether that means a paragliding flight, a hike or a drive up to the Col de la Forclaz. With two or three days you can see the old town, cycle part of the lake, visit Talloires and Menthon and still have time to relax on a beach.
