By air
Geneva (GVA), ~45 min by road
Europe · France
Annecy, France
An alpine lake and a canal-lined old town
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — lake season
Don't miss
The Palais de l'Isle
The lake
The old town
The Château d'Annecy
Things to do
Cycling the lake shore
Swimming
The Palais de l'Isle
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Yves LC · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Swimwear, cycling gear
A quieter corner
The Col de la Forclaz, where paragliders launch over the lake
Questions travellers ask
When is swimming season in Annecy?
May to September is lake season. Pack swimwear and cycling gear.
What can I do in Annecy?
Cycle the lake shore, swim in the lake, and see the Palais de l'Isle, the canal-lined old town and the Château d'Annecy. Refuel with reblochon or tartiflette.
Where can I watch paragliders in Annecy?
At the Col de la Forclaz, where paragliders launch over the lake.
How far is Annecy from Geneva airport?
About 45 minutes by road from Geneva (GVA).
About Annecy
- Lakeside
- Mountains
Where it is
Annecy is the prefecture of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of south-east France, at the northern tip of Lake Annecy about 35 km south of Geneva, ringed by the mountains of the pre-Alps.
History
Annecy was the seat of the counts of Geneva from the 10th century and passed to the House of Savoy in 1401. The 12th-century Palais de l'Isle, on an island in the Thiou river, and the castle above the town recall those centuries, and after Savoy was annexed to France in 1860 Annecy became the capital of the new Haute-Savoie department.
People
Annéciens speak French, and Savoyard traditions shape local life: markets fill the arcaded streets of the old town, and cooks make fondue, tartiflette and other dishes built around reblochon, a soft cheese from the nearby Aravis mountains. The lake draws swimmers, rowers and cyclists.
Known for
- Lake Annecy's clear blue water
- The canal-lined old town and the Thiou river
- The Palais de l'Isle
- Paragliding from the Col de la Forclaz
- The Annecy International Animation Film Festival
Did you know?
When Geneva adopted the Protestant Reformation, its Catholic bishopric moved to Annecy in 1535, and Francis de Sales, later made a saint, served as bishop here from 1602 to 1622.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.