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5 must-dos for your holiday to Annecy

Nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Alps’, Annecy’s got canals, culture and a heap of history to uncover. And with the lake on your doorstep, you can add beaches and activities like boat trips and paddle-boarding to the mix. Here are the highlights you can’t miss when you visit.

1. Explore the Old Town

With cobbled streets and colourfully painted buildings, the medieval centre is sure to get your camera finger clicking. One of the best photo opps is from the Perrière bridge, where you can see the Palais de l’Île in the middle of the canal – a postcard-pretty building that’s been both a palace and a prison over the years. You’ve also got plenty of bistros close at hand in this part of town. To try a local lunchtime fave, order croziflette, a moreish combo of melted Reblochon cheese and a traditional square-shaped pasta called crozets.


After you’ve eaten, walk along the Thiou canal to the Jardins de L’Europe park. Serving up front-row views of the lake with plenty of shaded seating, it’s just the spot to unwind on a sunny afternoon.

Palais de l’Île in Annecy
Palais de l’Île

2. Take in views and art at Annecy Castle

A 15-minute stroll from the centre is Annecy Castle. Built back in the 1200s, it’s still one of the tallest buildings around, and the terrace below the Grand Tower has knockout views across the red-tiled roofs of the Old Town, to the lake and peaks beyond.


Inside, the Great Hall keeps the wow factor going with its high, vaulted ceilings and fireplace that’s big enough to stand up in. And upstairs is the Museum of Regional Art, where you can see medieval sculptures, antique furniture and paintings of the local area from days gone by.

3. Cycle the Voie Verte

The car-free trail along the lakeshore is just the ticket for a leisurely cycle. Hire a bike and pedal from Annecy’s promenade to the village of Sévrier, where you can stop for an ice-cream while you watch the boats bob in the harbour. You could also walk here instead if that’s more your speed, and then catch the regular ferry back to Annecy so you can sit and enjoy the views.

Cycling the Voie Verte trail in Annecy
Cycling the Voie Verte trail

4. Head to the lake for beach time and activities

Albigny beach is around a 10-minute walk from the centre, so it’s super simple to enjoy a day by the water. Swim in the shallows then keep the holiday feeling going with a picnic on the grass. Or for a little more action, go to neighbouring Talloires to test your balance on a stand-up paddleboard or explore the shoreline in a kayak. There are even snorkelling and scuba diving schools dotted around the lake, so you can venture below the surface to see fish, plants and a sunken village from Neolithic times.
Albigny beach on Lake Annecy
Albigny beach (Credit: Lac Annecy Tourisme)

5. See Swiss city sights

Trains to Geneva take less than an hour, so hop aboard and spend a day exploring one of Switzerland’s most cosmopolitan spots. Stroll past grand buildings, including the headquarters of the United Nations, and look out for quirky sights like the 140m-high Jet d’Eau – the tallest fountain in the world and the unofficial symbol of the city. And to get a 360-degree view over it all, you can’t beat the highest point in the Old Town, the bell tower of Saint Peter’s Cathedral.
View from Saint Peter’s Cathedral in Geneva
Saint Peter’s Cathedral

Say ‘oui’ to Annecy and enjoy a little lakeside living in France this summer.


Head to our Lakes & Mountains homepage to discover more about our favourite holidays.


Author: Mathew Robinson


Last updated: 10.05.2023

Holiday Type

Destination

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