Annecy

Travel Guide

Annecy featuring a sunset and a river or creek
Lake Annecy which includes a garden, a marina and a river or creek
Annecy
Lake Annecy which includes mountains, a bay or harbor and boating
Amours Bridge
Tour the corridors of medieval castles, hike through forests and sail across a lake when you visit this picturesque town in the French Alps.

Medieval France meets the French Alps in this picturesque town on the northern bank of an alpine lake. Discover Annecy’s centuries-old castles, explore the narrow maze of cobblestone streets and hike and ski through a spectacular mountainous landscape.

Annecy’s Old Town features narrow pedestrian-only streets interrupted by canals and lined with boutiques and open-air restaurants. Visit on a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday morning for the popular food market.

Go to one of the town’s principle landmarks, the Château d’Annecy. This large castle dates back to the 12th century and was once home to the counts of Geneva. Climb up one of the towers for panoramic views of the town and the lake. After investigating rooms that contain sculptures, paintings and historical artifacts, find the Palais de L'Ile. This medieval palace is situated on an island in one of the town’s canals. For more spectacular medieval architecture, stop by the Château de Menthon. The 12th-century citadel sits on a rocky spur on the east bank of Lake Annecy, surrounded by forests.

Devote some of your vacation time to the lake. The large freshwater body claims to be the purest in Europe and hosts a range of activities. Enjoy swimming, sailing, waterskiing and diving. Most of the waterfront near the old town consists of boat docks, but small beaches, such as Plage de Annecy can be found on the eastern shore. Rent a bike and cycle the path that runs alongside part of the lake.

Head into the French Alps surrounding the lake for lots of outdoor pursuits. During the warmer months, hike or ride a horse along trails that extend through forested areas. Ski and snowshoe through the terrain in the winter. Take a guided tour of the Gorges du Fier, a narrow canyon 6 miles (10 kilometers) west of Annecy.

Reach Annecy by flying into the international airport in Geneva, a 40-minute drive from the town. When you see the mountains, canals and castles, it is easy to understand why Annecy is such a popular vacation spot.

Where to stay in Annecy

Jardins de I\'Europe

Annecy Old Town

4.5/5(71 area reviews)

Travelers come to Annecy Old Town for its lake views, and you can see top attractions like Lake Annecy and Church of St. Maurice while you're in town.

Annecy Old Town
Cran-Gevrier

Cran-Gevrier

3.5/5(4 area reviews)

Travelers enjoy Cran-Gevrier for its restaurants and lake views. Consider checking out Thiou while you're in the area.

Cran-Gevrier
The amazing moments when you discover a new wonderful place topped by having some of your closest friends with you 
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Novel

3/5(2 area reviews)

When in Novel, you can plan a visit to L'Abbaye and Annecy Aventure, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Novel
Moxy Annecy
Moxy Annecy
3 out of 5
5 Avenue du Thiou, 19, Annecy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The price is $104 per night from Apr 21 to Apr 22
$104
includes taxes & fees
$92 per night
Apr 21 - Apr 22
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified hotel in Annecy. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (947 reviews)
"This a wonderful property, with in walking distance of Annecy, the morning breakfast was very good. I would stay here again and we had fantastic time in the area."

Reviewed on Nov 15, 2024

Moxy Annecy
Le Pélican
Le Pélican
4 out of 5
20 rue des Marquisats, 101, Annecy, Haute-Savoie
The price is $201 per night from Apr 21 to Apr 22
$201
includes taxes & fees
$179 per night
Apr 21 - Apr 22
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Annecy. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (190 reviews)
"Excellent front desk service! The room was great (especially the shower) & the hotel is just a short walk to both Annecy’s Old Town and Lac d’Annecy. Highly recommend!"

Reviewed on Apr 12, 2025

Le Pélican
L'Impérial Palace
L'Impérial Palace
4 out of 5
Allée de L'Impérial, Annecy, Haute-Savoie
The price is $255 per night from Apr 20 to Apr 21
$255
includes taxes & fees
$229 per night
Apr 20 - Apr 21
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Annecy. Enjoy free WiFi, free valet parking, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9/10 Wonderful! (993 reviews)
"All the staff were so smiley and cheerful. Nothing was too much bother. Excellent."

Reviewed on Apr 14, 2025

L'Impérial Palace
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Aparthotel Adagio Annecy Centre
Aparthotel Adagio Annecy Centre
4 out of 5
2, place Marie Curie, Annecy
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Annecy. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (965 reviews)
"Great hotel in the heart of annecy. Always really clean with great underground parking."

Reviewed on Feb 15, 2025

Aparthotel Adagio Annecy Centre
Zenitude Hôtel - Résidences Les Hauts d'Annecy
Zenitude Hôtel - Résidences Les Hauts d'Annecy
3 out of 5
16, Rue du Champ de la Taillée, Annecy
Stay at this 3-star eco-certified aparthotel in Annecy. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), parking (surcharge), and laundry facilities. Our guests praise the property ...
7.6/10 Good! (530 reviews)
"Tout etait tres bien, la proprete, les installations , la localisation."

Reviewed on Dec 21, 2024

Zenitude Hôtel - Résidences Les Hauts d'Annecy
Privilodges Le Royal Annecy
Privilodges Le Royal Annecy
3 out of 5
9, rue Royale, Annecy, Haute-Savoie
Stay at this 3-star residence in Annecy. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (607 reviews)
"This property was convenient to Old Town Annecy & walkable to restaurants & shops. It was extremely difficult to find as local traffic was awful & so many 1-way streets. The area outside was quite loud. Our room smelled like stale smoke although it was listed as smoke free. The breakfast was ..."

Reviewed on Apr 6, 2025

Privilodges Le Royal Annecy
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Things to do

Reviews of Annecy

4.7
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
50
5 - Excellent 76%
4 - Good
15
4 - Good 23%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 2%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

I loved this town so much, I would livwe in it. A much cleaner and nicer version of Lake Tahoe with less traffic and as mocu to do.

5/5 - Excellent

SS

Lovely town. Excellent water sports

5/5 - Excellent

HD

Wonderful lake to swim in, in summer of course

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Charming friendly true Europe ambiance . We lived every minute !

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Nice city good start point for traveling around

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Beautiful place, hot and busy with tourists in summer!

Cities near Annecy

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