Annecy
Annecy is nicknamed “the Venice of the Alps”, but it is beautiful all on its own to not need a nickname. It’s a pleasure to explore the old town and the lake by foot, even if it is very touristy and some areas can be a little crowded… with reason.
I will list here activities to do right in town, or starting in town. There are many hotels in the old part of Annecy but know that it is very difficult to drive there. However, the train station is not far at all, and much is accessible without a car.
Read until the end to find out about an extra activity not far from Annecy…
The lake at sunset.
But without further ado, here are my six activities not to be missed during a visit to Annecy, more than enough to fill a weekend:
Meander in the old town
It is easy to get lost in the old part of town, between the narrow cobblestone streets and the canal, but it is a real pleasure… and one is never really lost.
Observe the ducks on the water, the architecture of the old buildings, and don’t take the same route twice to keep discovering reastaurants, boutiques, bookstores and souvenir shops!
The old town is easily accessible from the train station. The iconic Palais de l’île and the museum/castle are located there.
Explore the Jardin d’Europe
Walking around in the beautiful Jardin d’Europe will give you a great view of the lake, but also the beginning of the canal, with the “pont de l’amour” (Bridge of Love) and even some intersting outdoor sculptures in the more woodsy part of the park, where you can find refuge on a hot day.
There are many benches where you can sit, a carousel and even a playground for the little ones.
There often are many people there, toursits and locals, walkers, runners, bikers… but it’s a very plaisant walk.
Bike around the lake!
Biking around the lake is an essential activity when exploring Annecy, which you can do with a rented bike (even an electric one) if you can’t bring your own. There are several places where you can rent a bike in town.
The landscapes are varied, the views stunning, and the 40km (25 miles) go by pretty fast with so much beauty around. The bike path is mostly flat, except for one big hill on the west side of the lake.
For more details, click here, and to see the video of our adventure around the lake, click here!
Visit the Museum-Castle
The building itself is maybe as interesting to explore as the collections inside, with its hidden corner rooms that had very specific functions (the oven!) and its stained glass that will give you a new perspective on the city, not to mention the belvedere and its view of the lake.
During our visit, there was an exhibit on Pre-Colombian Peru, very interesting and well presented, but I also had time to check out the also interesting permanent collection upstairs.
If you are planning to also visit the Palais de l’île (more focus on local history and the city’s development) there is a combined ticket that will save you some money. Check out the times when the museum is open, and know that it is closed on Tuesdays.
Take a stroll along the Thiou river
This walk is not very long, but very plaisant. The color of the water is magnificent, and you’ll start in the old town to end up in a neighboring town. Take the same way back but try being on the other side of the river as long as possible to make sure you see the water sparkle (depending on the time of day you take this stroll).
The path is paved in the old town, but then becomes gravel, and there’s a section in the woods. It sometimes goes alongside buildings, but also includes a boardwalk that really gives you the impression you’re in the middle of nature and not a city!
The path is also used by bikes, so be mindful of that.
Sculptures in the Thiou river
Go to the beach!
Si vous venez l’été, n’hésitez pas à amener votre maillot et une serviette pour pouvoir passer du temps à la plage et vous baigner dans ce lac magnifique, avec vue sur les montagnes!
There are two free beaches in Annecy, the Albigny beach, and in the photo here, the Marquisats beach. The latter is closer to the old town and therefore more easily reachable by foot. There is a small section with sand and pebbles, and a larger area with grass. It is fairly easy to find a spot in the shade thanks to the trees separating the beach from the sidewalk and bicycle path.
There only is a lifeguard on duty in July and August, and when I visited, there was a platform with a slide in the water!
Have you visited Annecy? What did you prefer? If you have other recommendations, feel free to drop them in the comments section below!
The gorges of the Fier
If you like to explore the region a little differently, and discover the gorgeous gorges of the Fier river, try packrafting!
We spent half a day on the water guidded by the company Blue Secret and we had a great time! If you’re used to kayaking or canoeing, packrafting will be easy (but know it also involves some hiking), and the rapids are easy.
To see the video of this adventure, click here!
To know more about the different adventures organized by Blue Secret, check their website.