Lake Annecy is 14.6 km long, up to 3.3 km wide, and reaches 82 m deep. It’s the second-largest natural lake in France after Le Bourget, and one of the purest in Europe in an inhabited area, thanks to a clean-up programme begun in the 1960s. Around it, mountains drop into the water: the Semnoz to the west, the Aravis range and La Tournette (2,351 m, the highest summit above the lake) to the east.
Three days are enough to see the essentials without rushing: a day for the town, a day for the lake, a day for the heights and villages. This plan is paced morning / afternoon / evening, with distances, times and good practice. The first two days work without a car; the third makes use of one but is still feasible by bus and boat.
Day 1: Annecy, the town and its canals
Annecy’s old town sits at 458 m, around the Thiou, the river that flows out of the lake. It’s one of the loveliest old towns in the French Alps, nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps” for its canals.
Morning: the old town and the market
Enter the old town by the Rue Sainte-Claire and its arcades, then follow the Thiou to the Palais de l’Île, the 12th-century fortified house set on the river, in turn a residence, a courthouse and a prison, and today the most photographed sight in Annecy. Carry on through the lanes, the flowered bridges and the Pont Perrière.
On Tuesday, Friday and Sunday mornings, the market fills the old-town streets (around the Rue Sainte-Claire): Savoyard cheeses, charcuterie, fruit and local produce. It’s the moment to put together a picnic for the next day. See the old town of Annecy page.
Midday: lunch by the water
Have lunch on a canal-side terrace or by the lake. Two families of specialities: the lake fish (Arctic char, féra, perch) and Savoyard mountain cooking (reblochon, tartiflette, tomme, diots). The quarter’s terraces are packed in summer: aim for 12 noon or book.
Afternoon: the castle museum and the Basilica
Climb up to the Château d’Annecy, the former home of the counts of Geneva that overlooks the rooftops. Now a museum, it covers the town’s history and a regional observatory of alpine lakes. Allow an hour to an hour and a half. Continue to the Basilique de la Visitation on the slopes of the Semnoz: it holds the tombs of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal, and offers one of the finest panoramas over the town, lake and mountains.
Ticket tip. The Palais de l’Île and the Château museum are free on the first Sunday of the month, from October to May.
End of the day: the shore and the sunset
Finish with the Jardins de l’Europe, the Pont des Amours (which crosses the Vassé canal) and the Champ de Mars, the great lawn facing the lake. Push on to Albigny beach for the sunset over La Tournette. See the Lake Annecy page.
Practical tip. The old town is pedestrian and very busy in summer: visit early for the light and the calm. By car, use the underground car parks (Bonlieu, Hôtel de Ville, Courier) rather than searching at street level.
Day 2: the lake by bike, beaches and a cruise
The second day is lived at the water’s edge. The cycle path on the west shore is one of the finest in France: 33 km on its own right of way, 3.5 m wide, flat and fully surfaced, closed to motor vehicles. It links Annecy to the south of the lake through the villages and beaches.
Morning: the cycle path from Annecy to Doussard
Rent a bike in Annecy (standard or electric) and set off early. The path follows the west shore through Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz and Duingt, where a former railway tunnel takes the path under the castle headland before running along the Petit Lac to Doussard. At Sevrier, the Paccard bell foundry and its museum are worth a stop.
Two options depending on fitness: the Annecy–Doussard return on the cycle path (about 33 km each way, all flat), or the full loop of the lake (about 40 km, 300 m of climbing), which uses the east shore, more rolling but partly on shared roads. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the loop, plus stops. See the lake cycle tour page.
Midday: swimming and a picnic
The lake is swimmable from June to September, with water often around 22-24 °C in high summer. The best stops on the west shore: Saint-Jorioz beach, Duingt beach, and above all the Bout du Lac nature reserve at Doussard, at the mouth of the Eau Morte, with its reed beds and nature trail. Bring out yesterday’s market picnic.
Afternoon: a cruise on the lake
To see the lake differently, take a cruise from Annecy. The lake’s boat company runs “omnibus” tours of about an hour that serve the villages and pass beneath the châteaux of Duingt and Menthon. There are also lunch and dinner-cruise options. See the lake cruise page. Other options on the water: paddleboard, pedalo or a small licence-free electric boat, rented at the beaches.
Practical tip. Book the bikes ahead in July and August and set off before 9 am: the cycle path fills up by midday. If you do the full loop, going clockwise (west shore first) keeps the on-road section for the afternoon.
Day 3: the heights, paragliding and the villages
The third day goes higher, with Annecy’s signature activity: paragliding.
Morning: a paragliding flight at the Col de la Forclaz
Above Talloires, the Col de la Forclaz (reached from Montmin) is one of the largest paragliding sites in Europe. Take-off is at about 1,240 m, facing the lake; the landing is at Doussard, around 700 m lower. Tandem, no experience is needed: you fly for 15 to 20 minutes above the water, with a view of the lake, the Bauges and, in clear weather, Mont Blanc. Expect roughly 95 to 180 € depending on the duration and time of day. See the paragliding in Annecy page.
Even without flying, the Col de la Forclaz is worth the drive for the panorama and the terraces, and to watch the paragliders take off.
Alternative: a hike to suit your level
If flying isn’t for you, the area offers fine walks, detailed on the hiking in Annecy page:
- The Roc de Chère (nature reserve, between Talloires and Menthon): an easy, shaded loop of about 2 hours, with viewpoints over the lake.
- The Semnoz (Crêt de Châtillon, 1,699 m): reachable by car to the ridges, with short walks and a 360° view over the lake, the Aravis and Mont Blanc.
- La Tournette (2,351 m): the area’s big climb, 6 to 7 hours round trip and over 1,300 m of ascent, for fit, well-equipped walkers.
Afternoon: the east-shore villages
Come down through the east-shore villages, the most picturesque. Talloires opens onto a sheltered bay, with its former abbey. Above it, the Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, bristling with turrets, can be visited and overlooks the lake (entry around 10 €, hours by season). Further south, Duingt and its château close the narrows between the Grand and Petit Lac. Veyrier-du-Lac completes the shore.
Evening: a table by the lake
Lake Annecy is a recognised gastronomic destination. The shores have renowned tables, such as Le Clos des Sens in Annecy-le-Vieux, Jean Sulpice at Le Père Bise in Talloires, or Yoann Conte in Veyrier-du-Lac. For a simpler dinner, the upland farm-inns and village tables serve Savoyard produce facing the lake.
Practical tip. Paragliding depends on the weather: book this slot for the clearest, least windy of the three days, ideally in the morning when the air is calmer.
Practical notes
When to come
- May to September: the lake’s high season (swimming, cycling, boating). June and September are calmer and milder than July-August.
- Spring and autumn: perfect for the town, the villages and hiking, with fewer people.
- Winter: Annecy keeps its charm (markets, old town, ice rink), and the nearby Semnoz offers cross-country skiing, sledging and snowshoeing.
Getting there and around
- Train: Annecy station is in the centre. Allow about 3 hr 45 from Paris (TGV), 2 hr from Lyon, 45 min from Geneva.
- Plane: Geneva airport about 45 min away by car.
- On site: days 1 and 2 are done on foot, by bike and by boat. The urban bus network (Sibra) serves the town and the first communes; lake shuttles and the boats link the villages in season. A car helps for the heights and east shore on day 3.
Where to stay
Staying in Annecy is the handiest for the town and the start of the cycle path. The west shore (Sevrier, Saint-Jorioz) is more family-friendly and faces the beaches; the east shore (Veyrier, Menthon, Talloires) is calmer and chicer, by the water. Accommodation and good addresses on the Annecy page.
Indicative budget
As a rough guide, per person: an omnibus cruise of about an hour, fifteen to twenty euros; a day’s bike rental, 15 to 20 € (30 to 40 € for an e-bike); a tandem paragliding flight, 95 to 180 €; entry to the Château de Menthon, around 10 €; a regional meal, 20 to 30 €.
With children
All three days suit families: a playful old town and ice cream by the water, beaches and cycling on a flat, safe path, tandem paragliding possible from a young age depending on the operator. Annecy’s little tourist train and the pedalos delight younger children.
Options and extensions
To stretch the trip to four or five days, add a half-day at the Gorges du Fier (at Lovagny, 15 min from Annecy), a walk to the Cascade d’Angon above Talloires, or a day in the Bauges massif (regional nature park). The Aravis (La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand) and the Pays du Mont-Blanc are less than an hour away for a high-mountain contrast. All the area’s activities are detailed on the Annecy destination page.