Annecy, canals in the old town and a lake to swim in.

What is there to see in the old town?

Old Annecy can be walked in a morning. It is crossed by the Thiou, a river just 3.5 km long that is the lake's natural outlet and for centuries drove mills and forges. In the middle of the river, on a rocky islet, stands the Palais de l'Isle, a fortified house from the 12th century that was in turn the castellan's residence, a prison, a court, a mint and an archive. It is the photo of Annecy, and it is best in the early morning, before the bridges fill up.

From there climb the arcaded rue Sainte-Claire to the château, built by the counts of Geneva and bought by Savoy in 1401. Today it is a museum and houses an observatory devoted to alpine lakes, and from the esplanade you see the roofs of the old town. Then go down towards the lake via place Notre-Dame and rue Royale.

And the lake?

It begins where the old town ends. The Pont des Amours, an iron bridge from 1907, separates the lake from the Vassé canal, full of boats and plane trees. On one side are the Jardins de l'Europe, an English-style park with century-old trees labelled with plaques, and on the other the Pâquier, a large grassy esplanade beside the water with a viewpoint table naming the surrounding mountains.

Lake Annecy is 14.6 km long, from 0.8 to 3.2 km wide and up to 80 m deep, at an altitude of 447 m. Its water is famous for being clear and in summer you can swim from the beaches of the town and of the villages on the shore. You can tour it by boat, with cruises leaving from the centre, or hire a rowing boat, a kayak or a paddleboard. To see it from above, the paragliding take-off near the Dents de Lanfon, on the east shore, is internationally known, and there are tandem flights with a pilot.

Can you ride all the way round by bike?

Yes, and it is the best plan for a day. The greenway leaves Annecy and follows the west shore for about 33 km to Marlens, on a lane separated from traffic, almost flat: some 20 m of cumulative ascent. It is suitable for bikes, rollerblades, wheelchairs and walkers, and continues as far as Albertville. The full circuit of the lake is about 40 km with some 200 m of ascent, with a climb of around a hundred metres on the east shore, via Talloires-Montmin, and stretches shared with cars in the villages. In Annecy and around the lake there are shops that hire electric bikes, road bikes, tandems and child trailers.

Watch out in autumn 2026: because of roadworks on the Talloires-Montmin road, the road and the greenway on that stretch are closed day and night from 14 September to 18 December, weather permitting.

How do you get there and where do you park?

The easiest way from Spain is to fly to Geneva, about 50 km away, or to Lyon, about 125 km; from both airports there are trains and coaches to Annecy. There is a direct TGV from Paris and regional trains from Lyon. By car, the A41 motorway has two exits: 16, Annecy Centre, if you are coming from Lyon or Chambéry, and 17, Annecy Nord, if you are coming from Geneva. From La Jonquera it is about 670 km on toll motorway via Lyon.

The centre is small and can be walked. In summer, parking near the lake is expensive and slow: if you are staying outside, leave the car and come in by bike or bus. Without a car, Annecy is one of the easiest places in the Alps: the station is ten minutes' walk from the old town.