Annecy

Do

Swim, row or sail on the lake. The city provides free public beaches for swimming in addition to some pay beaches. Hike on the mountains around the city. The tourist information office provides maps and information for local trails. Bike around the lake of Annecy, or up in the mountains if you are in good shape. There are bicycle lanes on almost all the 36 km of the lakeside track. The trip will take between 1 and 2 1/2 hours and is used by about 1.1 million cyclists per year. Hanglide above the lake from the Col de la Forclaz (~20 km) Shop the many boutiques lining the narrow stone-paved streets. A large, modern mall can also be found in the newer part of the city. Films a theatre near the large mall showing multiple films for your enjoyment. Football: FC Annecy play soccer in Ligue 2, the second tier in France. Their home ground (capacity 15,700) is 2 km north of city centre.

Buy

Annecy has a number of local artisan shops as well as many European chain boutiques.

There is a market (marché) each Sunday morning in the pedestrian streets of the medieval city. Le marché is an open-air market with the freshest fruits and vegetables.

Eat

For between meals try the ice cream shops, favored by the locals, located on the numerous pedestrian-only by-ways that weave the city and river together.

Another suggestion is the brioche (sweet roll) and other goodies to be found at the boulangeries (bakeries) in town.

And of course, Haute-Savoie is famous for its cheese recipes:

Sleep

There are Bed & breakfasts, and a youth hostel. Surrounding mountains and lake activities are draining a large number of tourist during the summer and more and more during the winter season. Several winter sport resorts are within a 30-minute drive.

Go next

If you want to get away from the crowds, try the far side of the lake. The best way to get around is by bike. Discover small towns nearby in the Alps such as Thônes, La Clusaz, Le Grand-Bornand, Menthon St. Bernard, Duingt, Faverges Use the place as a base to visit other places of the Alps such as Chamonix (~80 km), Geneva (45 km), Chambery (40 km), Yvoire (60 km), Thonon, Evian, Val d'Isère, Aosta (IT, 100 km). A shuttle bus connects the Annecy train station directly to the Geneva Airport.