Move over, Lake Como.
Nestled in the French Alps, I found Lake Annecy to be the perfect stop on a trip to France or Europe more broadly, especially if you love the outdoors.
I traveled from London to Lake Annecy for a week with friends at the beginning of September. This was late enough to beat some of the crowds, but the weather was still warm enough to sunbathe.
It’s a great option for those seeking a mix of adventure, relaxation, and historical charm. For a group vacation, this blend was perfect as it meant there was something for everyone.
From crystal-clear water to cycle paths, here is why I think Lake Annecy is the next great travel gem, especially for Americans.
Getting to Lake Annecy was surprisingly straightforward for my group.
We flew into Geneva Airport, which is the closest. Since we arrived after the last trains, we drove from the airport to Annecy in a rental car. This usually takes between 30 minutes and an hour.
However, it’s easy to get there by public transport. Driving is great for exploring the wider region, but parking in Annecy can be tricky, and local authorities advise against driving to avoid congestion. We parked at the Parking de l’hôtel de Ville in the center of town, which cost about €25 for two days and was very busy.
I would recommend public transport unless you want to drive to other parts of the Alps.
The old town won me over immediately.
We stayed in the old town, which is beautiful, and was great for getting around. It’s small and only requires a day to properly explore.
I love historical places where you can imagine people walking around hundreds of years ago, and the town doesn’t disappoint in this regard.
For instance, the Palais de l’Île, a medieval stronghold, dates back to the 13th century.
I understood why it’s called the “Venice of the Alps.”
Like Venice in Italy, the old town is interspersed with canals, which offer lovely views when sipping coffee in the morning or having a drink at a bar.
It’s not a big nightlife place, but there are a few bars and clubs to enjoy if you want to stay out late. There are many restaurants in the old town — The Little Italy was our favorite — but it’s best to venture further out for more affordable food options.
The lake is pristine and stunning.
The best part of Annecy is, of course, the lake. It’s beautiful and pristine, with beaches all around the shore making for great designated swimming spots.
In parts, the water is as blue and clear as I’ve seen in the Caribbean.
While I mostly spent my days swimming and reading at the beach, I saw lots of people paddleboarding, kayaking, and taking boat rides.
There were two beaches that stood out to me.
While it was pretty easy to find a spot to sunbathe on the beaches close to the old town, going out a bit further gets you to quieter beaches.
I went to several during my stay, and my favorites were Plage d’Angon and Plage Les Choseaux.
Getting around was easier than I expected.
It’s easy to get around Annecy. There’s a designated cycle path around the entire 25 miles of the lake, with beautiful views.
Public transportation is efficient and affordable. I took one of the local buses from the old town, which also goes to spots around the lake. I found this easy to navigate with Google Maps and the Annecy transport website.
Annecy is a dream if you love hiking.
There are plenty of trails around the lake, ranging from easy walks to challenging mountain treks, including the ascent of La Tournette, the highest peak overlooking Lake Annecy.
A lot of these peaks will be snowcapped for a large part of the year, so these trails are best in summer until around mid-October.
We did a few day trips to other hiking spots.
Annecy serves as a good base for other hikes in the region. For the most popular ones, there are buses and shuttles, but if you’re keen to explore more of the Alps, driving is a better option.
A local recommended visiting a commune called Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, about an hour and a half from Annecy, to hike the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval trail, which features 30 waterfalls.
Another great walk we did was the Pissieu Fall, about an hour away from Annecy.
It was everything I wanted from a trip.
Lake Annecy is great because it serves as an excellent launchpad for exploring the Haute-Savoie region.
You don’t need more than a few days in Annecy itself, and I’d probably shorten my trip next time. But if you want a relaxing yet outdoorsy summer vacation, it’s perfect.
While it’s busy in July and August, it was less crowded overall than other lakes in Europe, and as someone who enjoys swimming and hiking, I found it the perfect spot for adventure.
I believe Lake Annecy could be the next American destination for a Eurotrip.
I think the key thing that distinguishes Lake Annecy from other lakes in the Alps, like Lake Como, is the relatively small proportion of international tourists. While it does get busy in the summer, I noticed it was mostly French tourists, so I highly recommend it for Americans seeking a more authentic feel to their trip.
Despite its popularity in France, in early September, we were able to walk into restaurants for dinner in the old town without booking, and the streets were easy to explore.
The range of outdoor activities also means it’s somewhere you could visit year-round — something the local tourist office encourages.
Its proximity to Geneva Airport, which several US airports have nonstop flights to in the summer, makes it easy to get there, and if you’re on an Alps road trip, it’s a stop I couldn’t recommend enough.
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