A Landscape of the Annecy City near Originals Hotels

Your travel guide to Annecy

Situated on the banks of the large Annecy lake, the city of Annecy is the most populous in the mountainous Haute-Savoie department of France. It is built on either side of the Thiou River and a number of man-made waterways criss-cross the city which led to it being nicknamed the Venice of the Alps. The city has a charming Old Town and a burgeoning university. Its proximity with Geneva is ideal for an easy getaway to Switzerland. The city offers a wide choice of things to do, especially sporting and cultural activities. The wonderful nature that surround the city offers the perfect setting for both summer and winter activities.

Relaxation, Landscapes, Sweetlife

OUR HOTELS IN AND AROUND ANNECY

Annecy: Be inspired

What to do, to see, to hear...

Hiking Trails Many hiking trails start in the city and stretch out over convenient loops into the nearby mountains making this city an ideal place if you like to enjoy walking holidays.

Centre for Winter Sports Annecy is a centre for winter sports of all kinds and several skiing areas are within a short distance of the city. There's also an ice rink in Annecy which offers public sessions.

The Lake The lake is one of the major attractions of Annecy and there are a number of tour operators who will take you out onto it to explore.

Gyrocopters Gyrocopters are a superb way of viewing the city and the local countryside from above. Airborne tours are usually charged by the hour.

The Old Town's Market A visit to the Old Town's market is essential for anyone who wants to soak up the local Savoyard produce in a setting which is unique to the city.

Spas Annecy has a number of spas and wellness centres to get away from it all for a while. Cristal Spa, for example, is located opposite the lake with some charming gardens nearby.

To be tried

Paragliding baptism, to overcome your fears and experience an exceptional moment in weightlessness above the lake

To ring the bell

... the bells, by going to visit Paccard, the oldest and most important foundry in France (1796) installed in Sévrier, on the shores of the lake

Transports in Annecy

Chambery Airport lies at the southern tip of Lake Annecy and is the closest. Major air hubs that are nearby include Geneva and Lyon, both of which have services from the UK. By rail, Gare d'Annecy provides connections with Lyon, Geneva, Paris and Grenoble. Driving from Calais would take in the region of seven and a half hours.

When to go to Annecy ?

If you are interested in winter sports, then anytime from late November to mid-March will see a good amount of snow in the average year. Prices for accommodation rise steeply over Christmas and the New Year period, however. In summer, Annecy has a very different feel with huge numbers of flowers in bloom. Several beaches face the lake and you can while away entire days enjoying the warm waters and sunbathing in a relaxed environment.

What to do in Annecy ?

Annecy offers a historic setting to explore as well as some modern activities which will get the blood pumping and the adrenaline flowing. From mountain and water activities to cultural attractions, the "Venice of the Alps” will not disappoint.

LE PALAIS DE L'ÎLE

Visit the Palais de l'Isle, a castle and former prison that was built in the Middle Ages. This structure is now an art gallery that occupies the site of an island in the River Thiou.

CONCERT

See a gig at Brise Glace. Located close to the shores of the lake, this place has been a successful live music venue since the late 1990s with a varied programme of artists. 

PARAGLIDING

Trying out paragliding is a popular activity among visitors to Annecy and there are several schools nearby which will take complete novices up into the Alpine air. 

The best restaurants in Annecy

Comptoir du Lac is a fine dining establishment which has lakeside views. With contemporary architecture, attentive service and a traditional French menu, few places can beat it for a romantic meal.