The city of Annecy is the capital of the Haute-Savoie district. It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, only 22 miles from Geneva in Switzerland.
Beautiful Annecy and the Alps were a part of our 10-day road trip itinerary in France. The landscape was so lovely with the clear waters of the lake in the foreground and the French Alps in the background, no wonder the city is nicknamed “Pearl of the French Alps” by French geographers.
Two days in Annecy during the summer is NOT enough. But if that is what you have, then two days is better than nill days.
Coming from the heat of Paris to Lake Annecy’s beautiful “cool” weather was a relief. The lake’s water held +25 °C and was clear and warm.
Things to do around Lake Annecy
There are many things to do around Lake Annecy. Rent a car and drive up to the Le Col de la Forclaz by Talloires, to check out the views. Once here, you can also go paragliding. There are two paragliding platforms, and instructors speak English very well.
The guys who organised the paragliding and the instructors were great. They had a GoPro and took many shots and videos while flying. Overall, we felt very safe. If you want to try it, look up Airmax Parapente.
The views of Lake Annecy from the viewpoint are breathtaking. If you are up for a hike, this would be a good starting point.
There are several things to do in Annecy in the summer. You can do physical activities such as cycling, hiking, rafting, climbing, or visiting several chateaux and museums.
One of the easiest ways to see a lot in a short time and learn some history is a Segway tour. We tend to do it when we are in a new place for the first time.
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Or how about a Foodie experience with local organic products and wine?
The city of Annecy holds several exhibitions of different kinds during the year. Check out Lac Annecy’s official tourism site for dates and activities.
But did you know you can do many winter activities around Lake Annecy? You can go skiing, glacier walking, heliskiing or ice climbing.
Where to stay in Annecy
Our accommodation for the stay was Le Petit Létraz in the village called Duingt, just a 10-15 minute drive from Annecy. This was by far one of the best hotels I have stayed at.
Le Petit Létraz
Hotel Le Clos Marcel is ideally located on Lake Annecy’s banks. It is a 4-star hotel with only 14 rooms. The small private beach had sunbeds, huge soft towels you could use free of charge and a jacuzzi on a lawn.
A 5-star restaurant was, of course, a bit pricy but worth every penny. The car park for hotel guests is free of charge. The service was excellent, and the rooms were beautiful with gorgeous views and had amazing spa bathrooms!
Our room had a balcony and was located on the second floor. There are seven rooms on the ground floor with belonging patios and seven rooms on the second floor with belonging balconies.
Our room had an annexe with a double bed, another double bed, and massive glass doors to the balcony with a beautiful view from the entrance floor. The bathroom was also located on the entrance floor, decorated with dark tiles, creating a spa-like atmosphere. The complimentary amenities in the bathroom were from L’Occitane, which I loved.
During our stay, the restaurant had a weekend waiting list, and I recommend you book a table even if you are a guest at the hotel.
Nearby the hotel, you will find Chateau de Duingt. The Chateau sits beautifully on the lake’s edge and is a 10-15 minute drive from here.
There are many campsites around Lake Annecy. Some have pools, some are right on the beach, and most have incredible Lake views.
If you travel with family or friends, you can also rent a mountain hut. But if you want to stay close to the lake, city and the mountains, I suggest you find accommodation either in Annecy or small villages around the Lake.
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Famous French Cuisine – Annecy specialities
French cuisine is known for its elegance, extravagance, quality, and innovation. We have all heard about Bœuf Bourguignon, Coq au vin, Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée, and Mousse au Chocolat. But every district in France has its speciality. According to Wikipedia, these are the most famous French dishes in this area:
- Andouillette (a kind of sausage with tripe)
- Fondue savoyarde (fondue made with cheese and white wine into which cubes of bread are dipped)
- Gratin dauphinoise (a traditional regional French dish based on potatoes and crème fraîche)
- Quenelle (flour, butter, eggs, milk, and fish, traditionally pike, mixed and poached)
- Raclette (the cheese is melted and served with potatoes, ham, and often dried beef)
- Soupe à l’oignon (onion soup based on meat stock, often served gratinéed with cheese on top)
- Tartiflette (a Savoyard gratin with potatoes, Reblochon cheese, cream, and pork)
- Gratin de crozets Savoyard (A Savoyard dish with square buckwheat pasta “les crozets de Savoie“, cheese and ham)
There are a few good restaurants in Annecy and villages around the lake, but there are also a few tourist magnets. The restaurant at our hotel – Le Comptoir du Lac – was terrific, and although we stayed there, we had to make reservations for popular evenings since they booked up rather quickly.
Annecy has at least one restaurant in the Michelin Guide (do not confuse it with a Michelin star) – Restaurant 1er Mets – which gets excellent reviews.
Since you have been reading this far, I assume you love food, so here are the 7 best cities in France for foodies
Lake Annecy’s mountain location makes it a destination with diverse seasonal activities. The beauty of the Lake is difficult to describe, and you can’t go wrong with French cuisine and wine.
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