Hotels in Arrondissement d'Annecy

Called the Venice of the Alps, the city Annecy gets its name because it is next to Lac d’Annecy and it is also surrounded by a beautiful mountain range. Annecy is a quaint city that is bursting with energy which remains to be a stark contrast against its serene backdrop. Travellers who love being surrounded by nature would like the city since it was built with it in mind. It is also home to a lot of museums and shops that will certainly keep every visitor busy during their stay.

How to Get There

Annecy is accessible by plane from several areas. If you are interested in booking a flight to Annecy, the best option would be going to Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport (LYS). The train service to Annecy just takes two hours. Two bus services are also available for tourists and both should take about an hour and 45 minutes to get to the city centre.

If you are arriving from other parts of Europe, the closest would be Geneva, Switzerland. The Geneva Airport is the nearest international airport which services most of Europe and other parts of the world. Travelling to Annecy would just take 35 minutes by car and an hour and a half via bus.

Getting Around

Once you are in the city, there are a lot of ways to get around it to see the sights. The main public transportation around the city is via bus. There is a reliable service that is operated by LIHSA that offer great value routes with regular services throughout the week.

Bike rental is also available for travellers and it is easy to go around given the bike routes that wind around the city. However, Annecy is highly pedestrianized like most of France. Being an old town, cobblestone pathways make up the majority of the roads and it winds all over the city towards the lake. Locals also say this is the best way to explore the city.

Top Things to Do

No matter what season, everyone should visit and walk around the shores of Lake Annecy. There are loads of things to do here apart from strolling around. Hiring a motorboat to tour you around the lake is an option, but if you want to see it at your own pace, there are pedal boats for rent as well. During the summer, you can also sunbathe and enjoy the French sunshine with an unparalleled view of the mountains. A short walk away, you will find the Jardin de l’Europe, an 18th-century garden that has an unbeatable view of the lake and the mountains. You can relax here while reading a book and if you are travelling with children, this would be a great place to play around.

If you are travelling with your partner, the Pont des Amours is a popular stop. This is a bridge that spans the Vassé canal and it connects the Jardins de l’Europe and the Jacquet Promenade. It remains to be popular among lovers since it has been said that whoever crosses this spot will be together forever. Sports are also a great thing to do in Annecy. For one, it remains to be the most popular paragliding spot in Europe. Water-skiing and wakeboarding are also quite popular during the summer months.

In addition to the lake, Annecy is also known to be a gorgeous old town that has a canal going through it. You will find the l’ecluse fleurie, a tide gate decorated with flowers along the canal. Palais de L’Île is also a standout being a fortified palace in the middle of the Thiou. It has several exhibitions specifically about Annecy’s architecture and heritage. You can also go around the old courtroom, dungeon, and cells.

Saint-Pierre Cathedral is another example of amazing architecture in Annecy. It is an old renaissance building that was constructed during the 1500s. It houses two tombs of saints namely Francis de Sales and Jane Frances de Chantal. Small alleys in Annecy hold their fair share of secrets too because most of the shops are small ones that showcase local talent. Going around would almost always take you to the perfect souvenir shop.

What to Eat

Everyone who goes to Annecy also enjoys eating. Apart from being the perfect place for active travellers, the city is also a haven for foodies. The city is known for having great Haute-Savoie cold cuts and cheese. The latter is quite famous because it has four production areas: Gruyère, Emmental de Savoie, Emmental français est-central, and Tomme de Savoie.

Meanwhile, shops like Ferme de l’Angelie and Fromagerie du Cruet sell their cheese fresh from the farm along with jams and sausages. For a city that has a liking for dairy, they are also known for their ice cream. Les Glacier des Alpes takes the crown for this. It boasts 45 different flavors that are all made the same day using fresh ingredients.

Where to Stay

Staying in Annecy is not much of a challenge since it would just depend on what kind of escape you would prefer as a tourist. If you are looking for a convenient location that is in the heart of things, staying in historic buildings in the centre would be perfect. It brings you close to important locations and most sightseeing areas are just a stone’s throw away.

One of the most family-friendly areas, on the other hand, is around Lake Annecy. Not only does it afford a magnificent view, but it also is a short distance from all the activities that can be done as a group. Aside from different water and winter sports, some people also go here for camping. For those who want to go on hiking trips, staying near the mountain bases would be ideal.

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