Annecy
Annecy is a lake town in the French Alps, known for its canal-lined old town and clear water you can swim in during summer.
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Annecy is a lake town in the Haute-Savoie department of southeastern France, at the foot of the Alps and about an hour by road from Geneva. Its old town sits on canals fed by the Thiou river, lined with old houses and crossed by stone bridges that are easy to walk between. Below it, Lake Annecy has clear water and a shoreline path that runs around the whole lake.
Couples, families and summer travelers who want lake time without big-city noise tend to like it most. Summer is the season for swimming, boat trips and cycling along the water. Spring and autumn bring quieter streets. Geneva airport is the nearest large airport, and trains from Paris take about four hours. Plan two to three days: one for the old town, one full lake day and one walk or ride along the shore.
Annecy in five
- Fly into Geneva, then bus or railGeneva is the usual gateway, about an hour from Annecy by road. Compare bus and rail timetables across the border before you book, as weekend services differ.Geneva
- Landing in Geneva? Count Swiss days tooSwitzerland is in Schengen, so the 90 in 180 days count for Annecy includes time in Geneva, and EES registration happens at the airport. Plan the whole trip against the one limit.Schengen 90/180 days
- Choose old town or lakefront firstThe old town is atmospheric but noisy and awkward for parking, while the lakefront suits summer swims and family trips. Decide before you search rooms.Where to stay in Annecy
- Swim and cycle the lake in summerA cycle path of about 42 km circles the lake. The water is cold into early summer and lifeguard cover is seasonal, so check the city's beaches page before you swim.Annecy in 2 days
- Book July, August and festival week earlyRooms fill and rates rise in peak summer, and the animation film festival packs the old town (13 to 19 June in 2027). May, September and early June give the same lake with more space.Best time to visit Annecy
Things to do in Annecy
See all attractions in Annecy
Need to know
- Airport
- Geneva (GVA), about 1 hr by road
- Getting there
- TGV from Paris in about 4 hr, or bus and train from Geneva
- Getting around
- Walkable center; bikes, local buses and lake boats
- Best base
- Old town, or the lakefront in summer
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with the lake villages
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°Cold, ski nearbyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 130 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, ski nearby
- FebruaryPartly cloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh9°Low0°Cold, snowFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, snow
- MarchRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh11°Low2°Late snow, quietMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 116 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Late snow, quiet
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh15°Low5°Spring blossomAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring blossom
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Green, freshMayRain
Good
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, fresh
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh24°Low13°Lake swims startJuneRain
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lake swims start
- JulyClear10 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Peak, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak, busy
- AugustClear8 rainy daysHigh27°Low15°Lake festivalAugustClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 85 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Lake festival
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Warm, calmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 100 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low2°Quiet, rainNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 141 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, rain
- DecemberRain13 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh7°Low0°Christmas marketDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 139 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Annecy, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Annecy
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
4
- Feels like
- 2°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Annecy
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue10°3°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed9°2°0%Wednesday: Fog. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu12°2°14%Thursday: Rain. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 14%.
- Fri9°6°36%Friday: Rain. High 9°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 36%.
- Sat12°6°16%Saturday: Rain. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sun13°7°38%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 38%.
Updated 09:39 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Genevaabout 1 hour by bus or carA lakeside city across the border, with an international airport.Read the guide
- Chamonixabout 1.5 hours by carThe Mont Blanc valley, for cable cars and high-altitude walks.Read the guide
- Chambéryabout 50 min by trainA quieter Savoie city with an arcaded old quarter.Read the guide
Before you go to Annecy
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Rules for Annecy, checked
- Non-EU travelers may need a Schengen visa or be eligible for visa-free entry. Check the rules on france-visas.gouv.fr before you book.Source
- Customs limits apply to meat, dairy and plant products brought in from outside the EU. Declare anything in doubt at the border.
- French menus show service compris when the tip is included. Leaving a few euros is optional.
- Dial 112 from any phone for police, fire or an ambulance. The number works across the EU.
Annecy FAQ
How many days do you need in Annecy?
Two days cover the old town and a lake day with a swim, boat or bike ride. Three days lets you add a village on the east shore or a mountain viewpoint without rushing.
Is Annecy worth visiting?
Yes, especially from May to September. The canal-lined old town and clear lake are easy to enjoy on foot, and mountain hikes start nearby. It is crowded in July and August.
Can you visit Annecy as a day trip from Geneva?
Yes. It takes about an hour each way by bus or car, which leaves an afternoon for the old town and lakefront. Stay a night if you want a swim, a boat trip and a quiet evening.
When is the best time to visit Annecy?
June and early September for warm days and lighter crowds, July and August for the warmest water and busiest lake, and December for the Christmas market. The June film festival fills rooms, so check its dates.
Where should you stay in Annecy?
The old town for atmosphere, near the station for trains, the lakefront for summer swims or a village on the shore for quiet. Parking is easiest outside the old town.
Can you swim in Lake Annecy?
Yes, from public beaches in summer. The water is cold until June and can stay fresh at depth, so check lifeguard hours, beach flags and local rules before you swim.