Things to do in Annecy

Annecy, the French town nicknamed "the Venice of the Alps" for its canals and arcaded old quarter, sits on its own lake, entirely separate from Lake Geneva.

From Geneva it is roughly 45 minutes to an hour by car via the motorway, longer by train, since a direct connection is not always available and connections should be checked in advance; a Swiss-French border crossing is involved, so carry a passport or ID card even within Schengen.

The Palais de l'Isle and the old town's arcaded streets draw heavy crowds and traffic jams in July and August, and the drive alone makes this a full day trip rather than a short outing. The lake's very clear water supports swimming and watersports in summer, but this is a different lake, town and mood from Léman stops like Yvoire, Thonon or Évian.