The short version
- Direct TGVs from Paris Gare de Lyon take 3 hours 43 minutes at the fastest. Fares start at €33 one-way.
- If you fly, land in Geneva, about 50 kilometers away. Coaches run from Geneva airport to the bus station next to Annecy’s train station.
- The old town is built around the Thiou canal, with the Palais de l’Île in the middle and the château above. The Palais closes on Tuesday.
- Lake cruises run from March 1 to November 30. The lake is low this autumn, and since September 23, 2026 the boats leave from Sevrier instead of the port in town.
- The cycle path runs 33 kilometers down the west shore. The east-shore road and path at Talloires are closed until December 18, 2026, so you can’t ride the full loop before then.
- The new animation museum, the Cité internationale du cinéma d’animation, opened in June 2026, ten minutes on foot from the station.
What to see
Walk the old town along the Thiou, the short river that drains the lake. The Palais de l’Île, the 12th-century stone house on an island in the canal, later served as a prison, a court and a mint; you can visit the old cells. It is closed on Tuesday and free on the first Sunday of the month from October to May.
Climb to the Château d’Annecy, the castle of the counts of Geneva, now a museum. It is €6.50, €7 in July and August, and free on the first Sunday of the month from October to May.
Cross the Pont des Amours to the lakefront: the Jardins de l’Europe on one side and the Pâquier, a long lawn on the water, on the other.
The Cité du cinéma d’animation in the old Haras is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 18:00. The museum is €9, free on the first Sunday of the month.
Take a boat. The one-hour cruise is €19 and the 90-minute tour of the whole lake is €22. Or rent a bike and ride the west shore. The Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard on the east shore is open until November 12, and the Gorges du Fier, 10 kilometers out of town, reopen on March 15.
Getting there and around
TGVs leave Paris Gare de Lyon for Annecy about 15 times a day, five of them direct. The rest change on the way.
From Geneva airport, coaches take about 50 minutes to Annecy bus station. Lyon airport is about 125 kilometers away.
In town, you walk. A Sibra bus ticket is €2 in the app or by SMS and €2.50 on board, valid for an hour. Vélonecy e-bikes are good for short rides around town.
When to go
June and September are the best months. July averages a high of 26.5°C, and January a high of about 6°C, with rain spread through the year.
July and August are the busiest. The Fête du Lac fireworks fill the bay on August 7, 2027, and the Animation Film Festival runs June 13 to 19, 2027, so book early for those weeks.
In winter the lake boats stop from December to February, the Gorges du Fier close, and the Château de Menthon is shut. The Venetian Carnival comes to the old town from February 19 to 21, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit Annecy as a day trip from Paris?
You can, but it is about seven and a half hours on the train there and back. Stay at least one night and see the old town in the evening and the lake the next morning.
How do I get from Geneva airport to Annecy?
Take a coach. They run from Geneva airport to Annecy bus station, next to the train station, in about 50 minutes, from about €12 when booked ahead.
Can you cycle around Lake Annecy?
The cycle path runs 33 kilometers down the west shore. The east-shore road and path at Talloires are closed for rockfall work until December 18, 2026, so the full 40-kilometer loop will not be possible before then.
Where do the lake cruises leave from?
Usually from the port in the center of Annecy. Since September 23, 2026, with the lake level low, they have been leaving from the landing stage in Sevrier instead. The season ends on November 30.
Is there a tour I can combine with Annecy?
Yes, in Lyon. Our Lyon day trip meets at Lyon Part-Dieu station: the traboules, the basilica, the Roman theater by funicular, a bouchon lunch with wine, and a pedicab ride, with eight guests at most.
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