Our top tips when visiting Annecy Want to know what we think you should do when you visit Annecy? Read our top tips here!

In the vieille ville, you will find beautiful narrow cobbled streets lined with picturesque buildings. The many little bridges crossing canals, small passageways and streets with beautiful coloured buildings are a delight to photography lovers and are really reminiscent of a mini Venice!

Wander the streets, explore the little shops for souvenirs and check out the little cafés & restaurants lining the canals. Top tip- If you’re looking for ice-cream, the ‘Glacier des Alpes’ (with a queue) is the most famous ice-cream parlour, operating since the 1960’s.

The Palais de l’Îsle is the most photographed place in Annecy. This ancient prison/ courthouse/ care home dates back to the Middle Ages and has had many purposes over the years. Today it has been converted to a visitors museum of local history. 

In front of the city and bordering the lake, there is large green park named ‘Le Paquier’ , here you will find the ‘jardins de Europe’ (suitable for a picnic by the lake!) and the ‘Pont Des Amours’ which is a famous iron bridge of lovers that crosses the river Thiou which flows along the old town besides pretty quays. The Pont des Amours is so called, as apparently if lovers kiss in the middle of the bridge, they will stay together forever!

From the Pont Des Amours, you can enjoy beautiful views out to Lake Annecy, with the magnificent La Tournette, the tallest of the Lake Annecy mountains in the background. On the other side of the bridge, you can enjoy the pretty scene of the Canal du Vassé.

There are many markets that operate during the week in Annecy, mainly selling food items. The Old Town Market on the Rue Sainte-Claire is on Tuesday, Friday and Sundays. The market experience is one that you must experience if you are a lover of food, you will find fresh produce, such as local cured meats and special local alpine cheeses such as Reblochon and Tomme. 

The Château d’Annecy is located high up in Annecy, above the old town, reached by a steep pathway and is a restored medieval castle from the 12th century. Previously inhabited by the Counts of Geneva, it is now a museum which you can visit and learn some local history about Annecy & the Haute Savoie region.

From the chateau, you can enjoy a fantastic birds eye view of Lake Annecy and a famous view of the coloured rooftops of the city of Annecy.