Annecy
Annecy is a honeypot tourist destination with a delightful old town centre & relatively close to a host of French Alps ski resorts, including La Clusaz & Le Grand Bornand. If travelling from Geneva toward the Tarentaise & Maurienne valleys, Annecy provides a quick diversion along the way. Or if it takes your fancy, you could do worse than spend a night here.
If Annecy is the first historic old town centre you have ever visited in Europe, you will be well pleased with it. A compact old town comes with a backdrop of snowy mountains (on a good winter's day), the requisite number of narrow, pedestrian friendly (& often collonaded) streets & laneways, intersecting tunnels & arches, watercourses, bridges; a looming 13th century castle & other historic 14th century buildings; plus a few white swans 'swanning ' around on the river for good measure. It is easy to see why tourists are attracted to the town, but having been around a bit, we found it only held our interest for a few hours as we strolled about, but as we suggest, those less exposed to historic sites in Europe may well fall in love with Annecy.
Annecy Accommodation
If staying in Annecy overnight, it behoves one to stay in the atmospheric old town centre. For a 5-star effect, stay at the beautiful Les Loges Annecy Vieille Ville, or if on a tighter budget, try the perfectly located Hôtel du Palais de l'Isle.
Search & book a place to stay via the Annecy Accommodation Listings.
Reviews & More Info
The Powderhounds have visited Annecy on a few occasions, the last being in early 2025. Click on the review link in the left column of the overview (or top page if on a mobile) to read our thoughts.
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