During one of our prior visits to Geneva this summer, a Marriott employee told us about a small, very underrated, and “must-see” city on the border of Southeastern France called Annecy; we were not disappointed.
Annecy is a city bordering the majestic French Alps and Lake Annecy, France’s third largest lake and one of the freshest lakes in Europe due to the melting snow from the Alps. The lakeside waterfront area boasts beautiful beaches and all types of water sports, paddle boat rentals, and lake cruises. Annecy is well known for its biking and hiking trails. Plage de Imperial is a very popular area on the lakefront. Another popular area of the city, just off of the lake, is a beautiful park called Jardins De L’Europe.
The highlight of our visit to Annecy was the Old Town area of the city on the river Thiou. This area is equal in every way to other more famous “old towns” of Europe. The old town has several canals along with a series of small quaint bridges and is nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps.” One well-known bridge is called the Pont de Amours, which faces the lake and mountains and is very scenic. The old town has many riverside restaurants, bars, cafes, ice cream shops, and small boutiques. This area is charming, with unlimited walking. In the winter, there are several indoor swimming and wellness pools available that are attractive to many tourists.
When visiting Annecy, the closest major city is Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva is 90 minutes away by train, but you must plan a “train-to-train” connection instead of a “train-to-bus” connection.
On our next trip to Annecy, we will rent a car from the Geneva Airport and drive to the AC Hotel by Marriott Saint-Julien-en-Genevois, only 10 kilometers from the Geneva Airport. Annecy is only 33 kilometers away and a 40-minute drive from the AC Hotel. Close to AC Hotel is a well-known large water park named Vitam Aquatic and Wellness Center that is open all year. Also, very close to the hotel is the Saint Julien en Genevois Casino.
The Saleve Cable Car is also nearby, providing access to the top of the town of Saleve and overlooking the city of Geneva and Lake Geneva. Another attraction in this area is Le Grand Parc D’Andilly, known for its interesting children’s activities and array of animals.
