Annecy tours and tickets
Annecy is mostly outdoors, so most bookings depend on weather and season rather than on sold-out timed slots. In July and August, book paragliding, private boats and lake activities a few days ahead. The castle and the old town need nothing in advance. Day trips to Chamonix and Geneva run all year, and the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi is the one ticket worth planning around the forecast.
Book these first
- Hotels from June to August
- 2 to 3 months ahead. The old town and lakeside sell out in summer, and the lake villages have very few rooms.
- Paragliding or a private boat
- A few days ahead in summer. Slots fill on fine days, and bad weather moves everyone to the next day.
- Dinner at the better restaurants
- 1 to 2 weeks ahead in summer. The starred and Bib Gourmand rooms are small, and the best-known cheese restaurants fill at weekends.
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Monuments and landmarks
Château d'Annecy
The castle on the hill above the old town is now a museum of local history and art. The climb is short and steep, and the terraces look over the rooftops and the lake. Entry is a simple ticket at the door.
Which to pick. Buy at the door and go in the morning or late afternoon. A guided visit adds little, so spend the time on the view and the courtyard instead.
On the day is fineVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorOld town and canals walking tour
A guided walk covers the Thiou canal, the arcaded streets, the Palais de l'Isle and the history of the counts of Geneva. Most walks last about ninety minutes and run in several languages in season.
Which to pick. Take a walk on your first morning if you like context. Otherwise the old town is easy to cover alone with a map, and it is free.
A day or two ahead in summerVisitor guideOfficial siteTours and tickets on Viator
On the water
Lake Annecy boat trip
Passenger boats cross the lake with commentary and call at villages such as Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard. Short sightseeing loops last about an hour, and hop-on tickets let you get off and return later.
Which to pick. Choose a hop-on ticket to lunch in a lake village, or the one-hour loop for a quick look. Check the last boat back before you step off.
A day ahead in July and AugustTours and tickets on ViatorKayak and paddleboard hire
Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and pedalos are rented along the shore from spring to early autumn, by the hour or the half day. Guided kayak tours go to quieter bays away from the town.
Which to pick. Hire a kayak by the hour on a calm morning, before the afternoon wind. Choose a guided tour if you want the coves rather than the town beach.
A day ahead for guided toursTours and tickets on ViatorPrivate boat with a skipper
Small motorboats and sailing boats can be chartered with or without a skipper for a few hours or the day. You choose the stops, swim from the boat and see the shore from the water.
Which to pick. Book it for a group of four or more, where the cost per person drops. Ask about swimming stops and lunch before you confirm.
A few days ahead in summerTours and tickets on Viator
Outdoors
Tandem paragliding
Pilots fly you off the Col de la Forclaz above Talloires and land by the lake. The flight takes about fifteen to thirty minutes in the air, and the whole outing about two hours. Photos and video are often sold as extras.
Which to pick. Book for the first day of your stay so there is room to rebook if the wind or cloud stops flights. Morning flights are calmer.
A few days ahead in summerTours and tickets on ViatorCycling the lake path
A mostly flat cycle path follows the shore for about 40 km around the lake. Bikes and e-bikes are hired in town, and some shops take bikes back by boat or from another point on the lake.
Which to pick. Ride one side to Talloires or Menthon and come back by boat. The full loop suits strong cyclists with a full day.
Hire on the day is fineVisitor guideTours and tickets on Viator
Day trips
Chamonix and the Aiguille du Midi
A day to the foot of Mont Blanc, with the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi at 3,842 meters. Journeys by coach or car take about an hour and a quarter, and the cable car runs only when the weather is clear.
Which to pick. Buy the cable car slot for the morning, since visibility drops in the afternoon. Check the forecast and webcams before you leave Annecy.
1 to 3 days ahead in summerOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorGeneva
A coach ride of about an hour takes you to Geneva's lake, its old town on the hill and the UN district. Guided day trips combine a walking tour with free time, and you can easily go alone by coach.
Which to pick. Go alone if you want a few hours by the lake. A guided day is useful if you want the old town and the UN explained.
A few days aheadOfficial siteTours and tickets on ViatorTalloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard
Two villages on the lake, reached by boat, bike or bus in well under an hour. Menthon has a castle above the water, and Talloires has a small beach, a lakeside path and good lunch spots.
Which to pick. Take the boat out and the bus back, or the reverse, and stay for lunch. No guide is needed.
A day ahead for lunch in July and AugustTours and tickets on Viator
Booking tours and tickets in Annecy
Is there a skip-the-line ticket for the castle?
No. The castle sells tickets at the door and rarely has long queues, except on wet days when the museum gets busy. Arrive when it opens and you will have the courtyards to yourself.
What happens if paragliding is canceled for weather?
Operators usually offer a new date or a refund when wind or cloud stops flights. Confirm that before paying, and avoid booking on your last day.
Do the lake boats need a booking?
Not for regular sightseeing boats, which sell tickets at the quay. Book a table or a private charter ahead in July and August, and check the last boat back to town.
Is a guided tour of the old town worth it?
It is optional. The old town is small and free to walk. A guide helps if you want the history of the canals, the prison island and the counts, but you can cover it alone in an hour.
Can I visit Chamonix from Annecy without a car?
Yes, by coach or by train with a change. Journeys take about an hour and a half, and day trips are easy to do alone. Book the Aiguille du Midi slot separately for the morning.
What can wait until I arrive?
The castle, the old town, lake boats at the quay and bike hire can all be arranged the same day. Book paragliding, a private boat and a lunch in a lake village a few days ahead.