Planning to visit Annecy in winter?

Great choice! You’ll experience this beautiful French city without the usual crowds, and it’s the perfect season to indulge in delicious local cheese dishes without feeling too guilty.

Let’s see everything you need to know to plan your trip to Annecy in the winter! 

 

Where to Stay to Visit Annecy in Winter

Still in the planning phase of your trip to Annecy? Here are the best places to stay in Annecy:

Best Hotel – Lodge et Dolce: this is definitely the best hotel in the area. It’s located 10mn away from the train station, and 5mn from the lake. It has everything you need to be your base for your adventures, and it’s the perfect place to come home after a long day out in the cold.

Best Budget Hotel – Best Hotel Annecy: if you’re looking for a great place to stay without paying too much, then this hotel is for you. With a private bathroom, a private parking and comfy beds, you’d be hard pressed to find better for around 30€/night per person.

 

snowy mountains from annecy

 

The 10 Best Things to Do in Annecy in Winter

Wondering what to do in Annecy in winter? Well, you’re in the right place.

I’ve put together for you the best things to do in Annecy in winter, to help you make the most of your trip!

 

1. Wander Around the Old Town

Just like in any other season, walking around the Old Town of Annecy is definitely one of the best things to do in the city.

If this is your first time in Annecy, one of your first activities in the city is to head towards the center, and walk along the Thiou river exploring the city. Rain and cold weather shouldn’t stop you from going out; in fact, winter might be the very best time to visit Annecy.

The center is made of cobbled narrow streets, that get absolutely swarmed with tourists in summer. I’m personally not a huge fan of crowds, and if you’re anything like me you’ll love walking in Annecy in winter, with empty streets and a nice ambient calm.

 

annecy at night in winter

 

Oh and of course, it there’s snow when you visit, you’ll get to experience the city in a brand new way! 

Here are the main places to see in Annecy city center:

  • Le Palais de l’Île (pictured above)
  • Annecy cathedral
  • Annecy Castle
  • this postcard view from a sluice on the river
  • the Pont des Amours (pictured below)

 

2. Ski in Le Semnoz or La Clusaz

Ready for an adventure? Annecy is really close to several ski resorts, and it’s extremely easy to go for a day of skiing from the city.

The closest ski resort is Le Semnoz. Located only 25mn away from Annecy, it’s easy to reach by car, and there are also several buses from Annecy.

In Le Semnoz, you’ll find 2 chair lifts and 7 ski lifts, that will take you up the 18 slopes of the resorts: 7 green, 5 blue and 6 red slopes. And yes, there’s even a snow park! A pass for the full day (10h of ski) will cost you around 16€ per person.

 

women skiing in la clusaz annecy winter activities

 

You’ve already skiied in Le Semnoz, and want more ideas? Don’t worry, there are plenty of other ski resorts around!

Here’s a list of the best ski resorts right next to Annecy:

  • Semnoz: 25mn
  • Manigod: 32mn
  • Saint-Jean de Sixt: 33mn
  • Le Grand Bornand: 36mn
  • La Clusaz: 37mn
  • La Sambuy: 1h10
  • Megève: 1h15
  • Val Thorens: 1h36

 

la clusaz in winter

 

3. Outdoor Ice Skating

Want to enjoy an outdoor activity without having to drive to the nearby ski resort? Then you’re in luck, because you don’t even have to leave Annecy!

Each winter, an outdoor ice rink is built on the Place François de Menthon, a 10mn walk from the lake. Entrance is free, and you can rent equipment on the spot (around 5€ for a pair of ice skates).

In addition to this outdoor ice rink, you can always go to the indoor skating rink: Patinoire Jean-Régis.

Prices for the covered skating rink:

  • Entrance:
    • Adults: 4.50€
    • Kids 5-15 years old: 4€
    • Under 5: free
  • Entrance + skate rental:
    • Adults: 8.50€
    • Kids 5-15 years old: 7.50€
    • Under 5: 3€

 

4. Christmas Markets

A classic of any major European city in winter: the Christmas market! And Annecy doesn’t disappoint, with 2 Christmas markets in the city: the Village des Alpes and the Christmas Market in the Old Town.

 

The Village des Alpes is the biggest of the two, and it takes place in front of the Courier shopping mall. It’s a huge village, with wooden cabins and even an outdoor ice rink. It’s definitely the place to be in this time of year, with live music, craft beer, cider bars, and of course delicious local food! And if you don’t have any ideas for Christmas gifts for in-laws or family, you’ll certainly find inspiration there. 

The other Christmas Market is located in the Old Town, with more decorations and 90 chalets to get your dose of drinks, foods and special Christmas gifts.

Opening times: from end of November to early January (check exact days here)

 

 

 

 

 

Read more: Best Places to Spend Christmas in Europe

 

5. Christmas Light Show

In addition to the Christmas markets, winter in Annecy also comes with a spectacular light show in the heart of the city. The city hall becomes the center of attention once the night sets in.

Light is projected on the city hall, and it creates festive scenes and animations for around 10 minutes. It’s a fantastic show, for the whole family, and completely free to watch!

 

The city hall is not the only part of town that gets illuminated in winter. Night time in winter around Christmas makes the city come alive, with many illuminations on houses, facades and monuments, such as the bridge below.

 

6. Walk Around the Lac d’Annecy

Truth be told, the Lac d’Annecy is the center of all activities in this part of France, in all seasons. Whether it’s hiking on the mountains above the lake, strolling on the shore, or swimming in the fresh water, there’s something to do for everyone in any month of the year.

 

lake annecy in winter

 

The lake Annecy in winter is my favorite place to go for a walk. The shore is often very quiet, without the usual crowds of the hot summer days. You can go to the lake, and walk around to the different places of interest.

It’s a totally different atmosphere in winter: you have some foggy days, and some clear days where you can see the white snow covering all the surroundings.

 

7. Venetian Carnival

Did you know that the nickname of Annecy was “la Venise des Alpes” (the Venice of the Alps)? The nickname comes from the beauty of the city, its romantic atmosphere, and the canals meandering through the city.

So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to know that there’s even a Venetian Carnival in Annecy!

 

carnival in annecy france

 

Each year for the past 24 years, the Annecy Venetian Carnival takes places for 3 days on the first weekend of March. More than 500 masks parade in the city, and it’s always a wonderful event.

Here’s the program of the event:

  • free parade from 10am to 6pm in the parks and pedestrian streets
  • costume presentation on the podium in the Jardins de l’Europe at 2pm
  • reception of the masks at the city hall on Saturday 6pm

 

visit annecy in winter and see the carnival

 

8. Spend a Weekend in Le Grand Bornand

Le Grand Bornand is one of the several ski resorts that you can easily reach from Annecy. It’s a huge resort with more than 86km of slopes (53 miles), and plenty of activities for the whole family.

Going for a weekend trip to Le Grand Bornand is definitely one of the best Annecy winter activities!

 

Here are some of the activities waiting for you in Le Grand Bornand:

  • skiing in the huge ski resort
  • get your adrenaline pumping at the snow park
  • have fun with luges
  • go ice skating
  • discover biathlon with an introduction session
  • visit some typical houses
  • relax in a spa
  •  taste cheese directly from a local producer
  • and much more!

 

You can reach Le Grand Bornand from Annecy with the bus 62 or bus 63: 1h trip, 8€ one-way ticket. 

 

 

9. Go on a Snowshoe Hike

Right outside Annecy, there are plenty of epic trails to hike. But when a thick layer of snow covers the mountains, it can be hard to follow the regular hike.

This is where snowshoes come into play!

 

Switch things up from your regular hike, put snowshoes on and go on a snowshoe hike! Check out the list of the best hikes around Annecy, pick among the easy/moderate ones and go for it.

You’re up for a totally different experience, and absolutely beautiful landscapes (just like this view below from the hike in Le Semnoz).

You can rent snowshoes in most of the ski equipment shops in town, for around 6€/day. 

 

10. Taste the local cheese dishes

And finally, the last item on our list of best things to do in Annecy, France in winter: tasting the local cheese dishes.

Let me start this one by saying there are way more local dishes to try in Annecy than the cheese dishes, and that winter is the perfect season to experience them all. After all, you’ll need some energy to go through the hardships of the season!

 

eat raclette what to do in annecy in winter

 

Typical dishes in Annecy are made of melted cheese, straight from the mountains. Here are the absolute must-try dishes for any winter in Annecy:

  • Raclette:a huge wheel of cheese melted with a heater, that you scrape onto potatoes & meat. It’s usually all-you-can-eat cheese!
  • Tartiflette: made of potatoes, reblochon cheese, lardons and onions
  • Fondue: a pot of melted cheese in which you dip bread using a long fork
  •  Crozets: a special kind of pasta, all squared. Cooked into a gratin, with loads of cheese of course

 

Does Annecy have snow?

You bet it does! In average, there are 32 days of snow in Annecy per year. During these 32 days, it falls 177cm of snow (5.8 feet).

There is often snow in the city itself, and it’s pretty cool to see the city change color as the snow covers everything in white. Apart from the city, the whole area around Annecy also gets covered in snow, especially the mountains around the lake.

 

Does it snow in Annecy in December?

Yes, it does snow in Annecy in December. In the past 5 years, the months with the most snow are, from most snow to least snow:

  • January
  • February
  • December
  • March
  • November

Here’s a look at snowfall amount and snow days for 2019-2020:

Weather in Annecy France in winter

It gets pretty cold in Annecy in winter. In the city, it rarely goes to freezing temperature during the day, but you’ll still need to pack your winter clothes for sure.

Average temperatures during the day in Annecy:

annecy weather yearly temperatures

 

fog around the canal in annecy

 

Visit Haute-Savoie

Planning your trip to Haute-Savoie? You’ll find below a few other travel guides & key spots to see in the area.

Best hikes around Annecy:

Great outdoor destinations near Annecy:

 The BIG guides:

 

I hope you enjoy your trip to Annecy and to France; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.

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