The 6 Best Day Trips from Annecy, France

Where to Stay in Annecy

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 hikes, and it’s the perfect place to come home after a long day hiking in the mountains.

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.

The Best Annecy Day Trips

I’ve put together for you the best destinations for a day trip from Annecy. These are all easily reachable, not too far away from Annecy, and you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the day once you reach your destination.

Whether you’re looking for epic hikes, alpine lakes, gorgeous waterfalls, picturesque village, historical buildings or simply great spots to chill for a day, you’ll find something for you in these Annecy day trips below.

1. Day Trip from Annecy to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval

We’ll begin this list of Annecy day trips with a favorite of mine: Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval.

The nature reserve of Sixt-Passy is a huge outdoor area with high mountains, waterfalls, alpine lakes, rivers and plenty of wildlife.

See it on Google Maps

There’s no shortage of things to do in Sixt, and you could easily spend several days exploring the area. But it’s also a great day trip destination.

Depending on what you’re looking for, you’ll find the right activities for you: hikes, via ferrata, rafting in the river, or even outdoor activities at a lake turned leisure centre.

Here are a few things to see during your day trip:

• Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval
• Randonnée du Bout du Monde
• Cascade du Rouget
• Lac d’Anterne
• Lac Bleu leisure centre

You can check out the full guide here: 15 things to do in Sixt-Passy

How to get to Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval from Annecy

Car: 1h20

Bus: –

Train: –

2. Annecy Day Trip to Chambéry & Lac du Bourget

Chambéry is pretty similar to Annecy. While Annecy is the capital of the Haute-Savoie department, Chambéry is the capital of the Savoie department.

There are a few things to discover in the city, but the main attraction is definitely the massive lake right next to the city: the Lac du Bourget. It’s the biggest alpine lake in France, and there’s plenty of things to do around the lake.

See it on Google Maps

Just like Annecy, you could definitely spend a few days in Chambéry, exploring all the surroundings and hiking around the lake. If you’re staying in Annecy, though, a day trip to Chambéry is a great adventure.

Here are some ideas of things to do during your day trip:

• walk through Chambéry old center
• visit the Cathédrale de Chambéry
• explore the Château des Ducs de Savoie
• go for a spa in the thermal city Aix-les-Bains
• drive around the lakes on the mountains to one of the many viewpoints
• visit the 12th century Hautecombe Abbaye
• hike one of many trails, such as the Croix du Nivolet or the Dent du Chat

Florian Pépellin / CC BY-SA

How to get to Chambéry from Annecy

Car: 40mn

Bus: only 1 bus per day, not recommended

Train: 53mn, 22€ roundtrip on Oui.sncf

3. Day Trip from Annecy to Lac de Roselend

The Lac de Roselend is another great destination for a day trip from Annecy.

This lake was created by building a dam, the Roselend dam, in 1960. It’s the 4th highest dam in France, and it created this little gem of a lake, nestled high in the mountains.

It’s a 1h40 drive from the city, which allows for plenty of time to have a fantastic day around the lake. And if you want to prolong the experience, you can easily stay overnight in one of the several refuges built right next to the lake! 

See it on Google Maps

The lake and area has things to do for everyone. Epic hikes for the adventurers, but also plenty of beaches where to come relax for a day, with lot of space for the whole family.

Here are a few ideas of things to do for your day trip to the Lac de Roselend:

• hike to the Rocher du Vent
• climb to the summit of the Rocher du Vent with the Via Ferrata
• go on a nice walk around the lake
• chill on a beach and swim in the lake
• hike to the Roche Parstire
• walk/drive to the nearby lake Lac de la Gittaz

Stef & Sév’ / CC BY-NC-ND

How to get to Lac de Roselend from Annecy

Car: 1h40

Bus: –

Train: –

4. Day Trip from Annecy to Geneva

Annecy is actually so close to the border that you can even go on day trips from Annecy to Switzerland. How exciting is it to go on a day trip to another country?!

Driving north from Annecy, you’ll find Geneva right after the border.

Geneva is the 2nd biggest city in Switzerland after Zurich, and it’s located on the shore of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), one of the biggest lakes in Europe.

See it on Google Maps

For your day trip to Geneva, you can of course explore the city, but also travel a bit around the lake to see some of the other great villages built on the shore.

Here are some ideas of activities for your Annecy day trip to Geneva:

• see the Jet d’Eau of Geneva (water jet), symbol of the city
• walk in the old town and check out the Cathedral, the Bastion Park, the Tavel House or the Molard Tower
• go on a guided tour in the United Nations HQ, the Palace of Nations
• embark on a cruise on the Lac Léman
• visit the Geneva botanical garden
• explore the beautiful village of Yvoire and the Yvoire castle
• and of course eat some delicious chocolate!

How to get to Geneva from Annecy

Car: 42mn

Bus: 1h10, 28€ roundtrip, line Transalis T72 Annecy Gare Routière to Geneve Aeroport

Train: 1h40, 45€ on Oui.sncf

5. Day Trip from Annecy to Chamonix

If you enjoyed hiking in Annecy and on the mountains around the Lac d’Annecy, you’ll definitely love Chamonix.

Chamonix is an alpine city in Haute-Savoie, famous for one special mountain: the Mont-Blanc. The highest peak in Western Europe is located in the south part of Chamonix, on the border between France and Italy. It attracts visitors from all around the globe, especially hikers and climbers.

See it on Google Maps

While the Mont-Blanc is undoubtedly the highlight of Chamonix, it’s not the only attraction in the area. There are many other mountain peaks, such as the Aiguille du Midi, and other attractions such as the glacier Mer de Glace.

Here are some ideas to plan your day trip from Annecy to Chamonix:

• take the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi
• ride the Tramway du Mont-Blanc and enjoy the views from the window
• hike to the Diosaz Gorges
• stroll in the picturesque Chamonix
• go on one of the many hikes in Chamonix
• ride the iconic red train to the Mer de Glace
• visit the Mer de Glace, largest glacier in France

How to get to Chamonix from Annecy

Car: 1h10

Bus: 1h35, 45€ roundtrip on Ouibus

Train: 2h30, 50€ roundtrip on Oui.sncf

6. Day Trip from Annecy to Lake & Waterfalls of Jura

And finally, the last of our day trips from Annecy, France.

If you drive north from Annecy, you’ll soon leave the Haut-Savoie department to enter in Jura. The Jura department is famous for having many lakes & waterfalls, and this is exactly what you’ll see on this day trip.

See it on Google Maps

On top of the lakes and waterfalls, there are also some beautiful cities and villages to discover in Jura.

As you’ll be on a day trip from Annecy, the best is to focus on areas in the south of the department, closest to Annecy. If you feel like going away for a full weekend, you can stay overnight and explore more of Jura.

Here’s a selection of things to do in Jura from Annecy:

• Lac de Coiselet and its viewpoint
• Lac de Vouglans and the Via Ferrata above the lake
• visit the 7 waterfalls Cascades du Hérisson
• hike around the 4 lakes of Jura or above them
• visit the city of Saint-Claude and the Horse Tail waterfall

You can check out the full guide here: The 19 Best things to do in Jura

How to get to Jura lakes from Annecy

Car: 1h50

Bus: –

Train: –  

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:

• Roc de Chère hike
• La Tournette hike
• Mont Veyrier/Mont Baron hike
• Circuit des 3 Croix
• Gorges du Fier

Great outdoor destinations near Annecy:

• Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval
• Lac Vert
• Lac de Pormenaz

 The BIG guides:

• Best Hikes in Annecy
• Day Trips from Annecy
• Best Things to Do in Annecy

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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