Annecy turns up on almost every list of the prettiest towns in France, and looking at images of those canals and the lake behind them, it’s easy to see why. I went with high expectations. I left a little underwhelmed and more than a little frazzled. Even with an early start, the old town was heaving by mid-morning.
I’m not saying you should skip it. But I am telling you what to expect, based on my half-day trip from Chambéry by train, so you can plan your own visit with your eyes open.
How to Get to Annecy from Chambéry by Train
If you’re based in Chambéry, as I was, Annecy makes an easy half-day out.
Trains run roughly every 20 to 60 minutes throughout the day, and the fastest (TGV) services cover the 40 km route in around 40 minutes. Slower regional (TER) trains take 50 minutes or so.
A few practical points:
- Book through SNCF Connect for the best fares. Prices are around €10 – 13 each way in 2026.
- No reservation is needed on TER services; you can just turn up and go.
- Annecy’s train station is an easy 10 to 15 minute walk from the old town.
- Catch an early train to make the most of a half-day visit, and to beat the worst of the crowds.
My One Day in Annecy Itinerary
This is the exact route I followed on foot, starting near the station and finishing at the lake. It works well whether you have a full day or, like me, just a morning and part of an afternoon.
Breakfast at Sanzarù
I started my day at Sanzarù, a buzzy café close to the train station. It’s a good spot for well-made coffee, and a menu that covers everything from pastries to a full breakfast.
Get there as early as you can. Annecy fills up fast, and this is hugely popular spot (there was a queue out of the door when I walked past it on my way back to the train station).
Cathedral of St Pierre
From Sanzarù, it’s a short walk to the Cathedral of St Pierre, Annecy’s main cathedral, tucked into a narrow street the old town. Its modest Renaissance façade gives way to a flamboyant late Gothic interior, which is worth a quick look on your way past.
Old Town Market
If you’re visiting Annecy on a Tuesday, Friday or Sunday morning, build in time for the old town market.
Stalls groaning with local cheese, saucisson, bread and seasonal produce run along Rue Sainte-Claire and the surrounding streets from around 7 am to 1 pm. Tuesdays are food only, while Fridays and Sundays throw clothing, textiles and general goods into the mix.
Pont St Pierre and the View of Pont Morens
A few minutes further on, the Pont St Pierre crosses the Thiou canal and gives you one of the best photo opportunities of the morning: a clear line down the water towards the Pont Morens, with the old town houses lining both banks.
Palais de l’Ile
Just along from here is the Palais de l’Ile, the pointed stone building that appears on almost every postcard of Annecy. It was built in the 12th century and has served as a courthouse, a mint and a prison. These days it houses a small local history museum.
I didn’t go inside on this trip, since a half-day itinerary doesn’t leave much room for museum visits, but the building itself is the real draw.
Château d’Annecy
Crowning a hill above the old town, Château d’Annecy was built between the 12th and 16th centuries and was once home to the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Genevois-Nemours. It now houses a small museum covering local history and Alpine art
It was closed on the day I visited, but I walked up to take a peek at the exterior. The climb up gives you a good view back over the rooftops towards the lake.
It opens from 10.30 am to 6 pm in summer, with shorter hours and a midday closure the rest of the year, and it’s closed on Tuesdays. A combined ticket covering the château and the Palais de l’Ile costs less than buying both separately.
Jardins de l’Europe
From the Palais de l’Ile, walk south towards the lake and you’ll reach the Jardins de l’Europe, a shaded park with tall trees and a good stretches of grass for sitting down. After an hour or so of narrow streets and canal-side crowds, this is a welcome bit of space. There are lovely views over the water towards the mountains from here too.
Pont des Amours
The Jardins de l’Europe lead straight onto the Pont des Amours, the small bridge over the Vassé canal where the old town meets the lake. Local legend says that couples who kiss here while crossing will stay together for life.
Whether or not you believe that, it’s a pleasant spot to pause, and the mountain backdrop behind the water is one of the better views in Annecy.
Lake Annecy
The itinerary finishes at the lake itself, one of the cleanest in Europe with crystal-clear turquoise water framed by Alpine peaks. It’s the best reason to visit Annecy. Even with the old town busier than I’d have liked, the lake made the half-day trip worthwhile.
Is Annecy Worth Visiting? My Honest Take
Annecy is a pretty town and the lake really is as good as people say. But the old town, the part everyone comes to photograph, is small and fills up quickly.
Even arriving early and moving at a decent pace, I found myself doing a fair amount of dodging around tour groups and other visitors by mid-morning. If your picture of Annecy comes from Instagram, with empty canals and quiet cobbled streets, the reality on a normal day is busier than that.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the train journey. Just set your expectations around crowds rather than tranquillity, and plan your visit for the earliest possible start if you want anything close to the pictures you’ve seen online.
Practical Tips for Visiting Annecy in One Day
- Go early. The old town gets crowded fast, and by 10 am the main streets and bridges are already busy.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The old town streets are cobbled and uneven in places.
- Bring cash for smaller cafés and market stalls, as not everywhere takes cards.
- Visit midweek if you can. Weekends, and especially summer weekends, are considerably busier than a weekday morning.
- Don’t skip the lake for the old town alone. The canals get the attention, but the lake is what makes Annecy worth visiting.
- Pack for changeable weather. Annecy is right at the edge of the Alps, and conditions can shift quickly even in summer.
One day in Annecy is enough to see the highlights covered in this itinerary, from the old town canals to the lakeshore, and to decide for yourself whether it lives up to the hype. Just don’t expect to have it to yourself.
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.