Annecy in twelve stops
The list below is an editorial selection, not an official ranking. It mixes free walks with paid visits, and it notes which stops are closed or changed in autumn 2026. Four stops are in the old town, four are on or at the water, and four lie around the lake or in the hills.
Prices are for adults and come from the published programs and tariffs of 2026. Check the opening times before you go, because several places close on fixed days or at the end of a season.
In the old town
Four stops within walking distance of each other.
1. Palais de l'Isle
A former prison on an island in the Thiou. You can see former prison rooms and exhibitions on local heritage. There is no lift, and the interior is not accessible for visitors with reduced mobility. Entry is €4 from September to June and €5 in July and August. Children under 12 are free.
Old town →2. Musée-Château
The castle museum has its own ticket, separate from the Palais. Adults pay €6.50 from September to June and €7 in July and August. A combined ticket for both sights costs €8 or €9.
Opening days →3. Thiou walk
The river once powered crafts and industry. Today a free path follows it for about 3.5 km, from the center to Cran-Gevrier. You do not need to walk all of it. The first stretch in the old town is the part most visitors choose.
4. Old town market
The market runs on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 7 am to 1 pm, on Rue Sainte-Claire. Tuesday is mainly food. On Friday and Sunday there are also textiles and other goods. It is not a daily market.
Our picks: things to do
A hike above the lake, canyoning near Talloires and a food tour with a Savoyard meal.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Small-group food tour with a Savoyard meal
An English-speaking guide, tastings at four or more stops and a Savoyard dish with water and a local drink.
Check availability →
Guided canyoning in the Angon canyon
Wetsuit, helmet, ropes and a guide for three to four hours.
Check availability →
Guided hike to viewpoints over the lake
About two and a half hours with a state-certified mountain guide. A bus ticket may cost €1.60 per ride.
Check availability →Annecy tours and experiences
Old town walks, lake cruises, paragliding and day trips from Geneva, with live prices and availability.
On and at the water
Two beaches, a boat trip and the cycle path.
5. Marquisats beach
A free city beach with showers, toilets and food. Lifeguards are on duty from 4 July to 31 August 2026, 11 am to 7 pm. An area with secured paths, accessible changing rooms and amphibious chairs runs on the same dates.
Beaches →6. Albigny beach
A free beach on Avenue du Petit Port in Annecy-le-Vieux, with a lawn, showers and toilets. Check the current lifeguard dates before a summer visit.
Beaches →7. Lake cruise
Commentated cruises last 1 hour (€19 for adults) or 1 hour 30 minutes (€22). Children from 4 to 12 pay €13.50 on the shorter trip and around €15 on the longer one. Since 23 September 2026 the boats have left from Sevrier instead of Annecy because of low water, so confirm the port when you book.
Tours →8. Cycling on the west shore
The Voie verte runs for almost 33 km between Annecy and Val de Chaise near Marlens. Works have interrupted it since 12 October 2026, and a longer closure starts on 2 November. A ride around the whole lake is not possible until the east shore reopens in December.
Lake Annecy →Around the lake and in the hills
Four trips that need a few hours each.
9. Talloires and the Roc de Chère
A lakeside village on the east shore, next to a wooded rock massif with a nature reserve. The path to the reserve from the Talloires bay is steep and needs good fitness. The east shore road is closed to traffic, walkers and cyclists until 18 December 2026, so plan the route in advance.
Talloires →10. Château de Menthon
The castle in Menthon-Saint-Bernard is about 10 km from Annecy. The castle interior is seen on a guided visit of about 45 minutes, and the gardens are included. Adults pay €12, children from 5 to 14 pay €6, and the gardens alone cost €3. Tickets are sold on site.
Château de Menthon →11. Gorges du Fier
A walkway through a narrow gorge near Lovagny, about 1 hour without a guide. Adults pay €6 and children from 7 to 15 pay €3. The 2026 season ended on 15 October, so this stop has to wait for the next season. No strollers, no dogs.
Gorges du Fier →12. Semnoz
The mountain above Annecy has free summer activities and paid ones, such as the summer toboggan and mini-kart. In 2026 the summer bus S4 ran daily from 1 July to 31 August at the normal Sibra fare. A notice for the autumn holidays gives 1 pm to 5 pm daily and warns of closures in bad weather.
Entry prices at a glance
Adults, as published for 2026. Check the current tariff before you buy.
| Stop | Adult price | Children | Season or days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palais de l'Isle | €4 (Sept to June), €5 (July, Aug) | Under 12 free | Closed on Tuesdays |
| Musée-Château | €6.50 (Sept to June), €7 (July, Aug) | Under 12 free | Closed on Tuesdays |
| Combined ticket | €8 (Sept to June), €9 (July, Aug) | – | Reduced €5 |
| Lake cruise, 1 hour | €19 | €13.50 (ages 4 to 12) | 1 March to 30 November |
| Château de Menthon | €12 | €6 (ages 5 to 14) | Check autumn hours |
| Gorges du Fier | €6 | €3 (ages 7 to 15) | 15 March to 15 October 2026 |
| Thiou walk and market | Free | Free | Market on Tue, Fri, Sun |
Museum prices come from the program of the first half of 2026 and can change. For more on the old town, see the old town page.
Things to do in Annecy: frequently asked questions
What should I see first in Annecy?
Start in the old town: the Thiou, the Palais de l'Isle and, on Tuesday, Friday or Sunday morning, the market. The walk costs nothing, and you can add a museum if the weather turns.
Are the two museums on one ticket?
You can buy them separately or together. The combined ticket for the Musée-Château and the Palais de l'Isle costs €8 from September to June and €9 in July and August, with a reduced price of €5.
What can I do on a rainy day?
The Palais de l'Isle and the Musée-Château are indoors. Both close on Tuesdays. A visit to the Château de Menthon is also a guided indoor visit, but check its autumn hours first.
Which stops are closed in October?
The Gorges du Fier closed for the season on 15 October 2026. The lifeguards at the beaches finished on 31 August. Some roads and cycle paths around the lake are closed until 18 December.
Can I do all twelve stops in one trip?
Not in a day. Give the old town one day, the lake and a boat or beach another day, and the villages and the gorge a third. In autumn, some of them are closed.