Activities in Annecy

Discovering Annecy and its surroundings

The Best Western International Annecy is fortunate to be in the heart of a city with a unique and incomparable historical, cultural, and natural heritage. By staying in our three-star hotel in Annecy, you can enjoy it through numerous activities.

Activities

Activities accessible on foot near the hotel

You can walk to the centre of Annecy from the hotel by walking along the pedestrian Promenade du Thiou, the smallest river in France. Feel free to meander through the streets as Annecy’s charm is also in the small streets away from the hustle and bustle of tourists!

Following the river towards the centre of Annecy, you can choose to either walk through the historic old town or head for the famous museum Palais de l'Île d'Annecy where you will certainly take some nice shots. After having photographedSaint Peter’s Cathedral, one of the city's iconic edifices, and just a few steps from the museum, you can continue your walk towards the Garden of Europe which borders the no less famous Lake Annecy. You can walk over the Pont des Amours, or Lovers Bridge, where you can see the padlocks left by couples passing through Annecy. Cross over it and you’ll be on the Pâquier, a large stretch of grass bordering the lake where you will find both tourists and locals playing games, cycling, picnicking, and simply taking in the beauty.

All year round, close to the best international western Annecy

For those lucky enough to visit us during the summer season: summer is filled with many family entertainment events in Annecy. Both the Annecy International Animated Film Festival and the Annecy Fireworks Special are known all around the world to promise unforgettable memories for those who are lucky enough to come. If you miss out on those two events, there are many others to enjoy! For those of you who love running, try out the Lake Annecy Marathon, held every year in April. You will love the incredible scenery and fun ambiance. Every year on the second Saturday in October, bring your family to the city centre to watch farmers and their alpine herds as they come down from their alpine pastures. The parade is filled with folklore and of course incredibly good local delicacies.

Shortly before, High Five Festival Annecy promises an event for everyone with concerts, open-air cinema, conferences, Brand Village, big airbag jumps, and many other activities. During the cold winter days or when the weather isn’t nice enough to stay outdoors, Annecy is also full of pleasant places to visit inside: Spend time shopping at the Courier shopping centre, get your dose of culture at the Salomon Foundation for Contemporary Art, or go to the cinema at the Pathé Annecy theatres. The most daring among you can try

Consult or book your activities in Annecy

But your hotel also has several options to keep you happy.

Our Services

You might not have enough time to visit Annecy while you’re here but the Best Western International Annecy also has services to entertain you and take care of yourself.

Learn more about our services

Activities
around Annecy

For our hotel guests who wish to discover the surrounding area may do so—whether or not they have a car—thanks to the public transport system. You can visit the shores of Lake Annecy with its numerous beaches and footpaths and spend your afternoon hiking or swimming in the water. If you are looking for a view, you can climb to the top of the Semnoz mountain where a magnificent panorama of the lake and the Mont-Blanc range awaits you.

On the other side of the lake, the historic Chateau de Menthon is worth a visit. Not far away, a short hike takes you to the Angon Falls, a natural beauty if there ever was one.

If your type of green is with a club and ball, you can tee up at the Annecy Golf Course overlooking the lake. Further afield, make the most of your stay in the region by visiting the Roc de Chère and Bout du Lac Nature Reserves on Lake Annecy or take a break walking through the Secret Gardens in Vaulx with its 7,000 m2 of pure wonder.

A little further away, a few dozen kilometres from Annecy, you can also visit the Lac du Bourget in Savoie, cross the border to Geneva to see the shores of Lake Geneva, or take a trip to Chamonix, a little over an hour's drive from Annecy.