I almost don’t even want to write about Annecy because I want it to stay my little secret. Relatively untouched by mass tourism, this “Venice of France” is the most charming town in all of France, and that’s saying something because the French do ‘charming’ very well. A little known fact is that it’s only a short bus ride away from the hustle and bustle of Geneva, Switzerland. Here’s how to do a day trip to one of my favorite cities in all of Europe:
Flixbus, an awesome, cheap, clean bus provider connecting tons of European cities, offers daily journeys from Geneva to Annecy and back. It takes less than an hour to get there, and it only costs around $9 each way! The bus drops you off in the center of Annecy, and is small enough that you can see the entire city on foot in 4-5 ish hours.
After my first look of the canals and surrounding village, I was instantly in love. Swan families swim around the water, adorable French cafes line the canals, and local people greet you with a chipper “bonjour mademoiselle” around every corner. It’s hard not to be in a good mood when your surroundings look like something straight out of a storybook. I spent maybe 2 hours strolling around the different canals and bridges, narrow streets, and popping in and out of cute local shops selling hand crafted goods. Annecy is Venice’s beautiful French sister – without the hoards of tourists and sky-high prices. I was in pure bliss.
Just beyond the fairytale village is is the marvelous Lake Annecy. Bright blue water and imposing mountains in the background adorn the view, making for a simply stunning experience. There are plenty of activities to do along the lake, such as taking a stroll on the pathways that circle it, renting paddle boats for an hour or two, taking a boat tour, cycling around the perimeter, or simply going for a swim in the refreshing water. No matter what you choose to do with your time in Annecy, you will fall in love with its undeniable charm.
When it came time to catch my bus back to Geneva, I had to really talk myself into not just giving up my normal life and living there forever.
