Ready to explore the best beaches in Lake Annecy France? We spent the entire month of July in this beautiful town of the French Alps, and can’t wait to tell you all about it! While we had many days hiking in the mountains, what really impressed us was the Lake Annecy beaches. Here’s our complete guide to the swimming spots, how to get to them, and more fun tips from our own experience.
When to Visit the Lake Annecy Beaches
Annecy is a true gem of the French Alps, located just 30 minutes from the Switzerland border. The closest major airport is Geneva (around 40 minutes away) and it’s a little over an hour drive from the French city of Lyon. It’s even just a short drive away from the hiking trails of Chamonix France!
Many travelers know this area of France for its skiing in the wintertime. However, for beach lovers like us, the best time to visit Lake Annecy is the summer.
The good part about being in the alps is that it usually won’t be intensely hot like other parts of Europe. Even in late July, most days were between 20 and 25 Celsius (68-77 F), which makes for incredibly pleasant weather.
After spending the previous summer around Interlaken Switzerland, we were happy to find the Annecy water to be much warmer than the frigid Swiss alpine lakes. Of course, the peak summer months do come with crowds.
We were expecting it to be super busy in July, but really it wasn’t that overwhelming outside of some weekends in old town. Typically, we always recommend visiting Europe in the swing season.
Nevertheless, our time in Annecy was the perfect mix of great weather and exciting summer festivals. Some great hotel options right around old town are Impérial Palace, Le Boutik Hotel and Hotel Les Terrasses. We also recommend checking out Rivage Hôtel & Spa Annecy & La villa Du Port, which are just a short drive away.
How to Get to the Beaches in Annecy France
Before we tell you about our favorite Lake Annecy beaches, you should know how to get to them. We really didn’t expect there to be so many unique ways to travel around Annecy!
Vélonecy Bicycle
The most fun way to circle the lake is by using the Vélonecy bikes. These are FREE e-bikes (yes you heard that right) that are stationed around old town and the lake that you can use by downloading the app.
Now, there is a catch to the Vélonecy bikes. Only the first 30 minutes are free, then it’s a 1.50 Euro charge for the next half hour. After that, you’ll be charged over 30 Euros for the service.
To avoid the hefty fee, you’ll just have to check the map and find a station to re-dock the bicycle. There is a 20 minute waiting period in between, but that just gives you plenty of time to swim at the best beaches in Annecy!
Obviously, these bikes are best used for short trips. If you’re looking to rent a bike for the day, there are plenty of shops all around town to stop into.
Public Bus to Annecy Beaches
Another thing that surprised us about Annecy was how great their bus system is. Hailing from the United States, we’re used to slow buses and trains that rarely show up on time.
We really weren’t thinking that a small town like Annecy would have such an efficient bus system! Many of the stops are located at the popular beaches, which makes it easy to get around without a vehicle.
The main bus station is located in the center of Annecy just outside of old town. We highly recommend downloading the Sibra App if you plan on using the bus.
You can even get a discount if you buy a pack of 10 tickets. At the time of our visit it only cost 11 Euros! Some of the bus lines even go up into the mountains to scenic viewpoints and the start of hiking trails.
Lake Annecy Ferry
The ferry is another fantastic way to get around to the best beaches in Annecy. On the other hand, it may be the most expensive option if you plan to hit multiple towns on the water.
If you’re just going round trip from Annecy old town to one beach, then it’s will cost around 20 euros. Something we loved instead was taking the full lake tour for the same price!
Head to the official Annecy website before your trip. They also have dinner sunset cruise that looked so magical!
Drive Yourself to the Beaches in Annecy
After buying a car in Spain, we drove it all the way to Annecy France to kick off our summer. This gave us the advantage of having it to get around to all the best beaches on Lake Annecy. To be honest, we actually used a car, bus, and bicycles evenly during our visit.
Some days it was better to not have to worry about the time and drive around to the beaches and through the mountains freely. There was nothing like crushing a summer hike and then driving straight to the lake for a swim to cool off!
One thing to be aware of during the summer months is the parking situation. At many of the most popular Lake Annecy beaches, the lots are small and fill up fast.
For this reason, it’s best to show up early in the morning if you plan to have a full Annecy beach day. It’s also a good idea to grab a parking disc from a local tobacco store or minimart, as some of the lots have designated blue zones that you’ll need them for.
If you’re considering getting rental car for your stay, Discover Cars always has the best deals. We use this website often to compare prices and find the best deals around France!
11 Best Beaches in Lake Annecy
Now that you know how to get around, let’s dive into our favorite beaches on Lake Annecy. To make it simple, we’re starting with the beach closest to old town, and then moving clockwise around the lake in order.
1. Plage de l’Impérial
Imperial Beach is the closest spot to swim near Annecy’s Old Town. It’s perfect for a quick dip during the summer, but be aware this isn’t your typical beach!
Most of this section of the coast is stone walkways with ladders going into the lake. You’ll see both kids and adults jumping into the water and having loads of fun.
This Lake Annecy beach gets its name from the Imperial Palace that sits just behind. On a hot summer day, you’ll see hundreds of people with their towels laid on the grass set just back from the water.
One of our favorite spots is just around the corner on the other side of the lively Le Pop bar. The water is a little bit deeper here, which makes it fun area to dive in off the stone docks. Just be aware that they usually close this area off on the weekends when the club gets bumping.
2. Plage d’Albigny
If you’re looking for a sandy beach, then you’ll want to head just to left of town. Plage d’Albigny is definitely a hot spot during the summer and a place we spent many afternoons at.
Past the sandy area there is a small rocky peninsula that jets out into the water. This was our favorite place to set up our chairs, look out to the mountains, and enjoy the golden hour. There is a beach bar called Le Cabanon here that often has music and local drinks flowing.
The Albigny neighborhood in general is a nice place to unwind and get dinner and drinks. The cake we got at Patrick Agnellet Chocolatier absolutely blew us away!
We also ordered some delicious take away pizza at Pulito. You can check out all of the best restaurants in Annecy France here!
3. Plage de la Brune
We absolutely loved this beach, but it’s one you should plan to get to early with the small parking lot. After arriving in the morning, we set up our chairs right on the waters edge to the right under the large shaded trees.
Our inflatable kayak was also clutch to have during our time at the Lake Annecy beaches. We took it out in the early morning and kayaked along the shores of lake. It was actually crazy to see how nice the different houses were from the water!
Around noon we headed to the waterfront restaurants next to Plage de la Brune. The seats at Le Pêcheur filled up fast, and it was easy to see why after tasting their delicious seafood!
4. Plage de Menthon Saint Bernard
Now, onto one of our favorite beaches in Annecy France! By now you can probably tell, that some of these spots aren’t your traditional beaches.
Plage de Menthon Saint Bernard is far from it, but the docks hanging over the water truly stole our hearts. We recommend getting here early to claim your wooden dock.
Still, if you don’t, most people are happy to share the space with you. We set up with our chairs and towels for a full morning on Brigitte’s birthday.
The local treats we had from the bakery only made our morning that much better! To the left of the docks you will see the Le Palace De Menthon. This is a former palace turned five star luxury resort that looks over the lake.
It was built in 13th century by the same family that has owned Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard for 23 generations! Be sure to make time to tour the castle after visiting this Lake Annecy beach.
5. Plage Municipale de Talloires
Talloires was one of the first Annecy beaches we visited on our trip to the French Alps. This scenic coastal town is the perfect place to spend the afternoon.
This is one of the marquee stops on the ferry line we mentioned earlier. Again, there is no official beach at Talloires, but plenty of spots to hop on the water.
You can take a short coastal walk past Abbaye de Talloires hotel that takes you to the start of the Réserve Naturelle du Roc de Chère. This fantastic nature reserve has hiking trails up into the mountains that you could combine with a day on the water.
6. Plage d’Angon
A few minutes up the road, you’ll find one of the best beaches in Lake Annecy! This was one of our very first stops the day we cycled around the lake.
The small pebbly enclave has a big grass area behind it, snack bar, and docks floating out in the water. It seemed as if there were many families there from the nearby campsites, creating a fun summer vibe.
7. Plage de Doussard
Okay, we’ve made it to the furthest point from Annecy old town on the opposite end of the lake. Plage de Doussard stands out for its family-friendly atmosphere and mountain backdrop. It’s also quite wide, with a mix of sand and small pebbles leading to the water.
The best part is that it’s located right next door to Réserve naturelle nationale du Bout du Lac d’Annecy. You can walk directly from one of the best Annecy beaches through this gorgeous nature reserve along a 1 hour loop. It takes you inside the wetlands over wooden walkways, all with incredible views of the mountains and water.
8. Plage du Château de Duingt
Let’s wrap our way around the far side of the lake to another epic Lake Annecy beach! Château de Duingt is one of the true gems of the area, and can be seen from nearly every vantage point.
This is the oldest fortification on the lake, built sometime between the 11th and 12th century. It was under the Duin family until the 16th century when it was bought by the Marquis de Salles.
These days, it is still a private residence. Don’t worry though… you can actually swim right underneath it! Be sure to stop at Boulangerie du Lac for a quiche and chocolate treat. From there, it was easy to walk over to the grassy area that sits next to historical gem.
Just up the road, you’ll also find another spot to swim at a park called Place St François. i]It’s across from Duingt church and a bus stop that takes you back to Annecy old town.
9. Plage de St Jorioz
This is one of the few beaches we regret not going back to during our month in Annecy France. We drove over here one morning to see what the hype was about and immediately fell in love.
The pebbly beach has striking views of the mountains and Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard across the water. What separates St Jorioz from other Lake Annecy beaches was definitely the 5 meter diving platform! This makes it a favorite for families with young kids.
There is also a snack bar with a restaurant above. If you have extra time though, we highly recommend driving the 15 minutes to restaurant la Terre de Bellevarde. The view is spectacular, so reservations are good to have. Our fresh trout and duck plates were so delicious!
One thing we should mention about this beach is that you do have to pay a small entry fee (under 3 euros) to go in. This price includes showers and bathrooms as well.
10. Plage Municipale & Les Choseaux
This takes us to Server, a small town not so far from Annecy. There are actually two beaches here that are very close to each other, but both deserve recognition.
Les Chosaeux is a grassy beach area to relax and swim from. There were many cyclists here on the day we visited as it’s easily accessible from the bike path.
Plage Municipale is about a 20 minute walk from there and also worth visiting. The best part about Server is the row of bars and restaurants that sit just between these Lake Annecy beaches.
L’Oasis was our favorite place for a drink along this route. It’s complete with different games, pizza restaurant, and even a tattoo parlor.
11. Plage des Marquisats
If you’re following along with the map, you can see we’re almost back to Annecy old town! Plage de Marquisats is only a 10 minute walk along the water.
This means it can be pretty crowded in the peak summer months. There is a nice large grass area and sectioned off swim zone that’s great for a quick dip.
Have any questions on this article or want to share more of the best beaches in Lake Annecy France? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
