One of the most frequent questions I get asked is, “What’s your favorite place in the world?”
My answer has almost always been Annecy, France. And still to this day, after five years of traveling, Annecy remains one of my fondest memories.
Planning a Trip To Annecy?
Be sure to check out my travel guide to Annecy and my roundup of the best hotels in Annecy!
The first time I went to Annecy I was with my husband and we spent a few weeks traveling through Europe. We had a few nights booked in Annecy, where I had previously seen the photos of the charming canals and the stunning lake. After the time there, we both walked away thinking that no place could ever get better than that. Hot summer days spent sunbathing along the crystal waters of Lake Annecy, mornings strolling the canals and stopping to pick up fresh produce at the farmer’s market, and evenings spent enjoying the iconic raclette cheese — could it get any better? It would be four days of memories that for us, would deem Annecy our favorite place spent together.
Fast forward five years later, I had an opportunity to return when I spent a week in Lyon which is only an hour away from Annecy. I was nervous — part of me wanted to keep Annecy and the memories as they were, a romantic summer getaway with my husband. But I couldn’t help but return for another look at the canals, the lake, and enjoy raclette one more time at Le Freti.
It was as charming as I remembered. I lucked out as it was farmer’s market day, and I headed straight for my favorite booth, the nougat guy. It was the same vendor as five years ago, and I grabbed a slice of the honey and almond. Picking up a few more things, I made my way for the lake.
There’s this glow over Lake Annecy — it seems to shine yet at the same time has crystal clear colors. Choosing a bench, I sat for a few hours enjoying the goodies from the market and read my current book, The Paris Wife. It was as peaceful as I remembered. Time felt slow, in a good way.
I headed back into town for lunch, and went for the local dish, tartiflette. I didn’t want to spoil dinner, so I dared not to finish the meal, but it was a homey, comfort meal. Afterwards, a stroll through town brought me to the top of the hill for a look over the lake. I love getting lost in those perfect, cobblestone streets.
I was waiting for dinner at 7, and still had a few hours to go. I had remembered you can grab a boat ride around for lake, so I opted for an hour ride. Sitting on the rooftop, I remembered taking the same ride with my husband. We were much younger, our style different, and I was a much more carefree spirit than the person I was sitting there in that moment. The boat passed by the spot we had sunbathed, and I couldn’t help but smile reflecting on those moments.
With the end of the boat ride, it was getting close to dine at Le Freti. To pass the remaining time, I grabbed a refreshing Aperol spritz next door, and people-watched. Watching the clock intently, it was finally 7 pm, and it was time. Raclette is a specialty cheese from the Haute-Savoie region of France that is melted under a grill and served over charcuterie and potatoes. It’s delightful, and nearly impossible to find anywhere else in the world as good as Le Freti in Annecy.
Maybe I did go all the way to Annecy to eat raclette. The melting cheese, sizzling under the iron was everything I remembered. Sitting as a table for one, the waiter looked on with a confused look. He stopped by to ask how it was, and I said:
“It’s exactly how I remembered it five years ago.”
More Annecy Guides to Help Plan Your Trip
Save This Post for Later on Pinterest
PS — Are You Booking a Trip Soon? Use My Booking Checklist!
These are the sites I use most to book my own trips. Using the links below is a great way to support Bon Traveler’s travel journalism at no extra cost to you. If you need help organizing your itinerary, get my free travel itinerary template here.
1. Book Your Accommodations
I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for vacation rentals. They have the biggest inventory and consistently offer the best rates.
2. Book Your Rental Car
Self-driving is the best way to explore most destinations. I use Discover Cars for our rental cars, select full coverage insurance, and opt for a reputable company like Alamo, Hertz, or Sixt.
3. Book Your Tours & Experiences
I use Viator, Airbnb, and Get Your Guide to find the best tours and experiences. They are my favorite tour search engines. I always check all three as their inventory varies depending on the destination.
4. Book Your Private Transfers
For easy, reliable private transfers, I use Welcome Pickups. It’s my go-to for arranging a driver in advance — whether it’s an airport pickup, a hotel-to-hotel transfer, or a day trip. The experience is seamless, with English-speaking drivers and upfront pricing, so you can travel stress-free at every stage of your trip.
5. Get Cell Data for Your Trip
I use Holafly for international cell data. Their unlimited data eSIMs are easy to install, activate instantly on arrival, and let you skip local SIM cards and expensive roaming fees.
6. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
I never leave the country without travel insurance. It provides comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong (ie. illness, injury, theft, or cancellations).
My favorite companies that offer the best coverage and rates are:
- World Nomads (best for all-around)
- Safety Wing (best for frequent travelers)
Xx,
Jessica
6 Comments
Annecy is one of the places on my list to visit in France. It looks so cute and peaceful there! Thank you for posting for us arm chair travelers :)- JaMekahttp://www.gotthetravelbugtoo.com/
You bet!
I love the angles in these canal shots (and the oranges / blues)…! ??
http://www.patientexplorers.com
Wow, I’ve never been to Annecy, even though I’m French. I’m adding it to my list of places to discover in my home country 😉 Thank you Jessica for this beautiful visit
Lovely post! I found this after reminiscing about my visit last year to Annecy, and then doing a Pinterest search.
(ps: your 3rd paragraph says Lake Geneva rather than Lake Annecy 🙂 )
I am a Canadian who had an amazing opportunity to live on the outskirts of Annecy for 3 years, and it really is a beautiful place, both in summer and winter. The lake, the mountains, the food, the people, the markets- absolutely amazing. I yearn to return!!