I visited the 'Venice of the Alps,' Lake Annecy. I think it's going to be the next big European destination for Americans.

We flew into Geneva Airport, which is the closest. Since we arrived following the final trains, we drove from the airfield to Annecy in a rental car. This normally takes between 30 minutes and an hour.

However, it's uncomplicated to get there by community transport. Driving is awesome for exploring the wider region, but parking in Annecy can be tricky, and local authorities advise against driving to evade congestion. We parked at the Parking de l'hôtel de Ville in the center of town, which disbursal concerning €25 for two days and was extremely busy.

I would propose community transport unless you desire to run to another parts of the Alps.

We stayed in the old town, which is beautiful, and was awesome for getting around. It's small and lone requires a day to correctly explore.

I affection historical places anywhere you can ideate group strolling about centuries ago, and the town doesn't disappoint in this regard.

For instance, the Palais de l'Île, a medieval stronghold, dates rear to the 13th century.

Like Venice in Italy, the old town is interspersed alongside canals, which recommendation beautiful views whenever sipping coffee in the dawn or having a beverage at a bar.

It's not a big nightlife place, but there are a few bars and clubs to bask if you desire to remain out late. There are many restaurants in the old town — The Little Italy was our favorite — but it's finest to project additional out for additional affordable food options.

The finest part of Annecy is, of course, the lake. It's beautiful and pristine, alongside beaches all about the coast making for awesome designated swimming spots.

In parts, the h2o is as blue and apparent as I've seen in the Caribbean.

While I mostly spent my days swimming and study at the beach, I saw many of group paddleboarding, kayaking, and taking container rides.

While it was beautiful uncomplicated to discover a place to sunbathe on the beaches near to the old town, going out a bit additional gets you to quieter beaches.

I went to multiple during my stay, and my favorites were Plage d'Angon and Plage Les Choseaux.

It's uncomplicated to get about Annecy. There's a designated sequence way about the complete 25 miles of the lake, alongside beautiful views.

Public transport is productive and affordable. I took among the local buses from the old town, which additionally goes to spots about the lake. I established this uncomplicated to navigate alongside Google Maps and the Annecy transport website.

There are plentifulness of trails about the lake, ranging from uncomplicated walks to challenging mountain treks, including the ascend of La Tournette, the highest peak overlooking Lake Annecy.

A lot of these peaks volition be snowcapped for a ample part of the year, so these trails are finest in summer until about mid-October.

Annecy serves as a fine basis for other hikes in the region. For the most famous ones, there are buses and shuttles, but if you're eager to examine additional of the Alps, driving is a improved option.

A local recommended visiting a commune called Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval, concerning an hr and a fractional from Annecy, to hike the Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval trail, which features 30 waterfalls.

Another awesome stroll we did was the Pissieu Fall, concerning an hr distant from Annecy.

Lake Annecy is awesome since it serves as an outstanding launchpad for exploring the Haute-Savoie region.

You don't need additional than a few days in Annecy itself, and I'd likely shorten my trip next time. But if you desire a relaxing yet outdoorsy summer vacation, it's perfect.

While it's occupied in July and August, it was small crowded general than another lakes in Europe, and as person who enjoys swimming and hiking, I established it the ideal place for adventure.

I think the key item that distinguishes Lake Annecy from another lakes in the Alps, akin Lake Como, is the comparatively small proportion of global tourists. While it does get occupied in the summer, I noticed it was mostly French tourists, so I extremely propose it for Americans seeking a additional authentic awareness to their trip.

Despite its fame in France, in first September, we were capable to stroll into restaurants for meal in the old town without booking, and the streets were uncomplicated to explore.

The range of outdoor activities additionally method it's location you could sojourn year-round — item the local tourist office encourages.

Its proximity to Geneva Airport, which multiple US airports have nonstop flights to in the summer, makes it uncomplicated to get there, and if you're on an Alps highway trip, it's a halt I couldn't propose enough.