Annecy is an amazing and beautiful spot for outdoorsy activities! With its large lake surrounded by alpine areas, it is an lovely area to walk, hike, sail, or paraglide. Since summer is high season, we recommend booking in advance if you want to do activities like paragliding, hot air ballooning, paddleboarding, kayaking, etc., especially if you’re only in Annecy for a couple days! Read on for our advice about activities and recommended tour companies 😊
You should absolutely check out the old city of Annecy, sometimes called the “Venice of the Alps”! With its history dating back to the Roman era and its scenic bridges over the Thiou river, you are guaranteed some memorable pictures.
In front of the Palais de l’Île dating back to the 12th century.
If you want to live the French life and stop for an amazing pastry and an espresso, we highly recommend Pâtisserie Olivier Pauriche.
Internautique Saint Jorioz is often recommended for renting boats or taking introductory classes.
Paddle boats (“pédalo” in French) are available at many locations around the lake. Photo is from the old Annecy location.
Windsurf
Paddleboard on the lake!
.jpg)
Kayaking
Among all these activities, we particularly recommend paragliding. Annecy is also one of the world’s paragliding capitals, as its geography offers both excellent flying conditions and breathtaking scenery.
Paragliding with an instructor requires no particular fitness beyond being able to run for about 10 seconds (during takeoff) and is an incredibly memorable way to discover the landscape.
We have flown with Les Grands Espaces and had a wonderful experience. We highly recommend booking early as flying slots typically sell out weeks in advance.