6 days in Annecy & Lyon Itinerary

The canals is in Annecy helped earn the medieval town the nickname the Venice of the Alps.

Start off your visit on the 23rd (Mon): take in the spiritual surroundings of Eglise Saint-Francois, then kick back and relax at Plages de Saint Jorioz, and then glide through the air with a parasailing or paragliding tour. Here are some ideas for day two: admire the masterpieces at Musee Faure, take in the architecture and atmosphere at Cathedrale Saint-Pierre, and then explore the landscape on two wheels at Voie Verte du Lac d'Annecy.

For other places to visit, ratings, reviews, and tourist information, use the Annecy planning app.

Lyon to Annecy is an approximately 2-hour car ride. You can also take a train; or take a bus. July in Annecy sees daily highs of 31°C and lows of 18°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Wed) early enough to drive to Lyon.

Lyon is a historical city with a vibrant cultural scene as the birthplace of cinema, the silk capital of the globe, and the second biggest Renaissance city following Venice.

Step off the beaten path and head to Safari de Peaugres and Fresque des Lyonnais. Get a sense of the local culture at Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere and Abbey of Cluny. Get out of town with these interesting Lyon side-trips: Col du Beal (in Saint-Pierre-la-Bourlhonne), Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval (in Hauterives) and La Roche de Solutre (in Solutre-Pouilly). The adventure continues: stroll around Parc de la Tete d'Or and identify plant and animal life at Parc de Courzieu.

To see where to stay, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, refer to the Lyon trip itinerary builder.

You can drive from Annecy to Lyon in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In July, plan for daily highs up to 34°C, and evening lows to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Sat) early enough to travel back home.