Top tips for your visit

Our favourite things to do

Walks/Hikes

Some of our favourites:

Angon Waterfall, Haute-Savoie, France - 1,079 Reviews, Map | AllTrails - 4.2km - 1hr50min - Need solid footwear - Hike to the waterfall with some great views - starting near Talloires

Mont Baron - Mont Veyrier, Haute-Savoie, France - 92 Reviews, Map | AllTrails - 5.8km - 2hr30min - Our favourite for the views! Need solid footwear as some quite steep/rocky parts, but incredible views of both the lake and Mont Blanc.

Roc de Chère, Haute-Savoie, France - 652 Reviews, Map | AllTrails 6.9km - 1hr45min - Well signposted with some great views - more casual with less elevation!

If you don’t want a full hike - but want to stretch the legs and watch the paragliders take off, we’d recommend going up to Col de la Forclaz (either drive on on the bus). It’s about a 15 minute walk up to where the paragliders take off and when you’ve walked back there is a cafe/restaurant called Le Balcon du Lac for a nice beer with the most incredible view. 

Beach relaxation!

Lake Annecy has some incredible lakeside beaches, which we’re hopeful you’ll have some time to enjoy (and some sunshine to go with it!) 

Our favourites: 

  • Angon Beach/”Plage d'Angon” (20 minute walk from Talloires): A personal favourite of ours, a bit more secluded than other beaches, with good bar, tends to get busier at the weekends with lots of locals setting up with picnics (however in September it should be quieter!). If you want to hire paddle boards go to “Gliss'cool” which is a short walk away. 

  • Talloires Beach: A nice big beach, with diving boards into the lake and lots of space for games/activities. Close to the centre of Talloires if you’re staying here, and go for a walk around the bay if you have time or even set up your towel here, the views are particularly lovely! 

  • Duingt Beach/”Plage de port municipal”: A short drive round the lake, but you get great views of the Talloires side of the lake from here, and there’s also options for paddleboarding and hiring boats from here. 

  • Plage de Menthon Saint Bernard: Easy option if you’re staying in Menthon, a decent size beach. View isn’t as good as other beaches however, you can always jump on the bus round the lake (takes 10 mins to Talloires!)

Cultural things to do

Annecy itself is known as “Venice of the Alps” with it’s canal network and is great to walk around. You can also get tours around some of the historic buildings in Annecy.

  • Chateau D’Annecy

  • Palais de l'Ile

  • Basilique de la Visitation


There are also guided tours around Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard (where our wedding is). It’s still a living residence and has been occupied by the same family for almost 1000 years. It supposedly gave Walt Disney the inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle!

Outdoor activities

Tandem Paragliding/Hangliding - Talloires is a bit of a paragliding mecca, with often up to 100 people being seen in the sky at one point. Loads of companies, but they typically land between Talloires and Menthon (weather dependent) and take off from Col de La Forclaz. Even if you don’t do the activity then we’d recommend going up there to watch them take off and go for a wander. It’s got the most incredible view. 

Cycling - A great way to get around the lake. You can rent bikes easily out there (e-bikes too). If you’re feeling hardcore, the Tour de France comes through Talloires and there are some ridiculous climbs which you can try for yourself. There’s a cycle path which goes all the way round the lake, and the whole cycle would take you a couple of hours (38km). 

Water Sports 

  • Paddleboarding/Kayaking - Lot’s of places you can rent these, but near Talloires you can rent them from Gliss’cool 

  • Sailing - Rent anything from HobbyCats, to Lasers to Bahias from across the lake in Duingt from Arena Watersports

  • Wakeboarding/WaterSkiing - Loads of places all round the lake so lots to choose from - we have only done this with Skiwake74 before which is in Doussard

Our favourite restaurants

Le Confidentiel - (Menthon) - 3 Course set menu - €39-49pp without drink - You need to book this and they only take reservations by phone, but it is our favourite! 

Les Terraces du Lac (other side of the Lake near Annecy) - À La Carte or set menus - €46-76pp (3-5 courses) without drink. Amazing food with an incredible view - Ask for a table on the edge if you can. It’s best to either drive here, or you can get a public bus from Annecy

Le Bistrot du Ponton (Talloires) - À La Carte - around €25-30 euros for a main course. Great steak and a nice sunset as you’re on the waterfront. Restaurant outside Hannah’s parents apartment 

Grano e Orzo (between Talloires and Menthon) - €15 - Good pizza and does takeaway (collection)

Restaurant L'Aquarama (Angon) - great spot for lunch or dinner on the lakeside in the sunshine or a few drinks, beach bar vibes! Food still good! - €25-34 euros for a main course. 

Ferme de la Charbonniere (Menthon, but need to drive to it) - €25pp for food. Niche, but basically a working cattle farm where you can gorge yourself on incredible french cheese and meat, all surrounded by the cows as you eat overlooking the cow pen. 

Restaurant la Terre de Bellevarde (Duingt) -  €20-30 for main - need to drive to it - cooked outside over flame - great views

La Savoyarde (Talloires) - Restaurant towards the back of the beach in Talloires. Hopeful that it will be reopened by Sept 2025, good pizzas and simple french food which is great value! 

Tweedle Tea (Menthon) - A firm favourite for a patisserie coffee shop!