With a population of 49,232, Annecy is a must-see destination in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Annecy deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
When flying to Annecy, you’ll arrive at Annecy – Haute-Savoie – Mont Blanc (NCY), which is located 2 miles from the city center. The shortest flight to Annecy from the United States departs from Boston and takes around 10h 15m.
SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving Annecy, followed by Renfe. The train journey from Annecy to Marseille takes 1h 28m and costs around $12 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Chessy, expect to pay about $11 for a 1h 43m trip. Located 0.2 miles from the city center, Annecy is the busiest station in Annecy. Another popular train station is Annecy Pringy, located 3 miles from the center.
Another option to get to Annecy is to pick up a car rental from Nice, which is about 161 miles from Annecy. You’ll find branches of Europcar and Avis, among others, in Nice.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Annecy, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and ALSA. From Saint-Étienne, the bus ride to Annecy takes 60 miles and will cost you around $9. From Clermont-Ferrand, the ticket costs about $10 for a journey of 120 miles. The most popular bus station is Annecy Galbert, located 0.5 miles from downtown Annecy. Annecy Buisson is also a commonly used station, and is 1.4 miles from the city center.
Average rates range from around $150 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $286 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hôtel du Château Annecy and Citotel Du Nord. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Annecy, with prices from $22 to $819 per night. Annecy-le-Vieux is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Annecy are about 12% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Renting a car in Annecy costs $66 per day, on average, or $133 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 29% more expensive than at Lyon-Saint Exupéry.
Expect to pay $7.53 per gallon in Annecy (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $90.40 and $120.53. The most frequently booked car type in Annecy is Intermediate (Peugeot 5008 or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Audi A1 Sportback or similar) are, on average, 76% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.