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, photos, 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 Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval. 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: Parc de Courzieu (in Courzieu), La Roche de Solutre (in Solutre-Pouilly) and Col du Beal (in Saint-Pierre-la-Bourlhonne). There's more to do: examine the collection at Fresque des Lyonnais and stroll around Parc de la Tete d'Or.

To see where to stay, reviews, more things to do, and more tourist information, read Lyon online trip itinerary builder.

You can drive from Annecy to Lyon in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 34°C in July, and nighttime lows around 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Sat) early enough to travel back home.