6 days in Annecy & Lyon Itinerary

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

Kick off your visit on the 23rd (Mon): contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Church of St. Francis, then enjoy the sand and surf at Plages de Saint Jorioz, and then fly like a bird with a parasailing or paragliding tour. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the 24th (Tue): admire the masterpieces at Musee Faure, pause for some serene contemplation at Cathedrale Saint-Pierre, and then grab your bike and head to Voie Verte du Lac d'Annecy.

To see where to stay, traveler tips, ratings, and other tourist information, use the Annecy tour itinerary planning site .

Lyon to Annecy is an approximately 1.5-hour car ride. You can also take a train; or take a bus. In July, plan for daily highs up to 31°C, and evening lows to 18°C. 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.

Visiting Parc de la Tete d'Or and Peaugres Safari Parc will get you outdoors. Get some cultural insight at Palais Ideal du Facteur Cheval and Fresque des Lyonnais. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Lyon: Col du Beal (in Saint-Pierre-la-Bourlhonne), Abbey of Cluny (in Cluny) and La Roche de Solutre (in Solutre-Pouilly). Next up on the itinerary: admire the landmark architecture of Basilique Notre Dame de Fourviere and look for all kinds of wild species at Parc de Courzieu.

To see traveler tips, other places to visit, photos, and tourist information, use the Lyon trip builder app .

Drive from Annecy to Lyon in 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In July in Lyon, expect temperatures between 34°C during the day and 20°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 28th (Sat) so you can travel back home.