We saw Annecy with kids on a cold, bright December evening in 2018. Damian was 5 and Marc was 2, and we were staying with friends who live in Cruseilles, a village about 20 minutes away. They drove us in after we’d spent the morning recovering from a 4 am start and an 8:50 landing in Geneva. Between their two girls and our two boys, we were four kids and four adults, and Annecy turned out to be the perfect town for that: compact, flat, and with a lake to run beside.
It was only a few hours, so this isn’t an “everything in Annecy” guide. It’s what Annecy is like with small kids in winter, what we did, what I’d add next time, and the practical information I checked for 2026.
Quick answers
- Is Annecy good for kids? Yes. The old town is small and car-free, and the lakefront has space to run and a playground.
- In winter: the Noël des Alpes Christmas market runs from late November to early January (in 2025, 29 November – 4 January), with free entry and an ice rink by the lake.
- Getting there: Geneva airport is the closest. It’s about 45 minutes by car, or around 50 minutes on a direct bus.
- How long: half a day covers the old town and the lake with toddlers. A full day lets you add a winter boat trip.
- Nearby: Le Hameau du Père Noël, Santa’s village, is about 30 minutes away.
Where to stay in Annecy with kids: our top 3
ibis Styles Annecy Gare Centre – next to the station where the Geneva airport bus stops, a 10-minute walk from the old town.
Best Western Plus Hôtel Carlton – between the station and the canals, so you can walk everywhere.
Impérial Palace – on the lakeshore by the Pâquier, a flat lakeside walk from the old town.
We stayed with friends near Annecy, so we haven’t slept in these. I picked them the way I picked hotels in 14 years of working with them: location first.
Is Annecy worth visiting with kids in winter?
Yes. Annecy is called the Venice of the Alps, and after seeing it I understand why: canals running through the old town, pastel houses, arched bridges, and a huge, clear lake with mountains around it. Every angle looks like a postcard. In December there’s a Christmas market on top of all that, and the town is busy but not overwhelming.
What makes it work with small kids is the size. You can walk from the canals to the lakeshore in a few minutes, and there’s nothing to queue for. What doesn’t work so well: the old town’s cobbles and bridges are hard going with a pushchair, and the traffic around Annecy at rush hour is real (more on that below).
Things to do in Annecy with kids
Walk the canals of the old town
The Vieille Ville is built around the River Thiou, which runs only about 3.5 km from Lake Annecy to the River Fier and is one of the shortest rivers in Europe. It splits and rejoins around the old town, making little islands joined by arched bridges, with pastel buildings along the water. We didn’t follow a route. We wandered, stopped on a bridge for photos, and let the kids watch the water. Even a 2-year-old enjoys that for longer than you’d expect.
The famous building in the middle of the canal is the Palais de l’Isle, an old island prison that’s now a small museum. We only saw it from the bridges. With older kids, it’s a good 30-minute visit; check the opening days before you go, because it keeps shorter hours in winter.
Eat the pastries
Our friends told us something I’ve since heard from others: because Annecy is small and depends on tourists, the food has to be good to bring people back. I believe it. We couldn’t resist the pastries, and the kids ended up covered in chocolate, which made for some very funny photos. Budget a stop for this. It’s half the visit.
The lakefront and its playground
Lake Annecy is the third-largest lake in France and famous for how clean its water is. It’s fed by streams from the mountains around it, and the colour reminded me of the beaches of Menorca. Locals and visitors spend their free time on the shore: walking, cycling, running, and in our case, at the playground on the lakefront.
That playground was the kids’ highlight, not the canals. All four of them refused to leave, there were plenty of local parents there, and when we finally pulled them away they ran up and down the shore chasing the birds. If you’re coming with under-6s, plan your Annecy visit around this stop and do the old town before it, not after.
A winter boat trip on the lake
We didn’t do this, but it’s the first thing I’d add next time. In winter, the Compagnie des Bateaux du Lac d’Annecy runs a 1 h 15 narrated cruise on the big lake from the town-centre quays, from 1 December to 28 February. In 2026 it costs €20.50 for adults; check children’s fares when you book. On a sunny winter day, the lake with snow on the mountains is the view people come for.
Annecy Christmas market: Noël des Alpes
We went straight to the Christmas market after the lake, and it was full of people enjoying the decorations and street food. Walking through a French Christmas market without buying anything is, I can confirm, impossible.
Annecy’s Christmas season is called Noël des Alpes. In 2025 it ran from 29 November to 4 January, with more than 160 chalets on a route from the lake to the Jardins de l’Europe, an ice rink by the lake in the Jardins de l’Europe, Santa at Place de l’Ancienne Grenette, light displays on the historic buildings, and workshops for children. Entry is free. The 2026 dates are usually announced in the autumn: check the Lake Annecy tourist office site.
How to get to Annecy from Geneva
The closest airport is Geneva, in Switzerland. We flew Ryanair from Barcelona, and our four return tickets cost less than €200 in total in 2018. One morning took us through three countries: Spain, Switzerland and France.
- By car: about 45 km and around 45 minutes from Geneva airport. Our friends picked us up, and with small kids a car (or a hire car) is the easiest option, especially if you add the Hameau du Père Noël.
- By bus: direct buses from Geneva airport to Annecy take about 50 minutes, with fares from around €15, but there are only a few a day. Check times before you land.
- By train: Annecy has a station in the centre, but there’s no direct train from Geneva airport.
Watch the rush hour. Many people in the villages around Annecy work in Annecy or Geneva, and we got stuck in heavy traffic driving back to Cruseilles in the early evening. With tired toddlers, leave before 17:00 or after 19:00.
Annecy with toddlers: what I’d tell you
- Pushchair or carrier? A carrier for the old town (cobbles, steps and bridges), and a pushchair is fine on the lakefront paths.
- Dress for the cold. December in the Alps is cold even on a sunny day, and it’s colder by the water.
- Go in daylight. In December it’s dark before 17:00. Do the lake and the playground first, then the market under the lights.
- Half a day is enough with under-5s. We saw the old town and the lake in a few hours, and I’m sure we missed some lovely streets and the castle.
Near Annecy: Santa’s village and Geneva
- Le Hameau du Père Noël, at the Col du Mont-Sion: a hamlet in the woods where Santa lives, about 30 minutes from Annecy. We went on the same trip, and if you’re in Annecy in December with kids under about 9, it’s the day out to plan around.
- Geneva: the lake, the boats and the swans, about 45 minutes away. We went the next day: only 2–3 hours before the rain came, but feeding the swans was the highlight for the kids.
- Our whole trip: 5 days in Haute-Savoie with kids.
Where to stay in Annecy with kids
We stayed with friends, so I haven’t booked an Annecy hotel for us. If I were booking for a family, I’d stay between the station and the old town: the airport bus stops at the station, and the canals and the lake are a flat walk away. For a special trip, the lakeshore hotels by the Pâquier give you the view from the window. Our three picks are in the box at the top.
More Christmas trips with kids: Montpellier at Christmas and New Year, Turin at Christmas, the Crans-Montana Christmas lights and Christmas in Barcelona with kids.
Planning Annecy with kids? Compare family rooms in Annecy →
Annecy with kids: FAQ
Is Annecy good for kids?
Yes. The old town is compact and car-free, the canals and bridges keep small children interested, and the lakefront has room to run and a playground. Our kids, aged 5 and 2 when we visited, didn’t want to leave the playground by the lake.
Is Annecy worth visiting in winter?
Yes. In December the Noël des Alpes Christmas market and an ice rink by the lake add to the canals and the views, and the town is busy without being packed. Dress warmly: it’s the Alps, and it gets dark before 17:00.
When is the Annecy Christmas market?
Noël des Alpes usually runs from late November to early January. In 2025 it ran from 29 November to 4 January, with more than 160 chalets between the lake and the Jardins de l’Europe, and free entry.
How do you get from Geneva airport to Annecy?
By car it’s about 45 km and around 45 minutes. Direct buses take about 50 minutes, from around €15, but there are only a few a day, so check the timetable before you fly.
How long do you need in Annecy with kids?
Half a day is enough for the old town, the lake and the playground with young children. A full day lets you add a boat trip on the lake, which runs in winter from 1 December to 28 February.
What is there to do near Annecy with kids at Christmas?
Le Hameau du Père Noël, Santa’s village at the Col du Mont-Sion, is about 30 minutes away, and Geneva is about 45 minutes away for the lake and the swans.
