9 Best Family Things to Do in Annecy

Known as one of the cleanest lakes in Europe, thanks to a strict environmental regulation dating back to the ‘60s, Lake Annecy offers you a good choice of beaches to laze and suntan on, as well as nautical activities to enjoy. The 2 closest public beaches to the city are Plage d’Albigny and Plage des Marquisats. Bordered by large grass areas and hosting snack bars and restaurants, these 2 beaches are great places to take a break with children, especially as they have dedicated facilities for young ones.

Annecy Castle-Museum (Musée-Château d'Annecy) is a historic castle that also holds a museum within where you'll find a variety of historical artefacts and more. Inside the museum, you and your family can explore old paintings, art and sculptures with some dating back to the medieval era.

The castle is quite impressive, with its oldest parts dating back to the 13th century, as it used to be the residence of the Counts of Geneva. You can see it for yourself with a tour near the town centre north-east of the Les Balmettes area.

Wibit Water Park (Parc aquatique Wibit) is a fun inflatable and floating water park that kids and adults alike can enjoy with numerous features and courses. You'll find about 40 different modules available here, including a climbing wall, a giant slide, an obstacle course and a giant blob that functions as a human catapult.

When you visit this park with small children between the ages of 5 and 8, you'll want to check out the KidsPark section. The inflatables here are designed and reserved for young children, so everyone can get in on the fun in some part of the park. Try it out in Les Gets about 50 miles north-east of town.

Gorges du Fier is a natural gorge formed by erosion from the Fier river that you can visit for incredible views of geological splendour. There's a footbridge that runs alongside the gorge where you can take in impressive views of its depth and the stacked boulders around it.

Several shadows often dance along the rock face thanks to the play of light shining through the surrounding trees and rocky features. Kids and adults alike can enjoy the sheer scale and alluring natural splendour, especially if you look at the measuring scale about halfway down marking previous floods. It's located in Lovagny, a short distance west of town.

Leisure centre Orange Montisel (Base de loisirs d'Orange-Montisel) is a thrilling theme park with a variety of rides and attractions for the whole family. At the park, you can go on bobsleigh and tube rides for some high-speed fun, while the mini-golf course is a bit more relaxed.

Kids visiting the park will especially enjoy the inflatable play features, while parents can sit back, relax and watch the kids play. Plus, the entire park is surrounded by vibrant greenery. It's in Saint-Sixt, about 20 miles north-east of town.

Le Palais de l'Île is a popular historic site located in the Thiou canal that dates back to the 12th century and is open for visitors. The building has played quite a few different roles throughout history, including being a prison, a courthouse and an administrative centre.

When you and your family visit this monument, you can explore its diverse history with numerous artefacts on display within. Its construction is impressive as well, and while renovations occurred in the 1980s, its historical style and design were preserved. You'll find it in the middle of Le Thiou around the Old Town neighbourhood.

Montrottier Castle (Château De Montrottier) is a historic castle that lets you and your family appreciate impressive architecture as well as numerous relics from the past. The castle is primarily used as a museum these days, so you'll find artefacts from numerous eras on display inside.

One of the best aspects of this attraction is how friendly it is to children who visit. You'll find interactive activities here in addition to fun and colourful exhibits to keep your little ones entertained. You can check it out for yourself about 15 minutes west of Annecy.

The Miniature Golf Imperial and rollerblading station (Mini-Golf et Station Roller de l'Impérial) is a place where you and your family can enjoy a variety of activities including adventures on the water. The mini-golf course is the most popular activity here, with 18 holes in a shady park.

If your family is looking for something a bit more adventurous, you may want to check out the paddle board and kayak hire here and take to the water. Rollerblading is also popular, and you'll find biking opportunities as well. It's all available right on the northern shore of Lake Annecy.

Dufaux Carousel (Manège Dufaux) is a historic carousel that dates back more than a century, upon which you and your family can still enjoy a fun ride. Throughout the years, this carousel has maintained its retro charm while being compliant with modern safety regulations.

When you take this carousel for a ride, you may notice a major difference from typical rides of its kind, as it's fairly fast. Older kids will especially enjoy the speed, while young kids can still find fun here as well, but you'll probably want to ride with them. It's conveniently located just a short walk north of the town centre.