Is annecy doable without a car?

[Yumyi]

Has anyone got any tips?

doable

but a LOT of effort

Ah ok. Any idea on chamonix?

Chamonix is but they are very different,

What do you want to do when you get there?

there were bike hire options so you can cycle the lake. The better swim spots were further out of town. I think there were bus routes up to the mountains tourist spots but didn’t pay much attention as we had a car.

Chamonix had the cable car that wasn’t cheap but lovely up there. Accessible without a car and the village is quite compact. Be careful if you have asthma sufferers dd doesn’t have it and never has since but we went up to the high altitude and then did a walk at the lower one and she had an attack it was very scary.

Thanks. We have done the Bernese oberland in Switzerland and loved that. So looking at options this time from Geneva airport.

Annecy has a train station - we went for the day once from Lyon and it was perfectly easy.

Not sure about local transport though.

Not really without it being a pita.

Thanks sounds like it probably a no go

Yes you can do it - there's a regular coach service from Geneva Airport to Annecy. The bus/train station is pretty central in Annecy so you can walk to accommodation if you book something in the centre. Plenty to do in Annecy itself - boat trips, swimming, pedalos, playgrounds, shops, restaurants etc. It is incredibly charming. Not sure about getting to other nearby villages though apart from cycling alongside the lake. Hiwever plenty to see in Annecy for a few nights. From there you can get a train to Chamonix or a Flixbus. Again if you go for a few nights there is plenty to do in Chamonix without venturing into the wider area - funicular to glacier, hiking, luge, cycling to picnic spots and loads of restaurants and bars. I think from Chamonix we booked a shared mini bus transfer back to the airport but it was over 10 years ago so there might be a better option nowadays. Both towns well worth visiting in summer or winter and very accessible by public transport providing you are happy to stay centrally Think if you were doing a week in each location you would run out of things to do without a car but 3-4 nights in each place is just right.

Thanks that’s a good summary

You can get from Geneva to Annecy without a car I understand. Never tested it as always hire a car. Once there staying within central Annecy you can walk and see/do most things. If you go in July and August buses are free. Buses can take you all around the lake. There is a cycle path all around too so bike hire is worth it. Just need to pedal!

We’ve been to both without car - one trip we did a week in Annecy and a week in Chamonix. Chamonix is easiest because the public transport is amazing. We got the train from Geneva Airport this summer but you can also get a bus or private transfer.

Thanks
@youtread did you spend any time in Geneva? Wonder if it’s worth also visiting.
and did you enjoy the trip overall? Recommend?

Yes, we had a lovely time.
Took a cab from Geneva airport and then used local boat round the lake. It was wonderful. Really enjoyed it. Would probably hire bikes now the DC are older.

Are you taking kids? This year we did spend a night in Geneva on the way home and although it was nice to see, it wasn’t what we expected. We are big hikers so spent 10 nights in Chamonix and it was amazing, but our dc are teens so don’t need entertaining as such. When they were younger they loved the campsites on Lake Annecy.

We’ve been hiking all over Europe and Chamonix is our very favourite place so would definitely recommend

Loved our car free trip to Annecy (travelled by train). It’s a small city anyway. Good local bus services, and we hired electric bikes to cycle round the lake. Totally possible!

Ah thanks everyone. Kids will be 13 and 16 so easy for getting bikes etc. I guess I need to decide if we do both in one trip or just choose one of them. I like the look of the campsite in chamonix which has chalets can hire.

Is that the Barratts one? If so we have stayed there! Did one week there and one at La Ravoire

Thé lake is lovely in Geneva - lots of boat trips on offer. You can take a boat up the lake to Nyon which is another nice town for a stroll. Also Montreux and/or Yverdon for longer trips on the lake. A walk around the lake and out to the Jet d'eau is nice too (back in Geneva now).

The old town (including St Pierre Cathedral) is worth pottering around but probably only takes half a day. There is a natural history museum that some like and some find a bit bizarre! Lots of posh shops between the lake and the Old Town if you're into that.

I recommend Annecy too and agree it's possible without a car but you could do more with one.

I'm a local on the French side in the Jura mountains (also lovely but you'd definitely need a car!).