Cycling Lake Annecy: The Voie Verte Loop

As you drive in and around the colourful French town of Annecy, you’ll notice many cyclists out pedalling along the shores of the magnificent lake situated here. Lake Annecy, or Lac d’Annecy, is the fourth-largest lake in France, and offers crystal-clear waters and stunning mountain views.

There are cycle paths all around Lake Annecy; some leisurely, and some for serious cyclists who aren’t afraid of steep inclines. During our visit, my dad and I opted to cycle the 43-kilometre path that loops around the entirety of Lake Annecy, which took us through beautiful countryside, quaint villages and world-class alpine scenery.

The route is mostly flat, making it perfect for cyclists of all experiences – we saw both keen cyclists out on racers and families on fixed-gear bikes. There is a steep section between Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard, but as long as you take it slowly, you should be fine. I had no problems completing the journey on my basic mountain bike.

The route follows a car-free cycle path called Voie Verte for most of the way, making it a leisurely cycle free of the worry of cars. There are, however, parts between Bout-du-Lac and Menthon-Saint-Bernard that haven’t yet had a cycle path built in and you will have to cycle on the road. Drivers in Annecy are used to seeing lots of cyclists on the roads so are cautious and will give you space and respect.

How long does it take to cycle around Lake Annecy?

The Lake Annecy Loop is a circuit that will enable you to cycle around the entirety of the lake. The route is mostly flat, with just a few inclines, so you should be able to maintain a good pace most of the way. With this in mind, it should take you about 3 – 3.5 hours to complete the loop without stops.

Lake Annecy cycle loop logistics and map

Start/Finish: Annecy

How to get there: Annecy’s train station is on the French mainline, high-speed rail network and is accessed easily from most major French cities. It’s also well-connected to the French autoroute network via the A40 and A41.

Distance: 43 kilometres

Time: 3 – 3.5 hours

Difficulty: Easy; simple to navigate, smooth paths and mostly flat topography

GPX: You can download a Lake Annecy Cycle Path GPX Track from here.

Cycling Lake Annecy: the route

You can start the cycle from anywhere around the lake. I’ve cycled the route twice, starting from Annecy itself the first time, and from a campsite in Talloires the second time. It’s probably best to start from Annecy, as you’ll leave the busyness of the town behind and only rejoin it at the end, which I think is preferable to cycling through Annecy halfway through your ride.

Annecy

Annecy itself is a colourful, picturesque town, and has been nicknamed Venice of the Alps due to the canals that run through it. Here, you’ll find quaint boutiques and cafes, a bustling waterfront and an old castle. It’s quite a touristic place, but it’s pretty and well worth a look.

Sévrier

Leaving Annecy, you’ll come to Sévrier, which has a beautiful marina full of boats docked at the side of the lake. 

Saint-Jorioz

Following Sévrier, you’ll arrive at Saint-Jorioz, home to another stunning marina and offering spectacular views of some of the highest peaks around the lake, including La Tournette (2351m).

Duingt

As you approach the quiet village of Duingt, you’ll have to cycle through a tunnel. The route around Lake Annecy follows the trail of an old train track that connected Annecy and Albertville – the tunnel was part of the train line. Duingt is also home to the Ruphy castle.

Bout-de-Lac

As you continue your route, you’ll come to Bout-du-Lac, situated at the southern tip of the lake. Here, you’ll have to cross a busy main road to reach the east shore of the lake. Now, you’ll need to start cycling north up the east shore, passing through the villages of Talloires, Menthon-Saint-Bernard and Veyrier-du-Lac. 

Talloires

The cycle path in Talloires is laid right next to the lake, with several little beaches along the route. Talloires was used as our base during our time at Lake Annecy. We stayed at a campsite called Camping du Lac, which was situated right on the lakeshore itself, offering fabulous views of the surrounding area.

The Voie Verte has not yet been laid between Talloires and Menthon-Saint-Bernard, so you’ll have to cycle on the road for a while. As you leave Talloires, the road gets a little steep, but as long as you pace yourself, you should be fine. From the road, you should also be able to see the grand Chateau de Menthon-Saint-Bernard.

Veyrier-du-Lac

The next major village you’ll come to is Veyrier-du-Lac, which sits at the foot of Mount Veyrier and Mount Baron. It’s quite a lively and scenic place, with markets, shops, restaurants and boutique hotels.

Back in Annecy

Soon after cycling through Veyrier-du-Lac, you’ll arrive back in Annecy via the marina and Imperial Hotel! Why not reward yourself with a refreshing dip in the lake and a cold drink in town?

Need to hire a bike?

If you haven’t got your own bike with you, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a number of bicycle rental places in and around Annecy. Cyclable Rental is located near the bike path in Annecy itself and costs 22€ to rent a leisure bike for the day. There are also bike rental places right by the Voie Verte in Talloires (Nomad Bike) and Doussard (Au Coup de Pompe).

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Thank you for reading! If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you would consider using the affiliate links below when planning your travels. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This will help me to keep this blog running. Thanks for your support – Lauren.

Hotels – Booking.com
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