Lyon, Annecy and Chamonix in 10 Days

Bouchon dinners in Lyon, lake swims in Annecy and glacier views from Chamonix

10 days3 stops

Original illustration

At a glance

Spend two nights eating your way through Lyon, drive to Lake Annecy for four slow nights of swimming from wooden docks and cycling the shore, then finish with three nights in Chamonix for cable cars, glacier views and mountain hikes below Mont Blanc. It suits couples who love food and the outdoors. Late June to mid-September is the season, when every lift runs and the lake is warm.

By the Honeymoon Huts editors · How we research

This route is the French honeymoon for couples who would rather swim in a mountain lake than queue for the Eiffel Tower. It runs from Lyon, France's food capital, into the Alps, with one long lake stop and one high mountain stop.

Lyon comes first for two nights of bouchon dinners, Renaissance lanes and a covered market famous with chefs. Then you drive about an hour and a half to Lake Annecy, often called one of the cleanest lakes in Europe, where you swim from wooden docks, cycle the shore and watch the sun set behind the mountains from the eastern shore at Talloires. Four nights there is the slow heart of the trip. Chamonix finishes it, with cable cars to glacier viewpoints and trails to lakes that reflect the peaks.

Fly into Paris and take the fast train to Lyon. Fly home from Geneva, about an hour and 15 minutes from Chamonix. That open-jaw route means no backtracking.

The route

Best months: Late June to mid-September
Trip length: 10 days
Budget: About $300–800 a night for two in boutique and lakeside hotels (approximate)

Day by day

Days 1–2: Lyon

There are no nonstop flights from the US to Lyon, so fly into Paris CDG and take the TGV from the airport station, about two hours. Stay in Vieux Lyon or near Place Bellecour.

On your first evening, eat at a traditional bouchon, a small Lyonnais restaurant serving hearty local dishes and pitchers of wine. Go to bed early.

On day two, explore the traboules of Vieux Lyon, hidden passageways that run between streets through courtyards. Take the funicular up to Fourvière hill for the view, then graze through Les Halles Paul Bocuse, the covered market, for lunch. In the afternoon, walk along the Rhône and Saône rivers. If one of you wants wine, take a half day in the Beaujolais vineyards north of the city. Return for sunset from Fourvière and a final dinner.

Days 3–6: Annecy

Pick up a rental car and drive to Annecy, about an hour and a half. Stay in Talloires on the eastern shore or near the old town.

On day four, walk Annecy's canal-laced old town in the morning, kiss on the Pont des Amours as tradition says you should and browse the market if it is a market day. In the afternoon, swim from a wooden dock in Talloires.

On day five, rent bikes or e-bikes and cycle the lakeside path on the western shore toward Duingt, stopping for swims and a picnic. Day six is the slow day. Rent a small electric boat for the two of you, then nap and swim. For adrenaline, book a tandem paraglide from Col de la Forclaz above the lake, a well-known launch site. End with a sunset dinner on the water in Talloires.

Days 7–9: Chamonix

Drive to Chamonix, about an hour and a half. Stay in the center or in a quieter village like Argentière.

On day eight, take the first cable car of the morning to the Aiguille du Midi at 12,605 feet on a clear day. The view across Mont Blanc and its glaciers is the reason you came. Move slowly at the top, since the altitude is high. In the afternoon, ride the rack railway to Montenvers for the Mer de Glace glacier.

On day nine, hike to Lac Blanc, a mountain lake that reflects the peaks on still mornings. The trail takes about two hours up from the top of the Flégère lift. If one of you wants a gentler day, ride the lift up to Le Brévent for the view across to Mont Blanc or drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur for an Italian lunch. Finish with fondue and a fire.

Day 10: Flying Home

Drive to Geneva Airport (GVA), about an hour and 15 minutes. Return the rental car, then fly home. A few US cities have nonstop flights to Geneva; otherwise connect through a European hub.

If you rented your car in France, ask the rental company about returning it on the French side of Geneva Airport, which avoids a cross-border fee. Allow extra time for this.

If your flight leaves early, consider a final night in Geneva or near the airport. Lake Geneva's promenade and the old town make a pleasant last evening.

Getting Between Stops

Paris CDG to Lyon is a TGV of about two hours from the airport station. Book ahead for the best fares.

In Lyon, you will not need a car. The metro, trams and funiculars are simple and the center is walkable.

Rent a car when you leave Lyon. Lyon to Annecy is about an hour and a half by car. Annecy to Chamonix is also about an hour and a half. Chamonix to Geneva Airport is about an hour and 15 minutes.

In Chamonix, free local buses and the regional train link the villages and lift stations. Most hotels provide a guest card for free transport.

If you prefer not to drive, trains connect Lyon and Annecy in about two hours. Shared shuttles run from Annecy and Geneva to Chamonix.

Where to Stay

In Lyon, Villa Florentine sits on the slope below Fourvière with views across the city. Cour des Loges fills a group of Renaissance houses around a glass-roofed courtyard. The InterContinental Lyon Hotel Dieu is set in a grand former hospital on the Rhône.

On Lake Annecy, Talloires is the most romantic spot. Auberge du Père Bise, a famous family-run hotel and restaurant, sits right on the water. The Abbaye de Talloires occupies a former Benedictine abbey with gardens down to the lake. In Annecy town, the Impérial Palace is a grand hotel by the lake, while Les Trésoms sits on the hillside with a spa.

In Chamonix, Hameau Albert 1er is a long-running, family-owned hotel with a Michelin-starred restaurant and a pool facing Mont Blanc. Hôtel Mont-Blanc is a historic central hotel with a spa. For privacy, rent a chalet with a hot tub.

When to Go

Late June to mid-September is the season for this route. Every lift runs, trails are clear of snow and Lake Annecy is warm enough for swimming. June and September are the sweet spots, with fewer crowds than July and August.

July and August are busy at Annecy, with crowded beaches and higher hotel rates. Book well ahead.

Avoid May, October and November, when the high lifts in Chamonix close for maintenance and many hotels shut.

From mid-December to April, Chamonix is a serious ski resort. A winter version of this route works for skiers, with Lyon for food, Annecy for a quiet lake stay and Chamonix for the slopes, but you lose the swimming and hiking. Lyon's Fête des Lumières around December 8 is a beautiful time in the city.

What It Costs

The French Alps are moderately expensive in summer. As an approximate guide, boutique hotels in Lyon cost about $200 to $400 a night for two. On Lake Annecy, lakeside hotels in Talloires run about $350 to $700, with Auberge du Père Bise around $700. In Chamonix, good hotels cost about $250 to $500.

The TGV from Paris, a rental car and tolls add moderately.

The things worth paying for are a bouchon dinner in Lyon, a lake-view room in Talloires, a tandem paraglide over Annecy and a multiday lift pass in Chamonix covering the Aiguille du Midi and Montenvers. Lyon is better value for food than Paris, so plan your big dinners there.

Tips for the Two of You

The Aiguille du Midi summit is at 12,605 feet. Take it slowly at the top, drink water and come down if either of you feels dizzy or short of breath. Bring warm layers and sunglasses, since it is cold and very bright even in summer.

Pack layers for the whole trip. Mountain mornings are cool even when Annecy is hot.

Lake Annecy's water is cold early in summer. Get in slowly and swim close to shore.

Annecy's lake road is busy on summer weekends. Use the bike path or the lake boats for short trips.

The route gives each of you something. One of you might paraglide while the other cycles, or one might hike to Lac Blanc while the other takes a spa morning. Meet for lunch. Chamonix's restaurants book up in summer, so reserve dinners ahead.

Make It Shorter or Longer

With a week, skip Lyon and fly straight into Geneva, spending three nights in Annecy and three in Chamonix.

With 12 or 13 days, add two nights in Paris at the start, taking the TGV from Gare de Lyon to Lyon. Or add Burgundy, about an hour and 45 minutes from Lyon by car, for two nights of wine tasting in Beaune.

Another option is a two-night extension to the Italian side of Mont Blanc in Courmayeur, through the tunnel, or to Switzerland's Zermatt, about three hours or more from Chamonix by car or train.

Couples who want a beach finish can add three nights on the French Riviera, flying from Geneva to Nice in about an hour. If you love Provence, drive south from Lyon instead for a slower lavender-country ending.

FAQ

Planning this trip

Are the French Alps good for a summer honeymoon?

Yes, for active couples. Annecy has warm, clear lake swimming, cycling and lakeside hotels. Chamonix has cable cars, glacier views and hiking. Lyon adds some of the best food in France. It suits couples who would rather hike and swim than lie on a beach.

How do we get from Lyon to Annecy?

By car, it takes about an hour and a half. Trains take about two hours. A rental car is useful for Annecy and Chamonix, since it lets you reach Talloires, mountain passes and trailheads easily.

Is the Aiguille du Midi safe at that altitude?

For most healthy people, yes, but it is very high at 12,605 feet. Move slowly, drink water and go back down if either of you feels dizzy, short of breath or unwell. Go early on a clear morning, since clouds often build later.

Which airport should we fly home from?

Geneva Airport (GVA), about an hour and 15 minutes from Chamonix. A few US cities have nonstops; otherwise connect through a European hub. Fly into Paris and home from Geneva to avoid backtracking.

When is the best time for a Lyon, Annecy and Chamonix honeymoon?

Late June to mid-September, when every Chamonix lift runs and Lake Annecy is warm. June and September are quieter than July and August. Avoid May, October and November, when high lifts close.

Stops on this route

France

Lyon

France

Annecy

France

Chamonix

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