Minibus Hire Across France

Annecy by Minibus: Lake, Old Town and Mountains

Annecy is made for an unhurried group day: canals in the old town, a boat on the lake, lunch in Talloires. A minibus with a driver takes care of the roads, the parking and the border, so you can stay in holiday mode.

Arriving via Geneva or Lyon

Genève Aéroport, across the border in Switzerland, is about 49 km away, roughly an hour on the road. Lyon-Saint Exupéry is about 127 km, around an hour and a half. Arriving by rail, you step out at Gare d'Annecy within a few minutes' walk of the old town; direct TGVs from Paris take about 3 hours 45 minutes.

One detail about Geneva: Switzerland charges foreign-registered coaches and buses over 3.5 t a heavy vehicle fee for every day they spend there, even parked. Tell us early if your plans include Swiss stops.

Sprinter 19-seat minibus, side view
Sprinter 19-seat minibus, side view

Getting into town

The Tournette coach park by the lake is shut while the water mains are renewed. The tourist office expects it back at the end of March 2027, though the agglomeration warns the date could slip. Until then, coaches set down and collect on rue Jean Jaurès, next to the Bonlieu centre (toilets inside), and park on avenue de France, near the Église Sainte-Bernadette.

There is no parking at the Bonlieu stop, so treat it as a quick set-down. From there, the old town, the Palais de l'Isle and the lakeside lawns of the Pâquier are an easy stroll.

Flying in to Annecy

Places your group will love in Annecy

  • Fête du Lac d'Annecy — Large fireworks show over the lake on the first Saturday of August each year
  • Talloires and the east shore of the lake — Lakeside villages and viewpoints
  • Le Semnoz — Mountain above the west shore of the lake (1,699 m) with a 360° view including Mont Blanc on clear days
  • Lake Annecy boat cruises — Commented cruises leave from the Annecy landing stages; group and private trips are available
  • Musée-Château d'Annecy — Former residence of the Counts of Geneva above the old town; group visits are arranged with the museum in advance
  • Old town (Vieille ville) and the Palais de l'Isle — Canals and the island building, a historic monument that was a prison and a courthouse; guided and unguided group visits

Where groups tend to stay

  • Lake villages: Talloires, Veyrier-du-Lac, Sévrier
  • Annecy-le-Vieux and Albigny (north-east shore, near the Impérial)
  • Gare d'Annecy area
  • Old town and the lakeside (Pâquier, Bonlieu)

Winter kit and the low-emission zone

Winter brings its own kit list. Between 1 November and 31 March, anything driving in Haute-Savoie, coaches too, needs snow chains or snow socks on board, or four 3PMSF-marked winter tyres. Grand Annecy's low-emission zone, covering part of the city day and night, already shuts out unclassified vehicles; Crit'Air 5 is next in 2028, then Crit'Air 4 in 2029 and Crit'Air 3 the year after. Check the rules in force before your trip.

Around the lake and beyond

Boats leave the Annecy landing stages for commented cruises, and a private trip for your group is possible. Talloires on the east shore is about 25 minutes by road; Le Semnoz, at 1,699 m, looks across to Mont Blanc on clear days.

Further afield, Aix-les-Bains is about 30 minutes, Chambéry and Geneva about 45, and Yvoire on Lake Geneva just over an hour. Chamonix is about 1 hour 20 minutes away, a full but rewarding day.

Your questions, answered

When is the Fête du Lac?

Held every year on the first Saturday in August, it is a huge fireworks display over the water. Expect crowds, and settle your drop-off and collection points well before the evening.

Can the Musée-Château take our group?

Yes, group visits are arranged with the museum in advance. It stands above the old town, so build in a little time for the walk up.

Which motorway serves Annecy?

The A41, towards Geneva and Chambéry, is a toll motorway. Coaches leave it at exit 16 or 17 and follow the recommended route, using the bus lane on rue Sommeiller, to reach rue Jean Jaurès.

More days out you can book with us

Other vehicles with a driver