Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Annecy and Évian

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Lake Annecy beaches

The lake's designated bathing beaches don't take dogs. That's around a dozen municipal and public beaches, including Albigny, the Marquisats and the Impérial in Annecy, Talloires, Angon, Menthon and Veyrier. It doesn't cover the lakeside itself, so the promenades, the Pâquier, the Jardins de l'Europe and the cycle path all take dogs on a lead. For a swim, head to the Fier or the Chéran rivers.

Lake Geneva dog beaches

Sciez-sur-Léman beach takes dogs all year, in a small dog area on the right of the beach. At Excenevex's Domaine de Rovorée dogs can swim on a lead, except at Rovorée beach and the Châtaignière port. Messery Pointe allows dogs from 1 May to 30 September between 19:00 and 08:00, and Chens-sur-Léman's Beauregard beach from 20:00 to 09:00 in a marked zone. No dog rule is published for Évian's own beaches, so ask locally.

Lake boats

The Compagnie des Bateaux takes dogs on a lead on its Lake Annecy sightseeing cruises and the shuttles to Talloires and Doussard for EUR 5 per animal. The lunch and dinner cruises don't take animals. On Lake Geneva, CGN boats charge dogs a second-class half fare, small dogs up to 30 cm at the shoulder travel free in a bag, and Évian connects across the lake to Lausanne.

Dogs at the table

Dogs sitting inside a restaurant is written down at the Impérial Palace, the Père Bise, the Hôtel Royal's La Véranda, the Ermitage's La Table and the Bistrot de la Verniaz. It's a no in the dining rooms at L'Abbaye de Talloires, Rivage and La Riviera Victoria. In town, many Annecy restaurants take dogs on their terraces and some bring water.

Fees

EUR 10 at the Best Western Plus Carlton and Le Palace de Menthon, EUR 18 at Le Splendid, EUR 20 at the Impérial Palace, L'Abbaye and Le Pélican, EUR 25 per dog per night at Rivage, EUR 30 at La Riviera Victoria, EUR 35 a day at the Royal, the Ermitage and La Verniaz, and EUR 40 a night at the Père Bise. La Maison Bleue charges a supplement but doesn't publish the figure.

Trains and buses

Annecy's SIBRA buses take dogs on a lead and muzzled, depending on how busy it is, and small pets in a closed carrier. On SNCF TGV INOUI and Intercités trains, a small dog travels in a bag up to 45 x 30 x 25 cm, or a bigger dog on a lead and muzzled at your feet, from EUR 10 per train. Eurostar doesn't take pets.

Leads and livestock

Dogs are expected on a lead in Annecy town, on walks and on hikes. Watch for livestock guardian dogs, the patous, on the mountain pastures above both lakes.

Getting there

Geneva airport is the gateway for both lakes, roughly 45 minutes by road to Annecy and about the same to Évian. Dogs can't fly into the UK in the cabin, so most UK and Irish dog owners drive, by Eurotunnel or ferry to Calais and then a long day through France.

Best walks

On Lake Annecy, the Pâquier lawns, the Jardins de l'Europe and the lakeside promenades in Annecy, the voie verte cycle path round the western shore (shared with bikes, so a short lead in summer), the Roc de Chère between Talloires and Menthon, and higher up Mont Veyrier, the Semnoz and the Plateau des Glières. On Lake Geneva, the Quais d'Évian, the Parc Clair Matin at Neuvecelle by the Évian funicular, the 2.4 km Sentier Vegetti from Yvoire to Nernier, the Domaine de Rovorée, the Moulin de la Serpe trail at Sciez, and the Bois de Ville above Thonon at Armoy, which has a fountain and bowls.

When to go

May, June and September suit a dog best, warm enough for the terraces and the boats without the midsummer crowds. July and August are hot and busy on Lake Annecy, especially around the Animation Film Festival in June and the Fête du Lac in early August, so walk early or late. On the Léman side, the Messery dog window only runs from May to September, while Sciez takes dogs all year.