Aparthotels and serviced apartments in Annecy

ROYAL Annecy Apparthôtel is the address I would choose for a stay centred on the lake. It stands 200 metres from Lake Annecy and 350 metres from the Palais de l'Isle, the old prison on its island in the Thiou canal, so mornings by the water and evenings in the old town are both a short walk away. Each apartment has a fully equipped kitchenette, a seating area and a flat-screen TV, and there is a fitness room and luggage storage, useful on a departure day. It rates 8.7 from 2,091 reviews, level with Neostelia for the best score on this page.

Appart Hotel Neostelia has recently renovated rooms with a fully equipped kitchenette, a private bathroom and a balcony, with garden and mountain views. Air-conditioning and soundproofing help on warm summer nights, and it also rates 8.7, from 1,977 reviews. Its description places it near local attractions and outdoor activities without giving distances to the lake or the old town, so I would look at the route before booking if you plan to walk everywhere. For a stay with a car and day trips into the mountains around Annecy, its balconies make it the most pleasant base of the three.

Aparthotel Adagio Annecy Centre is the most reviewed address here, 8.4 from 2,935 reviews, and the practical choice if you arrive by train. It is a short walk from the station, 500 metres from the castle and the old town and 1 km from Lake Annecy. It offers studios and apartments, a fitness centre and a 24-hour reception, and it is described as ideal for families and pet owners. Its description does not detail the kitchen equipment, so if cooking matters to you, ask what each studio includes when you book, as you would for any self-catering stay in the centre.

Whichever you choose, the appeal of an aparthotel in Annecy is the freedom to live like a resident. The old-town markets along the canals sell Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie and fish from the lake, ideal for a dinner in the apartment. In summer, the cycle path along the western shore leads towards Sévrier, and the Pâquier lawn by the water is the place for a picnic facing the mountains. In winter, the ski areas of La Clusaz and Le Grand-Bornand are within driving distance, and having a kitchen makes a week in the Aravis easier with a family.