Lyon & Annecy Recommendations

That’s when I’ll be there, July 8-23.

We liked Annecy and Chimonix. We rode the gondola up and walked around. We didn’t have time to hike but still worth the trip up there. Unfortunately it was cloudy at the top with no visibility so we didn’t go there.

In Annecy we walked around the canal area where the shops and restaurants are. A nice place to have lunch/dinner and drink some green beer (La Verte au Genepi).

I would prioritize London over the French Countryside. But that depends on how often you have been to London and what all you have done. In my opinion, London needs more time than any other European city. It's the one place where you can spend a full week filling your plate with no regrets. There's also more day trips you can take from London versus places like Paris, Rome, Berlin...

The French "countryside" is really big and pretty diverse. Think of it in terms of regions or states using a US model. Each "region" offers something a little different and I would allocate three nights at each to properly explore them.

Annecy, Chamonix and the French Alps are very picturesque and charming but at the end of the day that small region is just a poor man's Switzerland. I don't think you need to visit to have a complete French experience and I wouldn't prioritize it over some of the other regions like Normandy, Loire Valley, Alsace, Provence. If alpine scenery is your objective then just go to Switzerland