A Visit to Annecy?

What are your plans in Geneva? With three nights there, I do think that you can allocate one of your two full days to Annecy. It does not take more than a day to visit Geneva.
Actually, depending on your plans your Geneva and on where you will be coming from before Geneva, I would be inclined to stay in Annecy and day trip to Geneva from Annecy. You will save money, and I find Annecy more charming than Geneva.

Geneva is a business trip so we have to be in the city and we won’t have time on the front end. We might possibly have time during the day before we have an evening event. I was trying to flesh out whether it is preferable to do an overnight in Annecy or if a day visit would suffice?

For what it's worth I have a friend that swears by Annecy. I'd probably rent a car and spend 1 night.

In your case, I would stay in Annecy for the night then, once your business trip is over. It will be less travel overall to go from Geneva to Annecy, then to Lyon than from Geneva to Annecy and back, then to Lyon. And Annecy can be overrun with daytrippers in summer, so an evening there is a nice bonus.

I would not rent a car, however, because renting in Geneva and dropping off in Lyon is not an option (drop-off in another country is too expensive, and trekking across the border to Annemasse to rent a French car is inconvenient). Also, public transportation is OK in these parts:
- Bus #272 from Geneva (Lancy Pont Rouge) to Annecy leaves every 2 hours or so and is very cheap,
- Regional train line L2 also leaves every 2 hours or so, passing through several stations in Geneva (Eaux-Vives and Cornavin likely to be most convenient)
- At worst, a French taxi/transfer from Geneva to Annecy costs about €100-120

Are you set on staying 4 nights in Lyon? Maybe you could stay 2 nights in Annecy and split your time? I'd love to return to both towns, but Annecy was the most beautiful and unique.

I totally agree with the concept of staying overnight in a place to really experience it. We will be going in early April so crowds might not be a concern but I would still like to work out staying there for one night if we can. It is the transportation issue that we have to deal with, definitely won't rent a car, my husband doesn't find it relaxing to drive in foreign countries, once in Italy was enough (although I loved the freedom it gave us!). We aren't bus takers, the train is a possibility, good advice was given for Geneva-Annecy, what about Annecy to Lyon? Private transport isn't out of the question- any more good feedback on this option as well as the train?

hey hey lostinspace
we spent 2 nights in geneva then took a taxi (taxiannecygeneva.net) to annecy for 5 nights, about 30-40 minute ride. we were on vacation and loved annecy. the taxi ride was so so worth it, i think 100E hotel to hotel. remember check in time is 2-4pm unless early approved. drop bags and look at the beauty
if possible stay 2 nights, cute village along the river/canal city center with many shops, restaurants, cafes.
annecycitytour.com
ile de palace, former home to a prison and law court, now a museum
en.lac-annecy.com/ service/ compagnie des bateaux du lac d'annecy
boat rides around the lake
lesdeuchesdulac.fr
2CV french car tour, email them for rate and where you want to go
we hired taxi-massingy.com gaelle owns company and speaks great english, same taxi from geneva
it was about 4-5 hours, went to basilica/ castle in town, menthon st bernard - small village with castle walt disney visited which gave inspiration to snow white's disneylands castle
col de la forclaz (one of my favorites). watched hang glider soar right above you and the lake, mountain pass with alps style homes, green pastures with cows wearing cowbells thru it
lafermedelacharbonniere.com
taxi tour took us here for lunch on a working dairy farm, glass floors to see cows, rustic setting with fixed price, reblochannade cheese melting machine on table with potatoes, bread, charcuterie platter and wine. fabulous and so different
rotisserie du thiou fixed price fondue lunch outside near canal good
al vesuvio pizza and calzones, rose wine, enjoyed talking with germans/austrians next to us, outside seating and people watch
creperie ti mad 21 rue royale for yummy crepes
brasserie saint charles 46 rue du parmelon sat outside small cafe/bar with the best beef stronganoff lunch special
le cure gourmande 1 rue de la paix cute shop with bisquits, cookies, candy in decorative tin cans/boxes
the train station is close by. stay at hotel near city center and just roam around.
hope this gives you some ideas,
aloha

Hi, here’s the info I wrote about our trip that included Annecy & Lyon. We just traveled by train everywhere. Looking at www.SNCF.com, there’s a direct train at 13:51 from Annecy arriving in Lyon at 15:52. Or if you like to arrive earlier, there’s a 10:42 that transfers at Aix Les Bains and arrives in Lyon at 13:00. We took the second choice listed.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/3-weeks-in-italy-france-french-locations

There are indeed several trains a day between Annecy and Lyon, no issue at all!

For what it's worth, twice when I was expecting a train ride in France the trains weren't running (for whatever reason) and they put us on buses. One of these was from Annecy to Lyon, so a 2-hr bus ride, and it was fine. The bus was perfectly comfortable. I'm normally not a bus person and prefer trains whenever possible. Just be aware that this sometimes happens.

Regarding Annecy, I stayed for 2 nights and just loved it. Annecy is my absolute favorite smaller city/town in France. Of course I was there in mid summer and the lake and the flowers were just gorgeous. Not sure about April but I'm sure it's very nice also, although maybe a little bit chillier especially on the lake. I would definitely recommend an overnight.