Annecy or Beaune?

Annecy is beautiful -- nothing much to do. Beaune has a lot of wine visit options. both good.

We went to Annecy before Lyon in October 2022 and really enjoyed it. I could see that it might be sleepy off-season except for weekends. We were there over a sunny weekend and there was a a great Sunday market. We enjoyed renting paddleboats, and touring the lake. I would recommend it! Don't know Beaune though so can't compare.

I’ve been to each a few times. With a day and a half you will find each charming and worthwhile. In 2005 we took the train from Paris to Beaune for two nights, then on to Annecy for 2 nights. We spent most of the full day in Beaune on bikes in the vineyards. We spent most of the full day in annecy cruising the lake and hiking alongside the lake. While you can’t go wrong with either I prefer the food of Beaune but the beauty of Annecy.

We spent 2 nights in Beaune and 3 in Annecy (to give time for a day trip to Chamonix). Beaune is charming with a Beauty and the Beast Disney feel to it. The Hospices de Beaune were fascinating and very moving. The town itself is very walkable, plenty of dining choices. Annecy is magical. The canals with flowers everywhere, a crystal clear lake and views of the mountains surrounding the lake. There are plenty of lake activities to enjoy. We took the “shuttle” boat around the lake to see all the views. We biked all the way to the tip of the lake on the west side of the lake. It was level with designated bike paths. I would have liked more time to explore Talloires, We had lunch there at 1903, a lakefront bistro run by a Michelin star chef, but without the cost of a Michelin star restaurant. Wandering through the streets and canals and waterfront area is a delightful experience. Although I liked Beaune a lot, my choice would have to be Annecy.

If you've never been to a mountainous lake (such as Lake Tahoe) you might find Annecy interesting. It's got some nice, though not spectacular, scenery.

However, if you already are familiar with alpine settings, Beaune is far more diverse and interesting.

It really comes down to what you find interesting. One is more scenery focused. The other is more wine, food, and market focused.

If you like wine, Beaune is an amazing place to visit. There are a few non wine activities, but it's the heart of Burgundy and there are many world class wineries nearby. The Rick Steves guide covers it reallly well.

We are in the extremely early stages of planning our 2026 tour of France, and will be visiting Annecy as we couldn't fit it in to 2024's trip to Switzerland.

We were thinking of visiting Dijon for a couple of nights on the way from Paris to Annecy, but this thread has me thinking of Beaune, of which I know virtually nothing.

We love Dijon mustard, hence our desire to visit there, but we love wine just as much.

Which place do people recommend?

We've already been to Lyon and Avignon, also Bordeaux and Strasbourg, but somehow Burgundy has been missed on the way.

@DebH - if you like Dijon mustard, then I would put in another plug for Beaune. The Moutarderie Fallot is located here which is the only mustard producer in France using 100% French mustard seeds. The others import mustard seeds from Canada. They have a lovely shop and tours explaining the history and making of mustard. You even get to make your own! And they have a mustard tasting station to sample the different mustards. They have a really good website. fallot.com/enjoy-fallot

You can’t go wrong with either Beaune or Annecy. I would choose the one that has the easiest or fastest travel time. If all things are equal, I would give a slight nod to Beaune.

Dijon is nice, but I preferred Beaune because it’s smaller and more charming. I should point out I spent for nights in Beaune and did Dijon as a day trip, so perhaps it’s not a fair comparison.

Thank you! This feedback has been helpful! I think I will stick to my plan to go to Beaune.