Breathtaking mountain landscapes, crystal-clear lakes, charming old towns, alpine villages, renowned ski areas and spa resorts, delicious food… All of this makes Haute-Savoie one of the most stunning regions in France, full of amazing places to discover. Not that long ago, we had the pleasure of living there for 7 weeks, and we totally loved the experience! During that time, we had an opportunity to visit quite a large part of Haute-Savoie and got to know it pretty well. And in this post, we’ll show you our subjective ranking of the TOP5 places in Haute-Savoie. Add them to your French bucket list – you won’t regret it!
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Haute-Savoie, France FAQ
Haute-Savoie (eng: Upper Savoy) is a department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in eastern France, bordering Switzerland and Italy, with Annecy as its capital city. It extends from Lake Geneva in the north to Mont Blanc in the south, and has the widest range of elevations of all French departments – the lowest point is at 221m, and the highest is at the Mont Blanc summit, at 4810m.
Haute-Savoie is best known for striking landscapes, charming Alpine towns, and being home to the highest summit in Western Europe – majestic Mont Blanc. There you’ll also find many world’s renowned ski and spa resorts. But that’s not all! In Haute-Savoie, you’ll also find many water sports activities on Lake Geneva and Lake Annecy, as well as delicious, comforting Savoie foods.
Absolutely! Haute-Savoie offers stunning alpine scenery, charming lakeside towns, and world-class ski resorts. In summer, you can enjoy hiking, paragliding, and various lake activities, while winter brings snow-covered magic and top-notch skiing. It’s a perfect destination for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and anyone drawn to picturesque mountain landscapes.
Famous dishes from Haute-Savoie include Savoyarde fondue, raclette, tartiflette / reblochonnade, la tarte aux myrtilles, and gratin de crozets.
TOP5 Places in Haute-Savoie, France
Annecy
Annecy, affectionately called the Venice of the Alps, is one of the prettiest towns in France. Picturesque canals, charming old town, colorful buildings, crystal-clear Lake Annecy, and the mighty Alps… All of these make Annecy a perfect destination for both adventure and culture lovers. Believe us, it’s a destination to fall in love very easily! If we were asked to recommend just one place in Haute-Savoie, without any hesitation, we would have chosen Annecy.
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do In Annecy, France
Yvoire
Yvoire is a picturesque medieval village that lies on the Lake Geneva shores which will transport you back in time hundreds of years. Even though the village is more than 700 years old, it has preserved its medieval vibe with stone houses and wooden balconies brightly decorated with flowers. Yvoire is also recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in France (Les Plus Beaux Villages de France), which doesn’t surprise us at all! It’s a real gem in Haute-Savoie.
Learn more: 7 Best Things To Do In Yvoire, Medieval Village In France
Chamonix
Chamonix is another mind-blowing destination in Haute-Savoie. It’s located in the heart of the French Alps, where Mont Blanc and other impressive giant mountains dominate the area. This small alpine village is full of amazing outdoor adventures and attractions, along with cozy restaurants serving delicious food, and plenty of stylish hotels. But what’s even more important – it’s full of unforgettable views at every step! There, you’ll even have the possibility to stand right in front of Mont Blanc thanks to the Aiguille-du-Midi cable car! So if you’re looking for an amazing alpine escape, Chamonix will be exactly the place in Haute-Savoie you need for your next adventure.
Learn more: Things To Do In Chamonix: Old Town, Aiguille du Midi & More
Evian-Les Bains
Evian-Les-Bains is a small and charming SPA town located on the shores of Lake Geneva. The town is most famous for its Evian mineral water, which can be found in stores in most countries around the world. Together with a scenic lake location, close proximity to the Alps, thermal baths, many hiking and cycling trails around, a long lakeside promenade, and a lovely colorful old town, you’ll end up with one of the most charming places in Haute-Savoie! Fun fact: even the famous Frankenstein monster once visited Evian!
Learn more: 10+ Things To Do in Evian-Les-Bains, France
Les Lindarets
Les Lindarets is a small village located high in the mountains, at an altitude of 1442m. It’s quite a unique and peculiar place in Haute-Savoie. Why? Well, in winter it’s a ski resort that in summer transforms into a village dominated by… goats that are freely walking along the streets and hilltop meadows! You can buy some food and feed them, but be aware that they might become intrusive. In Les Lindarets, you can also admire classic Alpine chalets, eat in one of a few restaurants, buy goat-related products, and simply enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the surroundings.
More great places to visit in Haute-Savoie, France
If you are hungry for more amazing places in the region, you can also check out:
- Thonon-Les-Bains
- Abondance
- Morzine & Lake Montriond
- Chatel
- Les Gets
Explore local attractions
TOP5 Places in Haute-Savoie – Summing up & our opinion
Mighty mountains, blue lakes with crystal clear water, charming medieval villages, and colorful towns… Haute-Savoie is without a doubt one of the most stunning regions in France to visit, full of beautiful places to discover. Hopefully, this area also looks interesting to you and you’ll appreciate its beauty as much as we did. Have a great trip!
So far, we’ve spent a few weeks in Haute-Savoie, from May to mid-June. During that time, we lived in Thonon-les-Bains which we found as a good starting point to discover the area. We quickly fell for the charm of this region and made nice memories. After Côte d’Azur, it’s our second favorite region in France! We really enjoyed our time there and already know that we’ll come back to explore even more amazing places in Haute-Savoie!
One more tip for the end: traveling by car is the best and fastest way of getting to all places in the Haute-Savoie. So if you’re not traveling by car, we recommend you rent one via the rentalcars.com website.
For great car rental deals visit: Rentalcars
