Does it snow in Annecy? Rarely in town, all winter 30 minutes away

“Does it snow in Annecy?” The answer comes in two altitudes. By the lake, at 447 m, snow is a surprise you cannot plan for. Half an hour’s drive away, on the Semnoz or in the Aravis, it is there from December to March. Here is where to find it, how to get up there, and what to know before you hit the road.

In town: irregular, rarely lasting

There is no official figure for the number of snow days in Annecy: Météo-France’s climate sheet for the Annecy-Meythet station (1991-2020) reads “data not available” for snow. So be wary of the averages that circulate online.

What can honestly be said: at lake level, some winters bring real snowfalls, others almost none, and snow melts quickly on the quays. The lake’s huge volume of water stores the summer’s heat and softens its shores — which is also why the lake almost never freezes. If you come for snow, don’t count on the old town: go up.

The Semnoz: Annecy’s snow

The Semnoz is the mountain overlooking the lake to the south-west. Its alpine area spans 1,450 to 1,704 m, with 18 runs and 10 lifts, plus cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and sledging. Above all, the summit looks out over the whole lake, the Aravis and, when the air is clear, Mont Blanc.

• By bus: last winter, Grand Annecy’s Mobil’Hiver shuttle ran up to the Semnoz from Annecy bus station from 20 December 2025 to 29 March 2026 — on weekends and public holidays, and daily during the school holidays. The 2026-2027 season has not been published yet: check before you go.
• By car: up the Semnoz road from Annecy, winter equipment compulsory (see below).

Our guide to going up the Semnoz gives the routes and viewpoints.

The Aravis: the real mountains

To the east, the Aravis range gathers the big family resorts, less than an hour away:

• La Clusaz, from 1,100 to 2,600 m, the highest and best known.
• Le Grand-Bornand, a Savoyard village with its neighbouring ski area.
• Manigod, linked to La Clusaz.

The 2026-2027 opening dates are not yet confirmed on the official sites. For reference, La Clusaz opened continuously on 13 December 2025. Resorts usually announce their calendar in the autumn.

Driving in winter

In Haute-Savoie, winter equipment is compulsory from 1 November to 31 March on the roads listed in the prefectural order: winter or all-season tyres marked “3PMSF”, or snow chains or snow socks in the boot. The roads up to the resorts are, of course, included. Check the list of towns on the prefecture’s website and the road conditions before setting off.

The lake under snow, the real show

The finest winter images are often by the water: snow-capped peaks above a lake that does not freeze, morning mist, an almost empty old town. A 1 h 15 narrated cruise sails the Grand Lac from 1 December to 28 February, and our guide to the lake out of season covers the days without snow.

What we wouldn’t do

• Book a “snow” stay in town. By the lake, nothing is guaranteed.
• Drive up the Semnoz in trainers and a summer-tyred car. Equip the car, and your feet.
• Trust an opening date found on an aggregator. Only the resort’s own website counts.

Winter in Annecy plays on two levels: snow up high, the lake and old town below. For the end-of-year holidays, our guide to Annecy during the Christmas holidays brings the programme together, and our Annecy-specialised AI concierge plans your days around each day’s weather. Day 1 is free →