Annecy in January

July and August bring warm lake swimming but also crowds that make the old town feel like a theme park. Every photo spot has a line. May through June offers the sweet spot - warm enough for outdoor dining, cool enough for hiking, and the lake starts warming up. Flowers bloom in the Alpine meadows above town, and hotel prices stay reasonable. September rocks if you can swing it. The water's still warm from summer, crowds thin out after French vacation season ends, and fall colors start painting the mountains. Restaurant terraces stay open through October most years. Winter transforms Annecy into something different - Christmas markets fill the old town, and you can ski at La Clusaz (30 minutes away) then return for dinner by the lake. Just know that many lakeside restaurants close from November through March.