Summer is here, and the French Alps are a great choice for a summer holiday. Why not give the hot and crowded beaches of the south of France a miss and head to the mountains?
More and more people are choosing to spend summer in the mountains, thanks to the many advantages they offer – breathtaking scenery, a variety of activities, good air quality, peace and quiet… it’s all there!
So where should you head in the Alps this summer? Which resorts should you choose? Here’s our pick of the must-see destinations in the Alps this summer…
Annecy
Known as “the little Venice of the Alps”, Annecy is the perfect destination for a summer holiday. Stroll through the colourful streets of its old town, eat in one of its many (Michelin-starred) restaurants, have a picnic by the water or take a pedalo ride on the lake… This little medieval town has more than one trick up its sleeve to keep visitors busy in summer. And that’s why it’s one of the must-visit destinations in the Alps in summer.
Annecy summer activities
Fun in and on the water
When you think of summer holidays, you probably think of fun in the water. And if that’s just what you need, there’s plenty to do at Lake Annecy. Pedalos, paddleboats, sailing, canoes, wakeboarding and more, there are plenty of watersports to choose from!
The town is also home to sports centres offering a wide range of aquatic and well-being activities including the Jean Régis swimming pool and l’Ile Bleue swimming pool.
Sporting activities
There are plenty of activities on land and in the air around Lake Annecy. Here are some you should not miss:
- Cycle around the lake along the “voie verte”;
- Fly over the lake in a paraglider;
- Climb the Col de la Forclaz for the best viewpoint of Annecy and its lake, and admire the sunset from up there.
Cultural events
Annecy is a city with a rich historical, cultural and architectural heritage. Here are some of the best cultural visits:
- Visit the Château d’Annecy;
- Stroll through the narrow streets lined with colourful houses;
- Take some pictures at the Palais de l’Île, an iconic site in Annecy which is listed as a Historic Monument;
- Visit the Resistance museum and the Deportation monument just a few kilometres from Annecy;
- Learn about 19th-century Savoyards at the Lake Annecy Ecomuseum.
There’s no shortage of festivals and events in Annecy during the summer months.
Europe’s largest fireworks display, the famous Fête du Lac, occurs on the first Saturday in August. The event presents over an hour of mesmerising fireworks set to music and lights. This year’s event takes place on 5 August and will have a Musicals theme.
And that’s not all… discover all the things to do in the Aravis in summer 2023 and in Annecy.
Where to eat in Annecy this summer
As you wander through the town, you’ll come across numerous shops where you can stock up on delicious local produce: Reblochon, Beaufort, lake fish such as Féra or Omble Chevalier, local charcuterie, chocolates, génépi and Savoie wines.
You can also sample traditional Savoyard dishes in one of the many restaurants dotted around the town.
Lovers of fine dining will also find something to tempt them in any one of the nine Michelin-starred establishments around the lake. To find out more about Haute-Savoie’s gourmet restaurants, click here. And for more starred restaurants in the wider region, click here.
Summer accommodation in Annecy
Annecy is a particularly popular destination in summer, so it’s not always easy to find somewhere to stay. Fortunately, OVO Network is here to help holidaymakers find the rental of their dreams.
For a romantic holiday, the Petit SwansDoors is the ideal choice. This small, cosy flat right in the centre of Annecy is an excellent choice for a couple looking for comfortable accommodation in the heart of the beautiful medieval city.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay with family or friends, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Chalet Kalyssia is another brilliant option.
Sleeping up to 11 guests, this luxury 5-star chalet is ideally located overlooking the magnificent Lake Annecy and boasts top-of-the-range facilities that are sure to appeal to holidaymakers.
With its barbecue, garden furniture, outdoor play area and in-ground swimming pool, there’s no better place to spend your summer holidays.
Find your dream accommodation on Lake Annecy
Morzine
Morzine is another Alpine destination you don’t want to miss in the summer. The town is lively and busy all year round, not just in winter!
The Portes du Soleil Multi Pass is also available to help you take advantage of all the leisure activities on offer.
Head to Morzine this summer
What can you do in Morzine in summer?
Sporting activities
There’s plenty to do in Morzine in summer. Whether you’re looking to work up a sweat or simply enjoy the fresh air and magnificent mountain scenery, there’s something for everyone.
Here are a few ideas for sporting activities in and around the resort:
- Hiking: with over 200 km of waymarked trails around the resort, Morzine is a wonderful playground for hiking enthusiasts. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, you’ll find a trail to suit your ability;
- Canyoning, hydrospeed and rafting ;
- Paraglding;
- Golf: with a wide variety of courses in wonderful mountain settings, could you ask for more?
- Tree-top adventure courses: there are three adventure parks in and around Morzine;
- Mountain biking: Morzine and the Portes du Soleil mountain biking areas are among Europe’s top destinations for mountain bikers, and a benchmark for the vast majority of mountain bikers. Find out more here;
- Road cycling: Morzine’s terrain, geography and landscapes make it a popular destination for road cyclists;
- Climbing, via ferrata and mountaineering.
With its multitude of activities and leisure pursuits, Morzine is a must-visit destination in the Alps in summer. To find the right service provider for each activity, go to the Morzine Tourist Office website.
Festivals and sporting events
There’s plenty going on in the mountains in summer, too, and in Morzine, you’ll find a whole host of sporting festivals.
In June, the Pass’Portes du Soleil MTB brings mountain bikers together for an 80 km ride through the French and Swiss Alps. The event is accompanied by a mountain bike fair, where festival-goers will have the chance to discover and test over 200 internationally-renowned brands of bikes.
Runners can take part in the Morzine Spartan Trifecta, a race in the heart of the mountains where participants cross high-altitude lakes, climb dizzying slopes, jump into waterfalls, cross high pastures and swim in the white waters of mountain rivers. And then there’s the Trail des Hauts Fort, a difficult and demanding race that will take participants through the most beautiful panoramas of the Portes du Soleil.
For those who can’t decide between cycling and running, the Morzine-Montriond Triathlon is the solution! With a swim in Lake Montriond, a bike race along part of the Tour de France route and a run on the banks of the Dranse, it’s sure to be a sporting adventure…
All the highlights of summer 2023 are available at the Morzine-Avoriaz Tourist Office.
Where to eat in Morzine this summer
Just like Annecy, there’s no shortage of restaurants in the famous resort of Morzine. Savoyard specialities, modern and refined cuisine or international flavours, there’s plenty to tempt your taste buds.
Here are some of our recommendations:
- For a refined palette: Kern, in Seytroux, hides a veritable temple of flavours within its walls. Here you can savour refined, creative cuisine based on local produce, which changes with the seasons. From starter to dessert, each plate is a festival of colours, smells and flavours that you won’t forget.
- For a taste of regional specialities: In the mood for a hearty meal with a Savoyard flavour? Head to Le Clin d’Oeil. Here you can sample all sorts of local specialities: tartiflette, raclette, fondue bourguignonne, pierrade… But that’s not all! The chef, Jean-Noël, also invites diners to discover the flavours of his native region: the South-West. These include foie gras with caramelised apples, duck and onion compote, cassoulet and duck confit with prunes and Armagnac. All in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
- For something different: Try Papa Renard! One speciality is franburgers, made with fresh local produce. As well as that, you’ll find craft beers, each with a flavour more surprising than the last. It’s a trendy place not to be missed!
- For fresh produce: Morzine’s weekly market, held every Wednesday, is the perfect place to sample local specialities – a real must-see destination in the Alps in summer.
Where to stay in Morzine this summer
Just a few kilometres from Morzine, in the village of Montriond, Chalet Bolay is ideal for holidaymakers who want to take advantage of the activities and entertainment of the Portes du Soleil while enjoying the peace and quiet of the mountains. After a day of activities on the lake, you can enjoy returning to the comfort of your private chalet and relaxing in the spacious garden and kids can take advantage of the games room.
Chalet Isla de Lux is also sure to please. Its furnished outdoor terrace and balcony are perfect for enjoying an aperitif or soaking up the splendid mountain views on a balmy summer evening.
Find your perfect chalet in the Portes du Soleil
La Clusaz
Cultural visits, outdoor activities, gourmet discoveries, sporting events… La Clusaz is an Alpine destination you won’t want to miss in the summer. Busy in winter, the resort is much quieter in summer, making it all the more enjoyable to explore.
The most beautiful chalets in La Clusaz
Summer activities in La Clusaz
Sports
Just like its neighbouring resorts, hiking and cycling are also very popular in La Clusaz in summer. But there’s much more to try throughout your holiday including:
- Summer sledging;
- Golf;
- Ice skating;
- Climbing and via ferrata;
- Archery;
- Paragliding;
- Bun-J Ride (bungee jumping on a bike on a trampoline);
- Paintball.
These are just some of the activities that make La Clusaz one of the must-visit destinations in the Alps in summer.
To find out more, read our article on the best summer activities in La Clusaz. Or check out the “Summer activities” section on the La Clusaz Tourist Office website to discover even more ideas for getting out and about.
Water fun
There are various water parks in the area surrounding La Clusaz. These features are a real asset to the resort, attracting holidaymakers in search of a refreshing dip.
Need a relaxing day in the shade of the trees? Then head to Lac de Passy for an afternoon of swimming. With its supervised beach and leisure centre, there’s plenty to keep young and old entertained.
If you’re looking for a combination of relaxation and fun, the Aravis aquatic centre in La Clusaz is the ideal family outing. While children let off steam in the pool and have fun on the slides, adults can relax in the hot tub or take advantage of the sauna!
The thrill seekers among us will love visiting the Giffre or Dranse rivers. Rafting, hydrospeed, canyoning, canorafting and air boating are just some of the activities available on the water. It’s a great way to get your adrenaline pumping and cool off on a hot summer’s day. Information and bookings can be found on the website.
Cultural events and days out
There’s a huge variety of events held in La Clusaz during the summer season.
For example, sports fans can take part in the Bélier VTT mountain bike race in June. The 17th edition of the Bélier Trail et Rando takes place from 25 to 27 August 2023. Or if you’d prefer just to spectate, don’t miss the Tour de France riders climbing the Col des Aravis in mid-July.
Families can enjoy the enchanting Balade au Clair de Lune on 1 July 2023, when La Clusaz replaces all its artificial lights with candles, for a magical evening of music and street shows.
Alternatively, if you love fresh food and cooking, don’t miss the weekly market on Monday mornings, or the Reblochon Festival on 13 August, when visitors will have the chance to watch cows being milked and see how Reblochon cheese is made. There are also folk dances and cow parades… and lots more surprises!
Find out about all the events planned for this summer in the Aravis region by clicking here. For the full diary of events taking place in La Clusaz during your stay, click here.
Eating out in La Clusaz in the summer
There’s no shortage of upmarket restaurants in La Clusaz. Here are a few good places to try this summer:
La Scierie
At La Scierie “both in the dining room and in the kitchen, simplicity and subtlety, inventiveness and seasonality go hand in hand, to the delight of bon vivants and aesthetes alike … The chic, bistronomic restaurant La Scierie cultivates the art of enhancing fresh produce by putting it to good use in all its sauces, thanks to the talent of its chef, Christophe Janvier. With absolute respect for the terroir and local producers. A gourmet cuisine, beautiful and sincere…”.
Pur
In his gourmet restaurant Pur, chef Laurent Dubois “invites you to discover his world through his natural, uncluttered menu. His cuisine is a subtle balance between the technical skills he learned from the great Michelin-starred chefs and the simplicity of his personality, forged by his Haut-Savoyard roots. Keen to work with local produce as closely as possible to the producers and craftsmen of the Aravis, the chef awaits you at his gastronomic table to help you discover the mountains in a different way”.
Les 2 Mules
Les 2 Mules offers a chic experience in all simplicity. “The decor is pure and simple, the dining room overlooks the mountains, the seating is comfortable and French-made, the materials are of the highest quality, and the atmosphere is cosy and intimate. Just the right cuisine, prepared with top-quality produce. A team of passionate professionals who combine their skills and experience to offer you a refined and memorable moment”.
Still not convinced? Maybe you’ll find what you’re looking for in our article on the best restaurants in La Clusaz.
La Clusaz summer accommodation
Whether you’re on holiday with friends, family or as a couple, OVO Network will have the perfect accommodation for you. With about 20 partner chalets located in and around La Clusaz, everyone should be able to find the ideal base for their next holiday in the Aravis mountains.
Chalet Manoe is perfectly adapted and designed to receive visitors during the summer holidays. With their furnished terraces and outdoor pools, it’s sure to please. Sunbeds, deckchairs, parasols, garden furniture… you’ll find everything you need!
So, make sure to check out their availability calendars now! Do your holiday dates match? All you have to do is book! If there’s no availability on the dates you want, there’s plenty more to choose from in the La Clusaz area – have a look at our other properties by clicking here. And if you subscribe to our newsletter, you’ll be one of the first to hear when a new property is released, so you don’t miss out on a golden opportunity!
Our partner chalets in La Clusaz
Thanks to their rich natural and cultural heritage, the Alps are an essential destination for summer holidays. The summer season is packed with events of all kinds and there is a wide range of outdoor activities to enjoy the fresh air and breathtaking scenery.
Many restaurants keep their doors open to welcome holidaymakers. Plus, the available rentals are perfectly equipped for summer holidays: swimming pool, outdoor seating, deckchairs, barbecue… everything you need for an unforgettable summer holiday in the heart of the beautiful Alps!
Find the ideal location for your summer holidays in the Alps
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