Aix-les-Bains is a charming town located in the Savoie area of France, known for its natural beauty, spa culture, and historical attractions. I visited this town in early April 2023 for the long Easter weekend. I’d like to tell you about things to do in Aix Les Bains!

Where exactly is Aix-Les-Bains? I hadn’t heard much about this town even though it is only a 2-hour drive from where I live and a 1-hour drive from Geneva. As I’m always looking for new places to discover, I found Aix-Les-Bains to be a great option with mountains, lakes, and nearby towns to visit.

Aix-les-Bains is located on Lac du Bourget (Lake Bourget), which is the largest and deepest lake in France. The lake’s length is 18 km and the width is 3.5 km. The average depth is 85 meters with the deepest point being 140 meters.

In the 19th century, Aix-les-Bains gained popularity as a fashionable spa resort. It became a favorite destination for European aristocracy and high society. The town experienced a period of significant development with the construction of luxurious hotels, villas, and casino buildings.

Lakeside Esplanade

I would recommend a leisurely stroll along the lakeside promenade to enjoy the stunning views. You will find several restaurants and cafes just by the lake’s edge.

In warmer months, you can benefit from a wide range of water sports, including sailing, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, fishing, diving, water skiing, and wakeboarding.

Casino Grand Cercle

The Casino du Grande Cercle has been in Aix-les-Bains since 1850. With its gambling tables and 222 slot machines, the Casino has one of France’s largest gambling equipment fleets.

I have to say we didn’t make time to go inside the Casino but I heard that it is definitely worth a visit. We only walked around the exterior of the building.

Grotte Des Fées Hike

I had researched hikes to do while visiting Aix-Les-Bains. I chose a loop route that was in the forest but offered beautiful views of Lake Bourget and surrounding mountains. The hike was called the ‘Grotte des Fées’ (which means Fairy Cave) and was only 2 hours long.

I found this walk to be interesting because of the cave you could walk into at the mid-point of the hike. The cave entrance is on the cliff edge where you can see birds-eye views of the lake. We walked inside the cave a few steps but didn’t go further once you had to lower down and crawl.

After visiting the cave, we walked around the highest point to see the different views before descending down a steep hill back to the starting point of the route.

Mont Revard

When researching what to see in this area, I saw many reviews of Mont Revard. It was quite a drive from the town to reach the top of this mountain (approx 30-40 minutes), but it was well worth it. I was stunned by the sensational views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

Mont Revard is at a height of 1500 meters. Once accessed by cog train and later by cable car until 1969, visitors can now drive to the top. We walked all around the area before having a snack at the restaurant that is perched on the cliffside.

Drive around Lake Bourget

While in Aix-les-Bains, we wanted to experience the full view of the lake and area, so we drove around the lake one day. We stopped a few times to take pictures and to have a wonderful lunch with an awesome view. The restaurant was called Belvédère D’ontex and overlooked the Abbaye d’Hautecombe.

The distance around Lake Bourget is approximately 53 km, so it can easily be driven within 1-2 hours.

Thermal Spa

Although we didn’t take the time to visit a spa in Aix-les-Bains, it is an ideal activity while visiting this famous spa town. The story began with the Romans in 131 BC when they discovered a series of thermal springs gushing from the foothills of the area. These thermal waters have attracted visitors for the past 2,000 years. The closest spa to the center is Thermes Chevalley Valvital.

Chambéry

We opted to visit Chambéry one day to check out this interesting French town. As it was Easter Sunday, everything was closed and the streets were empty. We did find an open bar where we sat down outside in the sun for a drink.

I knew I wanted to find the famous elephant fountain. In the center of town, there is a statue with four carved elephants and a fountain 17.6 meters high. The structure was created in 1838 in honor of Général de Boigne (1751–1830), who made his fortune in the East Indies. He was honored posthumously with this monument for bestowing some of his wealth on the town. 

Annecy

I had been to the nearby town of Annecy many times, but we decided to go again while in the area. Annecy is 25 km northeast of Aix-les-Bains and is a quaint romantic old town with beautiful natural scenery surrounding it. The town is situated on one end of the lake, which measures 14.6 km in length and a max width of 3.2 km.

What makes Annecy unique is the pedestrian paths in the old town where you can walk by the castle, river, and many restaurants and shops. It’s one of the prettiest villages I’ve seen in France.

Recommended Restaurants

We tried several restaurants while staying in Aix-Les-Bains. I’ve listed some of my favorites with links.

• Creperie du Port
• Le QG
• L’Alchimiste
• Belvédère D’ontex

You have a wide choice of local food specialties from the Savoie region, including cheese and sausages.

Summary

Did you learn about some things to do in Aix Les Bains? If you are ever in this area, you will enjoy visiting Aix-les-Bains as well as the nearby towns of Chambéry and Annecy. We were happy to go in the Spring when it’s not too hot and less crowded than in the Summer months.

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I’ve been to many places in France over the years (see the list here), so let me know if you are interested in having me plan your itinerary to Aix-les-Bains or any other area in France!

If you are looking for assistance to plan your next trip, I am here for YOU! I love to plan travel itineraries for myself and others. For more details on how I provide this service, please check out my Itinerary Planning page and drop me a quick email at jan@janadventures.com to get started!