From wetlands to glaciers, Savoie is home to a wide variety of natural habitats. The département is also home to more than 15,000 species. Nature is therefore a strong thread running through the region’s attractions, from individual protected areas to marked trails across the mountain landscape. Savoie is closely associated with Vanoise National Park, founded in 1963 as France’s first national park. Visitors looking to shape their stay around scenery and time outdoors will find options at different scales, from designated natural sites to extensive trail networks.

Natural Areas and Trails in Savoie

Savoie’s network of sensitive natural areas includes 19 sites spread throughout the département. Possible offerings there include nature trails, visitor facilities and discovery activities. You can explore nature not only on longer routes, but also at individual sites.

The hiking network in Vanoise National Park includes nearly 400 kilometres of marked trails starting in villages and resorts in the Maurienne and Tarentaise valleys. There are also two long-distance trails with clearly defined routes: the Via Alpina and the GR®5 cross the Vanoise Massif from north to south. Rando Vanoise lists around 60 routes in the park’s core area and more than 250 in Maurienne and Tarentaise. These totals may change as updates are made. The distance covered by the marked trail network and the number of routes therefore provide different points of reference for your planning.

A network of mountain huts offers accommodation and meals throughout the Vanoise Massif. For trips that go beyond a short outing, this is another facet of the region: trails, long-distance routes and huts are distinct elements to explore. Cyclists can also enjoy an extensive network of routes. More than 2,600 kilometres of marked cycling routes are listed for Savoie; the published total may be revised.

Museums, Buildings and History

Culture can also be discovered through a variety of places and formats. The Musée Savoisien is housed in a 13th-century monastery and displays 2,000 objects across seven thematic areas. Interactive features complement the exhibition, including a chalet about alpine farming, a winter sports studio, digital games, films and projected maps. The combination of objects and interactive elements offers different ways to engage with the museum’s themes.

The Château des ducs de Savoie combines a fortress and a princely palace. Its buildings date from the 13th century to the present day. The Abbaye de Hautecombe offers a different historical connection: it was founded as a Cistercian abbey in the 12th century and is home to the necropolis of the princes of Savoy. Audio-guided visits are available for the church.

The Musée d’art et d’histoire d’Albertville is housed in the Maison rouge, a 14th-century building overlooking the medieval cité de Conflans. Together with the château and the abbey, it offers a varied picture: fortress and palace architecture, monastic history, a princely necropolis, and museum spaces with both historical and interactive ways to explore.

Regional Cuisine and Experiences

Savoie’s culinary traditions include farcement, diots, crozets and rissoles. The wine designations also offer insight into the region’s diversity: Vin des Allobroges is a PGI, while Roussette de Savoie, Seyssel and Vins de Savoie have AOC/AOP designations. If you’d like to include food and wine in your travel plans alongside scenery and culture, these offer additional themes to connect with your discoveries along the way.

In the broader Savoie Mont Blanc tourist area, which encompasses Savoie and Haute-Savoie, farms and cheese-aging cellars offer visits with demonstrations of cheese-making followed by tastings. Experiences described there also include themed hikes and evening outings as part of resort Nordic activities. Sled rides and the opportunity to learn how to drive a team are also part of this regional offering. These examples relate to the wider Savoie Mont Blanc area and complement discoveries focused on Savoie itself.

Discover more destinations: La Bauche, Hautecour, Saint-Pancrace, Albiez Montrond, Arith, Attignat-Oncin, Belle-Plagne, Bellentre, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Bozel, Brides-Les-Bains, Champagny-En-Vanoise, Crest-Voland, Doucy-en-Bauges, La Tania, La Trinité, Le Bettaix, Le Bois, Le Pontet, Le Pré, Les Avanchers Valmorel, Les Coches, Levassaix, Méribel-Mottaret, Méribel-Village, Montagnole, Montagny, Montalbert, Montchavin, Montricher-Albanne, Notre-Dame-De-Bellecombe, Peisey-Nancroix, Pralognan-La-Vanoise, Praranger, Pussy, Saint Francois Longchamp, Saint-Sorlin-Darves, Saint-André, Saint-Jean-D'arves, Saint-Julien-Mont-Denis, Saint-Martin-De-Belleville, Saint-Pierre-D'entremont, Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise, Seez, Serrières-En-Chautagne, Termignon, Tignes, Traize, Val-D'isère, Valloire, Valmeinier, Villard-Sur-Doron, Hauteluce, Aussois, Courchevel 1550, Cruet, Saint-Colomban-Des-Villards, Mercury, Albens, Saint-Franc, Flumet, Sardières, Villaroger, Les Déserts, Bessans, Montmélian, Les Allues, Le Bourget-Du-Lac, La Ravoire, Lanslevillard, La Motte-Servolex, Coise-Saint-Jean-Pied-Gauthier, Chambéry, Challes-Les-Eaux, Barberaz, Albertville, Aix-Les-Bains, Valmorel, Beaufort, La Lechere, Moutiers, Modane, Bonneval-Sur-Arc, Saint-Nicolas-La-Chapelle, Avrieux, Orelle, Rochefort, Saint-Pierre-D'albigny, Saint-Alban-Leysse, Montsapey, Entremont-Le-Vieux, Les Marches, Fontcouverte-La-Toussuire, Villarembert, Lescheraines, Saint-Martin-Sur-La-Chambre, Aime, Saint-Marcel, Les Chapelles, Bramans, Viviers-Du-Lac, Demi-Quartier, Montvalezan, Novalaise, Jarrier, La Côte-D'aime, Montailleur, Ugine, La Motte-En-Bauges, Landry, Grésy-Sur-Isère, Queige, Les Échelles, Saint-Etienne-De-Cuines, Barby, Saint-Bon-Tarentaise, La Perrière, Lanslebourg-Mont-Cenis, Saint-Jean-De-Maurienne, Chindrieux, Grésy-Sur-Aix, Grignon, La Rochette, Saint-Michel-De-Maurienne, Aigueblanche, La Giettaz, Voglans, Mouxy, Mâcot-La-Plagne, Trévignin, Villarodin-Bourget, Aillon-Le-Jeune, Le Châtelard, Presle, Saint-Pierre-De-Genebroz, Frontenex, Domessin, Dullin, Champagneux, Aiguebelette-Le-Lac, Sainte-Hélène-Du-Lac, Francin, Montcel, Sainte-Hélène-Sur-Isère, Lépin-Le-Lac, Valezan, Cohennoz, Notre-Dame-Du-Pré, Saint-Oyen, Jongieux, Feissons-Sur-Salins, Granier, Saint-Christophe, Aiton, Thoiry, Chignin, Ruffieux, Arbin, Saint-Baldoph, Apremont, Saint-Jean-De-Chevelu, Pugny-Chatenod, Vions, Saint-Jean-De-Belleville, Jarsy, Salins-Les-Thermes, Motz, La Thuile, La Table, Épersy, Montaimont, Montgellafrey, La Bridoire, Saint-Paul, Gerbaix, Avressieux, Verrens-Arvey, Aiguebelle, Saint-Genix-sur-Guiers, Gilly-sur-Isère, Saint-Alban-de-Montbel, Saint-Avre, Belmont-Tramonet, Tresserve, Myans, Brison-Saint-Innocent, Plancherine, Planay, Bourdeau, Chamoux-sur-Gelon, La Bâthie, Fontaine-le-Puits, Hermillon.

For the broader travel overview: Rhône-Alpes.