Chocolate Tourism in Switzerland

Switzerland is famous for its chocolate...

After the Rain Urban Day Spa

Location: Central Geneva
Type of experience: beauty spa
Details: After the Rain offers a wide range of spa treatments, including chocolate body wraps and chocolate baths, both of which incorporate grated chocolate.

Alimentarium Food Museum

Location: On the Lake Geneva shore
Address: Quai Perdonnet, 1800 Vervey, Switzerland
Type of experience: food museum
Details: Alimentarium is a food museum run by the Nestlé foundation. Although it covers foods of all kinds, it also has a permanent exhibition tracing the origins and history of Nestlé, including its chocolate products.

Alprose Chocolate Museum (Shokoland)

Location: Lugano area
Address: 36 Via Rompada, 6987 Caslano-Lugano, Switzerland
Type of experience: chocolate museum
Background: Chocolat Alprose was founded in 1957, and the factory produces over 8,000 tons of chocolate a year.
Details: The museum presents the world of chocolate from its origins through to the present day. It also explores the traditions of Swiss chocolate making. Visitors are also given the opportunity to observe the chocolate production process (production is halted at weekends). Guided tours are available in Italian and German for groups of 20+, advanced booking required.

Cailler Broc Factory

Location: Broc
Type of experience: chocolate factory visit
Background: Cailler was founded in 1819, and the very first chocolate factory in Broc was built back in 1898.
Details: Explore the history of Cailler chocolate, watch chocolate being processed via live camera feeds, and sample a variety of chocolates. On request, it's possible to have lunch in the factory restaurant.
External reviews: Esurientes | VirtualTourist

Camille Bloch Factory Tour

Location: Courtelary
Type of experience: chocolate factory tour
Background: Chocolats Camille Bloch is a family-run business, now on its third generation of chocolatiers, and has been operating for over 75 years.
Details: Guided tours for groups, taking in the secrets of the chocolate production process and a chocolate tasting session. Tours are only available for groups, and must be arranged with the factory in advance.

Chocolat Frey Factory Tour

Location: Buchs
Address: Bresteneggstrasse, 5033 Buchs, Switzerland
Type of experience: chocolate factory tour
Details: Chocolat Frey arranges behind-the-scenes group tours of their chocolate factory. The tours take approximately 3 hours, and have minimum age and visitor number requirements. They must be booked with the factory in advance.

Chocolat Frey Le Monde Du Cacao Exhibition

Location: Buchs
Address: Bresteneggstrasse, 5033 Buchs, Switzerland
Type of experience: chocolate exhibition
Details: Film presentation on the magic of chocolate, escorted tour of the exhibition, free drink and opportunity to shop in the Frey Shop at a discount. The exhibition is laid out in English, German and French. It is open to adults and children from the age of 6. Advanced booking required.

L'Ecole du Chocolat Rapp

Location: Prangins
Type of experience: chocolate school
Details: Two packages are available, a tasting visit package and a longer chocolate-making course. Both courses include a presentation about the history of chocolate and a tasting session.
Note: The website is only available in French

Maestrani Schoggi Land

Location: St. Gallen area
Address: 41 Toggenburgerstrasse, 9230 Flawil, Switzerland
Type of experience: chocolate factory tour
Details: Individual and group tours of the Maestrani Schweizer Schokoladen chocolate factory.
Note: While the main site is in English, the specifics of the tour are only available in German

Museo Storico Di Blenio

Address: CH-6716 Lottigna, Switzerland
Type of experience: museum
Details: Ethnographic museum focused on sacred art. One hall of the museum is dedicated to chocolate, its history and local production, as well as chocolate ads and designs and a chocolate workshop.
Note: The website is only available in Italian

SPECIALIST TOURS AND ACTIVITIES

GoldenPass Chocolate Train

Location: Departs from Montreux
Type of experience: train journey
Details: Seasonal day trips by train in luxury first class surroundings, incorporating a visit to the Gruyères cheese factory at Gruyères, and a visit to the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory, complete with complimentary chocolate tasting. The trip ends back in Montreux at the end of the day, and operates during the summer months.
External reviews: The Telegraph | TripAdvisor

Mountains & Chocolate

Location: Departs from Zurich
Type of experience: day tour by coach
Details: Summer day tours by coach, including a visit to the cheese factory in Stein, a guided walk through the village of Appenzell, a cable car trip and a visit to the Chocolate Factory Maestrani (see above)