Gruyères Castle, Cheese, and Chocolate Tour | From Zurich

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

11 hours

Mobile ticket

A true treat for the senses, this cheese, and chocolate escapade lifts the curtain on the backstage world of cheese and chocolate production in Switzerland. Our adventure begins in the medieval village of Gruyères, famed for the nutty, semi-hard cheese which shares its name. Discover ramshackle 15th-century homes, meandering cobblestone alleys, and one of Switzerland's crowning glory: the magnificent Castle of Gruyères. Treat your tastebuds to a local dairy, where highly-skilled cheesemakers will teach us how to make Gruyères. Sample the iconic cheese fresh from the wheel, and discover the rich history behind the recipe. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a visit to the legendary Cailler Factory, the birthplace of Swiss chocolate. Discover why Cailler chocolate is considered the creamiest in Europe, and watch chocolatiers practicing their art.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Zurich

Your guide will greet you inside the main hall underneath the clock tower of the central train station of Zurich HB before starting the tour

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

La Gruyere

We’ll head to "La Maison du Gruyères”, a traditional dairy where master cheesemakers will reveal the process behind authentic Gruyères AOP cheese. Watch as fresh milk is transformed into delicious Gruyères, using huge copper cauldrons and giant curd presses. Learn how the region produces around 48 wheels a day, all of which undergo a rigorous inspection by Gruyères AOP before they are allowed to be sold with the official label. After the demonstration it's time to indulge your taste buds. Learn to recognize and appreciate the full bodied, nutty flavor of authentic Gruyères as you sample the cheese straight from the wheel.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Local guide

Standard Rail Pass

Chocolate Factory Visit

Gruyères Cheese Factory Visit

Private transfers in Gruyères's region

Château de Gruyères Entrance Ticket

Raclette or fondue lunch in Gruyères

Gratuities

Options

Gruyères Castle, Cheese, and Chocolate Tour | From Zurich

Reviews

5.00

6 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Loved this day trip, highly recommend--breathtaking views and great cheese & chocolate!
Getaway54986796346,Mar 15, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was an incredible day trip & Jonas was a great guide! He met my Mom and I at our hotel and was very punctual. We traveled by train to Gruyères and went to the cheese museum and got samples to take back to the hotel. Great experience and the cheese tasted amazing (to say the least). We then went to a beautiful castle...breathtaking scenery! We were able to explore the castle at our leisure. Jonas then recommended a restaurant right outside of the castle for lunch. He gave us ideas as to what to order and the food was DELICIOUS. We then made our way to the Callier chocolate factory. The factory had a capturing, interactive museum with an abundance of samples at the end. Finally, we made our train trek back to Zurich. Jonas walked us back to our hotel and gave us his number in case we had questions during the remainder of our stay in Zurich. Jonas was incredibly knowledgeable and professional. He was a pleasure to spend the day with. My mom and I had a blast! We wouldn't have been able to logistically plan this trip on our own, so I would definitely recommend this incredible experience.
Perfect day trip in Switzerland
DivinaDG32,Dec 1, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Jonas gave us the most incredible and personalized trip one could ask for! He was extremely knowledgeable about Switzerland and the locations we visited! We visited the beautiful city of Gruyere as well as the Cailler chocolate company and had an amazing time at both! Would highly highly recommend it.
Taste Switzerland
T585GDmelissas,Nov 16, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent tour. Everything was stunning and perfect. Our guide, Jonas, was unparalleled. Couldn’t have been better. We absolutely loved the day!
Wonderful
Christopher G,Jul 25, 2022
- Review from Viator
5.00
Better than expected! I only wish viator had a better detailed description of what this tour offers, because it was so much. Our Guide, Jonas, was one of the best we've had anywhere in the world. He was polite and knowledgeable, and made the whole experience that much better. This tour is long and tiring, yes, but there is so much you get to see and experience. We would have had a very hard time accomplishing this much in one day without Jonas.
Family Visit
Pritpal B,Feb 2, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our tour wonderful and insightful tour guide was Jonas. He was really delightful to chat with and knew a lot of about the region and the history behind many important parts of Swiss culture.
Great Experience!
199reneep,Sep 9, 2021
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent day trip from Zurich. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, friendly and took care to make sure we were having a great time. Was fantastic to see a different part of Switzerland that we would not have felt comfortable exploring on our own with navigating the trains in particular. Chocolate and cheese were absolutely fantastic! Would absolutely do this again and highly recommend!