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Everyone knows Switzerland is the land of chocolate. Indeed, the country’s residents are the world’s largest consumers of chocolate (by amount eaten, not waist circumference). Switzerland offers a multitude of chocolate experiences; alongside industrial giants like Nestlé and Callebaut, small enterprises run by dedicated chocolatiers create artisan works that please the eye as much as the palate. From the chic showroom of Lucerne’s Max Chocolatier to the chocolate wonderland of Lindt Home of Chocolate just outside Zurich, there is no shortage of pralines to please even the most demanding chocophile.

Fresh chocolates elevate the taste experience

Hardcore chocolate fanatics should head to Geneva to experience chocolate at its best. Recognising travellers’ avid interest in chocolate, Geneva Tourism has created a clever way for visitors to experience a variety of the city’s most indulgent chocolates. Called Choco Pass, this magic ticket lets you sample at Geneva’s most acclaimed chocolate shops. A convenient Choco Pass map shows exactly where to find them.

Choco Pass sachets offer many tastes of Geneva chocolate

Choco Pass comes in different levels of elation. The Discovery pass lets you sample at five different shops and includes a voucher worth 10 Swiss francs, while the Ultimate pass lets you visit all the chocolatiers and includes a voucher worth 20 Swiss francs toward anything your chocolate heart desires. There is so much to choose from.

Some of the delicious samples offered by Choco Pass

What is very impressive about the Choco Pass is the level of cooperation between the participating retailers. This is Switzerland, so of course everything is very well organised. Each chocolate shop gives Choco Pass holders a selection of its products in a sachet, usually containing 4-6 pieces; what is impressive is that the shops seem aware of what the others offer and avoid overlap by providing their most unique and special products. How wonderful for us.

Chocolates taken to another level of excellence

Given that the shops are small local operations, visitors may be unfamiliar with the names of the Choco Pass chocolatiers. They won’t forget them once they taste the goods. Choco Passes aren’t meant to be grab-and-go experiences; although some places are busy with customers eager for ganache to melt in their mouths, most staff take great pride in their products and take the time to explain them in as much detail as one wishes. At Canonica, on Geneva’s Right Bank, the gracious vendor is only too happy to give insight into his products. Nearby is the cleverly named Sweetzerland, which complements Canonica and one of the city’s Guillaume Bichet shops as the three participating Choco Pass retailers on this side of the city. The others are in the Old Town on the Left Bank. Don’t miss Zeller, where a gracious lady behind the counter presents the shop’s irresistible flavours to interested visitors. At La Bonbonnière, they give a hot chocolate in addition to the sachet. Martel and du Rhône are two other standouts, although one can’t go wrong at any of these temples of treats.

Geneva is famous for its exquisite chocolates

Beyond being a land of chocolate, Switzerland is also a land of trains. The Swiss Travel Pass makes rail travel easy, offering unlimited First or Second Class travel for 3 to 15 days. The Swiss Travel Pass includes a ride on…the Chocolate Train. Especially for chocolate connoisseurs, the train departs from Montreux on Lake Geneva for an excursion to the village of Broc to visit La Maison Cailler, one of Switzerland’s leading chocolate producers. As with other special trains such as the Bernina Express and Glacier Express, the Chocolate Train requires seat reservations, and Switzerland Tourism offers a full package that includes the chocolate tour.

Read more about Geneva’s special chocolates and their history here.