Visit to Chocolate factory at Broc

Hi

Am in Geneva with family (2 kids 5 and 8 years) and was keen to make a trip to the Chocolate factory at Broc. Would be keen to get some advice on whether it is good and worth the 5 hours round journey from geneva. The kids are quite excited about going to a chocolate factory. Any suggestions on how i should plan the journey would be welcome.

I also checked the chocolate train route and it seems to take 5 hours one way from Montreux to Broc. So am planning to take the regular trains. Hope that is the right thing to do.

Also I could not find a way to make a booking for the visit to the factory online. The website gives the tickets prices and timings etc but i cannot find a link to make the actual booking online.

Thanks

Prem

Hi Prem,

The Chocolate Train takes that long because it also includes a tour of the cheese factory in Gruyères. If you go on your own, you can take a train to Broc-Fabrique (enter this as your destination in the timetable). You will have Swiss Travel Pass, right? In that case all trains are free. The factory ticket can be purchased on the spot. There's nothing to book in advance.

Have fun, and don't skip the chocolate tasting section!

Hi Arno

Thanks. My swiss pass expires the day before i am planning to make this trip so will have to buy the tickets. Do I just buy on the tickets on the day at the station or book online in advance?

Just a thought, is there any other good chocolate factory near either Interlaken or lucerne which i could also consider? or is the Maison Cailler the best one to visit?

Prem

One other question. I read on the Calillier website that there is some discounted SBB railway offer which includes travel with public transport and admission. again this would need to be purchased from the station? Since i don't have STP available on the day i am planning this trip would like to avail of this discounted offer. So do let me know how i could avail the same

Thanks

Hi Prem,

You can buy the ticket from any staffed station. They'll usually offer the combined ticket once you've told where you're going. You can take a look at www.maestrani.ch too.

PS: I forgot to mention that the entrance to Cailler is free with a Swiss Travel Pass too. I don't know about your overall holiday plan, but it migh be easier to buy a pass for more days.

Hi Arno

The holiday is 11 days (starting tomorrow i.e 25Jul) and i have bought a 8 consecutive days Swiss Travel pass. So i have one day at the beginning (25Jul) and 2 days at the end (2nd and 3rd aug) which are not covered with the STP. I thought of taking your advise and taking the 3 days flex STP. However It does not allow me to buy a STP online starting tomorrow. Can i not buy a STP starting tomorrow? It allows the consecutive days STP but not the flex one. If i am buying the 3 days pass i thought i might as well make full use of the same.

Prem

Hi Prem,

That's too bad! A 15-day Swiss Travel Pass would have cost you only CHF 77 p.p. extra. But it's too late for that now. A Swiss Travel Pass Flex is relatively expensive but if it's cheaper than regular tickets for your plans it's still a good option. Indeed you can't buy one online last minute, so you'll need to get one at a staffed rail station.

Thanks Arno.

So there is no way to upgrade a 8 day pass to a 15 day at a staffed station by paying the additional amount?

Hi Prem,

An upgrade, no. I have never heard of that. The only option I know of is to cancel the pass through the retailer you purchased from (usually a 15% fee applies), and then get them to issue a new pass.

If you come back to Switzerland in the future, please be sure to visit this page before deciding on any pass. It explains how to pick the cheapest pass based on your plans. In your case it seems like the 15-day pass would have been cheaper, even though you don't stay for 15 days. It's quite common actually. Many people buy an 8-day pass even if they stay for 6 or 7 days.

Anyway, I hope you'll have a wonderful time in the Alps!

It was my understanding that the Chocolate Factory entrance was covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. Is that correct?

Yes, Swiss travel pass covers the enterance and guided tour in the chocolate factory.

Also read ur post about whether it's worth it - YES! We loved it. Nice AV presentation, all u can eat chocolate, excellent explanations, interactive and fun. The shop was well stocked and had helpful assistants too. Try not u miss 😊

Thanks, that's what i thought. We're stopping there and in Gruyeres on the trip from Lauterbrunnen to Montreux. Should be a fun day! :)