Geneva: Chocolate Tasting Tour & Old Town Walk with Boat Ride

Summary

Chocolate legends, lakeside stories and old town flavors in Geneva

You’ll wander Geneva’s Old Town with a local guide, tasting award-winning chocolates (twelve in total!) across six stops. Cross Lake Geneva by boat, listen to stories behind each sweet bite, and catch glimpses of city life you’d probably miss alone. There’s laughter, history, sticky fingers—plus that moment when Geneva suddenly feels familiar.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the first stop to smell like childhood — that warm, almost toasted scent of cocoa hitting you as soon as we stepped inside. Our guide, Claire (she’s lived here her whole life), handed me a tiny square and said, “This one won gold last year.” It melted so fast I barely tasted the nutty edge until she started telling us about Churchill buying chocolate from this same shop. I tried to picture him here, honestly — it made me laugh.

The walking part wasn’t too much, maybe 2 km? We zigzagged through Geneva’s Old Town, past the St. Peter’s Cathedral where bells echoed off the stone. There was this moment near Maison Tavel when someone opened a window above us and you could hear piano music drifting down. The chocolate tastings were spaced out enough that I never felt sick — though by the fourth stop I did start wishing I’d skipped breakfast. Claire told stories about breaking the “marmite” (it’s a chocolate cauldron thing for a local tradition) and let us try saying it in French; I definitely butchered it but she just grinned.

I liked how we crossed Lake Geneva on one of those yellow boats — not fancy at all, just regular commuters looking at their phones while we stared at Jet d’Eau spraying mist over everything. The air smelled sharp and clean out there, nothing like inside the patisseries. At some point my hands got sticky from one of the pralines but nobody cared; everyone was too busy comparing favorites or asking Claire about her favorite chocolatier (she wouldn’t pick sides).

Honestly, I still think about one of those cakes — something with orange peel and dark chocolate — but mostly I remember feeling oddly at home in a city where I didn’t know anyone. Maybe it was all that sugar or maybe just the way people lingered outside shops chatting in French and Italian. Three hours went fast. If you’re thinking about a day trip to Geneva for chocolate tasting, don’t overthink it — just bring comfy shoes and maybe skip lunch beforehand.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Chocolate tasting and Old Town visit

• Visit 5 chocolateries and patisseries
• Taste 12 different chocolate products
• Learn Swiss chocolate history and secrets
• Break the Marmite tradition
• Guided walk through Geneva Old Town
• Visit St. Peter's Cathedral
• See Tavel House
• Explore Lower Streets and Left and Right Banks
• Boat ride across Lake Geneva
• Discover Jet d'Eau secrets from the lake
• Walk around Lake Geneva shores
• View Brunswick Monument

Top questions

How long is the Geneva chocolate tasting tour?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and covers about 2.1 km on foot.

How many chocolate tastings are included?

You’ll enjoy 12 different Swiss chocolate tastings at six stops.

Is there a boat ride included in this tour?

Yes, there is a short boat ride across Lake Geneva between banks during the tour.

Do I need to buy tickets for young children?

If your child is 3 years or older, you’ll need to purchase a child ticket; under 2s not eating join free.

Are dietary restrictions accommodated?

The tour tries to offer alternatives if noted in advance but can’t guarantee substitutions for all allergies.

What should I wear for the walking tour?

Wear comfortable flat shoes suitable for walking around 2 km including slight hills.

Does this include skip-the-line access?

Yes, skip-the-line entry is included at all tasting stops on the tour.

What’s included

Your day includes guided storytelling through Geneva’s Old Town with an expert local guide, twelve curated Swiss chocolate tastings across six chocolateries or patisseries (including some famous favorites), all entry fees with skip-the-line access, plus a short boat ride crossing Lake Geneva before finishing back among city landmarks—no need to worry about logistics or tickets along the way.