Gruyères day trip: Chocolate factory & cheese village

Taste Swiss chocolate and cheese in one morning, then wander a medieval hilltop village

A full-day tour from Lausanne to Gruyères includes a visit to Maison Cailler chocolate factory with tasting, the Cheese Museum (La Maison du Gruyères), free time to explore the medieval Old Town, and a scenic drive through Swiss countryside with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle. The tour runs eight hours and departs from Lausanne, with a stop in Montreux on the return.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Maison Cailler1h · entry included
2. Old Town of Montreuxpass by

Swiss chocolate and Gruyères village visit

• Visit Maison Cailler chocolate factory
• Taste Swiss chocolate
• Admire Le Moléson mountain
• Explore Gruyères medieval village
• Discover Gruyère cheese making secrets
• Enjoy Swiss countryside ride
• Stop in Montreux to pick up group

The experience

The day starts at the Maison Cailler chocolate factory in Broc, where you'll see how Swiss chocolate is made and taste as much as you want. The factory sits in the foothills on the way to Gruyères, so the drive itself carries you through green pastures and past the cows and mountains that define the region. After chocolate, the bus climbs to Gruyères itself, a medieval village that has stayed largely unchanged for centuries, built around a castle at the top of a steep hill.

Once in Gruyères, you get free time to walk the narrow cobbled streets and explore on your own pace. The Cheese Museum (La Maison du Gruyères) is there if you want to learn how Gruyère cheese is made, but the village itself is the main draw: small enough to cover in an afternoon, with views down the mountainside toward the pre-Alps. Your guide will point out the charm of the architecture and explain what you're seeing, but the afternoon is yours to spend as you choose.

The return journey takes you back down the mountain and through the Swiss countryside before stopping in Montreux to pick up any other passengers. From there it's the drive back to Lausanne. The whole day runs eight hours with an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned transport included.

What’s included

• Maison Cailler chocolate factory visit with tasting.
• Cheese Museum (La Maison du Gruyères) entry.
• free time in the medieval village of Gruyères.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• English-speaking driver and guide for the full eight hours.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SundayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 30 Oct

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 48

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Keytours (Switzerland)

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want a structured day hitting the chocolate factory and medieval village without navigating between them. You'll ride the bus and follow set stops, whereas a self-guided visit means arranging your own transport and timing between locations.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

What exactly happens at the Maison Cailler chocolate factory?

Maison Cailler is a working chocolate factory in Broc where you watch the production process and then taste Swiss chocolate, as much as you want. It's one of Switzerland's most famous chocolate makers, and the tasting is included in the tour price.

How much free time do you get to walk around Gruyères village?

The tour gives you free time in the medieval Old Town of Gruyères to explore at your own pace. The exact length depends on the day's schedule, but it's enough to walk the main streets, visit shops, and take in the views from the hilltop.

Is the Cheese Museum visit included, or do I pay extra?

The Cheese Museum (La Maison du Gruyères) is included in the tour. You can visit it during your free time in the village, or skip it and spend the afternoon exploring the streets and architecture instead.

Does the tour stop anywhere else besides the chocolate factory and Gruyères?

The tour passes through Montreux on the return to Lausanne to pick up other passengers, and you'll drive through the Swiss countryside and past Moléson mountain on the way up to the village. The main stops are the chocolate factory and Gruyères itself.

What's the drive like from Lausanne to Gruyères?

The route takes you through green Swiss countryside with pastures, cows, and mountain views. It's a scenic drive that shows the typical landscape of the region, and the bus is air-conditioned. The whole journey from Lausanne to Gruyères takes a couple of hours with the chocolate factory stop included.