Christmas Day may seem far off, but it is never too early to plan your holiday travels. In this episode I’m going to tempt you to visit Switzerland in its shoulder season of November and December to eat the chocolate and enjoy the many Christmas Markets of Zurich.
In this post, you will find…
Travel tip… buy a foldable planning map of Switzerland before you go!
Zurich, By Day, By Night, By Twinkle Light
I’m not a Bright Lights, Big City person. Yet the vibe in Zurich just felt right. We stayed at the fringe of the old city center where the modern streets and rail station bring together the tourists and the gig workers and the bankers and the few lost souls. In Zurich, where Lenin once had an apartment, e-scooters now reign supreme.
Lindt’s World of Chocolate, Zurich
Where chocolate, like cheese, isn’t just a commodity and it isn’t merely an art form, it is in their blood. The world of chocolate as we know it today was invented in Switzerland. And though there are plenty of chocolate factories and chocolate shops and chocolate tours, Lindt’s World of Chocolate is THE chocolate factory and tour. In essence this is the Chocolate Cathedral. I made my pilgrimage.
The self-paced audio tour takes us from the cocoa plantation to the history of chocolate to the mechanization of the chocolate bar as we know it today. The grand finale, a trip to The Ball Room. The Lindt Chocolate Ball Room, that is. I think every flavor of Lindt chocolate balls lined up and staff with devilish smiles and encouragement, “but have you tried this one?” No guilt exists in The Ball Room.
Donning the Chef’s Hat and Apron, Stirring the Chocolate Caldron
CT is not a big chocolate fan but he indulged me, the sweet thing that he is. We attended the chocolate bar class—“when in Rome,” as they say.
We were then asked to don official Lindt aprons and chef’s hats (not paper, mind you, actual cloth) and divided into groups of 6 by nationality which included a Millennial couple from the States, emphatically not on their honeymoon just on a long tour of Europe.
Our guide chatted about chocolate flavors and the molding process and were allowed access to the table’s caldron of white, milk, and dark chocolate to make our own unique bars sprinkled with chopped nuts or fruit and add drizzles of chocolate into spirals. CT made the Packers’ iconic G.
These were then stuck in the freezer and we watched a video about the company’s commitment to sustainability and justice. Knowing where all their cocoa was farmed to make sure that local communities were being paid and treated fairly is very important to Lindt.
Supporting Lindt’s mission meant a trip to the gift shop on the way out especially to find flavors I had never seen in the states. Talk about putting money where your mouth is.
The gold mine did go through customs just fine. I did share some. Some.
Lesson learned: I didn’t spend enough.
Zurich’s Christmas Markets
Fancy chocolate always reminds me of Christmas and Zurich doesn’t disappoint. Have I mentioned the real trees for decoration everywhere? These trees aren’t a 10 foot tower of plastic covered in gaudy baubles and ribbons, they are locally sourced trees with a simple string of lights, a couple stumps to sit on, some wood chips scattered. Ambience. Authenticity. Not audacity.
The Christmas Markets of Zurich opened that night, a line of them along Lake Zurich on both sides, 10 or so locations all told, each their own. We went to several. Most of the booths are food and drink.
A young woman said hello and asked us what we wanted to order and CT’s Wisconsin accent gave us away that we were Americans. She was from the Midwest too and we wished her a Happy Thanksgiving as it was the day. She blinked in surprise and smiled as if she had forgotten or had been taken away like us.
Thankfully Thankful Thanksgiving
We traveled on Thanksgiving overseas because most of us Americans travel domestically which leaves a gap in tourism numbers at that time of year. We had many of the sites to ourselves since the snow that Switzerland is famous for had not yet flown.
Much to our pleasant surprise many Christmas Markets in Zurich and elsewhere in the country opened that weekend and we got to enjoy those like gravy (or chocolate sauce if we are keeping up the reference).
Switzerland is a fairy land of twinkle lights and swans on the lake. Real cloth aprons and the smell of fresh cut evergreen trees. Incomparable chocolate. Zurich pulls us in.
We are out this door…
Silver Linings Discounts: Hotels and Flights
Sign of past times: COVID masks and Business Class
Travel in the time of COVID had a silver lining. We got Business Class tickets for a fraction of the price we are paying now. Or, rather, are not paying now because the price is too expensive. If you ever want to know if business class is worth it, let me know and I will do an in-depth review. Until then, read the champagne story here . Glad to have experienced business class flights once!
Check out flights for your own Switzerland Chocolate and Christmas Market adventure.
Hotel Recommendation for Zurich, Switzerland
The Hotel Ameron Zurich Bellerive au Lac features a modern room style, excellent breakfast, and within a two-minute walk to the old city center and the modern bustling business district. Our balcony overlooked Lake Zurich which damped the city noise and was an excellent view. The restaurant was visited by locals as well as hotel guests which points to the hotel’s prime location and fine dining experience.
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