In this article:
Despite the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Lindt & Sprüngli opened its chocolate museum in Kilchberg, Switzerland in September 2020.
The town of Kilchberg sits on the western banks of Lake Zürich, overlooking the Swiss Alps. Kilchberg is home to the Lindt & Sprüngli chocolate factory (and a Lindt Factory Outlet for that matter). Lindt Home of Chocolate sits adjacent to the factory. The site is around half an hour from Zürich using public transport. Zürich's ZVV S-Bahn S24 route serves both Kilchberg and Zurich, making it convenient for tourists to visit the attraction.
Run by the Lindt Chocolate Competence Foundation, Lindt Home of Chocolate is the latest visitor attraction for chocoholics, and boasts the world's biggest Lindt chocolate shop, a huge working Lindt chocolate fountain, as well as interactive chocolate tours and cookery classes.
The visitor attraction seems to have three key strands to it. The giant shop will entice Lindt fans to visit, as will the Chocolate Tour (the museum). The third strand is the Chocolateria which is your chance to join a Lindt Master Chocolatier in a chocolate making course.
Lindt Chocolate Fountain
At the heart of the attraction is a whopping great big chocolate fountain. Arguably one of the most impressive chocolate fountains in the world, this will undoubtedly become the preferred Instagram selfie spot in the exhibition.
The fountain is 9.3 metres in height and holds 1,500 kilograms of Lindt chocolate. Weighing three tonnes, the fountain requires 94 metres of piping, and flows at a rate of one kilogram per second.
Lindt Chocolate Tour
In the museum, visitors can learn about the Swiss cultural heritage of chocolate, with a keen eye on the Lindt & Sprüngli company of course.
The interactive multimedia chocolate tour explores the history of cocoa through to its modern day popularity. Guided tours are available for a supplement, as are group and school tours.
The Pilot Plant shows the inner workings of a chocolate factory, with windows into a working chocolate production line.
As is typical for chocolate museums, there's a complimentary helping of Lindt chocolate along the way through the attraction. The experience typically takes an hour to work your way through.
No chocolate tour is complete without a mug of hot chocolate, and Lindt's chocolate café has you covered. It also specialises in freshly made waffles and ice cream cones.
Given the timing of the opening, Lindt has added hygiene standards to protect staff and visitors. Currently, visitors must wear face masks inside, visitor numbers are being limited to ensure social distancing is possible, and online ticketing and contactless payments are encouraged. Regular cleaning is complimented with disinfection stations liberally spread around the complex. Oh, and "tasting stations" remain open, so you can tuck in at will!
Lindt Chocolate Course
Lindt Chocolateria is the in-house test kitchen at Lindt Home of Chocolate. Lindt Master Chocolatiers host short 40-50 minute chocolate making sessions for a supplement.
You can either make your very own chocolate bar or make lollipops and figurines, depending on the course you book. Children as young as five can partake in certain chocolate making sessions, making this a fun hands-on family experience.
The venue also hosts private and corporate events. Courses can cover the above activities but can also include making pralines and truffles.
World's Biggest Lindt Chocolate Shop
Standing at an impressive 500m², the Lindt chocolate shop at the Lindt Home of Chocolate attraction has to be one of the most impressive finales to any chocolate museum in the world.
The Lindt shop is filled to the brim with all sorts of chocolates, from Lindt chocolate bars to pick and mix bins piled high with Lindor chocolates.
You can also design your own exclusive chocolate bar and watch a Lindt Master Chocolatier bring your creation to life. There's a station to design your own personalised packaging too.
You'll also find Lindt Squares, a new product developed specifically for this attraction. Available in Milk Hazelnut, Milk Caramel, and Dark Orange, these are the bars you can see in production in the Pilot Plant during your visit.
Prices for the chocolate tour start at CHF 15.00 (around £12.60) for adults and CHF 10.00 (around £8.40) for children aged 8 to 15. Children aged 7 or under can enter free with a paying adult. Guided group tours are available for a supplement. You can book tickets here.
Chocolate making sessions start from CHF 28.00 (around £23.50) per person, with a selection of different sessions available.
This video by Lindt shows the highlights of the grand opening, attended by Lindt's brand ambassador, Roger Federer.
Are you planning a trip to Lindt Home of Chocolate once travel restrictions ease? Have you visited the chocolate museum? Let me know your best bits in the comments below.
