Traveling for Chocolate

Could there possibly be a better reason to travel than for chocolate? Is there a better reason to do anything than for chocolate? (For me, the answer to both is no.) When your sweet tooth and wanderlust strike all at once, it’s time to plan a vacation to one of these delectable destinations.

Barcelona, Spain

Museu de la Xocolata
Photo by Heidi de Vries

“Spanish Chocolate” is more than just one of the dances featured in The Nutcracker; it’s a legacy that stems back to the Aztecs. After the introduction of chocolate from the Americas to Europe, Spain was first on deck to take advantage of the new commodity. Today, you can too, with a menu of walking tours that take tourists into the world of chocolate making (with samples!). Visit the Museu de la Xocolata and take a chocolate sculpture class, then head to Xocoa, a specialty shop with tons of unique items, including chocolate beer, candles, and incense. The best hot cocoa in the city can be found at Fargas, a 1930’s style café, and street vendors everywhere sell chocolaté con churros – the perfect treat for when you’re on the go.

San Francisco, CA

Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco
Photo by Gabriel Saldana

The home of the Ghirardelli factory is also the home of some the most fabulous and innovative chocolate in the world, and there’s only one way to experience it all: take a chocolate walking tour! Not only will you learn all about current experimentation with artisan chocolate, but according to Gourmet Walks founder Andrea Nadel, “you get special access at every chocolate boutique we visit, sometimes meeting the chocolatier and other times getting to sample items that aren’t available to the general public. All the while, our tour guides share info on chocolate health benefits, history, production, and trends.” Who doesn’t love a great excuse to treat themselves?

Montreux-Cologne-Brussels

Brussels, Belgium
Photo by Charlie Dave

There simply aren’t enough cities in Europe to contain all the chocolate being made there. That’s why any serious chocoholic should attempt a three-city tour of the tastiest towns in the world. Start in Switzerland, the country with the most chocolate consumption per person globally and the home of Nestle, Toblerone, Lindt and Treuscher. Spend a day aboard the Swiss Chocolate Train, which visits three towns starting with the Swiss Riviera town of Montreux. You’ll see sweeping vineyards and medieval scenery on your way to Gruyères, home of the famed cheese, and finally make your way to Broc to see the Cailler-Nestlé factory. Then, head up to Cologne in Germany, the chocolate capital. See the huge chocolate fountain at the Stollwerck Chocolate Museum and sample bonbons at one of Cologne’s many chocolate shops. Finally, continue north to Brussels, a Mecca for chocolate lovers. Stay close to Grand Sablon square, home to some of the best shops in the city. With 12 factories, 16 museums and over 2,000 shops countrywide, it’s a perfect way to gain 10 pounds and still feel perfectly content.

Oaxaca, Mexico

Oaxaca, Mexico
Photo by Frank_Am_Main

If you’re looking to experience chocolate the way it was originally made, look no further than the southern corner of Mexico, where cacao has grown wild for thousands of years. Here, it’s used not only in molé sauces but as a beverage in which cacao beans are ground up, combined with sugar, almonds, and cinnamon and mixed with hot milk or water – a variation on horchata. You can find the largest producers in the city at Mercado 20 de Noviembre. In case you need more reasons to visit, there’s a booming street art scene as well as a “slow food movement” that predates any North American culinary trend.

Bariloche, Argentina

Bariloche, Argentina
Photo by Lian Chang

Surrounded by both mountains and lakes, this small Patagonian city is perfect for chocolate lovers who are up for an outdoor adventure and also want to burn off the calories. Its diverse ecological features have enabled Bariloche to become a hotspot for culinary innovation and in the past 50 years the region has exploded with organic and local food manufacturers. Check out Mamuschka, an enormous chocolate shop with everything from chocolate mousse cake to hot cocoa, and be sure to try an Argentinian alfajor, a flaky biscuit covered in chocolate or dulce de leche.