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10 WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO IN GRUYÈRES, SWITZERLAND

 JULIE /  LAST UPDATED: MARCH 27, 2023 /  SWITZERLAND /  10 COMMENTS

Located in the idyllic, rolling hills of French-speaking Switzerland sits

Gruyères, a picture-perfect medieval town. Cheese, chocolate, and
beautiful cobblestoned streets attract visitors all year round. With
one day in Gruyères, you have enough time to visit the town and add
on another nearby destination, whether it is a chocolate factory, a
scenic funicular ride, or a stunning hike. Here are ten wonderful
things to do in Gruyères, plus lots of useful information to help you
plan your day trip.

Table of Contents
:
 BEST THINGS TO DO IN
GRUYÈRES

1. WANDER THE COBBLESTONED

STREETS AND WALKING TRAILS
The medieval town of Gruyères is tiny. The main street that runs
through the center of town is a whopping 300 meters long, so you
can walk from one end to the other in just a matter of minutes.

Hotels, cafes, museums, and restaurants line this cobblestoned

street. It’s a short but beautiful walk, especially with the views of
green rolling hills and mountains that surround the town of
Gruyères.
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 Rue de Bourg | Best Things to do in Gruyères
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:
 There is also a very nice walking path that circles around the outside
of the town. Called Les Grands Chemins, this is a beautiful walk
when the weather is nice.
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 The view of Église Saint-Théodule from Les Grands Chemins | Best Things to do in Gruyères

2. VISIT GRUYÈRES CASTLE

Located at the highest point in town is the medieval Gruyères Castle,
also called Château de Gruyères. Dating back to the 13th century,
this is one of the most famous castles in Switzerland. The stained-
glass windows are lovely and the views from the castle are amazing.
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 Gruyères Castle | Best Things to do in Gruyères

Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.

3. WALK ALONG THE RAMPARTS

There is a small section of medieval walls that you can visit. These sit
just outside of the main entrance of the town. Like the town of
Gruyères, the walls are small, but they are free to visit, fun to explore,
and just take a few minutes of your time.
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 The Ramparts | Best Things to do in Gruyères

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Kara, Tyler and Tim on the ramparts | Best Things to do in Gruyères

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 View from the ramparts | Best Things to do in Gruyères

4. LEARN HOW GRUYÈRE CHEESE IS

MADE
If you have had French onion soup, a croque monsier (a French
toasted ham and cheese sandwich), or chicken cordon bleu, there’s a
good chance that you have eaten Gruyère cheese.

This cheese, which is made in western Switzerland, is named after

the town of Gruyères.

La Maison du Gruyère is a small factory in Gruyères that offers tours

about the cheese making process. It is conveniently located next to
the train station and visits here typically last 30 to 45 minutes.
:
 PRO TRAVEL TIP: Cheese is made every day between 9 am
to 12:30 am, two to four times per day, depending on the
season.

Website: For updated hours and pricing, plus to see the timetable
for the cheesemaking process, visit the official website.

5. DINE ON CHEESE FONDUE

You can’t go to Gruyères without trying the cheese, right? There are
numerous restaurants in town where you can dine on gooey, melted
cheese that is served with bread, boiled potatoes, and pickles. Later
in this post, we list three highly-rated restaurants where you can
have cheese fondue.

6. VISIT THE HR GIGER MUSEUM

If you have seen any of the Alien movies, then you will be familiar with
the artwork of H. R. Giger.
:
 H. R. Giger is a Swiss painter and artist who received an Academy
Award for his work on the movie Alien. His work is permanently on
display at this museum.

This small museum contains paintings and sculptures of the aliens

that you will recognize from the movies, as well as other artwork that
blends humans and machines into one body.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: This artwork is disturbing and highly

sexual, so this is not a place to bring your kids. You need to
visit this museum with an open mind and the artwork can be
shocking for some people.
:
 Unfortunately, I do not have any photos, since photography is not
permitted inside of the museum.

If you want to get an idea of what to expect inside of the museum, or,
if you just want to visit a very unique bar, visit the Giger Bar. It is
located across the street from the museum and features very similar
artwork.

Website: Get updated hours and pricing information on the official

website.

7. TIBET MUSEUM
Not nearly as bizarre or shocking as the HR Giger Museum, the Tibet
Museum contains more than 350 works of Himalayan art from the
6th to 18th centuries. These paintings, sculptures, and religious
artifacts come from Tibet, Nepal, northern India, Burma and Kashmir.

You can tour the museum with an audio guide or on your phone using
their interactive app.

Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website

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 View of Gruyères | Best Things to do in Gruyères

JUST OUTSIDE OF GRUYÈRES

There are two more great places to visit, plus one fantastic hike, just
a few minutes outside of Gruyères.

8. RIDE THE FUNICULAR TO

MOLÉSON-SUR-GRUYERES
Moléson-sur-Gruyeres is a small town that sits southwest of
Gruyères. From this town, you can ride a funicular up to Plan-
Francey. The funicular ride is quick, lasting just 5 minutes, very steep,
and offers beautiful views over the area.
:
 From Plan-Francey, you can continue the journey to the summit of Le
Moléson. Ride the cable car to the summit or hike the trails to get
here. There is also a via ferrata you can climb on Le Moléson.

Links to Learn More:

Funicular to Moléson-sur-Gruyeres
Cable Car to Plan-Francey
Moléson Via Ferrata

9. MAISON CAILLER
Maison Cailler makes chocolates using milk from the Gruyères
region of Switzerland. At this chocolate factory, visit the museum,
participate in a chocolate workshop, and shop for souvenirs to bring
home.

Maison Cailler is located just a few minutes away from Gruyères in

the town of Broc.

Website: Learn about the tours and pricing on the official website.

10. HIKE THE GASTLOSEN TOUR

The Gastlosen is a chain of limestone mountains that look very
similar to the Dolomites of Italy. For 11 km, the trail loops around
these magnificent, jagged mountains and you are treated to
:
 sweeping views of Switzerland.

This is a gorgeous hike. A chair lift lops off the first big climb (and the
final descent), so it is manageable for many people. Since this hike is
done as a loop, your views are always changing, and oh, what a view!

This hike starts and ends in Jaun, Switzerland. The easiest way to get
here is by car. It takes 30 minutes to drive to Jaun from Gruyères.

LEARN MORE: Hiking the Gastlosen Tour

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 BEST THINGS TO DO IN
GRUYÈRES: ON A MAP
Gruyères, Sw…
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Diese Karte wurde von einem Nutzer erstellt. Weitere Informationen zum Erstellen eigener Karten.

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Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps,
and you will see this map on your list.
:
 WHAT WE DID
We visited Gruyères and hiked the Gastlosen Tour on a day trip from
Lausanne. In the morning, we hiked around the Gastlosen and in the
afternoon we visited Gruyères. Later in this post, I include a sample
itinerary for how to visit both places in one day.

WHERE TO EAT
Le Chalet de Gruyères. This is one of the best places to get cheese
fondue in Gruyères. There is indoor and outdoor seating.

Restaurant des Remparts. From this restaurant, enjoy views over

the ramparts and the countryside. This is another great place to go
for fondue and raclette.

Auberge de la Halle. Located right on the main street in Gruyères,

this is yet another restaurant that gets very good reviews for their
fondue and raclette.

Chocolaterie de Gruyères. This chocolate shop is the best place in

town for your chocolate fix. They also offer tours about the history of
chocolate making.

HOW TO GET TO GRUYÈRES

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 Gruyères makes a great day trip from Lausanne, Geneva, or Bern.
There is also a scenic train ride, called the Chocolate Train, that links
Montreux with Gruyères and Maison Cailler in Broc.

FROM LAUSANNE

BY TRAIN
By train, it takes 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes to travel
from Lausanne to Gruyères, with one to two transfers. Check
timetables on sbb.ch.

BY BUS
You can travel to Gruyères by bus, but it takes 3 hours one way, so it’s
not a great option if you are doing this as a day trip.

BY CAR
If you have a car, it takes 45 minutes to drive to Gruyères from
Lausanne. There are two large parking lots just outside of the
medieval town (see the map above for their locations).

FROM GENEVA
:
 BY TRAIN
It takes 2 to 2.25 hours to travel from Geneva to Gruyères by train.
Check timetables on sbb.ch.

BY CAR
By car, it takes just under an hour and a half to drive to Gruyères
from Geneva.

FROM BERN

BY TRAIN
It takes an hour and a half to almost two hours to travel from Bern to
Gruyères by train.

BY CAR
From Bern, it takes just over one hour to drive to Gruyères.

THE CHOCOLATE TRAIN

:
 The Chocolate Train is a tour that starts in Montreux and goes to
Gruyères and Maison Cailler. The train starts in Montreux and
travels to Montbovon. In Montbovon, transfer to a bus to visit
Gruyères and Maison Cailler. Return to Montreux via bus. The ticket
price includes all transportation as well as your entrance fees to La
Maison du Gruyère and Maison Cailler. Learn more here.

Rue du Bourg | Best Things to do in Gruyères

ONE DAY IN GRUYÈRES: SAMPLE

ITINERARIES
:
 ONE DAY IN GRUYÈRES
9:00 am: Arrive in Gruyères. Visit La Maison du Gruyere and watch
the cheesemaking demonstration.
10:00 am: Stroll through Gruyères and walk on the ramparts. Visit
Gruyères Castle.
11:30 am: Tibet Museum
12:30 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: HR Giger Museum
3:30 pm: Maison Cailler (to get here, take the train or drive from
Gruyères)

GASTLOSEN + GRUYÈRES
8:00 am: Hike the Gastlosen Tour
12:30 pm: Drive to Gruyères
1:15 pm: Lunch in Gruyères
3:00 pm: Gruyères Castle, Tibet Museum, or HR Giger Museum
4:00 pm: Stroll through Gruyères

If you have any questions about the best things to do in Gruyères

or how to plan your visit, let us know in the comment section
below.

MORE PLACES TO GO IN SWITZERLAND

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 SWITZERLAND ITINERARY: If your visit to Gruyères is part of a
bigger trip to Switzerland, check out our Switzerland Itinerary, which
has suggestions on what to do if you have 7 days, 14 days, or even
longer.

LAUSANNE: For more information about Lausanne, read our article

about the Best Things to Do in Lausanne. We also have a guide to the
best day trips from Lausanne.

LUGANO: Lugano is located in southern Switzerland. From here, you

can visit the fairytale bridge Ponte dei Salti and you can easily day
trip to Lake Como and Bellagio.

JUNGFRAU REGION: What exactly is the Jungfrau region of the

Bernese Oberland? Find out in our Guide to the Jungfrau
Region, which includes maps and important travel planning
information. We also have articles about the best things to do in the
Jungfrau region as well as the top hikes in the Jungfrau region. A visit
to Jungfraujoch is one of the most popular experiences in the
Jungfrau region, but is it worth it? Riding to cable car to
Schilthorn and the Mürren Via Ferrata were two of our favorite
experiences in this part of Switzerland.

ZÜRICH: For things to do on a quick visit, check out our article One
Day in Zürich.
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 LUCERNE: Learn how to spend one perfect day in Lucerne with a
trip to Mt. Pilatus.

ZERMATT: For ideas on what to do, read our article Best Things to
Do in Zermatt and the best hikes in Zermatt. Don’t miss the hike
from Gornergrat to Riffelberg, the hike to Hörnlihütte, and the
Matterhorn Glacier Trail. For more alpine views, learn how to visit
Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (and find out if it is worth it).

Read all of our articles about Switzerland in our

Switzerland Travel Guide.
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 All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article
and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or
in part, is strictly prohibited.
:
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ONE PERFECT DAY SWITZERLAND

COMMENTS
10

Tina Davis
SEPTEMBER 23, 2022 AT 1:27 PM
:
 We went on a day trip to Gruyere from Lausanne.
Reese factory first and thought it was interesting,
but a bit expensive for what it is. We actually thought
the town was super touristy, and didn’t spend much
time there (we went after Moleson) and I’m glad we
spent most of our time on the mountain. If I went
back, I would concentrate on the hiking and skip the
town.

Reply 

Steph
JULY 26, 2022 AT 3:01 AM

My husband and I moved to Lucerne from California

and can confirm your tips are spot on! We’re on our
way to Gruyère right now and will heed your advice
there. Also saving your website for future day trips
within Switzerland, and for when we’re in Italy and
France. Many thanks!

Reply 
:
 Julie
post
author JULY 26, 2022 AT 9:22 AM

You’re welcome. Have fun in Gruyeres! Cheers, Julie

Reply 

Liz
NOVEMBER 8, 2021 AT 12:43 AM

Hi – I am planning to visit Switzerland in at the end of

May 2022 with a 2-night stop at Montreux. We want
to visit Gruyeres Village and Maison Caillier
(chocolate factory). Unfortunately, we’re there on a
Friday and the Chocolate Train is only operating on
Tues and Thurs at that time. How hard is it to do this
as a day trip on our own? We won’t have a rental car.

Reply 

post Julie
:
 author
NOVEMBER 8, 2021 AT 5:33 PM

That’s a very good question. There are public

transportation options for getting to Gruyeres (the
train and the bus). Since we had a rental car, I am not
familiar with the details, but here is the link to the
Gruyeres tourism website where you can learn
more. Cheers, Julie

Reply 

Tina Davis
SEPTEMBER 24, 2022 AT 7:49 AM

Depends on where you are coming from. The SBB

app is good if you are coming from another Swiss
city. Once you get to Gruyeres, you may or may not
need local transport, depending on where you go.
Also, from the train station, you have to either walk
up about a 1/2 mile to the old town of Gruyeres or
take a bus. The article above did not mention this
because the author had a car. If you want to go to
:
 Moleson, the chocolate factory or other hiking areas,
you will need local transport, but the SBB app
provides those schedules as well.

Reply 

Jack Colby
MARCH 3, 2021 AT 3:54 PM

This place looks amazing! I’m definitely adding it to

my Europe bucket list. Thanks for sharing!

Reply 

post Julie
author
MARCH 4, 2021 AT 7:37 AM

You’re welcome!

Reply 
:
 Kelly Green
MARCH 17, 2020 AT 11:38 AM

My family (parents, sister and I) traveled here over

20 years ago and we still talk about the berries and
cream we ate in Gruyeres! Other memories include
riding the funiculaire + a cable car with my dad up to
the top of Mount Moléson where we drank a
Heineken and met a man in his 60’s who had RUN up
the mountain in preparation for an annual race held
there each year. Thanks for sharing – brought back
great memories!!!

Reply 

post Julie
author
MARCH 17, 2020 AT 12:42 PM

You’re welcome!

Reply 
:
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