The ultimate chocolate traveling bucket list

Have you ever traveled to a new place just because it was associated with something you love? Maybe it was a trip to New Zealand to take a tour through Middle-Earth. Perhaps you visited the diner from Seinfeld or traveled to Italy just to try a Neapolitan pizza straight from the source. Traveling to a new destination to experience something you love takes you to another level of enjoyment.

And we love chocolate. Lucky for us, chocolate has been around in some variety for thousands of years, touching nearly every culture in some way. That means that there are plenty of destinations to travel to on every continent if you want to learn about the history and taste some of the finest craftsmanship in the chocolate world. With so many options, we’ve made a bucket list of some of the most intriguing destinations in the world. Get your passport ready!

Oaxaca, Mexico

Mexico has a special tie with the chocolate we know today. The indigenous Mayan and Aztec people used the cacao bean frequently, incorporating it in spiritual ceremonies and as a component in everyday meals. This is the birthplace of what we now know as chocolate. And Oaxaca has been associated with chocolate for centuries. When you visit Oaxaca, not only will you be able to try some of the most highly-regarded chocolate in the world, you’ll also be able to gain an appreciation for the deep cultural roots that chocolate has in Mexico.

Brussels, Begium

Throw a stick in Brussels and the odds are high that you’re going to hit a chocolate shop. In that sense, it lives up to its moniker, the World Capital of Chocolate. Even though chocolate made its way to Brussels much later than it did in other places around the world, the impact has reverberated for hundreds of years. There is even a museum of Cocoa and Chocolate where you can discover the trajectory of the famous confection after it came to Brussels.

Bayonne, France

While Brussels may be the World Capital of Chocolate, Bayonne is the Chocolate Capital of France, a country known for its culinary craftsmanship. Bayonne was a significant factor when chocolate spread like wildfire through Europe from Mexico. Despite the subdued nature of the town itself, the chocolate scene is alive and thriving here.

Zurich, Switzerland

It’s hard to mention chocolate without including Switzerland. People all across the globe come to Zurich every year to experience authentic Swiss chocolate from a professional chocolatier. And because it has had a far-reaching history as chocolate news spread throughout Europe, you have the opportunity to create a vacation that is both delicious and informative.

It’s incredible that chocolate has touched so many lives in so many parts of the world for centuries. Whether you want to experience the incredibly rich history of this beloved ingredient, or you simply want to eat your weight through many, many bars of chocolate, all these places are exceptional.