The world has gone chocolate crazy in 2025, and Australians are leading the charge. Dubai is experiencing record visitor numbers from Australia, and one of the city’s hottest exports is its viral chocolate sensation—thick bars filled with gooey pistachio cream and crispy kataifi pastry that have racked up over 126 million TikTok views.

Want to try Dubai chocolate before you travel? Pop into Bodega on High Street Berwick, right opposite us at The Departure Lounge. You can enjoy it while booking your next adventure—what could be sweeter?

But Our Heart Belongs to Switzerland

While Dubai tops the charts for Australian travellers, at The Departure Lounge, Switzerland remains our absolute favourite destination—and our most popular with clients. Having lived there for two years, I can personally confirm it’s the most spectacular country I’ve ever visited.

We have clients making their own chocolate bars at the legendary Lindt factory in Zurich soon, and honestly, we’re jealous! The Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg features a nine-meter chocolate fountain with 1,500 kilograms of flowing chocolate, and the Chocolateria lets you create your own masterpieces under the guidance of Master Chocolatiers. It’s pure magic.

Why Switzerland Never Gets Old

Switzerland offers something truly unique: where else can you ski on glaciers in summer, then swim in pristine alpine lakes the same afternoon? Resorts like Saas-Fee and Zermatt offer year-round glacier skiing at over 3,600 meters, while lakes around Lucerne and Interlaken provide stunning swimming spots with mountain backdrops that look photoshopped.

The Swiss transport system is perfection itself—trains, buses, and boats running with such precision you can plan your day down to the minute. And the culinary journey through Switzerland’s regions is extraordinary: hearty Swiss German comfort food like fondue and rösti in Gstaad, French-influenced patisseries and elegant dining in Geneva and Montreux, and Italian-inspired cuisine in Ticino’s Lugano region, where risotto and polenta meet Alpine tradition.

And here’s the ultimate experience: at Zermatt, you can literally ski from Switzerland to Italy. Start your morning on Swiss slopes and cross the border to Cervinia for lunch under the majestic Matterhorn—skiing between countries with just a yellow line marking the boundary.

The Perfect Combination

So while Dubai chocolate has captured global attention with its viral sensation, Switzerland offers something timeless: centuries of chocolate-making tradition, breathtaking landscapes year-round, flawless transport, and a culinary journey from German heartiness to French elegance to Italian passion—all within hours of each other.

Ready to experience Switzerland for yourself? Let’s start planning your Swiss adventure at The Departure Lounge.