the hershey factory tour

Hershey Storms the Court to Give Fans a Win During March Madness

Heading into the Final Four, consumers are reaching for salty, sweet and easy-to-prep snacks according to a poll from Hershey’s Consumer Insights team.

Shared Goodness

Hershey offers consumers a variety of snacking choices with its expanded sweet and salty better-for-you portfolio to meet new trends and preferences.

The launch of the innovative Reese's Caramel Big Cup is accompanied by equally innovative technologies.

To commemorate Human Rights Day, Hershey releases it's updated Living Wage and Income Position Statement.

Hershey Ranks No. 29 on The Wall Street Journal's Best-Managed Companies of 2023​

Hershey takes the No. 29 spot overall, ranking in two subcategories: Customer Top 10 and Social Top 10.​

Reese's Brand will return to the Big Game with Reese's Caramel Big Cup Ad​

The new ad will leave Reese's fans screaming 'YES!'​

Hershey's Brand Releases New Partnership with Snoopy™ for Valentine's Day​

Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolates will feature Snoopy & Friends Foils and Heart Box​

30 Years of Goodness​

Celebrating employees at our West Hershey Manufacturing Facility

The Man Behind Good Chocolate and Good Business

Milton S. Hershey left us with a legacy of goodness—a legacy that lives on today in each of our employees around the world.

Hershey's Chocolate World

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Hershey's Chocolate World - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Hershey's Chocolate World Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to all your Chocolate World questions!

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Hershey’s Chocolate World Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions about Hershey’s Chocolate World , and other things to do in Hershey, PA to help you plan a magical trip!

Is Hershey’s Chocolate World free to visit?

Yes, you can visit Hershey’s Chocolate World for free.

The “Chocolate Tour” is free, but there are a lot of other activities you can add on that will all cost extra (more on that below) .

Do you have to pay for parking at Hershey’s Chocolate World?

You can park for free at Chocolate World.

However, according to their website, in order to keep the parking lot from filling up, the free parking is limited by time:

1-3 hours-FREE

3-5 hours-$15

5+ hours-$40

But, if you book a bundle with all 4 of the extra activities, you will get free parking.

Buuuut (once again), when we visited in May 2021, there was free parking all day (maybe because they have less visitors right now…?) .

Are Chocolate World and Hershey Park the same thing?

No, Chocolate World and Hershey Park are not the same thing. They are right next to each other though.

Chocolate World is an interactive factory tour experience, cafe and store.

Hershey Park is an amusement park & water park.

A view of some of Hershey Park’s many roller coasters.

Can you walk from Hershey’s Chocolate World to Hershey Park?

Yes, you can walk from Chocolate World to Hershey Park. They are right next to each other and share a parking lot.

How long should I spend at Chocolate World?

That depends on how many extra activities you add.

If you are just coming for the free chocolate tour, you could probably spend up to an hour on the tour and exploring all the shops, depending on how long the line for the tour is.

We did everything except “Hershey’s Unwrapped.” We also ate lunch (and desserts!) and perused the gift shop. We spent a total of 5 hours here.

If you are booking any tours, they all have a specific time slot, so that will help you gauge how long you will spend here.

Can you take pictures at Chocolate World?

Yes, you are welcome to take pictures at Chocolate World.

The lobby as you walk in.

Do you need a ticket for the chocolate tour?

No, you do not need a ticket for the free chocolate tour at Hershey’s Chocolate World.

What other activities are there besides the chocolate tour?

There are five paid activities you can try out at Hershey’s Chocolate World. They are:

Hershey’s Unwrapped

Make Your Own Candy Bar

Hershey Trolley Works

Great Candy Expedition

Reese’s Stuff Your Cup

Are the other activities worth it?

When we visited Hershey’s Chocolate World, they only had three of these extra activities, as well as another activity that no longer exists. I have written reviews of those activities, but I would say the two activities I would definitely recommend are the trolley tour and the make your own candy bar experience.

If you have kids, I think any of the activities would be great. But some (like Hershey’s Unwrapped) is worth skipping if you don’t have kids. Anything that involves making your own candy (so the Reese’s Stuff Your Cup) I would say is worth it!

Hershey’s Unwrapped:

This is the one activity that we did not personally try. It is a theatrical show about chocolate. Based on the online description and our experience with the 4D Chocolate Movie, I would say it’s probably great for families with small kids, but worth skipping otherwise.

Make Your Own Candy Bar:

I definitely think this one was worth it! We got to pick up to 3 different mix-ins, and choose the kind of chocolate we wanted, and whether we wanted sprinkles on top. Then our candy bar was coated in even more chocolate! We got to watch the whole process, and then design a wrapper to go with it. You leave with a good sized candy bar, and a commemorative container to boot!

This was actually my favorite part of our day at Hershey. We got a tour around the town, and the surrounding areas, and learned so much fascinating history about Milton Hershey and his company that made me love Hershey so much more and want to buy more chocolate (that’s how they get you!). I would 100% recommend this tour (plus it came with a whole goody bag of free candy)!

The famous Hershey Kiss street lamps.

My candy bar being coated in chocolate!

What kind of food do they have in the cafe at Chocolate World?

They do serve “real” food at the cafe in Chocolate World (not just chocolate!). However, the options are rather limited. These are the different food sections they had available in the cafe when we visited:

Baked Potato Bar

Mac n Cheese Bar

Beer & Pretzel Bar

I will say that all of these options were pretty pricey, and, to be honest, not that great. Basically, the food is the quality you would expect from a generic tourist attraction cafe.

They do also have a couple “grab and go” stations with “lighter” fare: pre-packaged salads and sandwiches.

They also have several dessert bars:

S’mores Bar

Ice Cream/Milkshake Bar

I would definitely say that the desserts outshine the lunch options (as it should be). I think the milkshakes and the s’mores are your best bet.

Other Things to do in Hershey, PA

Hershey Park:

Milton Hershey built Hershey Park for his employees to relax on their time off—how cool is that? I wish my employer would build me an amusement park…

They have 15 roller coasters, lots of kiddie rides, and a water park!

The Hershey Story Museum:

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Hershey Chocolate Company (and chocolate!), check out the Hershey Story Museum on Chocolate Ave.

You can also book a tour through them to High Point Mansion , the beautiful home that Milton and his wife Kitty built together.

Please note, tickets for this tour are very limited!

The Hershey Theater

See a show in the Hershey Theater , the beautiful downtown community center and theater that Milton Hershey had built in 1933 as part of his building campaign during the Great Depression (he was seriously the best boss ever).

Other Things to do Nearby:

The turkey hill experience:.

If you’re into tours about sugary foods, this is the place to be! The Turkey Hill Experience is a great place to take the kids. They have a lot of interactive games and activities, as well as unlimited ice cream & iced tea samples (because apparently they also make tea…).

You can also make your own ice cream flavor, which you know I’m all about!

Make your own ice cream flavor: Before

Make your own ice cream flavor: After

Visit a Snack Factory:

York County is known as the “Snack Factory Capital of the World!” There are several snack factories offering tours (usually free!) to the public. Here are just a few:

Snyder’s of Hanover -pretzel factory tour

Revonah Pretzel -pretzel factory tour

Martin’s Snacks -potato chip factory tour

Utz -potato chip factory tour

Any more questions?

If you have any other questions about visiting Hershey’s Chocolate World, don’t hesitate to email me or ask in the comments below!

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Tours in Hershey & Harrisburg

To understand a product, see how it's made. To know the significance of a building, discover its nooks and crannies. A behind-the-scenes, under-the-hood experience is one that can’t be told in passing. Our region offers a variety of indoor and outdoor tours in Hershey and Harrisburg for visitors to discover.

Indoor Tours

There’s a lot to uncover about our region year-round on an indoor tour where you can learn how things are made or what life was like centuries ago.

Some of you may remember a time when you could tour the actual Hershey’s Chocolate factory. Today, all generations can enjoy a free simulated factory tour ride inside Hershey’s Chocolate World . You’ll learn how the sweet stuff is made, from cocoa bean to candy bar wrapper. If your idea of a treat comes in a pint glass, you’ve got to take a guided or self-guided production tour at Tröegs Independent Brewing . From fermentation to bottling, you’ll discover what makes their processes unique and sip a few samples along the way.

The Pennsylvania State Capitol offers free guided tours daily filled with fascinating facts about this palace of art and a building President Teddy Roosevelt observed as “the handsomest building I ever saw.” See inside the House and Senate Chambers as well as the Supreme Court, the highest court in Pennsylvania. Turn the clocks back a few decades when you visit two of Harrisburg’s mansions-turned-museums: Fort Hunter Mansion & Park and John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion . These historic homes housed several prominent Pennsylvanians and played pivotal parts in shaping Harrisburg’s history. Mansion tours are offered seasonally.

When we said indoors, we also meant underground! Echo Dell – Indian Echo Caverns is a natural geologic wonder millions of years in the making. The Caverns’ “wow” factor comes from their impressive rock formations, echoing rooms, an underground lake, fascinating history, and consistent 52-degree temperature year-round! Head underground on a guided tour to uncover what attracts millions of visitors all over the East Coast.

Unique Experiences & Hidden Gems

Where else can you explore underground caverns, ride a vintage trolley, or feed a bear? These unique experiences, plus a few hidden gems, will leave you saying, “I didn’t know they offered that!”

Think of Hershey, Pennsylvania. You’re thinking of chocolate and coasters, right? Indeed, many visitors don’t make time to explore the rest of Hershey! The town of Hershey has a sweet history, and the knowledgeable and witty tour guides of Hershey Trolley Works are eager to share it with you. Climb aboard for fun facts, jokes, audience participation, and chocolate samples! In addition to browsing the sweet vintage rides at AACA Museum, Inc. , gearheads can upgrade their visit with a Behind-the-Scenes tour of the Museum’s 15,000-square-foot collection storage garage. Tours are offered daily Memorial Day to Labor Day plus some spring/fall weekends and feature 50-70 additional cars not currently on display.

Did you know? You can go behind the scenes at ZooAmerica ® North American Wildlife Park on an exclusive guided tour. Set your alarm for the Early Bird tour or stay late After Hours to get up close to the bears, give an otter a snack, hold a bird of prey, or stroke a reptile! Bonus: ZooAmerica is open daily, year-round and accessible from Downtown Hershey. (Tours are available on select dates for an added cost. Registration is required.)

Outdoor Tours

There are lots of ways to tour the Hershey Harrisburg Region – by bus, by boat– just to name a few.

Let’s start with an art walk! Add Murals & More – A Walk of Art to your phone and let us be your audio tour guide for discovering beautiful murals, historic architecture, and towering monuments in Harrisburg. You can follow one of two suggested routes or mix & match based on your preferred starting point.

Do a little fresh air sight-cycling in Harrisburg along the 20-mile Capital Area Greenbelt . It’s free to schedule a guided tour (four-rider minimum) that highlights nature, trail history, local history, and more.

Enjoy 360-degree views of Harrisburg aboard The Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat on a daily sightseeing cruise. The Pride is one of the last remaining authentic paddlewheel vessels left in the country, and it’s so uniquely constructed that they couldn’t rebuild it even if they tried. The Pride sails daily in the summer and weekends in the spring and fall.

Take a walk, or ride, on the wild side on a safari tour of Lake Tobias Wildlife Park. Their fleet of open-air buses gets you up close and personal to more than 500 freely roaming elk, bison, deer, antelope, and exotic animals. Listen in as your tour guide shares fun facts about the animals’ habitats and behaviors. Lake Tobias is open May through October.

Top Tour-Taking Tips

• Reserve your seat. While most of our region’s tour options can be booked on a whim, it’s a good idea to research and plan. During our peak season (May-August), tours often fill up fast! Consider buying your tickets ahead of time to ensure availability. Additionally, some tours are only offered seasonally and are weather dependent.
• Arrive early. In addition to booking in advance, it’s a good idea to arrive early to get a good seat on public tours. Most tours have strict start times, so you’ll want to make sure you’re on time, or you might get left behind.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Most tours involve a little, or a lot, of walking, so opt for sneakers over stilettos and dress in layers to adjust to changing indoor/outdoor conditions.
• Have your camera at the ready. Our tours are cool because you get to see unique sights and spaces! Snap a few photos to show everyone at home what you learned.
• Ask questions. Our expert tour guides love answering questions. If something is intriguing, find out more. Don’t be shy!

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Visit Hershey Harrisburg 3211 North Front Street, Suite 301-A, Harrisburg, PA 17110

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