theo chocolate tour

Theo Chocolate

• See all photos

Seattle Cocktail Tour

Private Walking Tour Seattle Delights at Fremont Frolic

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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

Theo Chocolate - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Theo Chocolate

Updated by business owner 2 months ago

Review Highlights

“ Not sure if I was more impressed with the chocolate, their fair trade numbers, or Pierce our factory tour guide. ” in 148 reviews

“ For $10 you can sample all the chocolate bars to your hearts content and see the chocolate making process . ” in 37 reviews

“ Our tour guide, Pierce , was very entertaining and made this almost like a chocolate food tasting. ” in 27 reviews

Show more review highlights

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

3400 Phinney Ave N

Seattle, WA 98103

Canal St & 35th St

Upcoming Special Hours

You might also consider.

Pressed Juicery

1.8 miles away from Theo Chocolate

Grace E. said "I came in here for the first time and was pleasantly surprised by their amazing deals. As a new customer I made an account and got 2 free drinks and a frozen yogurt for FREE! I have now come here multiple times and am always happy…" read more

in Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Health Markets, Juice Bars & Smoothies

Dont Yell At Me

2.0 miles away from Theo Chocolate

Jessica S. said "One of my friend posted this place on IG and because its name, I definitely had to check this place out! Whenever I brought it up to my friends, I would say it as "Let's go to... Don't Yell At Me" and then they would just pause and…" read more

in Bubble Tea

Amenities and More

7 More Attributes

About the Business

At Theo, we make organic and fair trade chocolate from scratch - from cocoa bean to chocolate bar. Join us at our Flagship Store and Chocolate Factory to experience it first hand. Our hour-long Factory Experiences held daily will let you discover the origins of cacao and get an inside view of our factory (plus samples, of course!). And our Flagship Store is stocked with our widest range of chocolate treats - including a few exclusive items. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Are you still doing the chocolate tour?

Thank you for asking! The Factory Experience and in-person classes are currently closed with plans to reopen an updated version some time this summer. We are continuing to offer our Virtual Tasting/Ganache making classes and the online Kid's… more

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

1070 reviews

The store itself is amazing, it has a lot of products to offer as-well as some pretty cool merch. We went in for the in-store tasting experience. Our host was full of charisma and passion for chocolate. It was a wonderful 30+min experience and we walked out with some chocolate ! I would highly recommend checking out their tasting experience it's interactive and educational.

Okay, so I lived in the Seattle area for 25 years, so I know that Theo is a Seattle institution and people are very, very loyal to the brand. They produce an excellent product line - very conscientious about production methods and fair trade ingredients, - and everyone I know loves their chocolates. That said, I personally have never really been a fan. (I should add, I am definitely NOT a chocolate aficionado, and I admit my tastes are rather....pedestrian). I've just always found Theo chocolates to be a bit bitter, and rather pricey, too. But I know I'm in the minority here. I had never been to the Theo flagship store here in Fremont until I recently visited Seattle to see an old friend who was there for the day. This charming, historic brick building is a great stop to check out, especially if you have out-of-towners. They have tours and classes and lots of hands-on chocolate events for adults and kids. (Check out the photo I'm posting here of the various events offered and their respective price points). They give out samples of various chocolate varieties (I was given two small flat shards of a coconut chocolate and a lemon chocolate). They have all items in their product line available for purchase, including a few slightly discounted items for recently passed seasonal treats (i.e., Easter just passed, so they had some bunny chocolates on sale - but the discount wasn't huge, FYI). I found the prices still high, and as other reviewers have noted, you might find better prices on Theo chocolates at QFC or Whole Foods or Bartell's or other local grocery shops. They also had some cute Theo merchandise here, like t-shirts and such. I've not seen this merchandise elsewhere, so it's pretty unique. When my friend and I recently visited this store, we were a part of a small bus tour (there were eight of us on this tour, and we all were "older" adults over 60, no kids). Immediately upon entering this shop, a lady told us all to be quiet as there was a tour going on (a large group of folks were congregated in front of a display case watching a man behind the counter discuss how they make the chocolates there). I must say, we all were taken aback as we were all subdued, older folks, and I kinda felt like we were being chastised (even though we weren't even talking!). Noone offered to help us find anything or answer any questions; it seemed all the store's attention was on the group taking the tour. It was weird. We didn't get a warm, welcoming feeling, that's for sure. Clearly, my impressions of this shop are not those of the majority, and perhaps we just visited on an "off day", at an "off time", but this was my experience.

After walking around the Sunday Fremont Market, we checked out Theo Chocolate. They specialize in organic, fair trade chocolate. The store offer classes and tasting experiences ($12.00 USD). Staff were friendly and gave out generous samples. We were able to try three things; ganache, raspberry and salted toffee. There were several holiday chocolate bars on sale for $3.14 USD ($4.49 USD regular). We bought a few bars (raspberry cocoa nib, nutcracker brittle, milk & cookies and peppermint crunch). Interestingly, we found their classic chocolate bars on sale at PCC Community Markets while it was full price here.

See all photos from Jonny M. for Theo Chocolate

We booked a 1-hour "taste and learn" experience and enjoyed it immensely. For $14 each, you learn lots about chocolate and get to sample a lot of goodies. Afterwards, you are taken to the store where you get a discount on everything in the store. Our instructor was excellent and we got all our questions answered. Would highly recommend this.

I love with this chocolate shop! I came in during October and they have the cutest Halloween decor. Of course, I had to snag myself a little ghost marshmallow. Staff is super friendly and they give free chocolate samples. I really wanted to take the tour but the timing didn't match my schedule so I'll have to come back! Lots of great items I can see as being really nice gifts.

I enjoyed the factory tour and learned a lot about the history and science of chocolate in the process. We sampled itty bitty pieces of chocolate throughout the tour and moved through a few rooms. You are encouraged to take lots of pictures and if you post them on social media they want to be tagged. Our tour guide kept the conversation moving and knew how to engage a group. It lasted about an hour and included a question and answer session. Afterwards we ended up in the gift shop with a twenty percent off coupon.

See all photos from Laura G. for Theo Chocolate

My recommendation: get a ticket for the Theo chocolates tour while you still can! If you are in doubt, GO. You won't regret it! This tour was tasty and educational. Our tour guide Andrew taught us about the process of turning cacao into the Theo chocolates we love, and it was so cool to be able to see the chocolates in production. That is an experience of its own. At the end of the tour, you can visit the flagship store for some more chocolates and samples. My top three favorites: Dark Chocolate with Mint Dark Chocolate with Raspberry Their handmade confections-which rotate seasonally!

See all photos from Sarah S. for Theo Chocolate

I did in-store tasting experience, it was good deal. Will do it again and the chocolate was yummy

If you haven't tried Theo you will likely find it in your local grocery stores. We went to the original location where this chocolate company started. Worth visiting for the free samples. Our tour guide got us a discount that day too. Fast helpful service. Non chocolate items for sale. The store was clean throughout.

Chocolate!!!

I went to celebrate Theo Chocolate Factory's last run before they shut down their flagship Fremont facility next month. It felt bittersweet taking the tour, knowing that I would be one of the last visitors to see inside its chocolate scented walls. Regardless, it was an excellent tour expertly hosted by our guide, Pierce, who was very generous with the humor, samples, and chocolate facts. We began the tour with an informational class before being walked through the facility, all the while sampling different types of chocolates in all kinds of variations. I was grateful to have been able to visit Theo's before they officially shut their doors. Totally worth the visit if you can make it before they close forever!

See all photos from Kirstin H. for Theo Chocolate

52 other reviews that are not currently recommended

Emerald City Smoothie

1.1 miles away from Theo Chocolate

Stevin C. said "Ive gone here a few times now and havent had a bad experience yet. Everything ive had has tasted good, not sure why the ratings are so negative. I will definitely come again, my only suggestion is maybe offer some kind of…" read more

in Acai Bowls, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Vitamins & Supplements

Nespresso Boutique at Macy’s

Holly S. said "I was really worried about going here after reading reviews, but my visit was great! I came here to get recommendations on flavors and was not disappointed. Zachary was very helpful, informative, and kind. We even had a sample of…" read more

in Cafes, Coffee Roasteries, Coffee & Tea

Collections Including Theo Chocolate

Seattle: beautiful grey skies

By Melissa M.

Emerald City. Seattle

By Jeanne Z.

Seattle Sights For Visitors

By Gustavo M.

Seattle Spots

By Elaine S.

Not From These Parts? Eat or Drink Here! (Seattle Edition)

By Johnny W.

Akiko digs in Seattle, WA

By Akiko I.

Nonstop Nomnoms in Seattle

By Minh-An C.

Things to do in Washington State

Best Seattle Cheap Bites

By Rachel H.

Touristy stuff to do in Seattle and surounding area

By Natalie G.

People Also Viewed

Intrigue Chocolate

SELEUSS Chocolates

Indi Chocolate

Chocolate Market by Gosanko Chocolate

Bon Bon Candies

Sweet Mickey’s Candy Shoppe

Chocolat Vitale

Seattle Fudge

Spinnaker Chocolate

Chukar Cherries

Best of Seattle

Things to do in Seattle

Other Chocolatiers & Shops Nearby

Find more Chocolatiers & Shops near Theo Chocolate

People found Theo Chocolate by searching for…

Candy Stores Seattle

Chocolate Factory Tours Seattle

Chocolate Gift Baskets Seattle

Chocolate Tasting Seattle

Easter Eggs Seattle

Edible Fruit Arrangements Seattle

Gift Delivery Seattle

Hot Chocolate Seattle

Lindt Chocolate Shop Seattle

Milk Shakes Seattle

Peanut Brittle Seattle

Vegan Chocolate Seattle

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Candy Stores

Gift Baskets

Chocolatiers and Shops Near Me

Ice Cream Shops Near Me

Mochi Near Me

Related Articles

Yelp's Top 100 US Donut Shops

Theo’s Chocolate Factory Tour in Fremont

Fremont is home to: giant rock trolls, blue bridges, ivy hedges shaped like a brontosaurus family, colorful boutiques, book stores, restaurants, and a high-energy nightlife. As I snack on a Chai Tea Milk Chocolate bar, I am pleased to mention that this fun-filled, artsy neighborhood plays host to a red-bricked chocolate factory as well— Theo’s Chocolate Factory .

The scientific name of chocolate, Theo broma, literally translates into ‘Food of the gods.’ Everybody loves chocolate. Seinfeld star, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, placed chocolate as number 3 on her list of “Things I can’t live without,” right behind number 2, her family, and number 1, her husband. And chocolate probably comes in second only to wine on the Lord’s “Earth: Top 10” list. Chocolate is said to have originated in South America, and like an Israelite’s fruitful grape vineyard, seed-filled cocoa pods symbolized life and fertility to ancient Mayans.

You’ll learn more facts like this during the informative first half of the tour. But before going on here’s a brief background of this special company. Theo’s Chocolate Factory was launched in 2006 by founder, Joseph Winney, whose first job was drying cacao seeds on a chocolate farm in Central America. Although the company is technically still an infant, Theo’s has already achieved nation-wide prestige and garnered numerous culinary awards.

Theo’s has been featured in numerous magazines including ‘O’, Food & Wine, and Bon Apetit; it was also mentioned as the “Snack of the Day” on The Rachel Ray Show, and was the winner of Time magazine’s first-ever “Conscientious Chocolate” Eco-Epicurean award. In addition, Theo’s flavored chocolate bars can be found in Whole Foods throughout the country.

Yet despite high demands, Theo’s still operates according to the ethics that made it stand out in the first place. Theo’s is the only chocolate factory in the United States to make certified fair-trade and organic chocolate, meaning that the chocolate farmers in Central America who they buy from are paid well, and that all of their various cooking ingredients are 100% natural, containing no synthetic agents.

In addition to being ethic-based, all-natural, and public-friendly, Theo’s makes delicious and inventive chocolate. Classic flavors include orange, mint, cherry-almond, and chili; while Theo’s fantasy flavors include Coconut Curry (rich and spicy), Coffee and Vanilla, Nib Brittle and Fig Fennel Almond. There’s also the 3400 Phinney Bar (named after the factory address in Fremont), which is milk chocolate liquor mixed with toasted and salted bread bits sourced from a local bakery. Much of Theo’s chocolate is extra-dark, and some bars contain as much as 91% cocoa. Typical store-bought candy bars only have around 12%.

Confections like Big Daddy’s or Rose Caramels, and seasonal chocolates such as Ghost Chili chocolate caramels sprinkled with red and gold chili flakes, or Gingerbread Spice chocolate bars (which we noticed were in the works during the tour) are only sold in Theo’s Seattle store.

The second half of the tour takes you into the actual factory where you get to see which machines do what. It’s a 16-step process from bean bag to the shop, but there are a few steps pictured below:

For the finale, we taste-tested savory confections in the kitchen, and watched as workers painted on the faces of chocolate-covered marshmallow bats and ghosts.

This tour is perfect for kids and adults. Even the information session is fun because it’s filled with questions that kids can answer and chocolate samples to taste. Nicole was very energetic and liked hearing from all different ages. This is one of the best tours around, and at $6 it can’t be beat. Plus, if you’re like me, this pleasant tour will help you to finally overcome “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” nightmares!

Click here to reserve your spot on a tour, or to check out special in-house “theonista” events like Chocolate University, Friday night movies, and other seasonal gatherings.

Hi, I'm Ashleigh! Welcome to Seattle Travel, my little piece of beautiful PNW. This is home and I'm here to share all my experiences so visitors and locals alike can find the best experiences this part of the country has to offer. I started Seattle Travel in 2012 as a way to journal my experiences and over the years have been encouraged by family and friends to open up my adventures to everyone. I actively seek out the best food, activities, and day trips and give you a local perspective.  The Pacific Northwest is one of the most beautiful areas in the world and my goal is to let you explore it to the fullest. 

More About Me

Recent Posts

• Do The Seattle Mariners Have the Worst Owners in Baseball?
• The 10 Best Steakhouses in Seattle (From High-End to Hidden Gems)
• The 18 Best Restaurants in Downtown Anchorage, Alaska
• What Mountains Can You See From Seattle? 11 Breathtaking Mountain Peaks
• The Best 12 Thrift Stores In Spokane

sanclementecl

Share article

• Neighborhoods
• Best of the Northwest
• Restaurants
• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 SeattleTravel.com

• Food & Drink
• Pacific NW Magazine

A world of pure imagination: The Theo Chocolate Experience

THEO’S CHOCOLATE AMBASSADOR, Aaron Lindstrom, can tell what kind of tour he’s going to give within 60 seconds of meeting his audience. If there are kids, he’s probably not going to go into things like quality premium pricing scales or the methods of keeping pests away from crops.

“But if right off the bat someone says, ‘So, with conflict in the DRC, how do you guys maintain a crop income?’ it’s like, ‘OK; it’s this kind of tour,’ ” he says.

He’s put together a 70-page book stuffed with facts and figures detailing not only the history of Theo and how the Fremont company does business, but also how and where cacao grows, how it is harvested and how it gets turned into the chocolate we know and love.

The guides at Theo train for three months and have to commit much of the book to memory before giving tours on their own.

The day I speak with Lindstrom, he’s waiting to give a hopeful would-be tour guide her final test. (Spoiler alert: She passed.) He also checks in with new tour guides, tagging along on their tours about a month after they pass, to see how things are going.

It’s only part of what Lindstrom has done to revamp the Theo Chocolate tour, including changing the name to “The Theo Chocolate Experience.”

More than 50,000 people take the factory tour each year, an experience that has been a part of the company since close to when it began in 2006. However, a few years ago, it looked quite different.

At first, people were able to get up close to the bean-to-bar chocolate-making process — practically peering into the refining machines. But safety laws changed, meaning no more kitchen access.

“We had to figure out how to still give the most tactile experience,” Lindstrom says.

He toured other chocolate factories — in the United States and Brazil — to see what he liked and didn’t, finally launching the updated Experience last November.

Now Lindstrom and his fellow guides lead visitors through descriptions of the chocolate belt and Theo’s relationships with farmers in the Congo and Peru. There are fermentation boxes and trays of cocoa beans, and a video that introduces the farmers and shows how the 8-pound mature pods look on the actual tree.

Lindstrom sourced a cocoa pod from Hawaii and worked with a movie studio to create a perfect replica.

“We used to use a football. It was like, ‘How did we not have a cocoa pod?’ ” he says with a laugh.

And there’s chocolate. A lot of chocolate.

Bowls of broken bars are passed around while Lindstrom talks about letting chocolate melt in your mouth instead of chewing it immediately, and how that can intensify the flavor. He lets you taste nibs right after roasting and talks about inclusions such as raspberry, almond and coconut while handing out more shards of chocolate.

You still see the factory and witness the process; it’s just that now, you’re watching the action safely behind glass while munching chocolate.

Watching the magic happen at Theo still is, well, magical. The company’s goal is to make 12,000 pounds of chocolate per day, which works out to about 60,000 bars of chocolate.

When you learn that it takes four cocoa pods to make one bar, and then think about all the pods needed for 60,000 bars, your head can spin. Better just grab another bite.

Still, Theo is a small chocolate company that crafts nearly everything it sells from scratch: the graham crackers and marshmallows in the signature Big Daddy confection; the caramels; the toffee in the newest bar, a 70% dark chocolate Coffee Toffee bar; the root-beer barrels for the 55% dark chocolate root-beer barrel bar; and more.

After the factory tour ends, in the retail shop, you often can find Katy Radtke testing out new confections there.

“Pretty much any new product that we have, we’ll take samples and take it in the store, just to make sure,” she says.,

Radtke is the new product manager, in charge of ideating and creating the initial recipes for new products. She also tweaks existing bars to make them better; this summer, she tested two iterations of a mint chocolate bar, quizzing anyone who came in on which one they liked more.

Most Read Stories

• 4 new cozy mysteries and eerie thrillers to get lost in
• Big bill comes due for Martin Selig, giant of Seattle office real estate
• Semi Bird supporters beat back WA GOP attempt to stop endorsement vote VIEW
• WA GOP endorses Semi Bird for governor at Trump-dominated convention VIEW
• Methow researchers marvel at WA wolverines’ existence — and elusiveness VIEW

“We had a vote; there was a clear winner, and that’s going to be our new mint bar,” Radtke says.

Things like this keep people coming back on the tour; Lindstrom says he recently bumped into a woman who has been on the Experience three times since the revamp.

It’s also what keeps him engaged — that and the questions he gets from people on his tours.

“It can be so fun. I’ve been working in chocolate eight years, and I feel like I learn something new every day,” he says.

The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times.

• Work With Us

Theo Chocolate Tour I A Chocolate Lover’s Dream

by Tove Tupper | 0 comments

If you love chocolate, enjoy learning how things are made, and find yourself in Seattle, then the Theo Chocolate tour is just for you. Theo Chocolate is a Seattle-based company that currently sells its chocolate in all 50 states. They make your typical milk and dark chocolate bars, but they also make unique chocolate bars that have crazy flavors including coconut curry and ghost chili. Everything is made and packaged in their small factory located in the Fremont neighborhood and seven days a week the staff gives anyone and everyone an incredible tour of their factory.

The Theo Chocolate tour starts off in a room where your tour guide tells you all about how the chocolate is made and what makes Theo Chocolate different. Theo Choclate is the country’s first USDA Certified Organic and Fair Trade chocolate company (since opening up shop, a few other chocolate companies have received tehse certifications as well. Today, Theo Chocolate is also Non-GMO Project certified.

Having these certifications is not easy. Theo Chocolate must take many, many, many extra steps (and pay lots of money). Since I work for an eco-friendly company, I understand and respect Theo Chocolate’s dedication to their product, customers and the environment. After the snapshot of Theo Chocolate, the tour continues into the factory. The tour guide tells you all about the cocoa fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) and the cocoa beans that are found inside the fruit. The cocoa beans are what’s used to make chocolate. Similar to coffee beans, the taste of the cocoa beans varies depending on where the fruit is grown.

Once the beans arrive in Seattle (mostly from farms located around the equator), Theo Chocolate’s chocolate-making-experts get to work. The beans are first roasted and then milled which turns them into a liquid. Once the beans are a liquid, they add all the different flavors. This includes fruit, nuts, chilies, spices, bread and salt.

Next, you head into the kitchen. This is where all the caramels and confections are made. Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, we watched one cook make chocolate hearts filled with a cherry bourbon caramel, while another cook was roasting coconut flakes to go into a different chocolate bar. One of the best parts of the tour was seeing how much fun the employees at Theo Chocolate have. Everyone in the kitchen was laughing and smiling and having a great time. After the kitchen, you get to see where Theo Chocolate molds the chocolate bars and packages everything up.

The Theo Chocolate tours are offered several times a day. You can call ahead or make a reservation  online . Or, you can o what Tim and I did and just show up. The tours cost $14 a person, which we fell is well worth the price. Not only do you learn so much about Theo Chocolate and the process of making chocolate, but you also get to try a lot of chocolate through the whole tour (which was probably my favorite part). The tour ends in the retail show (where you get a 10% discount on your purchases for going on the tour). Of course, I insisted Tim and I buy all the great chocolate we had just tasted and watched being made. the money was well spent though. I’m still enjoying our purchases today!

Have you ever taken the Theo Chocolate tour? Have you ever tried their chocolate? What did you think? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or connect with us on  Twitter ,  Facebook  and  Instagram . Don’t forget to also check out  Seattle Bloggers  for more on great things to do in the city!

Tell your friends!

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Stay Connected

Let’s get social.

Tove Tupper & Tim Lewis

• Skip to Nav
• Skip to Main
• Skip to Footer

A Tour of Theo Chocolate Factory

Please try again

My mom was right when she mentioned no one was quite as excited about the chocolate tour as I was. I found myself almost elbowing small children to get to the front of the line so my view of the machines and the tempering process wouldn't be obstructed. I tried to keep my cool when they passed around the cocoa butter, assuring myself I'd get a turn to feel it as well. For someone who loves chocolate and who was already a big Theo fan, this was a major afternoon. And my family was kind enough to oblige when I told them that, although we only had two days in Seattle, this was how we were spending our Tuesday afternoon.

The tour began in a small room where our fearless guide led us through a brief history of Theo Chocolate, the only U.S. fair-trade, organic bean-to bar chocolate factory. In addition to many samples and a tour through the factory, we learned all about how Theo actually yields a chocolate bar from the cocoa pod--the beginning of it all.

The Process: One Hour Distilled Down to a Paragraph

In the factory itself, there are a number of machines and steps that are involved in creating the final product. They use a European roaster (there are less than 100 of these left in the world) which drives off moisture. Our tour guide explained that they do a partial roast to begin with and then send the beans into the "Winnower" machine where they are slammed against a steel plate to allow for the husks to separate, and are then moved through different meshes and through an air stream that blows the husk away from the recently smashed nibs. Then the cleaned nibs go back in the roaster to further develop the flavor. After this, off to the Ball Mill which whirls the beans at high speed so that they can be broken down and eventually turned into chocolate liqueur. They add evaporated cane juice, and 6500 pounds of chocolate goes into one holding tank where it is eventually taken to their tempering machines and out into individual molds.

Flavors of Theo Chocolate we Sampled:

I'm not sure that most people are used to describing the nuances of chocolate in the same way that we often do with wine or even with coffee. But our tour guide encouraged us to mention the first word that came to our minds when we sampled different bars. People began to loosen up after a few minutes and really explore their palates and their personal preferences. Here is a sampling of what we tried:

• Lime Coriander Confection: I loved this little square. It had a subtle, spring citrus flavor and just a hint of coriander. I was surprised to learn each confection and caramel is still hand-decorated.
• Pink Salted Vanilla Caramel: My mom bought some of these to take home. I can't honestly say that the pink salt adds any different flavor profile than regular salt, but they sure are pretty.
• Lemon Verbena Confection: Spring time in one bite. Vibrant, bright lemon flavor enrobed in dark chocolate.
• Milk Chocolate Chai Bar: While I much prefer dark to milk chocolate, I ended up falling in love with this bar and bringing one home. At Theo, their milk chocolate has at least 40% cocoa, so it still seems very rich and complex. I loved the warm spice flavor profile.
• Dark Chocolate Toasted Coconut Bar: And I bought two of these. Apparently they are seasonal so I was concerned they may go away forever. If you like coconut, try and get your hands on one.
• Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond: A really classic combination of organic cherries and rich dark chocolate studded generously with almonds.
• 91% Dark Chocolate Bar: This blew me away. I've tried 95% chocolate before and it just screamed baking chocolate--bitter, leaving your mouth with a dry, unpleasant taste. But Theo's 91% bar was not at all bitter (although not all that sweet either). The perfect bar for a dark chocolate purist.
• Nib Brittle (70%): I learned on the tour that people either love or hate cocoa nibs. I happen to love them, but by the looks on the faces of many of the folks around me, that's not always the case. This bar has organic, roasted nibs enrobed in a crunchy, slightly sweet brittle.

The Future of Chocolate in the U.S.

The tour closed with some interesting information that I wasn't aware of. Chocolate production in the U.S. is a really new endeavor--spanning only the last 250 years. And, like anything, the standards are constantly changing in regards to the percentage of cocoa required, fillers allowed etc. I was shocked to learn that currently commercial products only have to be 10% cocoa to call themselves chocolate. Yikes. What comprises the rest? Check out your average grocery store aisle and see if you can locate the chocolate chips often labeled "chocolate baking chips"--they're mostly milk solids and sugar. So Theo's whole point is that life is too short to eat bad quality chocolate and, in remaining firm with such high standards, they'll hopefully help shape the future landscape of chocolate standards and regulation. On their website they note:

At Theo, we believe there is no luxury in products that benefit us today, while jeopardizing future generations ability to meet their needs. When you taste our chocolate you will experience our passion and integrity in every luscious bite.

So like most things, not all chocolate is created equal. And I've become a little obsessed with reading labels and researching the chocolate that I purchase since taking the Theo tour. The name Theo originates from the Greek name of the Cacao tree -- Theobroma Cacao or "Food of the Gods." They're living up to the name.

How to Take the Theo Chocolate Factory Tour in Seattle, Washington

Every time I walked around Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, I knew I could smell chocolate in the air. Before I’d convinced myself I was making it up, I realized that Fremont is home to the Theo Chocolate factory.

After living in Seattle for a few months I was familiar with Theo. You can find their chocolate in grocery stores and local bakeries.

My  favorite  Seattle cookie (the Mackles’more) even has a piece of Theo Chocolate on top. By the way- that cookie is sold at Hello Robin.  And you should absolutely stop by there when you are in town! If you are interested in even more Seattle desserts, check out this post.

Once I learned that Theo offered chocolate factory tours I knew I had to take one. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect (cue images of Willy Wonka) but I love chocolate, so I figured I would LOVE the tour. And I was right.

Anyone visiting the Emerald City should add this to their itinerary. The tour costs $12 per person and lasts just over an hour. Theo is located in the heart of Fremont , so you could easily combine this with a visit to the Fremont Troll, Gas Works Park, or one of the many dining options along 36th Street (like this taco place or this ramen place ).

The Theo Chocolate factory tour can be booked online or in person. I suggest booking ahead of time because the tours frequently sell out. Groups of 6 or more must pay in advance, but otherwise, you can sign up online and pay once you arrive for your tour.

Tours are only available for those 6 years and older. But, younger guests are welcome to attend the weekly Kid’s Chocolate Story Time Tour. This tour costs $8 per person and can also be booked online . This 45-min tour includes a kid-friendly tour, storytime, and of course- chocolate samples.

What to Expect

I booked a 10:30 am Saturday tour and arrived a few minutes early. There was plenty of free 2-hour parking on the surrounding streets. The tour guide greeted our group in the factory’s lobby. We then found seats in an appropriately decorated room. Think cocoa leaves, images of Theo Chocolate employees, and signs about the chocolate-making process.

During the first half of the tour, we listened to the tour guide discussed the Theo chocolate-making process. Theo is a “bean to bar” company. So, they receive cocoa beans and turn them into chocolate bars.

Many other companies start with imported chocolate liquor (no- this is not alcoholic) instead of the beans. After a multi-step process, cocoa beans form a pure cocoa product called chocolate liquor. To create a chocolate bar, you mix this liquor with sugar, vanilla, and flavorings.

This is a very important factor that helps Theo Chocolate stand out. They were also the first certified organic and Fair Trade chocolate maker in North America. Theo respects the environment and the people who make this process possible, while also committing to producing a high-quality product.

And the best part? We got multiple Theo Chocolate samples. We started with my favorite, 85% dark chocolate. But we also sampled coconut, cherry, milk, and root beer chocolate bars.

After answering all of our questions the tour guide led us to the observation room. Here we could actually see the machines that produce the delicious chocolate. We saw the bean room where cocoa beans are stored in burlap bags. The guide walked us through the process of making chocolate and explained the importance of each machine. Until the tour, I didn’t realize that cocoa beans were roasted. But now I know this helps develop the flavor. Pretty neat!

In this room, we got a few more samples, including cocoa nibs and toffee. In addition to the factory, Theo houses a confectionary and the chocolatiers make many different delicious treats. Once the tour was over we went to the chocolate shop for a sample of the Theo caramels.

Since we participated in the tour we got 20% off our purchase while in the store. There were many different chocolate products for sale. Also, this is the only place where you can purchase the caramels, ganaches, and other little chocolate confections. Of course, I couldn’t pass up the discount, so I bought a Salted Vanilla Caramel, a Burnt Sugar Ganache, and a Big Daddy.

I think this would be a great addition to a Seattle trip. The tour is affordable and didn’t take up too much time. It was a unique experience and I found it fascinating to tour a local factory that sells their chocolate in grocery stores all around the country.

Keep in mind that production does not generally occur on the weekends, so if you stop by on a Saturday or Sunday the factory floor might be empty. However, I toured on a Saturday and this did not change how much I enjoyed the tour. They were even running the roaster that Saturday which was an added bonus!

Plus, you get to try a ton of chocolate samples on this tour. Even my husband, who doesn’t really like chocolate, had a great time on the tour. Just make sure you book the tour in advance to secure your spot!

Have you toured a chocolate factory? What was your favorite part (besides the samples of course!)

Looking for more? Check out my other Washington State posts:

The Best Day Trips from Seattle, Washington

Where to go for a Run in Seattle, Washington

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Freemont

If you liked this post feel free to share it or pin it!

You May Also Like

8 Historic Sites in NYC + My FAVORITE Dessert Shops Near Each One!

One Day in Bryce Canyon National Park

35 Unique Things to do in NYC

Chocoholic? Tour the Theo Chocolate Factory

Indulge your chocoholic self on the theo chocolate factory tour ….

As a fully fledged, and certified chocoholic, there could be no better tourist activity for me than a chocolate factory tour.  Well actually, only because it did say you’d be consuming lots of chocolate!  I mean, if we’re going to be honest – that is why you do a chocolate factory tour right?!  Chocolate samples! 

15 minutes before our tour started, we were ushered into a waiting room, where we paid up and got ticked off the reservation list.   There’s a beautiful backdrop here for a photo, and the receptionist is well versed in taking photos for you.   I thought it’d be a good idea to do one when I looked clean – I mean, surely later I’d have chocolate dripping from somewhere on me! (What was I thinking wearing a white t-shirt??)

On the dot of your tour time, you’re taken from the reception room, into your first room – I’m going to call this the education room.  Here, for 20 minutes or so, you’ll hear and learn a little about the history of Theo chocolate, which includes a base lesson on Theobroma Cacao – the chocolate tree. Where in the world it’s grown, what a tree looks like, how the fruit forms and grows, and then how the beans are cultivated from it.   This history shares also Theo’s part in the two regions they purchase their cacao beans from, and how they’re impacting the local communities through their fair trade practices.  Huge kudos to Theo for this.  When you purchase a Theo bar, you can feel good about it, knowing you’re making a positive impact in a small rural African (or Peruvian) community.

During this presentation, you’ll also get your first taste! 

The factory itself

From here you’ll move to your second room – which offers you a 180 degree view of the factory.  This is also an educational room.  Along with more tastings, you’ll learn here about how Theo turns their bags of beans into your chocolate bar.  Whilst the information is interesting, and the tastings are great, the factory itself lacks a little oomph.  And not just Oompa Loompa oomph (yes, sadly not a single sighting or sound, sniff sniff).

Now that you’re over that disappointment, there’s also no rivers of running chocolate, or in fact, anything much to see other than machines.   I know they have chocolatiers handcrafting chocolates (as I saw it on their video), but we don’t get to see these.  Personally, I want to see more than machines in action, I wanted to see chocolate in action.  This for me was a miss for the tour.    The info was great, the tastings were great, but the factory section itself, was a little a dull.

The factory shop

After the factory we move to finish, as only every good tour does, in the shop.  Here we’re given another couple of samples to try, and as tour participants, a 20% discount card to use today.     This could come in handy!

BUT …. What I didn’t realise about the Theo Factory Shop before I went, is that it has samples throughout it.  Next to all of their bars, are samples you can help yourself to.  This is great, because it’s always so much nicer to be able to try each flavour, before you commit to buying a bar of it.  Most of Theo’s chocolate are dark chocolate based, so for a milk lover like myself (you know I have the sweetest of teeth!), there wasn’t so much to choose from.

One of the chocolates we did sample on the tour was the lemon.  This is one of Theo’s seasonal bars, and from my cart and those of my fellow tourists, it was a clear favourite. 

In fact, one of the reasons why you may want to visit the Theo Factory Shop, is that along with the free samples, there are also exclusive chocolates here.    So if you want to be a chocolate snob, pop in and pick up some exclusivity.

Theo also runs a range of other events and classes.   I was very intrigued by the Chocolate Yoga class – apparently you receive a tasting after every move.  That sounds like the most fun way to exercise I’ve ever heard of.

For a full range of the other options available, click here .

Would I recommend it?  

If you’re into educating yourself, then absolutely.  I enjoyed learning how chocolate is grown, cultivated, and processed.  

BUT if you’re short on time, and were really only going to book the tour because of the samples, just go visit the factory shop.  Here you’ll get to try many of the bar flavours before you purchase, alongside some Theo specials not available anywhere else. 

• their full bean to bar practices. Maybe you pay a little more for their bars, but you do so because the farmer is being paid a fair price, and the product is organic. Theo also contribute to the community where their chocolate is grown. This is the way business should be done.
• the education segment of the tour – learning how chocolate is grown, cultivated and produced was really interesting . Now I understand more when reading the labels on the back of my chocolate bars
• Theo are very generous with samples. You get a good range of samples on the tour – I did a 12pm tour – chocolate for lunch!
• the factory shop samples – help yourself and sample most of their chocolate bars before you purchase – LOVE this
• exclusive chocolates available only at their factory shop
• great prices in their shop – their standard bars were almost $1 less than in the shops
• they do have a full range of other events – who doesn’t love the sound of that chocolate yoga??!!

Theo misses;

• you don’t get to really see any chocolate in the factory – I’d like to see the chocolatiers at work, alongside some melted chocolate somewhere to really make me drool
• it’d be great to include a tasting of their hot chocolate (they sell a powder in the shop, I’d love to taste this). Bizarrely they have coffee to help yourself to in the shop – they’re missing an opportunity here.
• I came out without a spec on my white t-shirt …

For the nitty gritty on the Theo Chocolate Factory tour, read on.

Getting there

The Theo Chocolate Factory tour is in a beautiful historic 1900’s building in Fremont.  If you have a car, it’s a cinch getting there with google maps, and there’s free 2 hour parking outside the building. 

Tours run daily, with the first at 10:30, the last starts at 3:45.  The tour takes 1 hour, and costs $12 plus tax.  It is advisable to book ahead, as many of the tours sell out. Click HERE for more info and to book.

(If you’re a Seattle local (or very organised), you could get your tour for free. The third Thursday of each month, Theo offer a free tour at 4:30pm. Bookings open 2 months out).

The Factory Shop

The factory shop is at 3400 Phinney Ave. N., Freemont, Seattle. It’s open daily from 10am – 6pm.

So what do you think? Are you keen to become a fully certified chocoholic? Are you already a Theo chocolate lover? What’s your favourite flavour? And will you take the tour?

(And Theo, if you’re reading this, I’m totally open to chocolate bribes – just message me for my address!!)

Now – because I know you like chocolate just as much as I do – I think you’ll also love the Seattle Chocolate factory tour.

Similar Posts

Berry cloud cake – the BEST summer dessert

Oh you are going to LOVE me for sharing this. This is seriously one of the nicest, most refreshing summer desserts you will ever eat. And what people won’t realise, is how amazingly easy it is to make. As delicious as this is, there are two other, no, make that three other things that propel…

Super easy gingerbread ‘man’ recipe

Here’s a gingerbread cookie recipe that is ready to become your new family tradition. It’s a recipe that’s made for making memories. It’s been mine to make with my kids, my nephews and nieces, for more than 20 years. I love it because it couldn’t be any easier, they taste delicious, and for such a…

Easy no bake lemon and ginger slice

This delicious, simple, no bake lemon ginger slice recipe will have everyone who tastes it very happy they did. It’s the perfect recipe to whip up if you’ve got extra lemons on the tree, or when you just feel like having something sweet for afternoon tea, without having to go to the effort to bake….

Gin & Beetroot Cured Salmon – oh so wow!

What’s not to love about the name ‘Gin & Beetroot Cured Salmon’?!! It was the name that drew me to it. Gin & Beetroot Cured Salmon – oh so wow!  Let’s say that again!!  It wasn’t actually just the name, it was the beautiful colours in the salmon that made me want to make it. …

Celebration chocolate cake with fudge frosting

I’ve learned lately that chocolate cakes are very subjective. There are so many variances to a cake – it’s definitely not one cake to suit all. But I’m hoping this is one chocolate cake that will suit you! This post may contain some affiliate links. This just means if you click on them and decide…

Easy, delicious, crunchy lemon muffins

Looking for a melt in the mouth, absolutely delicious lemon muffin recipe? Here it is. These crunchy lemon muffins are so simple to make. And even simpler to eat! To be fair, they probably won’t win any awards for how they look, as they don’t rise to a head. But this makes them a perfect…

From bean to bar to belly – gotta love a good chocolate factory tour!

That should be their new tag line!! Love it!

Maybe I would actually like doing yoga if I got rewarded for each position with a chocolate! LOL

Lol, I hear you!

what a great way to upskill ;} this tour sounds like fun!

I had no idea this factory was in Seattle – how cool! I love chocolate factory tours, although I don’t eat dairy so I usually present a fun challenge for most tour guides. It sounds like Theo’s would have plenty for me though! I’m usually short on time, though, so just going straight to the store for exclusive chocolates is enticing.

Oh my gosh, I love chocolate. Sign us up! Haha 🙂 Cool post idea. Will save this for later.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Demonstrations

Top quality Belgian Chocolate made with 100% pure cocoa butter, free from GMO, preservatives and artificial colourings.

No products

0,00 € Shipping 0,00 € Total

• Artist praline
• Pralines Selection
• Caraques selection
• Truffles Selection
• Chocolate Bars & Tablets
• Brussels Bouquet
• Chocolate Fondue
• Sugar-free Chocolate
• Chocolate Cosmetics
• Raw materials
• Gift for her
• Gift for him
• Gift for children
• Gift for mothers
• Gift for fathers
• Gifts for guests
• Gift for colleagues
• Give a gift card
• Company Gift
• Thank you !
• Happy Birthday
• Congratulations
• Get well soon
• Wedding and Party
• Mother's Day
• Father's Day
• Easter chocolates
• Saint-Nicholas Day chocolates
• Christmas chocolates
• Valentine's Day chocolates
• Chocolate Demonstration
• Chocolate Workshop
• Exhibition and Event

Chocolate gift delivery to Russia

  * Moscow, St. Petersburg - within 2 days.

When will my chocolate be delivered ?

Deliveries are sent to the address you have provided via DHL EXPRESS from Monday until Friday from 8 am to 6 pm.

How much are the delivery charges ?

Planète Chocolat offers you secure methods of payment. Our delivery charges for Russia are €39.65 including tax.

Is delivery also possible on weekends or public holidays ?

Unfortunetly, no , DHL only delivers from Monday to Friday between 08:00 - 18:00 and does not work during public holidays.

Belgian chocolates to the land of the Tsars!

Are you going to Russia for professional reasons and you don't know what gift to take ? Why not think about delicious chocolates from Planète Chocolat  ? Once your selection is confirmed, our store will take care of the delivery, whether your contacts, loved ones, or family live in Moscow , Saint Petersburg , Novosibirsk , Yekaterinburg , or Kazan  ! 

The Russian craze to make up for lost time!

Just like China , Russia wasn't a great consumer of chocolate until the turn of the 21st century. The land of the Tsars is now catching up at full speed, since Russians consume an average of 6 kg of chocolate each year. The outlook is positive because the annual increase is planned to be 0.8%. This growing market should increase by 45% between 2014 and 2017, with revenues approaching 6 billion euros. The progress of artisan chocolate compared to industrial chocolate is also a dedicated process.  

Chocolate and Russia: what a history

While changing their eating habits to chocolate, Russia has also developed a strong production system at the same time. The largest Russian chocolate brands are Krasniy Octyabr, a company founded in 1966, Konditersky Kontsern Babaevsky, established in 1804, and Rot Front, a candy maker that has been around since 1826. Chocolate makers are also increasing with the opening of small artisanal stores throughout the country, creating a passion for quality chocolate and developing the Russian palate for more subtle flavors.  

Chocolate, a stylish gift

From Christmas to Easter celebrations , as well as birthdays , weddings or Valentine's Day , any occasion is good for giving chocolate. To such an extent that chocolate has become the best-selling treat. Russians also like to buy chocolate bars to eat alone or to add to delicious pastries. So if you have acquaintances in Russia , or if you're going to be there for an extended stay, think about Planète Chocolat , your online store that guarantees delivery of exceptional Belgian chocolates wherever you find yourself.

Tous droits réservés - Planète Chocolat

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

An Update from Theo Chocolate

June 28, 2023

Today, we announced upcoming changes at Theo.

First, we announced that Theo intends to merge with American Licorice Company (ALC), in a proposed transaction that is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023. ALC, a family-owned and operated confectioner, strategically partners with companies and brands like Theo to help them realize their mission and values. Theo would become a part of ALC’s portfolio of organic brands, including TORIE & HOWARD® and ZING BAR®. Our commitment to delivering delicious, organic, ethically sourced (fair trade) chocolate will remain unchanged, and you will still be able to find our products online and at retailers nationwide

Separately, we are undergoing a restructure of our operations, which will result in the closing of our Seattle manufacturing and reductions in office staff. We, like many other businesses, have been contending with rising costs across all aspects of our manufacturing and supply chain and had to make some difficult but necessary decisions to ensure the future of the company and our mission.

Approximately 60 members of the Theo team will be separated as part of the restructure, starting in September. We are committed to supporting them during this transition, including severance pay, earned time off payouts, COBRA medical coverage, and access to job placement and mental health resources. We welcome any local organizations who are hiring to reach out to us as we provide resources to our affected teams.

Theo will continue our presence in Seattle through its headquarters, Flagship Store and Confection Kitchen, but our factory tours will be closing on August 30 th , 2023 as we wind down manufacturing operations.

We are so grateful for the support of our customers and community for the past 18 years, as Theo has grown from a local company to the nationally distributed brand it is today, creating delicious organic and fair trade chocolate. With your support, we’ve sourced over 12,000 metric tons of organic and fair trade cocoa beans since our founding, with a real impact on over 5,000 cocoa famers and their communities.

Our dedication to our mission remains incredibly important to us, and we look forward to continuing to work together to build on this impact into the future. While our operations are changing, we will remain committed to creating chocolate that’s organic, fair trade, and up to the same standards of quality you’ve come to expect from Theo. We hope we’ll have the chance to prove this commitment to you in the future as we work through this time of transition for Theo.

Additional Information

Press Release

Media Contacts: Jeff Wilson / Jacque Gairrett Fearey for Theo Chocolate [email protected] | 206-838-9209

Factory Experience Information

Theo Customer Service

All Rights Reserved. © Copyright 2024 Theo Chocolate, Inc.

Tour Details

Moscow metro tour: architectural styles of the subway.

Duration: 2 hours

Categories: Culture & History, Sightseeing

This metro tour of Russia’s capital and most populous city, Moscow, is your chance to get a unique insight into the beautiful and impressive architecture of the city's underground stations. Admire their marble walls and high ceilings representing Stalin's desire for glory after World War 2, and see first-hand how the interiors change with the rise of new political eras. Your guide will lead you through the complex network, which is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems worldwide, with over two billion travelers in 2011.

Opened in 1935, Moscow’s underground system, now 190 miles (305 km) long with 185 stations, is today one the largest and most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world. On this Moscow metro tour, discover the impressive architecture of Moscow’s underground stations and learn how they reflect the Soviet era.

Getting around by metro, your local guide will take you through parts of Moscow’s infamous history. Stop at stations built during the time of the USSR (Soviet Union) that are praised as one of the most extravagant architectural projects from Stalin’s time. After World War 2, he was keen on establishing Stalinist architecture to represent his rising regime and a recognized empire. Learn how when his successor started the de-Stalinization of the former Soviet Union in 1953, the extravagancy of the architecture was toned down.

Discover how the unique character of each station reflected several different eras. While stations like Kievskaya and Slavyansky Bulvar have pompous halls and high stucco ceilings brimming with extravagant decorations, those built later, like Volzhskaya, are lightly adorned with sparse furnishings. Architect Alexey Dushkin and painter Alexander Deyneka were just two of the many artists who made these magnificent landmarks possible.

Revel in Moscow's glory days, as well as the years of scarcity, on this fascinating Moscow metro experience. Conclude your tour at one of the central stations in Moscow. If you're lucky, you may even find the secret entrance to the unconfirmed Metro-2, a parallel underground system used by the government -- a mystery which has neither been denied nor confirmed today.

Nearby tours

Soviet-Era Walking Tour in Moscow: Lubyanka Square and the Gulag History Museum

If you love history, would like to know more about Russia’s past, or just want to take an interesting walk, book this guided Moscow walking tour of Soviet-era sites. With your expert guide, walk through Lubyanka Squ...

Walking Tour of Moscow's Kolomenskoye Estate

On this walking tour through the Kolomenskoye Estate in Moscow, immerse yourself in Russia’s interesting royal history. Walk around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ascension Church, built in 1532, and enter the Hou...

Moscow Cultural Walking Tour: Red Square, Kitay-Gorod and St Basil's Cathedral

Take a guided walking tour of Moscow's cultural highlights, like the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed Red Square, said to be the central square of Russia. Walk through the adjoining district Kitay-Gorod, one of ...

Kremlin Grounds, Cathedrals and Patriarch's Palace Tour from Moscow

A great three hour tour exploring the Kremlin Grounds, Cathedrals and Patriarch's Palaces in Moscow! The small city in the center of Moscow, once the residence of Czars and Patriarchs, contains Russia's main cathedra...

Moscow City Tour

The Moscow City Tour covers all the highlights and most beautiful places in the enchanting Russian capital. The tour begins with a stop at the Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral, the architectural masterpiece and w...

Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

You're out there in the global community! You are likely to be exposed to the elements, travel in whatever means of transport is available and basically take it as it comes, whatever comes! It can be tough.

Physical Rating

Our physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

Luxury Rating

Some trips are like a stroll on the beach, while others have you trekking alpine passes. Some of you thrive on camping out on the savannah, while others may prefer a hot shower and a comfortable bed in a lodge. Follow the grading systems below to find the right trip for you.

To help you choose the trip that's right for you, we've broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you're travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

This is grassroots travel at its most interesting

Authentic experiences with some of the comforts of home

For those who like to travel in comfort

All the unique experiences wrapped up with a gold ribbon

Claudia Looi

Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

By Claudia Looi 2 Comments

Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.