Things to do in Gruyères

Gruyères sits roughly 1 h 10 from Interlaken by train via Bulle or Fribourg, so it works best as a full day out rather than a half-day add-on. The medieval hilltop town is compact: cobbled main street, the 13th-century castle (adult entry around CHF 12), and La Maison du Gruyère showing the cheese-making process on site (CHF 7, dairy runs on a set schedule and stops mid-afternoon).

Fifteen minutes away in Broc, the Cailler chocolate factory tour costs about CHF 15 and gets busy at weekends. The HR Giger Museum inside the old château sits at the opposite end of the taste spectrum. For altitude, the Moléson cable car climbs to 2,002 m with views back towards the Alps, weather and maintenance closures permitting.

Combining cheese and chocolate in one day is the standard plan, but factor in the train connection times or you will be rushing the last leg back.