Hershey's Chocolate World Visitor's Guide

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.

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!

Hershey Trolley Works

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)!

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
Pizza 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
Bakery

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!

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: