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Have you ever dreamed of visiting a Chocolate Factory, one you could actually explore inside? Or maybe you know someone who claims they don’t like chocolate? I do know one person like that – though I’m convinced they don’t quite realize what they’re saying when they insist they dislike the taste! Chocolate is perfection: it’s suitable for any occasion, with a wonderful aroma, an exquisite flavor, and even health benefits – for both body and soul. It lifts your spirits and makes the day instantly brighter… Of course, I mean real chocolate, ideally dark and of the best quality.
To discover the secrets of how this kind of chocolate is made, we visited a fascinating place – the E. Wedel Chocolate Factory. Let’s see if this interactive museum might win you over too. And who knows, maybe even those who don’t treat chocolate as culinary gold will change their minds after a visit here?
Location and How to Get There
The E. Wedel Chocolate Factory is located in the Praga-Południe district, in the Kamionek neighborhood. Its location is particularly appealing, with the main entrance situated right by the shore of Kamionkowskie Lake. The exact address is 5 Emila Wedla Avenue.
Getting here is easy: you can take the metro (line M2, Stadion Narodowy station) or a tram (for example, lines 7, 9, or 22). The museum is less than a 10-minute walk from Warszawa Wschodnia Station, so if you’re traveling by train, be sure to get off there.
On warm days, even walking here from Śródmieście can be enjoyable, especially if you take the route through Skaryszewski Park. If you’re arriving by car, there’s a parking lot by the Chocolate Factory building on Lubelska Street (paid parking, Mon–Fri, 8:00–20:00). Once you’re in the area, you’ll surely notice the unmistakable aroma of chocolate in the air – a scent that will lead you straight to its doors.
Bilety i godziny otwarcia
Bilety do Fabryki Czekolady E. Wedel można kupić wygodnie przez internet. Na miejscu oczywiście też jest kasa, ale możliwe, że nie uda Wam się kupić biletu tuż przed wejściem. Grupy wchodzą wraz z przewodnikiem co prawda co 15 minut, ale zainteresowanie Fabryką Czekolady jest bardzo duże, więc najlepiej przybyć tu już z zakupioną wejściówką.
Bilet normalny kosztuje 70 a ulgowy 55 zł, a w przypadku biletu rodzinnego płacimy 59 zł za osobę. Posiadający KDR oszczędzają kolejne 3 zł na bilecie. W cenie mamy zagwarantowane oprowadzanie przez przewodnika, degustację płynnej czekolady w trzech smakach, a przy wyjściu otrzymujemy słodki podarunek – czekoladę, którą można nabyć tylko w tym muzeum.
Fabryka Czekolady E. Wedel oferuje też warsztaty, podczas których można samemu stworzyć czekoladowe wyroby. Ich cena to odpowiednio 85 i 70 zł za osobę. Ważna informacja – wstęp na warsztaty nie obejmuje zwiedzania muzeum.
Fabryka Czekolady E. Wedel i jej historia
Historia czekolad Wedla w Polsce rozpoczęła się w 1851 roku, kiedy to Karol Ernest Wedel otworzył swój sklep w Warszawie przy ulicy Miodowej. Przybył on do Polski z Berlina 6 lat wcześniej. W swoim sklepie sprzedawał czekoladę (także do picia), karmelki, ciastka i cukrowe figurki oraz ciasta, torty i lody. Tradycje rodzinne przejął po nim syn Emil, który firmę dostał od ojca jako prezent ślubny. Przeniósł on sklep i fabrykę w 1869 roku do kamienicy przy ulicy Szpitalnej. Reklamowali się wówczas jako “Jedyna w Warszawie istniejąca Parowa Fabryka Czekolady C.E. Wedel”. Do dziś w tej samej kamienicy znajduje się wedlowska pijalnia czekolady.
Co ciekawe, w tym czasie wedlowska firma wprowadziła także sprzedaż wysyłkową. Ogłoszenia w prasie zachęcały mieszkańców prowincji do przesyłania zamówień i pieniędzy do fabryki czekolady – słodkie produkty odsyłano zainteresowanym pocztą. W tym okresie rozpoczęto też sygnowanie produktów podpisem “E.Wedel”, aby podkreślić ich oryginalność i uchronić klientów przed oszustami. Obecnie ręcznie robione napisy “E. Wedel” znajdziemy na każdym ze słynnych torcików – współcześnie podpisuje je kilkadziesiąt pracownic fabryki.
The Greatest Growth of the Chocolate Factory
The biggest period of growth for the E. Wedel Chocolate Factory came under the leadership of Jan Wedel, Emil’s son. When he took over in 1923, the company employed only a few dozen workers. By 1927, that number had risen to nearly 200. In 1929, Jan began construction of the current Wedel Chocolate Factory headquarters. It was also during his time that the company created its most iconic and patented product, “Ptasie Mleczko” (literally “Bird’s Milk”) in 1936. By the late 1930s, the E. Wedel brand was recognized not only throughout Poland but also abroad.
Jan Wedel was a pioneer of innovation, introducing self-service vending machines for chocolate, building up a company fleet of cars for transport, and even purchasing a company airplane.
He also showed remarkable care for his employees, establishing a nursery, medical clinic, and bathhouse next to the factory. There was even a choir and orchestra, as well as a purpose-built theater and performance hall for the staff. Workers also benefited from initiatives such as loans for building houses and regular food packages.
During the communist era, the company was nationalized and taken away from the Wedel family. The E. Wedel name returned only in 1989, when the firm was privatized. Today, it belongs to the Japanese Lotte Group.
Exhibition and Production
At first glance, a tour of the E. Wedel Chocolate Factory looks like a standard museum visit. A guide gathers the group at the entrance, and you move through the different floors of the building (by stairs or elevator). But from the very first stop, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary museum.
The factory is still fully operational. As you move upstairs, you can peer through large windows and see the production process in action. A useful tip: it’s best to plan your visit on a weekday, when the chocolate-making lines are running. During our visit, which fell during the holiday break, we unfortunately only got to see the machines standing idle.
The Tour Experience
A visit to the E. Wedel Chocolate Factory lasts about 90 minutes. Upon entering the museum, visitors can use the cloakroom lockers—though unfortunately, the locks don’t always work. The entrance hall also doubles as a company store, where you can buy exclusive Wedel products, including a type of chocolate that is sold only here, at the factory.
On the first exhibition floor, you get to know more about the key ingredient of chocolate: cocoa and cocoa beans. Here, you’ll learn where the cocoa trees used in Wedel’s production grow. For me, the highlight was the chance to taste ground raw cocoa beans—even at this early stage, you can sense the depth of flavor and aroma!
The Chocolate Factory and its exhibition are designed in such a way that curious visitors can touch, explore, and engage with most of the displays. On the walls, holograms of people important to the history of chocolate production and factory workers come to life. Their stories enrich the narrative and reveal the secrets behind crafting these sweet delights—from the cocoa bean all the way to the perfectly designed packaging.
Just before entering a large hall filled with colorful beanbags shaped like chocolates, comes the sweetest part of the tour. Here, warm, liquid chocolate is poured over wafers, and you can indulge in its three flavors: classic dark, milk, and toffee. The extra energy is especially useful for children, who at the next stop can play by running across a giant “chocolate piano.”
A unique moment of relaxation awaits in a room inspired by the iconic Ptasie Mleczko® commercial. Sitting on beanbags shaped like the fluffy marshmallow treats, surrounded by mirrors and delicate decorations, you can unwind while listening to more stories from your guide about the world of Wedel chocolate.
The Chocolate Model and Other Curiosities
Without a doubt, the pride of the Wedel Chocolate Factory is its impressive chocolate model. Here, however, the museum’s motto “You can touch everything” doesn’t apply. Chocolate is a delicate material-it melts at body temperature-so the model is protected by a glass barrier. To make sure everyone can enjoy it, special platforms are provided for children, as well as spherical glass windows that allow you to stick your head underneath and look around the display from a unique perspective.
This extraordinary creation required several hundred kilograms of mostly dark chocolate. Spanning more than 12 square meters, it depicts the Wedel Chocolate Factory and the surrounding Kamionek district. While the mechanical parts and train tracks are not made of chocolate, they bring the entire model to life. Walking around it, you’ll find interactive buttons that activate various elements.
Buildings, houses, figures, trains, wagons, and animals are all crafted with incredible attention to detail. At this stage of the tour, children are given the challenge of spotting all the chocolate dogs, cats, and cows hidden in the display—a task that, truth be told, almost no one manages to complete!
And Finally – Design Your Own Packaging!
The last stage of our journey through the Wedel Chocolate Factory Museum is a hall dedicated to packaging. We don’t always realize how crucial this step is in production. Even the finest product won’t reach us-its consumers-in good condition without proper protection. Here, visitors can discover the history of packaging, posters, and graphics, including the most iconic one: the boy riding a zebra.
The youngest guests can unleash their creativity with crayons and stamps, recreating the beautiful illustrations found on Wedel chocolate wrappers. The activity station is thoughtfully designed, comfortable, and accessible for both children and adults. At another table, anyone can feel like a real graphic designer by creating their very own, unique box of Ptasie Mleczko. To top it all off, your personalized design can be sent to your email—complete with greetings from the Wedel Chocolate Factory!
Is It Worth Visiting?
The E. Wedel Chocolate Factory is without doubt one of the most fascinating attractions you can visit in Warsaw-if not in the whole country. The brand’s history is deeply intertwined not only with the development of Polish confectionery, but also with our shared cultural memory. Every chocolate lover should visit this place at least once, and it’s certain to be an experience remembered for a long time.
We would be more than happy to return someday-if only to once again savor that rich, delicious melted chocolate. Be careful, though-enjoying it can make even adults look like messy little kids!
At the end of your tour, don’t miss the viewing terrace, from which you can admire an unforgettable panorama of the surrounding area.
