Day trip

Zürich: Appenzell Day-Trip with Cheese & Chocolate Tastings

4.7 / 5

27 reviews

Activity provider: Best of Switzerland Tours
Day trip

Zürich: Appenzell Day-Trip with Cheese & Chocolate Tastings

Activity provider: Best of Switzerland Tours

From US$ 273.26 per person

Join a premium small-group tour to Appenzell, the idyllic region of Eastern Switzerland, and discover the secrets behind the country's famous cheese and chocolate.

About this activity

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Duration 11 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English, German

Experience

Highlights
  • Experience a memorable day trip and learn about Swiss customs and traditions
  • Learn more about cheese production at a typically Swiss farm and show dairy
  • Discover the craft of artisan chocolate making at a boutique chocolate manufacturer
  • Stroll through the picturesque streets of Appenzell
  • Take in mountain views on an aerial cable car ride to the top of Hoher Kasten
Full description

Experience Appenzell in a small group on this fantastic excursion. Explore the idyllic region, which still maintains the old traditions, and discover the world of mountains, cheese, and chocolate. Set out on a scenic drive along beautiful Lake Zürich via the City of Rapperswil with its medieval castle to the gently rolling hills of the Appenzellerland with photo stops en route. Discover a typically Swiss farm and taste a glass of fresh cow milk before heading to the Appenzeller show dairy in Stein AR.

Find out how natural Swiss milk and herbs are turned into Switzerland's tangiest cheese and marvel at the imposing cellar storing up to 12,500 wheels of cheese. Try to guess the top secret ingredients of the world-famous Appenzeller cheese during a cheese tasting. Go to Brülisau and take the cable car to the Hoher Kasten mountain, where you can admire the panoramic views from a height of 1,800 meters. Visit the impressive revolving restaurant, and enjoy the fantastic panoramic views of the hilly, green Appenzell region, the Rhine Valley, and Vorarlberg. Next, head to a boutique chocolate manufacture and follow the Maître Chocolatier's explanation of the artisan craft of chocolate making before indulging your senses during a chocolate tasting. Back in Appenzell, your tour guide will take you on a short walking tour, showing you the town's beautiful streets, squares, and decoratively painted wooden houses. Discover a traditional bakery and learn more about

Appenzeller Biberli

(Swiss gingerbread). You then have some time to explore the town on your own and purchase traditional souvenirs.

Includes
  • Fully-guided tour by professional multilingual driver-guide
  • Transportation in a comfortable minibus
  • Appenzeller show dairy with cheese tasting
  • Guided visit of Appenzell
  • Cable car to Hoher Kasten
  • Chocolate tasting at a boutique chocolate manufacture
  • Goodie bag with a minimum value of CHF 40
  • Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
  • Food and drinks
  • Personal expenses
Not suitable for
  • Children under 6 years

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meet at Sihlquai Bus Station, opposite Zurich HB (main train station). Follow Platform 18 until the street bends to the right. You will find the bus station 50 meters ahead, just across the street from Starbucks. By public transport take tram 4, 6, or 13 to the stop Sihlquai/HB.

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Important information

What to bring

  • Passport or ID card

Not allowed

  • Pets (assistance dogs allowed)
  • Food and drinks in the vehicle
Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 27 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.9/5
  • Transportation
    4.9/5
  • Service
    4.7/5
  • Organization
    4.4/5

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The trip to the top of mount Hoher Kaster was spectacular! The view breathtaking. Appelzel is a picturesque small town with freshly baked goods, nice liquors and great chocolate, though very expensive. We tasted bits of organic cheese and chocolate and visited an organic farm. The guide, Monica was very friendly and helpful as well as knowledgeable. Nevertheless, I found the whole tour exorbitantly expensive.

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April 2, 2023

Peter was exceptional!! Give this man a raise!! He was well versed in the area, funny and went well above to make our trip 5 stars. As for the sights we visited, each was well worth seeing and we enjoyed our free time in the little town of Appenzell. We are back in the states now and already we miss the mountains.

April 2, 2023

A really good trip with a very informative driver. Comfortable and air conditioned bus with some really nice scenery to view while driving. Good places to visit especially the Lindt factory with some very good prices inside. Enjoyed the cheese factory but not the cheese...too creamy for me....but a good experience. Fantastic ride to the factory however with some spectacular scenery. Great ride on the cable car up to the rotating restaurant on the mountain but alas it was too misty/cloudy to see anything. Appenzell is a lovely place with great bars and lovely people.....if you have time try to visit the brewery...it makes superb beers. A fantastic way to spend 8hrs in Switzerland and to capture the real Swiss lifestyle....highly recommended.

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April 2, 2023

Product ID: 13670