Appenzell Alps Day Trip from Zurich: Farm Life & Cheese Tasting

Trace raw milk from pasture to the cellar where 12,500 wheels of Appenzeller age

This full-day guided tour departs Zurich for the Appenzell Alps, combining a working dairy farm visit, a tour of the Appenzeller show dairy with cheese tasting, an aerial cable car ride to Mt. Hoher Kasten at 1,800 meters, and a guided walk through the traditional village of Appenzell. The group stays under 16 people, and the guide speaks English throughout. Transportation, the cable car, and entry to the dairy are included; lunch and hotel pickup are not.

Step-by-step itinerary

Appenzell Alps Day Trip from Zurich

• Depart from Zurich Sihlquai Bus Station
• Drive along Lake Zürich and Rapperswil
• Visit Swiss farm and taste fresh milk
• Tour Appenzeller show dairy and cheese tasting
• Take aerial cable car to Mt. Hoher Kasten
• Walk through Alpine Garden or optional lunch
• Guided stroll in Appenzell village
• Free time to explore Appenzell
• Return to Zurich

The Experience

Eleven hours sounds long until you see what fits inside it. The day starts at Sihlquai Bus Station in central Zurich, where you board an air-conditioned Mercedes minibus and drive east along Lake Zürich toward Rapperswil and its medieval castle, then into the rolling hills of Appenzellerland. Photo stops break up the scenic drive, and by mid-morning you're at a working Swiss farm where you taste fresh cow milk straight from the source — the thing that starts everything else.

The Appenzeller show dairy in Stein AR is where the real story unfolds. You walk through the cellar storing up to 12,500 wheels of cheese aging in rows, then taste the finished product while the guide walks you through the process: raw milk, local herbs, and a formula so secret the dairy keeps it locked. Afterward, you board the aerial cable car in Brulisau for the ride up to Mt. Hoher Kasten. At 1,800 meters, the panoramic views stretch over the Rhine Valley into Austria's Vorarlberg region. You can walk the Alpine Garden or grab lunch at the revolving mountain restaurant (your own cost), then descend back to the village.

The final stretch is Appenzell itself — a guided 15-minute walk through the pedestrian zone with its decoratively painted wooden facades, where your guide explains the ancient traditions and customs still alive in the region. After that, you have time to wander the specialty shops and narrow streets on your own before the minibus returns you to Zurich. The whole tour runs on carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate.

What’s included

• Transportation in a comfortable air-conditioned Mercedes minibus with free Wi-Fi.
• a professional English-speaking guide for the full day.
• the aerial cable car ride to Mt. Hoher Kasten with panoramic views.
• entry to the Appenzeller show dairy, its museum, and a cheese tasting.
• a visit to a working Swiss dairy farm with fresh milk tasting.
• a guided walk through the village of Appenzell with time to explore on your own.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Best of Switzerland Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see how Appenzeller cheese moves from pasture to cellar — the small group size and the cable car to Mt. Hoher Kasten are what separate this itinerary from a standard coach tour of the region, and they are what make the day hold together without rushing between stops.

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Top questions

What exactly happens at the Appenzeller dairy, and is the cheese tasting included?

The Appenzeller show dairy in Stein AR includes a museum and a walk through the cellar where up to 12,500 wheels age; the cheese tasting is part of the tour and included in the price. You'll learn how milk and local herbs become the finished cheese and taste it yourself.

How high is Mt. Hoher Kasten, and do I have to hike to the top?

Mt. Hoher Kasten stands at 1,800 meters (6,000 feet), and you reach the summit by aerial cable car — no hiking required. Once at the top, you can walk the Alpine Garden or rest at the revolving restaurant while taking in the panoramic views over the Rhine Valley and Austria.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes transportation in the minibus, the professional English-speaking guide, the cable car ride, entry to the Appenzeller dairy with cheese tasting, and the visit to a typical Swiss farm. Lunch, drinks, and any food at the mountain restaurant are your own cost, as are gratuities and personal expenses.

How many people will be on the tour, and is it a large group?

The group is capped at a maximum of 16 people, which keeps the experience relaxed and allows the guide to give personalized attention throughout the day.

Where does the tour depart from, and do you pick up from my hotel?

The tour departs from Sihlquai Bus Station in central Zurich; hotel pickup is not included. You'll need to make your own way to the bus station, where the minibus departs in the morning.