Bern Day Trip from Zurich: Cheese & Biscuit Tasting

Medieval Bern and working dairies in one day, without arranging the route yourself

A small-group day trip from Zurich to Bern and the Emmental Valley, led by an English-speaking guide in a minibus for up to 16 travelers. The itinerary includes a guided walk through Bern's UNESCO-listed Old Town, a visit to a working Emmental cheese dairy with tasting, and a stop at the Kambly Experience biscuit factory. The tour departs from Sihlquai Bus Station in Zurich and runs 10.5 hours, with free time in Bern for lunch at your own expense.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bern day trip with cheese tasting

• Depart Zurich by minivan
• Pass through Entlebuch Valley
• Stop at Kambly Experience for biscuit tour and tasting
• Guided tour of Bern Old Town
• Free time in Bern for lunch or shopping
• Visit Emmental show dairy and cheese tasting
• Photo stop at nearby dairy farm
• Return to Zurich

The Experience

You leave Zurich in the morning by minibus and head into the countryside, passing through the Entlebuch Valley—a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known for its moorlands and Alpine flora. The route takes you through the Upper Emmental Valley, where green pastures and farmhouses dot the landscape. Your first stop is the Kambly Experience in Trubschachen, where you see how Switzerland's biscuits are made and taste several varieties with a drink included.

Then you arrive in Bern, the medieval capital, and walk the Old Town with your guide. You see the 100-meter spire of Bern Minster, the parliament building, the clock tower, and views over the Aare River. After the guided portion, you have free time to eat lunch on your own or shop. The afternoon takes you deeper into the Emmental to a show dairy where you peer into the production hall, learn how Emmentaler AOP is made, and taste the cheese. A photo stop at a nearby dairy farm follows before the drive back to Zurich, with views of the green pastures and the triple peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau on clear days.

The group stays under 16 people, which means the minibus is small enough to navigate the narrow valleys and the cobbled streets of Bern's Old Town without the logistics of a larger coach. Your driver-guide speaks English throughout and handles all navigation and timing, so you focus on the stops themselves. Transportation, both tastings, the guided walk, and the dairy farm visit are all included; you only pay separately for lunch and any drinks beyond what comes with the biscuit tasting.

What’s included

• Transportation in a minibus with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.
• a full guided tour led by an English-speaking driver-guide.
• entry to the Kambly Experience with biscuit tasting and a drink.
• entry to an Emmental show dairy with cheese tasting.
• a guided walk through Bern's Old Town.
• a photo stop at a dairy farm in the Emmental.
• carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate.

Operated by Best of Switzerland Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're arriving in Zurich with a free day and want to see both a Swiss city and working countryside without renting a car or planning the route. The small group of up to 16 means you travel in a minibus that fits the narrow valleys and medieval streets, and your guide handles all the stops and timing—you just show up at the station and follow along.

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Top questions

What is the Kambly Experience and what do you do there?

The Kambly Experience is Switzerland's premier biscuit factory in Trubschachen, where you see how the biscuits are made in the production process. The visit includes a tasting of several biscuit varieties with a drink.

What happens during the Emmental cheese tasting at the show dairy?

At the Emmental show dairy, you peer into the production hall to watch how Emmentaler AOP cheese is made, then taste the finished cheese at the end of the tour. The dairy is a working facility, not a museum.

How much free time do you have in Bern, and what can you do with it?

After the guided Old Town walk in Bern, you have free time to eat lunch at a restaurant of your choice (at your own expense) or to shop for souvenirs before the group departs for the Emmental.

Is hotel pickup included, or do I need to get to Sihlquai Bus Station myself?

Hotel pickup is not included. You meet the group at Sihlquai Bus Station in Zurich in the morning, where the minibus departs. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.

How long is the whole tour, and what time does it end?

The tour runs 10.5 hours total. It departs Zurich in the morning and returns to Sihlquai Bus Station in the evening, giving you a full day of countryside, cheese, biscuits, and the medieval city.

Can children go on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 6 onward. Infants and small children under 6 cannot join, except by special request to the operator. Specialized infant seats are available if needed for children who do qualify.