Zurich Open-top Tour and Chocolate and Cheese Countryside

Zurich’s polished city streets give way to the green hills and painted houses of northeastern Switzerland on this long but varied day trip. You’ll see the city from an open-top sightseeing bus, then trade urban views for chocolate, cheese, and the small village of Appenzell.

I like the easy combination of three very different Swiss experiences: city sightseeing, a chocolate attraction, and a countryside stop. I also like the 75 minutes of free time in Appenzell, enough for photographs, a stroll, or a café break without rushing through the village.

The main caution is organization. This is a driver-led excursion rather than a fully guided tour, and the published feedback is uneven, with a 3.5 out of 5 rating from 11 ratings. Pay close attention to the meeting point and instructions, since one person reported confusion about where to board and get off.

Key points to know before booking

• Zurich comes first: See the Swiss National Museum, Rietberg Museum, Lake Zurich, parks, historic squares, and other sights from the open-top bus.
• Chocolarium lasts 75 minutes: You’ll have time for the chocolate visit, tasting, sightseeing, and shopping.
• The cheese stop is traditional but not a working production tour: The Appenzeller Schaukäserei presents Appenzeller cheese and offers tastings, but cheese is not produced during this visit.
• Appenzell gives you one hour: Expect cobbled streets, colorful buildings with frescoes, cafés, and views toward the Appenzell Alps.
• The day includes long bus rides: The stated travel sections add up to several hours, so bring water and prepare for a full day on the road.
• Sunday is quieter in Appenzell: Shops in the village are closed on Sunday, though the streets and buildings still make good subjects for photographs.

From Zurich’s bus station to the city sights

The day begins at Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai. Look for the Swisstours bus and go directly to the driver or the company office at the station. This detail matters: one serious complaint involved confusion over the departure point and a driver who told the passenger to get off after boarding. I would arrive early, confirm the bus destination, and keep the booking information ready.

The Zurich portion is done by open-top sightseeing bus. That gives you a broad first look at the city instead of sending you down one street at a time on foot. You’ll pass the Swiss National Museum, the Rietberg Museum, Lake Zurich, parks, museums, and historic squares.

The bus format is useful if you have limited time in Zurich or want an orientation before exploring independently. From an upper deck, you can take in the shape of the city and get a sense of how the lake, central districts, and museum areas fit together.

The tradeoff is depth. The tour moves past these places rather than giving you extended time inside them. The listed stops are sightseeing points on the bus route, not separate museum visits. If your main goal is to tour the Swiss National Museum or Rietberg Museum indoors, this excursion will not provide enough time.

The English-speaking driver is listed as the driver guide, but a separate guide is not included. Set your expectations accordingly. You should expect transport, route handling, and some information, but not the detailed commentary or personal attention of a dedicated city guide.

The 80-minute ride into the countryside

After the Zurich sightseeing section, the bus travels for about 80 minutes toward Maestrani’s Chocolarium. This is a useful transition from city to countryside, but it also makes the day feel long. The full experience lasts nine hours, and several transport sections account for a large part of that time.

I would treat the ride as part of the outing rather than a minor transfer. The point is to connect Zurich with the Appenzell region in one day, and that requires time on the road. If you prefer slow village visits with plenty of independent time, you may find the schedule tight. If you want to see more of northeastern Switzerland without arranging trains and local connections yourself, the bus is convenient.

Because lunch is not included, plan ahead. The schedule includes a chocolate visit and a cheese visit, but neither replaces a proper meal. You may find food in Appenzell during the free-time stop, though the activity details do not promise a particular restaurant or lunch arrangement.

Sweet treats at Maestrani’s Chocolarium

Maestrani’s Chocolarium is scheduled for 75 minutes. The visit focuses on the world of Swiss chocolate, with an introduction to how chocolate is made, opportunities to taste chocolate, and time for shopping.

This is likely to be the most playful stop of the day. The attraction gives you more than a quick sample at a shop. You can learn about chocolate production and try different chocolate treats, making the visit appealing to families and anyone who wants a distinctly Swiss food experience.

The 75-minute allowance is a sensible middle ground. You should have time to see the attraction and browse without spending half the day there. Still, you’ll need to watch the clock. The visit includes sightseeing and shopping, so a long stop at the store could leave you rushing back to the bus.

The chocolate stop also helps break up the drive. After sitting on the bus from Zurich, you get a chance to walk around, taste something, and change pace before continuing to the cheese factory.

Appenzeller Schaukäserei and the limits of the cheese visit

The next bus ride takes about 30 minutes, followed by 45 minutes at the Appenzeller Schaukäserei. This is the cheese portion of the trip, centered on Appenzeller cheese, one of Switzerland’s best-known regional specialties.

You’ll see how the traditional cheese is presented and have the chance to taste different varieties. For a first introduction, that is worthwhile. Cheese tasting also gives the countryside section a local flavor instead of making it only a scenic drive.

One point deserves clear emphasis: cheese production is not included during this visit. The stop is described as a photo and visit experience, not a live demonstration of workers making cheese in front of you. If you expect to watch the full production process, adjust that expectation before booking.

Forty-five minutes is enough for a focused visit and tasting. It is not enough for a leisurely meal, a detailed factory tour, and a long shop visit. The schedule favors variety, letting you sample several Swiss specialties in one day rather than spending hours at one attraction.

One hour among Appenzell’s painted houses

After another 15-minute ride, the bus reaches Appenzell for one hour of free time. This is the most atmospheric stop of the trip.

Appenzell is known for cobbled streets, brightly painted buildings, decorative frescoes, small cafés, and traditional Swiss character. You can walk through the central area, take photographs, and pause for a drink or Swiss food if something is open.

The Landsgemeindeplatz is one of the village’s notable places. It hosts the annual open-air assembly, a public gathering tied to the canton’s political tradition. Even if you visit outside the assembly, the square gives you a useful sense of Appenzell’s civic life.

The surrounding Appenzell Alps provide the setting for the village, with hiking trails and scenic views in the wider area. This tour does not include a hike, however. One hour is for a village visit, not a walk into the hills.

Sunday visitors should take special note: shops in Appenzell are closed on Sundays. You can still photograph the streets, buildings, and square, but shopping options will be limited. The quieter day may suit you if pictures and a calm walk matter more than browsing stores.

The one-hour limit is both helpful and restrictive. It prevents the schedule from becoming even longer, but it leaves little room for a long café stop and extended wandering. I would decide in advance whether your priority is photos, food, shopping, or simply seeing the village, then use the time accordingly.

What the transport and guide setup really means

The tour uses an air-conditioned bus and returns to Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai. That removes the need to arrange several separate rail and regional bus journeys to the Appenzell canton.

The itinerary includes four major transport stretches: about 80 minutes to the Chocolarium, 30 minutes to the cheese factory, 15 minutes to Appenzell, and 75 minutes back to Zurich. The actual Zurich sightseeing ride adds more time on the bus.

For some people, this is the tour’s greatest strength. You can sit back and let the operator handle the route between places that are spread across northeastern Switzerland. For others, the bus time will feel heavy, especially on the return journey.

The activity is conducted in English. The driver is described as an English-speaking driver guide, while the listed inclusions also say that a guide is not included. Read that as a practical warning: this is not a personal, fully guided experience at every stop.

One rating praised the tour guide, showing that the quality of the person handling the day can make a real difference. At the same time, another rating described the excursion as confusing and said there was not much information. The safest approach is to ask the driver at the start where you should rejoin the bus at each stop, how much free time you have, and what to do if you finish early.

Is $123 a fair price?

At $123 per person, the value depends on how much you want handled for you. The price covers the air-conditioned bus, the Zurich open-top sightseeing section, admission to Maestrani’s Chocolarium, admission to the Appenzeller Schaukäserei, and free time in Appenzell.

It does not include lunch or a separate guide. You will also need to pay for any food, drinks, or purchases during the day.

I see the price as reasonable for someone who wants a packaged day trip with several admissions and long-distance transport included. Recreating the route on your own would require planning connections between Zurich, the chocolate attraction, the cheese factory, and Appenzell. The convenience has real value.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want a detailed Zurich tour or a serious cheese-making demonstration. The Zurich sights are viewed from the bus, and cheese production is not part of the stop. You are paying for range and convenience, not depth at every location.

Who will get the most from this day

I would recommend this tour to someone who has one free day and wants a broad taste of Switzerland beyond central Zurich. It suits people who like food stops, short village visits, and organized transport.

Families may appreciate the chocolate attraction and the simple mix of activities. Couples and photographers may enjoy Appenzell’s painted façades and cobbled streets. First-time visitors can use the day to see several types of Swiss scenery without managing the route themselves.

I would be more cautious if you use a wheelchair, since the activity is specifically listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users. I would also think twice if you dislike long bus rides, need a highly detailed guide, or want generous time at each stop.

The uneven 3.5 out of 5 rating matters. One person had a very positive experience with the guide, while other feedback raised serious concerns about boarding instructions, missed portions of the outing, and the limited amount of explanation. Those issues do not make the trip impossible, but they make preparation important.

Practical choices that will improve your day

Arrive early at Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai. Look for the Swisstours bus, confirm the destination with the driver, and do not assume every bus at the station serves this tour.

Bring a small snack and plan for lunch. Food is not included, and the timetable is built around visits rather than a dedicated meal stop.

Wear comfortable shoes for Appenzell. The village portion is short, but you’ll want to walk the cobbled streets rather than view them only from the bus.

If you visit on Sunday, bring your camera and lower your shopping expectations. The village shops are closed, but the architecture and streets remain worth seeing.

Keep track of the departure time at every stop. The excursion has a fixed route and must continue to the next attraction and back to Zurich.

Should you book this Zurich and Appenzell tour?

Book it if you want one organized day combining Zurich, chocolate, cheese, and Appenzell and you are comfortable with several hours of bus travel. The route gives you a useful taste of northeastern Switzerland at a price that includes transport and the two main attractions.

Skip it if you want a deeply guided cultural tour, a working cheese production demonstration, or plenty of time in one place. The tour works best as a sampler: broad, convenient, and food-focused, but not slow or highly personal.

The smartest booking choice is to select a day when Appenzell’s shops are open, arrive early at the Zurich meeting point, and treat the driver as your main source of timing and practical instructions.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai. Look for the Swisstours bus or ask at the company office before going directly to the driver.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai.

How long does the activity last?

The full activity lasts nine hours. Check availability for the specific starting time.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. English is the listed language, and the driver is described as English-speaking.

Is a guide included?

A driver guide is included, but a separate guide is not included. Expect a driver-led excursion rather than a fully guided tour at every stop.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so you should plan to purchase food during the day.

What happens at Maestrani’s Chocolarium?

You’ll visit the chocolate attraction, learn about chocolate making, taste chocolate, and have time for sightseeing and shopping. The scheduled visit lasts 75 minutes.

Is cheese made during the Appenzeller Schaukäserei visit?

No. The visit includes an introduction to traditional Appenzeller cheese and tastings, but cheese production is not included.

How much free time is provided in Appenzell?

You have one hour of free time in Appenzell for photographs, walking, cafés, and independent sightseeing.

Are Appenzell’s shops open on Sunday?

No. The shops in Appenzell are closed on Sunday, though you can still walk through the village and take photographs.