Zurich Open-top Tour and Chocolate and Cheese Countryside

Zurich gives way to quiet country roads, chocolate tasting, Appenzeller cheese, and a short walk through one of northeastern Switzerland’s prettiest villages. The real appeal is the mix of city sightseeing and rural food stops in one long day.

I like the chance to visit the Chocolarium and Appenzeller Schaukäserei without arranging separate transport. I also like the hour of free time in Appenzell, where frescoed buildings and cobbled streets make even a brief visit worthwhile.

The main caution is simple: this is not a guide-led tour at every stop. The English-speaking driver handles the transport, but you explore the attractions on your own, and unclear instructions could be frustrating if you expect a traditional guided excursion.

Key points to know before booking

• Zurich from an open-top bus: See the Swiss National Museum, Rietberg Museum, Lake Zurich, parks, museums, and historic squares from the coach.
• Two food-focused stops: Maestrani’s Chocolarium covers chocolate making and tasting, while the Appenzeller Schaukäserei focuses on the region’s famous cheese.
• Appenzell in one hour: Use the free time for photographs, cobbled lanes, painted facades, and the Landsgemeindeplatz.
• Long but varied day: The tour lasts nine hours, with several road journeys between Zurich and the Appenzell region.
• English-speaking driver, limited guiding: You should be comfortable following the schedule independently once you leave the bus.
• Sunday limitation: Shops in Appenzell are closed on Sundays, though the village remains worth seeing and photographing.

Zurich sightseeing begins at Sihlquai

The day starts 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 is an important moment to get right, since the bus station can feel busy and the meeting instructions are not as detailed as they could be.

The Zurich portion is done from an open-top sightseeing bus. You do not get a long walking tour through each neighborhood. Instead, you see the city while riding past its principal sights, with the bus providing a useful first look at Zurich’s layout.

The route includes the Swiss National Museum, Rietberg Museum, Lake Zurich, parks, museums, and historic squares. The museum stops listed in the schedule are bus-tour sights, not separate museum visits, so you should not expect admission time inside either museum.

This approach works well if you want an overview before spending the afternoon outside the city. You can see how Zurich shifts from central streets and public spaces toward the water and surrounding districts. If your main goal is detailed architecture, museum interiors, or long walks in the old town, you will need extra time in Zurich before or after this excursion.

The open-top format is best on a clear day. You get a better view from the upper deck, but weather can make that seat less appealing. The tour does not promise a long stop for independent sightseeing in Zurich, so treat this part as a moving introduction rather than a complete city tour.

The 80-minute ride to Maestrani’s Chocolarium

After the Zurich sightseeing section, the coach travels for about 80 minutes to Maestrani’s Chocolarium. This is the longest uninterrupted ride listed in the day, and it helps explain why the tour feels like a full excursion rather than a quick tasting trip.

The Chocolarium is designed around the story of Swiss chocolate. You can learn about how chocolate is made, see displays related to the production process, and taste different chocolate treats. There is also time for shopping, which makes this a practical place to pick up edible gifts.

The scheduled visit lasts about 75 minutes. That is enough for a focused visit and tasting, but not an entire afternoon. I would approach it as a guided attraction visit with time to browse, not as a hands-on chocolate-making class. The supplied details do not promise a workshop or a private demonstration.

This stop gives the day a clear food theme. You are not simply looking at countryside from a bus window. You get a chance to sample the product and learn why Swiss chocolate has such a strong place in the country’s tourist culture.

Still, keep your expectations in check. The admission is included, but lunch is not, and the Chocolarium visit does not replace a meal. Bring some flexibility for food during the day, since the schedule moves on after the chocolate stop.

Appenzeller Schaukäserei and the taste of local cheese

A 30-minute coach ride brings you to the Appenzeller Schaukäserei, the cheese factory associated with Appenzeller cheese. The visit lasts about 45 minutes and includes time to see the site and taste different varieties.

Appenzeller cheese is one of the region’s signature foods, known for its strong character and traditional production. The attraction gives you a direct connection to that food culture, which is more satisfying than simply seeing cheese listed on a restaurant menu.

One detail matters here: the experience does not include an active cheese-production demonstration. You visit the cheese factory, learn about traditional Appenzeller cheese, and taste the product, but you should not expect to watch the full manufacturing process from start to finish.

The short visit suits people who want a regional introduction without committing half a day to a specialist food attraction. It may feel too brief if you are passionate about cheese or want a more technical explanation of aging, ingredients, and production methods.

You then have about 15 minutes on the bus before reaching Appenzell. Since the cheese stop and the village are close together, the schedule shifts quickly from indoor food tasting to outdoor sightseeing.

One hour in the painted village of Appenzell

Appenzell is the most atmospheric stop of the day. You get about an hour of free time to walk through cobbled streets, photograph colorful buildings decorated with frescoes, and look around the village at your own pace.

The village is known for its traditional appearance and the Landsgemeindeplatz, the open-air square used for the annual assembly. That civic tradition gives the center more meaning than a simple photo stop. You can take in the square, stroll through the lanes, and pause at a cafe if time allows.

The surrounding Appenzell Alps provide the wider setting, with walking routes and mountain views mentioned as part of the region. This excursion does not give you time for a serious hike, however. The one-hour stop is for a compact village visit, not a mountain outing.

I like this final destination because it gives the day a sense of place. Chocolate and cheese are enjoyable, but Appenzell shows you the local culture that produced them. The painted facades, traditional streets, and nearby hills create a different mood from Zurich’s urban sights.

Sunday planning matters. Shops in Appenzell are closed on Sundays, so do not choose this day expecting a full shopping visit. You can still photograph the buildings, walk the streets, see the central square, and enjoy the village setting. If shopping is important to you, choose another day.

The free time is not guided, so note where you need to return and when. A traveler previously missed part of the program after being unsure where to get off, which is a useful warning. Before leaving the bus, confirm the meeting point, departure time, and whether you should return to the same place.

What the nine-hour schedule really feels like

The published duration is nine hours, starting and ending at Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai. Much of the day is spent on the coach, including approximately 80 minutes to the Chocolarium, 30 minutes to the cheese factory, 15 minutes to Appenzell, and 75 minutes back to Zurich.

That road time is not wasted if you enjoy watching the scenery change. The tour moves from a major Swiss city into the countryside of the Appenzell canton, giving you a broad sense of northeastern Switzerland. But you should not book it if you dislike long bus journeys or prefer a slow day with only one destination.

The schedule is tight at the attractions. The 75-minute chocolate visit, 45-minute cheese visit, and one-hour village visit leave little room for delays. You will need to keep an eye on the clock, especially in Appenzell, where the free time may tempt you to wander farther than planned.

The air-conditioned bus is useful on a long day. It provides a fixed base between stops and removes the need to organize several train connections. In return, you give up some flexibility. You cannot decide to stay longer in Appenzell or add a museum visit in Zurich.

Guided tour or independent sightseeing?

The tour description includes a driver guide and says the driver speaks English. It also says a guide is not included. Taken together, this means you should expect transport, basic assistance, and the planned sightseeing route, but not a dedicated English-speaking guide walking with you at every attraction.

That distinction is important. One person praised the tour guide, so the quality of the driver’s help can make a real difference. Another person had a poor experience after being unsure where to find the bus and how to get off. I would treat the organization as a key part of the decision.

At the start, arrive with the bus name and departure point clearly in mind. At every stop, ask the driver to repeat the return time and exact boarding location. This takes less than a minute and can prevent a major problem.

The experience suits independent-minded visitors who enjoy looking around on their own. It is less suitable if you want a historian explaining Zurich’s buildings, a food expert leading every tasting, or someone escorting you through each attraction.

Is $123 a fair price?

At $123 per person, the value depends on how much you want to combine in one day. The price includes the air-conditioned coach, the Zurich open-top sightseeing bus, entry to Maestrani’s Chocolarium, entry to the Appenzeller Schaukäserei, and free time in Appenzell.

You are paying for convenience as much as admission. Arranging Zurich sightseeing, the chocolate attraction, the cheese factory, and Appenzell independently would take planning and separate transport. The organized route makes the day possible without renting a car or working out several connections.

Lunch is not included, and the tour does not promise a full guide service. You should factor in the cost of food and decide how much value you place on independent time. If you mainly want a deep look at Zurich, the price may feel high because the city segment is viewed from the bus rather than explored on foot.

For a first visit to the area, I think the price can make sense if you specifically want both tastings and the Appenzell countryside. The package is less attractive if you only want chocolate, only want cheese, or prefer to spend a full day in one place.

Who will enjoy this day most?

I would recommend this excursion to someone with limited time who wants a broad sample of Switzerland beyond Zurich. Families and casual sightseers may appreciate the clear variety: city views, sweets, cheese, countryside, and a photogenic village.

It also suits people who prefer an arranged day over independent rail planning. The bus handles the longer transfers, and the included attractions give the trip a clear shape.

You may want another option if you use a wheelchair, since the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. You should also think twice if you need extensive personal guidance, dislike fixed schedules, or want a substantial hike in the Appenzell Alps.

The tour is most rewarding when you see it as an introduction. It gives you a taste of several parts of northeastern Switzerland, but it cannot provide a detailed visit to each one in nine hours.

Practical advice for a smoother day

• Arrive at Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai with enough time to find the Swisstours bus or office.
• Confirm the boarding point and return time at every stop.
• Bring a plan for lunch, since it is not included.
• Pack for changing conditions if you hope to sit on the open top of the bus.
• Keep your Appenzell walk compact. The village is easy to enjoy, but the one-hour limit arrives quickly.
• Do not plan Appenzell shopping on Sunday, when the shops are closed.
• Use the chocolate stop for tasting and shopping, but remember that it is not a meal.
• Ask questions if the instructions are unclear. The driver is English-speaking, but this is not a fully escorted tour.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Zurich plans may change, but they do not alter the fixed schedule or the need to check the meeting point carefully.

Should you book this Zurich and Appenzell tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, full-day sampler that links Zurich with Swiss chocolate, Appenzeller cheese, and a traditional countryside village. The combination is the strongest reason to choose it, and the Appenzell stop adds a pleasant local touch beyond the usual Zurich circuit.

Skip it if you want a detailed guided tour, long walking time, or a relaxed meal-centered day. The 3.5 rating from 11 reviews reflects a mixed experience, and the main risk is not the attractions themselves but unclear coordination at the bus and stops.

My advice is to book with realistic expectations. You are buying transportation and a well-packed route, not a private guide. If you confirm each departure detail and enjoy exploring independently, the $123 price can be reasonable for a day that covers a lot of ground.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and ends at Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai. Look for the Swisstours bus or go to the company office and speak with the driver.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts nine hours. Check availability for the exact starting time.

Is the tour guided in English?

The driver speaks English. The activity includes a driver guide, but a separate guide is not included, so you should expect to explore the attractions independently.

What food attractions are included?

Admission to Maestrani’s Chocolarium and the Appenzeller Schaukäserei is included. The Chocolarium includes chocolate tasting, and the cheese stop includes tasting different Appenzeller varieties.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the price.

Are Appenzell shops open on Sunday?

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