Appenzell Day Trip with Dairy Farm Visit & Mountain Cable Car from Zurich

Your tour begins at Zurich Sihlquai Bus Station (Coach Terminal)

Meet your driver-guide by Zurich HB at the Sihlquai Coach Terminal and check in at least 15 minutes early. Grab a window seat and get ready to shift from city pace to countryside calm as the minibus rolls out.

Cruise along Lake Zurich via Rapperswil small village

Leave Zurich with lakeside views glinting beside the road as you follow the edge of Lake Zürich toward Rapperswil. Once in Rapperswil, notice the medieval castle that sits above the town, and watch the scenery begin to change into orchards, farms, and open fields.

Visit a Swiss dairy farm and taste fresh milk

Make a stop at a working dairy farm to see cows graze on bright picturesque meadows. Taste a glass of fresh milk and learn about milk and dairy quality based on pasture, season, and flavor.

Tour the Appenzeller show dairy and try a taste

Next, head to the Appenzeller show dairy to see how local milk becomes famous Swiss cheese . Walk through spaces where tradition meets precision, then stand before a cellar that holds up to 12,500 wheels of cheese. Finally, sample Appenzeller’s herb-forward cheese. Enjoy its savory depth, compare notes with the group, and have fun guessing what gives it its distinct flavor.

Ride the Hoher Kasten cable car for panoramic Alpstein views

After the dairy, trade rolling hills for high altitude as you ride the cable car up to Hoher Kasten at 5,886 ft. At the top, the view opens into a full 360-degree sweep over the Alpstein massif, the Rhine Valley, and Lake Constance, with borders of nearby countries in the distance.