From Zurich: Chocolate, cheese & countryside small group tour
Description
Get ready for an unforgettable gastronomic adventure in Switzerland by visiting the Chocolatorium and the Appenzeller Schaukäserei! Immerse yourself in the delicious world of Swiss chocolate at the Chocolarium, where you will discover the secrets of chocolate making and have the opportunity to taste a variety of delights. Then, head to the Appenzeller Schaukäserei for an authentic cheese experience. Explore the traditional production of Appenzeller cheese. ( no production) This unique excursion promises a day that will stimulate your five senses. Discover with us a charming swiss typical village. Explore cobblestone streets, colorful buildings adorned with frescoes, and cozy cafes. Experience Swiss charm and hospitality. Please note the shops are close on sunday in the city but you can take beautiful picture.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your driver guide at the bus station, ride through the swiss countryside for 1h20 to reach the famous chocolarium
Embark on a delightful excursion to the Chocolarium – the "Factory of Happiness" by Munz and Minor, located on Toggenburgerstrasse in Flawil, Switzerland. Immerse yourself in a world of chocolate bliss as you step into this enchanting factory. Discover the secrets behind the creation of Switzerland's finest chocolates through interactive exhibits, guided tours, and hands-on experiences. Learn about the history of chocolate making, from bean to bar, and witness the craftsmanship that goes into each delectable treat. Indulge your senses with chocolate tastings, where you can savor the rich flavors and textures of premium Swiss chocolate. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the Chocolarium and uncover the magic behind one of Switzerland's most beloved culinary treasures. Join us for an unforgettable journey of chocolate discovery and sweet sensations at the Chocolarium in Flawil.
After a 30 minutes drive, Embark on a flavorful adventure to the Appenzeller Schaukäserei, a cheese dairy in the heart of Appenzell, Switzerland. Immerse yourself in the centuries-old tradition of cheese-making as you witness skilled artisans crafting the renowned Appenzeller cheese. Experience the sights, sounds, and aromas of the cheese-making process up close, from the milk vats to the aging cellars. Learn about the unique techniques and natural ingredients that give Appenzeller cheese its distinctive taste and character. Indulge in samplings of this flavorful cheese at various stages of maturity, and discover the nuances of its complex flavor profile. With picturesque views of the Swiss countryside as your backdrop, the Appenzeller Schaukäserei offers a truly immersive and delicious experience for cheese lovers of all ages. Don't miss the opportunity to visit this iconic cheese dairy and taste the essence of Appenzell's culinary heritage firsthand.
You will visit a swiss village with typical painting and charm of swiss architecture Following the visit to the cheese factory in Appenzell, we will a swiss charming and authentic Swiss village. There, you will have a stop lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to take photos and walk around the streets.
Ride back to Zuicj after this journey full of taste
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Zurich Central Bus Station Sihlquai Ausstellungsstrasse 5, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note the shops are close on sunday in the city of Appenzell but you can take beautiful picture.
Reviews(30)
The description said we would go to St Gallen. When booking the tour I messaged the operator to see if entry to the cathedral was included and based on the response I purchased tickets for the cathedral. However, the tour did not go to St Gallen at all. This was my primary reason for booking the tour so I was very disappointed. The driver was very nice.
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the tour did not meet your expectations. However, we would like to clarify that our tour description does not state that the itinerary includes St. Gallen. We encourage you to review the published itinerary on the booking page, as it accurately reflects the destinations visited during the tour. If you received information suggesting that St. Gallen was included, we kindly recommend contacting Viator directly to review the messages exchanged at the time of booking, as they can verify the communication and assist you further. We appreciate your kind words about our driver and will be sure to pass them along.
Perfect for a rainy day, we took a very clean , new bus with 3 other couples to the cheese factory, Appenzell and Chocolarium. The driver got us where we needed to go safely and handled all the tickets for the tours. Would have preferred to had more time in the town to explore and maybe catch a bite to eat. I would recommend if you take this tour to rush through the cheese factory to the gift shop to get a charcuterie board and beverage, otherwise you will be hungry. Make sure you do try the brewery in the town as the beers are most excellent. Chocolate factory was neat to tour, make sure you bring home some for later, my friends are still remarking on how good it was. Tour bus driver just drives the bus, no conversation or commentary. No big deal, but just a heads up if you are looking for history or backround, you will get it all from the factory tours.
Dear Mary, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback. We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the comfort of the bus, the organization of the day, and the visits to the cheese and chocolate experiences as well as Appenzell. It’s also great to know you appreciated the overall ease of travel and the smooth handling of tickets throughout the day. We also take note of your comment regarding the time available in the villages. Your feedback is very valuable and helps us continuously improve the balance between guided visits and free time. Thank you again for your recommendation and for choosing Keytours. We hope to welcome you again on another excursion in Switzerland. Best regards, The Keytours Team
This is a delightful half day tour to see a chocolate factory, a cheese factory and the beautiful town of Appenzell. Our tour guide Thanatos was the best. He was so knowledgeable and fun.
Hi Martha, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed this half-day tour and the visits to the chocolate factory, cheese factory, and the beautiful town of Appenzell. It’s wonderful to know that you had such a great experience with our guide Thanatos, and that his knowledge and fun approach made the day even more enjoyable. Your kind words mean a lot to us at Keytours Switzerland, and we hope to welcome you again on another excursion soon!
Some photos supplied by the tour provider were not reflected in the actual tour. I showed the bus driver the photos and he mentioned that the beautiful scenery that I expected was not in the same area. I also did not get to see some others in photos as I was told it's due to the season, but there was no note about it. On the other hand, there was a note in the itinerary about adjustment would be made, but it did not happen. I was dropped off at where all shops were closed, quite dark due to earlier sunset and nothing much to see that I just sat down, wanted to leave the place earlier. The bus condition and the drive were alright, but the tour itself, i.e., what I saw overall was kind of disappointing compared to what I expected based on the tour provider photos. About the taste of chocolates and cheese, they're so so to me which could be subjective based on individual taste - the cheese place was also quite small, but I was more disappointed as I did not get to see the beautiful scenery and others which I thought would be the surrounding of the visited places. Some of those provider photos were truly misleading.
Dear Guest, Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear that the tour did not fully meet your expectations. We would like to clarify that this tour is mainly focused on the chocolate factory, the village of Appenzell, and the Appenzell cheese dairy. While the region can be very scenic, the tour is not designed as a panoramic sightseeing tour, and some views shown in promotional photos may be from nearby areas rather than the exact locations visited. Seasonal factors and daylight hours can also affect what can be seen, as mentioned in the itinerary. We appreciate your comments and will take them into account to better clarify the tour description for future guests. Thank you for also noting the good condition of the bus and the driver. Kind regards
This was a good experience - Learning about the country side and the Happy Cows was amazing. The chocolate factory was lots of fun (more for the kids) but great to taste some true Swiss Chocolate. The cheese factory was very busy and it made it hard to see everything Still a great experience learning about the "Happy cows" and the cheese is excellent. Funky, unique and tasty. We brought a lot home to Canada, would recommend a small cooler or the ability to ship it from the store as our fondue cheese didn't travel as well as hoped.
Dear guest, Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re glad you enjoyed learning about the countryside and the “Happy Cows,” and that the chocolate factory was a fun stop. We appreciate your feedback about the cheese factory—it can get busy, but it’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed the delicious, unique flavors. kind regards
Couldn't have been more disappointed in Keytours Switzerland. Received an email from them a week before we left, then received an email from Viator the morning of the tour with two different times. Their operation at the Zurich bus station was confusing and lacked direction. Several couples did not know which bus to get on and no explanations were supplied. Our tours in Germany and Rome were great, but not with this company.
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear you experienced confusion at the departure point. We do our best to make directions as clear as possible in both the confirmation email and the tour voucher. The bus is marked with the name of the tour, and our team is present at the meeting point to assist guests. Please note that the parking area at the Zurich bus station is quite small, which can make it feel busy when multiple tours are departing. However, this also means buses are parked close together and are easy to locate.
Everything was excellent and on time. Highly recommend. There was a challenging couple on the bus that were angry about someone taking “their” seats and the driver handled with diplomacy.
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback, Charla! We're delighted to hear everything ran smoothly and on time. We also truly appreciate you highlighting the professionalism of our driver—handling unexpected situations with calm and diplomacy is something we take great pride in. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to see you on another tour soon with keytours
The driver needs an instructor that can inform tourists about the culture, history and customs. I believe a person cannot do all the job
Thank you for your feedback, and for joining us on your recent tour. We’d like to clarify that this experience is sold as a tour with a driver-guide, which means the same person is responsible for both safely driving and providing key information, guidance, and assistance throughout the day. This format is very common in Switzerland, especially for small-group or semi-guided tours, and it allows for a more flexible and personalized experience. While we understand your preference for a separate guide dedicated solely to narration, many of our guests appreciate the balance our driver-guides provide—offering cultural and historical context while also managing logistics to ensure a smooth journey. That said, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the experience, and your comments are valuable in helping us do that. Thank you again for traveling with Keytours, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another adventure in the future.
The chocolate factory and and cheese factory were interactive and lots of tasting options. What I enjoyed the most was it was self guided and you went at your own pace. The tour guide gave you a time to be back at the bus. You had to manage your time wisely. Other than that great value for the price. I'll definitely book again
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that you enjoyed the interactive experiences at the chocolate and cheese factories, as well as the flexibility of the self-guided aspect. Thank you for good value.We look forward to having you join us on another adventure soon! 🍫🧀😊
The Chocolarium and Appenzeller were good but because of the time of day nothing was open in Appenzell so that was disappointing.
Dear Customer, Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the Chocolarium and Appenzeller. However, we understand your disappointment regarding the closure of restaurants and shops in Appenzell. Unfortunately, as in many places in Switzerland, many establishments are closed on Sundays. We appreciate your understanding and hope to welcome you back soon for a more fulfilling experience. Best regards Audrey
