Things to do in Eastern Switzerland

Visit the incredible alpine world of Heidi on this bus day trip from Zurich. Take a walk in the Old Town in Rapperswil, have free time in the capital of Liechtenstein, and explore Heidi’s village of Maienfeld and in the summer months.   Enjoy pickup from an area next to the centrally-located Zurich HB train station. Board spacious coach and relax while taking in the views on the way to Rapperswil. Follow your guide to the picturesque Old Town and its Medieval Castle, before having some free time explore.  Continue on your journey through Ricken Pass with its panoramic views of the snow-peaked Alps. Reach the pretty hills and valley scenery of the Toggenburg region. Arrive in Vaduz, the capital of the tiny principality of Liechtenstein.  Spend some free time visiting the iconic post office to purchase some prized stamps or stop at a café to buy some coffee and snack. Travel on to Maienfeld, the setting for the Heidi stories.  Head up to Heidi’s village in the summer months (Mid March till Mid November) on a short walk that leads to a collection of picturesque mountain houses, a village shop, and a heard of goats. In the winter months, head to see the oldest houses of Switzerland in Werdenberg, which is famous for its beautiful castle. Finally, make the bus trip back to Zurich along the banks of Lake Walen, which is guarded by the majestic Churfirsten mountain range. 

As you travel towards the Rhine Falls in northern Switzerland on this coach trip, you’ll pass through the charming farming village of Marthalen, with its traditional frame houses. You’ll also see the 16th-century Munot Fortress and the area’s renowned vineyards. The highlight of the trip will undoubtedly be the sight of the Rhine Falls. This natural feature is located on the Upper Rhine River and has been around since the Ice Age. During the summer you can take an optional boat ride to the middle of the falls, at the heart of the cascading waters, and enjoy the magnificent spectacle from the viewing platforms. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely hour on the banks of the river. The return journey takes you over the border to southern Germany for a short stretch. Back in Zurich, you’ll be dropped off in the city center. A multi-lingual guide leads the excursion. The tour is a great way to start or end your vacation.

Small but mighty! The miniature world at the Rhine Falls! Adults and children will find mountains up to 6 meters high, castles and palaces, rivers and fields in the impressive miniature world of Smilestones on more than 250 square meters of layout area. Around 23,000 miniature people live in their miniature wonderland with 12,000 little trees, over 100 trains in H0 gauge and many self-driving cars. Embedded in Swiss destinations such as the Alpstein region, the Bernese Oberland or the Rhine Falls, there is much to marvel at and smile about. The modeled landscape resembles a three-dimensional hidden object picture, full of many small scenes with funny details. Over 50 action buttons liven up the miniature world even more. Directly above the Rhine Falls, indoor, air-conditioned and open all year round.

Experience Appenzell in a small group on this fantastic excursion. Explore the idyllic region, which still maintains the old traditions, and discover the world of mountains, cheese, and chocolate. Set out on a scenic drive along beautiful Lake Zürich via the City of Rapperswil with its medieval castle to the gently rolling hills of the Appenzellerland with photo stops en route. Discover a typically Swiss farm and taste a glass of fresh cow milk before heading to the Appenzeller show dairy in Stein AR. Find out how natural Swiss milk and herbs are turned into Switzerland's tangiest cheese and marvel at the imposing cellar storing up to 12,500 wheels of cheese. Try to guess the top secret ingredients of the world-famous Appenzeller cheese during a cheese tasting. Go to Brülisau and take the cable car to the Hoher Kasten mountain, where you can admire the panoramic views from a height of 1,800 meters. Visit the impressive revolving restaurant, and enjoy the fantastic panoramic views of the hilly, green Appenzell region, the Rhine Valley, and Vorarlberg. Next, head to a boutique chocolate manufacture and follow the Maître Chocolatier's explanation of the artisan craft of chocolate making before indulging your senses during a chocolate tasting. Back in Appenzell, your tour guide will take you on a short walking tour, showing you the town's beautiful streets, squares, and decoratively painted wooden houses. Discover a traditional bakery and learn more about Appenzeller Biberli (Swiss gingerbread). You then have some time to explore the town on your own and purchase traditional souvenirs.