Stäfa is a flourishing community with a diversified economy. Much of the commune's territory is dedicated to agriculture, and vines dominate the landscape on the slopes that drop down to the lake. Stäfa can look back on a long tradition of growing wine, and it is in fact the largest wine-growing commune in the Canton of Zurich. The protected Sternenhalde and Lattenberg vineyards are reputed to be the loveliest on Lake Zurich. Thanks to their sunlit position with the lake to store heat, and the frequent Föhn wind conditions, conditions here are ideal for producing Riesling/Sylvaner, Räuschling and Clevner wines. The educational vineyard trail from Stäfa to Uerikon will inform you about the vineyards and the wine-growers’ work.

Stäfa is a typical example of a village beside Lake Zurich. The commune also includes the localities of Uerikon and Kehlhof. Remains of a former settlement in Uerikon prove that this section of the shore was already populated in the Neolithic period. In the late 18th century, as the Canton's most important rural commune in terms of economy as well as population, Stäfa played a key part in the struggle of the inhabitants of the Zurich countryside against the political and economic supremacy of the city (as the Stäfa Memorial attests).

Many historic buildings have been preserved. On the lake shore at Uerikon, you will find the Uerikon Knights’ House with its chapel, built as a manor house between 1492 and 1531. Nowadays, this impressive half-timbered building in town-house style is used as a meeting centre and to accommodate groups. In Dorf, as the old Allemanic settlement centre of Stäfa is known, you will find the «Haus zur Farb» (Dyers’ House) whose core structure dates from 1460. This building was used as a dyeworks, village court, textile printing works and fullery (fulling machines are used in cloth production); nowadays it houses the local history museum. The Goethe Bench recalls the writer's visit in 1797, along with a commemorative plaque near the Alte Krone Inn, which has been splendidly restored as a secular and religious community centre.

The stained glass windows designed by the artist Dan Rubinstein in the Roman Catholic Church of St. Verena portray the main scenes from the first two books of the Old Testament in glowing colours. The significance of this cycle of 13 windows extends well beyond the local region; they are best admired from inside the church during daylight hours.

A variety of hiking routes take you through the vineyards and past the impressive winegrowers' houses. The best-known is the Panorama Trail covering 27 km between Rehalp Zurich and Feldbach: it passes along the flank of the Pfannenstiel mountain, affording superb views of Lake Zurich with its islands and the snow-clad Alps. The gorges that have to be crossed, with their varied plant and animal species, also exude a special charm. Many viewpoints invite you to linger awhile: Stäfa's best-known vantage points include Risi with its barbecue facilities and benches to rest your legs. There is a small nature protection zone with abundant bird life near the Stigelenweiher pond.