The Eiger summit © Grindelwald Tourismus

It’s not always easy to make sense of where you are in Grindelwald. The village is tiered above the valley floor on a series of long terraces. Trains to and from Interlaken Ost and Kleine Scheidegg arrive at the station, at the western end of the centre, with most facilities strung east from here along the 1km-long main street. The Männlichen gondola arrives at Grindelwald-Grund station (also a stop for the Kleine Scheidegg trains), way down on the valley floor – it’s a stiff hike (or a shuttle-bus ride) up to the village. At the eastern edge of the village, a cable-car rises north to First (2168m); while a little further east, another rises south to Pfingstegg. The road into Grindelwald from Interlaken continues east through the village, but a few kilometres on (at a car park near the Oberergletscher) private cars must turn back, although a handful of postbuses go on to cross the Grosse Scheidegg pass to Meiringen.

Grindelwald’s friendly tourist office (July & Aug Mon–Fri 8am–7pm, Sat 8am–5pm, Sun 9–11am & 3–5pm; Sept–June Mon–Fri 8am–noon & 2–6pm, Sat 8am–noon & 2–5pm; 033/854 12 12, www.grindelwald.ch) is 200m east of the station, with reams of information on hiking, skiing and practicalities for the whole region. It sits alongside the Oberland’s main Bergsteigerzentrum (Mountaineering Centre; 033/853 52 00), which offers easy guided ascents (Fr.75 to the 2928-metre Schwarzhorn), canyon jumps (Fr.95), the much-touted “Kiss the Glacier” abseil adventure (Fr.180), and more. Contact Tandem Flights (033/853 55 53) for accompanied paragliding – no experience necessary – off the First (Fr.140), Lauberhorn or Männlichen (Fr.170). You can surf or check email at the Compeg copyshop, close to the First cable-car station.

InterRailers pay half-price on the Männlichen cable-car, and full price to First, Pfingstegg and Jungfraujoch. Eurailers pay 75 percent to Männlichen, First and Jungfraujoch, and full price to Pfingstegg. Swiss Pass holders get a 25 percent discount on all four routes. If you’re in Grindelwald for a few days, check out the Erlebnispass (Adventure Pass; Fr.70 for 3 days or Fr.128 for 7 days) – this covers free transport on the local cable-cars and buses, free entry to the glacier sites and discounts on adventure activities.