Grindelwald

Gondola to 2,166 metres, from CHF 38 return. At the top the First Cliff Walk runs a steel walkway out 45 metres over the drop, takes about twenty minutes and is included with the ticket.

Under an hour's walk from First station on a broad, easy path to a lake that mirrors the Schreckhorn and the Wetterhorn. Allow about an hour and fifty minutes there and back.

Forty-five minutes from Grindelwald Terminal: Eiger Express to Eigergletscher, then the Jungfrau Railway through the inside of the Eiger to 3,454 metres. From CHF 129.60 return with a CHF 10 seat reservation. Look at the webcams before you buy the ticket.

A zip line at 84 km/h and a harnessed glider at 83 km/h, both running between First and Schreckfeld and both open in winter. Ten to fifteen minutes each, and over quickly.

Downhill on a three-wheeled cart from Schreckfeld to Bort, then a scooter-bike from Bort down to the village. About half an hour each, and far cheaper than the aerial rides.

About 35 minutes up the valley on the Berner Oberland Bahn. Two stops matter: Grindelwald village, and Grindelwald Terminal one stop before it, where the Eiger Express leaves from.

A tricable gondola from the Terminal to Eigergletscher at 2,328 metres in 15 minutes, 26 people to a cabin, 44 cabins. It took 47 minutes off the old journey to the Jungfraujoch and changed how the whole region is visited.

Grindelwald Terminal has the large car park and the gondola station. Inside the valley the buses and mountain railways beat a car outright, and there is no road up to First at all.

Late June to September, once the high trails clear of snow and the Bachalpsee path is walkable.

Late April to May and late October to November, when much of the lift system shuts for servicing.

July and August, and the ski weeks over Christmas and through February.

Check the webcams. If the Eiger is clear, take the first Eiger Express of the day and get to the Jungfraujoch ahead of the cloud.

The Sphinx deck, the Ice Palace and the walk out onto the glacier plateau. Take a proper jacket; it is below freezing up there all year.

Eat at Eigergletscher on the way back down rather than at the top, where both the queues and the prices are worse.

Gondola up to First and walk out to the Bachalpsee, or descend by mountain cart and trottibike if your legs have gone.

Dinner on the main street with the last sun on the north face. Grindelwald goes to bed early outside the ski season.

Gondola from Grindelwald Terminal to a ridge at 2,343 metres, then the short Royal Walk to the summit and the almost level Panoramaweg across to Kleine Scheidegg in a bit over an hour.

The next valley over, via Kleine Scheidegg or back through Interlaken: car-free villages, the Schilthorn, and Trümmelbach's glacier meltwater falls roaring inside the rock.