Grindelwald

Grindelwald is the classic Swiss mountain village, spread across a green shelf directly beneath the north face of the Eiger — one of the most storied and intimidating walls in mountaineering. Alongside the Mönch and the Jungfrau, it forms a skyline that has drawn walkers, climbers and photographers for well over a century, and the Jungfrau region remains one of the great all-round basecamps in the Alps.

In winter, Grindelwald plugs into the huge Jungfrau ski area, sharing lifts with Wengen and Mürren and the famous Lauberhorn race course above the valley. In summer, it is a hiking paradise: the trail from Kleine Scheidegg beneath the Eiger, the walk to the First cliff path and Bachalpsee, and endless high routes with the big three always looming above. Modern gondolas and the Jungfraubahn — the railway up to the "Top of Europe" — make the high mountains astonishingly accessible.

It is unmistakably Switzerland, which means it is polished, well-run and expensive. Value is where it scores lowest — but for sheer alpine drama on your doorstep and the ease of getting among genuinely high peaks, few basecamps rival it.

Winter (December to April) for skiing across the linked Jungfrau area and the atmosphere of the Lauberhorn. Summer (mid-June to September) for the region's world-class hiking, when the trails and mountain railways are fully open and the meadows are in flower. Late September brings crisp air and thinner crowds. May and November are quiet shoulder months when many lifts pause between seasons.

Grindelwald is reached by train via Interlaken, itself an easy rail journey from Zurich, Bern or Geneva airports — roughly two to two and a half hours from Zurich. The Swiss rail and cable-car network is superb, so a car is optional; from the village, gondolas and the cog railways carry you straight up towards Kleine Scheidegg, First and the Jungfraujoch.