Engelberg Information

Apres-ski

Don't be fooled by the midweek quiet, Engelberg attracts weekend skiers from all over Europe who party as hard as they carve. Yucatan (tel: +41 41 639 6 868; www.bellevue-terminus.ch) is the village behemoth with a basement-feel and cheesy cover bands.

The Hotel Hoheneck bar (tel: +41 416 395 700; www.hotelhoheneck.com) offers Irish music, low-slung ceilings and a drinks roulette wheel for the indecisive. It also has the best lounge in town: a chic den with areas designed as different rooms. Whisky in the bedroom, anyone?

Clubbers should seek out Spindle (tel: +41 637 12 43; www.alpenclub.ch) for dance music and stag do behaviour from 2200 'til 0200.

Eating out

You're never far from a schnitzel in Engelberg, but it's not all about the alpine appetite, and visitors will find everything from super salads to spaghetti bolognese in the village, along with those Alpine favourites: fondue and raclette.

Mexican food and monster burgers can be found at Yucatan (tel: +41 416 396 868; www.bellevue-terminus.ch), while the steaks are so big in Aplenclub (tel: +41 416 371 243; www.alpenclub.ch) they come with a bib. However, if anything, Hess (tel: +41 416 370 909; www.hess-restaurant.ch) has an even better reputation for its meat dishes, which bases its menu on local seasonal produce.

Ende der Welt (tel: +41 416 374 787; www.ende-der-welt.ch) is a little out of town, but this family-run joint serves excellent traditional food, especially during hunting season when the game is as fresh as it gets.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Attractions beyond the slopes at Engelberg are almost as exciting as the happenings on them. Winter thrills include snowmobile racing, ice skating, sledging, airboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and a high rope walk, as well as snow tubing.

Plenty of camera-wielding tourists make their way to the top of Mount Titlis for photos too. Most say "cheese" next to a cardboard cut-out of the characters from Bollywood cult classic, The Brave-Hearted Will Take Away the Bride (which was filmed here), before tackling the wind-whipping cliff walk and slightly disappointing glacier cave.

Engelberg also hosts plenty of competitions, from a Ski Jumping World Cup round in December to the Snow Epic fatbike cycling race in January. There are also regular torchlit downhill runs from the top of Titlis, with the resort often attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the most torch holding skiers descending at one time.

Family fun

Young skiers may be happiest on Brunni where the Schweizer Skischule (tel: +41 416 395 454; www.skischule-engelberg.ch) can get little ones up and snow-ploughing in no time. There's plenty on offer here from T-bar lifts and magic carpets to small jumps, a slalom course and the chance to meet a furry, fair-weather mascot called Gobi.

During white outs, the Ludothek board games library (tel: +41 416 373 631) at Einwohnergemeinde becomes a treasure trove of puzzles and toys. Additionally, Hotel Edelweiss (tel: +41 416 397 878; www.edelweissengelberg.ch) and Hotel Terrace (tel: +41 416 396 666; www.terrace.ch/en) both offer childcare services for guests.

Retail therapy

Engelberg's Dorfstrasse has some decent shopping opportunities. OKAY shop (tel; +41 416 370 777; www.okay-shop.com) on Bahnhofplatz is a ski rental shop that doubles up as free-riding hangout, while NAJO (tel: +41 79 195 5581; www.najoandfriends.ch) at 6 Studentenweg stocks cool, locally-designed clothes. Foodies should seek out the Show Cheese Factory (tel: +41 416 380 888; www.schaukaeserei-engelberg.ch) at the Engelberg Monastery.

Splashing out

Stay overnight at the Trübsee Igloo Village (tel: +41 416 122 728; www.iglu-dorf.com) where, long after all the skiers have gone down the mountain, guests enjoy dinner, a snowshoe stroll under the stars, bubbly in a hot tub and fresh tea brought to their bed in the morning.

Hotels

Bar a few recent developments, Engelberg has managed to retain its Alpine allure with a host of chalet-style hotels and belle époque boltholes. Though the village is in discussions about erecting its first 5-star retreat, that still looks a long way off, even if it gets the go ahead. Until then, guests can enjoy everything from self-catering accommodation to pretty art nouveau hotels, but ski-in/ski-out locations are few and far between.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap