Introduction Background Committee Theme Schedule Presenters Exhibitions Hotel Transportation Resources Registration
Conference delgates will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to the conference. This section of the conference web site has been set-up to assist delegates in this process.
A typical itinerary for those attending the conference would include:
Saturday 3/09/2005 Arrive in Berlin, Germany
Sunday 4/09/2005 Pre-Conference events start in Berlin
Wednesday 7/09/2005 Depart Berlin at 12:30
Wednesday 7/09/2005 Arrive in Poznan, Poland at 15:30
Saturday 10/09/2005 Depart Poznan at 10:20
Saturday 10/09/2005 Arrive in Berlin at 1:20
Sunday 11/09/2005 Depart from Berlin
TOURIST VISAS TO GERMANY AND POLAND:
Delegates should have their passports, but many national citizens (United Kingdom, European Union, Canada,and the USA) do not need a visa to enter either Germany or Poland as a tourist. If you are a citizen elsewhere, or for more information, there are several web resources. For information on German visa requirements, CLICK HERE. For information on Polish visa requirements, CLICK HERE.
BERLIN AIRPORTS AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION:
Berlin is served by three airports, Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Schoenefeld (SXF), Berlin Tegel International Airport (TXL) and Berlin Templehof (THF), each of which has convenient access to public transportation (BVG). Below are useful links showing the airports and train or bus service:
Berlin Tegel International Airport (8 km from the city center):
http://www.berlin-airport.de/PubEnglish/PubTegel/PubWegweiserTXL/PubBusBahnTXL/index.html
Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Shoenefeld (18 km from the city center):
http://www.berlin-airport.de/PubEnglish/PubSchoenefeld/PubWegweiserSXF/PubBusBahnSXF/index.html
Berlin Templehof Airport (6 km from the city center):
http://www.berlin-airport.de/PubEnglish/PubTempelhof/PubWegweiserTHF/PubBusBahnTHF/index.html
BVG has a useful pdf files with information on getting from and to Berlin airports posted at:
http://www.bvg.de/e_index.html
TRAIN SERVICE TO BERLIN:
The Deutsche Bahn (http://www.bahn.de) offers comprehensive rail service to Berlin. Trains arrive at either or both the Berlin Zoologischer Garten Station (near the Univerståt der Künst Berlin) and the Berlin Ostbahnhof Station (near the Kreuzberg District). Both stations are directly connected to public ground tranportation.
Zoo Station (Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten)
S-Bhf Zoologischer Garten , 10623 Berlin - Charlottenburg
Tel: +49-01805 99 66 33, Ticket sales & Information: 4:45-23:00
Together with Ostbahnhof, Bahnhof Zoo is the main station for trains to western Germany, and Western Europe including Frankfurt(Main), Munich, Hamburg & Amsterdam. Offers a range of after hours shopping possibilities.
East Station(Ostbahnhof)
S-Bhf Ostbahnhof , 10243 Berlin - Friedrichshain
Tel: 01805 99 66 33, Ticket sales & Information: Daily 5:30-23:00
Together with the Zoo Station, Ostbahnhof services most of the major intercity lines offered by the DB. The spacious new building has numerous shops and eateries.
PUBLIC TRANSPORATION IN BERLIN
Berlin has an efficient, well designed public transportation system. The network includes S-Bahn and U-Bahn trains, trams and buses. It is divided into three zones, A, B and C. Delegates need only get passes for zones A-B, as zone C covers districts outside of the city. Delegates are encouraged to purchase a 7-Day-Ticket (7-Tage-Karte) when you arrive at the airport or train station, which entitles you to use the BVG network for 7 successive days after the ticket has been stamped. The 7-Day-Ticket costs 24.30 Euros. All tickets are only valid if they have been stamped before you start your jouney by the machine marked "Entwerter." You will find these machines on train platforms, or in your tram or bus. Passengers should note that in Berlin you need to board buses from the front and exit them from the rear. Many of the U-Bahn lines run all night, and a night rider bus service is also available.
The BVG website has useful maps and trip planners. Below is the link to the English language section of their web site:
http://www.bvg.de/e_index.html
TRAIN SERVICE BETWEEN BERLIN AND POZNAN
VERY IMPORTANT: Plan to buy your train ticket to and from Poznañ, Poland at either the Zoologischer Garten Station or the Ostbahnof Station soon after you arrive in Berlin. As it is an international train, we regret that it is not possible to buy this in advance over the internet. Below are the current options:
Wednesday September 7 - Berlin to Poznañ, Gl.: The main train we encourage you to use (EC 45) departs from the Ostbahnof Station at 12:42 (accessable by the SBahn from the Zoologischer Garten station). The train takes 3 hours to travel to Poznan, and will arrive around 15:30. European and American delegates should have their passports, but do not need a VISA to enter Poland.
If this train is booked, an early train (EC 41) departs at 6:32 (arriving at 9: 37) and a later train (EC 47) at 16:39 (arriving at 19:37).
Saturday September 10 - Poznañ to Berlin: The train (EC 46) departs from the Poznan Glowny Station at 10:20 and arrives at Berlin Ostbahnhof at 13:16. There is also a later train (EC 44) that departs at 14:20 and arrives in Berlin at 17:16.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION IN POZNAÑ
Most of the conference venues are within easy walking distance (1 kilometre or less) of the conference hotels and the Poznan Glowny Train Station.
Some of the tram lines may be of use during your stay in Poznañ. The public transportation in Poznan is operated by Miejskie Przedsiebiorstwo Komunikacyjne (MPK). An inexpensive single ride ticket (billet) which covers a ten journey can be purchased in kiosks, some shops and MPK outlets. Generally all these places are marked by the stickers with the MPK logo, visible at the front door or shop window. A useful web site on the MPK system is posted at: http://www.cs.put.poznan.pl/poznan/publictr.html. For a map of the Poznan tram (MPK) system, CLICK HERE.
Taxi's are another inexpensive way to get around the city. It is recommended that you have your hotel or restaurant call your taxi for you to assure a fair price.
NOTE REGARDING POLISH CURRENCY
Poland will not adopt the Euro until 2009 or later. While hotels and restaurants will accept payment by major credit cards or in Euros, delegates will need to aquire some Polish Zloty (PLN) from one of the numerous ATM machines or currency exchange offices while in the country. Most food and beverage is significantly less expensive than in Western Europe.