Arriving by Air

The two main airports in Berlin are Tegel and Schönefeld.

Tegel is around 8 km north west of Berlin city centre. Buses X9 and 109 from the airport stop at the Zoologischer Garten, a few minutes walk from the meeting venue. The X9 is faster than the 109 bus. A bus fare costs EUR 2.10, and the driver can give change. A taxi costs around EUR 20.

Schönefeld is 18 km south east of Berlin. The airport is connected with the city centre by the S-Bahn (suburban train) lines S49 and S9 as well as several Airport Express trains. Tickets for these trains or the S-Bahn cost EUR 2.10. A taxi costs around EUR 25.

Arriving by Train

Berlin is a junction of the Intercity Network. Many international trains stop at the new central station (the Hauptbahnhof). The station is linked to the meeting venue by buses and trams. The Zoologischer Garten is the stop closest to the meeting venue. Taxis are also available in front of the station.

Arriving by Car

Since 1 January 2008, Berlin's inner city is an 'environmental zone' where only cars that are up to emission standards are allowed. You need a sticker with information about the emission standard of your car. You can get these stickers in authorised garages or online.

Taxi Information

You can hail a taxi on the street and most large transport hubs have ranks. For shorter taxi rides, it is a good idea to use the 'hailing-fare' (only available when hailing a passing taxi, not from a taxi rank). A short journey then only costs EUR 3. Make sure you tell the taxi driver that you would like this fare at the start of your journey.

Phone numbers of taxi companies:
City-Funk: 21 02 02
Funk-Taxi Berlin: 26 10 26
Quality Taxi: 26 30 00 or 0800-26 30 000 (free call)
Spree-Funk: 44 33 22
TaxiFunk Berlin: 0800-44 33 22 (free call)
Taxi-Ruf Würfelfunk 0800-222 22 55 (free call)

Visas

The RIPE NCC provides you with an invitation letter upon request, after you have registered. We include details on how to apply for the invitation letter in your registration confirmation e-mail.

You can check whether you need to apply for a visa to enter Germany, on the Auswärtiges Amt website.

Money Matters

Currency Exchange
The German currency is the euro. You can change money in most banks. The city has an extensive network of cash machines. Changing your money at hotels and some other foreign exchange shops is more expensive.

Online Currency Converter
You can find a currency converter at:
http://www.xe.com/ucc/

Banks
As well as exchange offices (mostly situated around train stations and airports), there are branches of all major banks across the city. The usual banking hours are:

Monday, Wednesday	09:00-15:30
Tuesday, Thursday	09:00-18:00
Friday	09:00-12:30

Credit Cards
All major hotels and most restaurants and shops accept credit cards. You may also need some photo identification.

Tips
Usually when eating out or paying for drinks in a bar, the bill includes service and tax, but it is customary to round up the bill. A 10% tip is usual.

Electricity

EU standard: Germany 230V 50 Hz - round two-pin plugs.

Weather

You can find a local weather forecast at:

• www.bbc.co.uk/weather/
• www.berlin-life.com/weather.php

General Information

German is the national language. Many Berliners speak English.

24-hour shopping from Monday to Saturday is allowed. Some shoppping centres and department stores stay open until 22:00. Most shops are closed on Sunday, though at the central train station, some are open.

There are plenty of public telephone boxes in Berlin. You can buy telephone cards at the post office, in news shops and tourist information centres. You can also use "call shops" to make international calls at reasonable prices. There are several of these between the Kurfürstendamm and Zoologischer Garten train station.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

• Police: 110 (Non-emergency advice and information: 030 46 64 46 64)
• Fire Brigade and Ambulance: 112
• German Red Cross: 030 85 00 55
• Ambulance: 030 31 00 31
• Emergency Poison Help Line: 030 192 40
• Confidential Help Line: 0800 111 02 22