Practical information

Accommodation

35 single rooms and 4 double rooms have been pre-booked at the CERN Hostel. To request them, contact THworkshops.secretariat@cern.ch, indicating precisely the dates of your stay, and the type of room. Do NOT request your room directly with the Hostel. The rooms will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

Arrival formalities (for those without valid CERN access card)

When you come to CERN, please enter through the Main Reception (building 33).

The reception is open from 08:30 to 17:30 from Monday to Friday.  You should mention to the guard at the desk there, that you are a participant of the TH Institute on 'Duality Symmetries',  they will then let you pass through.
Your conference card, which will serve as your access card to the site, will be available for you to pick up from the TH Secretariat (4-2-004), located on the floor below the conference room.

Outside of these times (if you arrive during the evening), the guard at the Main Entrance B should have your name on a list.  You should then come to the secretariat to take your card the next day.

If you have a room at the CERN hostel and arrive in the evening, again, you should go to the Main Entrance B where you can inform the guards that you are a participant of the 'Understanding the Early Universe'.     Before 01:00a.m. they will let you through to the Hostel Reception in building 39 to pick up your room key.  After 01:00 they will have your room key with them and will give it to you directly. Again, you should then come to collect your card the next day at the secretariat.

To help you,  please find in attachment a map showing the buildings of interest for the institute.
For more detailed maps of CERN, you may introduce building numbers in the field 'CERN Buildings' on the left on the CERN webpage at the following link:

 http://maps.cern.ch/mapsearch/

 
Computer registration
In order to have access to the wireless internet connection for your laptop, you need to register by following the laptop registration instructions . Due to the large number of participants, we recommend that you register your laptop in advance, before your actual arrival to CERN. Above all, please do this before the weekend if you require internet access during the weekend.  For this registration process:
http://cern.ch/registerVisitorComputer - Follow the link to the network connection request form . - Click on the entry indicating you are a visitor, and then on the entry specifying you do NOT have an account (even if you do have one as this form is more straightforward), then on "Continue". - In the external visitor registration form, introduce your data, and visit information. - Do not forget to indicate the hardware address and card type (usually wireless). Do not forget to clik on "Add". - As contact person, please use: Name: GIANOLIO, First name: ELENA, Cern department: PH, Cern group: DI,  then click on SEND.
Fixed terminal computer access: Unfortunately, due to computer security protocols at CERN, it will not be possible to provide an account to log in using the fixed computer terminals on site. The only way to access the internet is by using your own laptops, see above.
- Assistance: For any computer problem, please contact Elena Gianolio (Bldg. 4-2.014, email: Elena.Gianolio@cern.ch, tel. 74751 or 160579).

If you register your laptop before your arrival, but once at CERN your browser asks you to fill the registration page again, please repeat the process as it may be possible that the mac address of your computer was incorrectly entered.  Should the problem persist, do not hesitate to contact Elena.

For printing:  http://cern.ch/print
 
Health insurance

In view of the extremely high cost of health care in Geneva, we strongly recommend that all participants ensure that they have health insurance including in the the event of professional or illness cover valid for Switzerland for the duration of their stay, covering illness and accidents. This is a standard requirement for all visitors to CERN.  Please make sure that you bring with you proof of this (a card or attestation/contract).

 
Directions

 /From CORNAVIN Train Station (downtown Geneva) to CERN/

From Cornavin (the stop is to the right of the station as you walk out, on a covered road), you can take the 18 tram direction CERN which is the terminus.
Ticket "Tout Geneve" costs 3.50CHF (2.90Euros)  and allows you to ride the transportation services (including changes) during 1h.
The tickets can be purchased at the machine at the tram and bus stops.   Credit cards are not accepted.   Taxi from the train station to CERN will cost
approximately 45.-CHF

 
/From COINTRIN, GENEVA AIRPORT to CERN/

A free CERN shuttle service operates from the airport to CERN (except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) at:

08:30, 09:20, 10:10, 11:20, 12:15, 13:15, 14:15, 15:10, 16:30, 17:30, 18:30, 19:30
* Please note that to get to the Bus stop you should go out of the airport through gate 3 (  departures  ) and then cross the road past the 'Kiss and Fly' car park.
As any person must be in possession of a card issued by CERN certifying that he is authorised to enter the site, the drivers will ask the passengers at the airport to show their CERN access card. In case they do not have it, they will be dropped off at the CERN entrance to do the necessary formalities.
If you take the public transport, remember that you can get a free pass from the machine located in the baggage collection area, just in front of the doors near the customs declaration.

 
Different options:

Bus Y
Bus No. 23, or 57  until Blandonnet - at Blandonnet take Tram 18 until CERN
More details on the schedule available under the link:
http://www.tpg.ch/fr/index.php.
Taxi from the airport to CERN will cost approximately 30.-CHF

 /Travelling by car/

Cern main entrance address : 385 route de Meyrin
GPS location Reception: Lat: 46.233058, Long: 6.055692