International Symposium on Metastable and Nano Materials
27th - 31st August 2006, Warsaw, Poland
Money
The currency in Poland is "zloty" (PLN), which equals 100 grosz. The approximate exchange rates, at the end of August 2006, are:
1 EUR = 3.90 PLN
1 USD = 3.00 PLN
1 CHF = 2.45 PLN
1 GBP = 5.70 PLN
100 JPY = 2.60 PLN
The foreign cash may be exchanged in most of the banks, hotels, at the airport, or in the exchange offices (frequently named "kantor" in Polish).
You may also use automatic teller machines ("bankomat") to withdraw cash from your account.
Payment with credit cards / charge cards is widely accepted.
Transportation in Warsaw
Buses, trams and metro
Warsaw municipal transportation system includes bus lines, tram lines and one metro line. Bus lines are marked with numbers from 100 to 525 and from E-1 to E-5, tram lines bear numbers from 1 to 36. Night buses (23:00 - 5:00) are marked from 601 to 614.
Passengers may use single tickets, or travelcards (valid for a certain period of time). Single ticket must be validated every time the passenger gets on board of a vehicle. Travelcard must be validated only once - when the passenger gets on board for the first time. The travelcard is valid from this moment until the nominal time of the travelcard elapses. The time of validity is printed by the validation machine in the vehicle.
Single ticket ("bilet jednorazowy") costs 2.40 zlotys. It is possible to purchase the off-peak ticket ("bilet pozaszczytowy") for 2.00 zlotys, and it may be used only from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 to 14:00 (validation moment rules). Night bus costs 4.80 zlotys - use two single tickets.
For the participants' convenience, the Organising Committee purchased the one-week travelcards, and they will be handed to the participants at the Registration Desk at the moment of registration. They will be validated from Sunday 27 Aug. to Saturday 2 Sept. (incl.). Therefore, there is no need for the participants to buy travelcard for the whole conference - only single tickets to get to the conference venue will do. The travelcard is valid for all the means of transport, including night lines, all within the city limits.
Travelcards may be for: 60 minutes (3.60 zlotys), 90 minutes (4.50 zlotys), 120 minutes (6.00 zlotys), 24 hours (7.20 zlotys), 3 days (12 zlotys), 1 week (24 zlotys).
Validation of the ticket is done in the validation machines (yellow boxes inside the vehicles, or at the entrances to the metro stations). The ticket must be slided into the slot, with the magnetic strip down. The machine validates the ticket and returns it with the print - see the validity time on the travelcard!. Tickets are the same for any means of transport, any line. There is no additional charge for the transport of a luggage.
Tickets may be purchased at the newsstands, tobacconists, some restaurants. Bus drivers also sell single tickets, but it costs 0.60 zloty more.
For more information on the Warsaw municipal transport system, please visit the website of Warsaw Transport Authority.
Taxi
Taxis are easily available around the clock. You may get one from a taxi stand, or call the radio taxi. The fares are approximately: 5 - 6 zlotys for the start of the ride, and about 2 zlotys per kilometre. Higher fares are applied in the night (22:00 - 8:00) - 3 zlotys per km, or outside Warsaw - 4 zlotys per km. Beware: if you do not want to risk overpaying for the ride, take radio taxi. Some radio taxi corporations accept credit cards.
How to get to ...
For your convenience, we prepared the map of the centre of Warsaw for you. You may find the most important spots on it:
1) Conference venue - Main Building of WUT, 1, Politechniki Sq.
2) Intercontinental Hotel,
3) Metropol Hotel,
4) Campanile Hotel,
5) MDM Hotel.
You may also download this map with a higher resolution by clicking here.
Most likely, the foreign participants will arrive by plane at Warsaw Airport "Okęcie" (also called "Frederic Chopin Airport"), or by train at Warsaw Central Station.
From the airport
The easiest way to travel from the airport is to take a taxi. There are three corporations licensed by the airport: Sawa Taxi (+48 22 644 44 44), Merc Taxi (+48 22 677 77 77) and MPT Radio Taxi (+48 22 9191). The ride to the centre of Warsaw costs about 25 zlotys on weekdays, and some 35 on Sundays.
For these who prefer city buses, the bus stop is located at the exit from the arrivals level (ground level) of the airport building. The ride to the city centre usually takes 20 - 25 minutes.
If you go to the Campanile Hotel or Sobieski Hotel, take bus #175, and get off at the bus stop "Plac Zawiszy", both hotels are visible from there.
If you go to the Metropol Hotel, take the bus #175 and get off at the bus stop "Centrum". The hotel is located next to the roundabout, you only need to cross Marszałkowska Str. with the underground crossing.
If you go to the Intercontinental Hotel, we suggest you take a taxi to avoid changing to the tram and struggling with your heavy luggage at the stairs in the underground pedestrian crossing.
If you stay at the MDM Hotel, you may take the bus #175, get off at the bus stop "Centrum", take any tram from the tram stop "Centrum 07" (towards Mokotów and Służewiec) and ride 3 stops, walk back to the Konstytucji Sq. and you are just next to the hotel.
If you stay at Riviera student hall, you should take the bus #188 at the airport, and get off at the bus stop "Metro Politechnika". The highest building around is the one that you are looking for.
If you wish to reach the Symposium venue directly from the airport, you may take the bus #175, get off at the stop "Dw. Centralny". Descend to the underground pedestrian crossing under the main roundabout, turn right, pass McDonalds and turn left, ascend to the tram stop marked "Służewiec" (the tram stop has the designation "Dw. Centralny 09"), take the tram #19 (operates every 15 minutes), get off at the first stop after the tram turns left (the stop is called "Pl. Politechniki"). And that's it. Alternatively, from the bus you may take a 1 km walk along the Emilii Plater Str.: when you get off the bus, turn left, walk to the nearest street (E. Plater Str.), cross it, turn right and walk down this street to its end. This street joins the Noakowskiego Str., which takes you in a few minutes to Plac Politechniki, and you are at your destination.
From the Central Railway Station
To the Metropol Hotel: it's only one tram stop away. From the platform go to the underground crossing at Jerozolimskie Ave. and ascend to the tram stop "Dw. Centralny 07" (towards Praga, Grochów), take any tram and ride one stop. Alternatively, ascend to the Marriott Hotel and walk along Jerozolimskie Ave. until the next roundabout.
To the Campanile Hotel: from the platform go to the underground pedestrian crossing at Jerozolimskie Ave. and Chałubińskiego Str. and ascend to the tram stop "Dw. Centralny 08" (towards Ochota), take any tram and ride two stops.
To the Symposium venue: from the platform go to the underground pedestrian crossing at Jerozolimskie Ave. and Chałubińskiego Str., ascend to the tram stop marked "Służewiec" (the tram stop has the designation "Dw. Centralny 09"), take the tram #19 (operates every 15 minutes), get off at the first stop after the tram turns left (the stop is called "Pl. Politechniki"). And that's it. Alternatively, you may take a 1 km walk along the Emilii Plater Str.: from the platform go to the underground crossing at Jerozolimskie Ave., ascend to the Marriott Hotel and walk along Jerozolimskie Ave. to the nearest street (E. Plater Str.), cross it, turn right and walk down this street to its end. This street joins the Noakowskiego Str., which takes you in a few minutes to Plac Politechniki, and you are at your destination.
From the hotels to the Symposium venue
From the Intercontinental: you may walk along a quiet Emilii Plater Str. and enjoy the view of the buildings that miraculously survived the Second World War. Then continue along Noakowskiego Str. to Politechniki Sq. The distance - 1400 m. By tram: go to the ONZ Roundabout (Rondo ONZ), take the tram #19 towards Wyścigi (from the tram stop "Rondo ONZ 03"), ride 4 stops and you are at the Politechniki Sq. You may also take any other tram, get off after 3 stops, and walk along Nowowiejska Str. to the Politechniki Sq.
From the Metropol: you may walk 900 m along Marszałkowska Str. to Konstytucji Sq., and then turn to Sniadeckich Str. or walk along a more quiet Poznańska Str. and Lwowska Str. straight to Pl. Politechniki. By tram: from the tram stop "Centrum 07" take any tram and ride 3 stops, then walk to Zbawiciela Sq., turn right, and walk straight ahead to Politechniki Sq. If you were lucky to catch #15 from the hotel, then ride 5 stops and you are right at the Politechniki Sq.
From the Campanile: there is a direct bus #159 that takes you from Zawiszy Sq. to the venue. From the bus stop "Pl. Zawiszy 11" at Towarowa Str. ride 4 stops (or from "Pl. Zawiszy 07" at Koszykowa Str. ride 3 stops), get off at "Noakowskiego" bus stop. Turn right to Noakowskiego Str. and walk to Politechniki Sq. The bus runs every 15 - 20 minutes. Or, alternatively, take a tram to the Central Railway Station and there change to another tram, or just walk along E. Plater Str. to Noakowskiego Str.
Climate
In the end of August, we may expect a mild weather, with the daylight temperature from 15 to 25°C (from 60 to 80 °F), but the mornings and nights may be pretty cold, even below 10°C (50°F). Either clear sky or heavy rain may be encountered, so do not forget your umbrella.
Electricity
The voltage in the electric sockets is 230 V AC, 50 Hz. European two-pin plugs are necessary. Sockets are usually grounded.
Mobile phones
There are three mobile phone networks: Era, Orange and Plus GSM. They operate at the frequencies of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz, and offer roaming services. Please, consult with your operator for tarrifs and technical details.
For more information about Warsaw and Poland, please check the visitors-oriented websites, e.g. the official website of the Warsaw town hall.