Location
The meeting will take place at the Kongress Hotel am Templiner See from 20 – 24 August 2007. Potsdam is the capital city of the federal state of Brandenburg in Germany. It is situated on the Havel River, southwest of Berlin. Potsdam is known as the former residence of the prussian kings until 1918. The city features a series of interconnected lakes and an unique cultural landscapes, in particular the parks and palaces of Sanssouci, the largest World Heritage Sites in Germany. The Potsdam district of Babelsberg also serves as one of the leading centers of European film production. The Filmstudio Babelsberg has significant historical value as the oldest large-scale film studio in the world.
How to reach Potsdam by plane
There exist two airports in Berlin: Schoenefeld (SXF) and Tegel (TXL). From there you can travel to Potsdam by train ("Regionalbahn") or by S-Bahn.
If you arrive in BERLIN-TEGEL (TXL) by plane:
Take the bus (X9 or 109) from the airport and go to S-Bahn ( commuter train) station "Zoologischer Garten" (in brief "Zoo") or to station "Charlottenburg". Enter the S-Bahn S7 which goes to Potsdam (a trip of ~45 min). Leave the train at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof (main & final station). Buses and trains in Berlin run every 10 min during day/evening times. How to get from Potsdam Hauptbahnhof to the Kongresshotel am Templiner See, see below.
If you arrive in BERLIN-SCHOENEFELD (SXF) by plane:
Walk or take the shuttle bus to the train station Berlin-Schoenefeld (300 m). Take the regional train ( RB train) with direction "Potsdam Hauptbahnhof" (runs every hour, leaving at xx:51, Saturday – Sunday from 08:51–20:51, Monday – Friday from 04:51–20:51) Leave the train at "Potsdam Pirschheide". From this station it is a 5 minutes walk to the Kongresshotel ( Follow the signs). An alternative is to take the tram 91 with direction Bahnhof Rehbruecke" which runs every 20 minutes. Get off one stop later at "Luftschiffhafen".
Both trips can be covered with a single ABC ticket (meaning that it includes all three distance zones, A,B,C, of Berlin) which costs 2,70 Euro and is valid for two hours. There are automatic ticket machines with touch screen (and also English text), but you can also buy the ticket from the bus driver (at Tegel). The ABC ticket is valid within Potsdam, too.
Make SURE YOU VALIDATE YOUR TICKET bought from the automatic ticket machine by stamping it in one of the red boxes that are located on the platforms.
How to reach Potsdam by train
The one big "Main Station" in Berlin for the long distance trains is "Hauptbahnhof". From there the regional train for Potsdam (RE1) leaves twice every hour. You can also take the S-Bahn S7 to Potsdam (a trip of ~45 min). Leave the train at Potsdam Hauptbahnhof (main & final station). Further information about the "Deutsche Bahn" (German Railway) can be found at www.bahn.de. Information about the public transport between Berlin and Potsdam can be found at www.vbb-online.de.
How to reach Potsdam by bus
The central bus station for the long distance buses is the ZOB ("Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof Berlin"). Take the subway (Station: "Kaiserdamm") to "Zoologischer Garten" (U2, direction to Pankow, it takes 5 stopps from "Kaiserdamm" to "Zoologischer Garten"). From there follow the instructions above.
General information about the public transport in Berlin can be found at www.bvg.de and for Potsdam have a look at www.vip-potsdam.de or www.vbb-online.de.
How to get from Potsdam main train station to "Kongresshotel am Templiner See" by tram:
Leave the main train station ( Potsdam Hauptbahnhof) to the south of the tram station outside. Take tram 91 with direction "Bahnhof Pirschheide" and get off at stop "Luftschiffhafen". It will take you about 20 minutes. From the point you get off the tram you have a 5 minutes walk to the hotel: Turn left before arriving at the bridge and follow the signs for the Hotel. by bus: Leave te main train station (Potsdam Hauptbahnhof) to the south of the tram station outside. Take the bus 631 with direction " Werder" and leave it at stop "Luftschiffhafen". From there same walking direction like written above.
By regional train:
Stay in the main station (Potsdam Hauptbahnhof) and change for regional train (Rb train) with direction "Flughafen Schoenefeld". (It runs every hour at XX:12 until 20:12) Leave the train at stop "Pirschheide". From there it is a 5 minutes walk to the hotel following the signs.
How to reach the Kongresshotel am Templiner See by car
When you come from the north (Hamburg):
Change from A24 to A10 (Berliner Ring) in direction Potsdam, Hannover, Leipzig. Being on the A10 take the exit "Potsdam Nord", drive in direction Potsdam-Zentrum, follow the main street until you reach the Zeppelinstrasse. Follow it and pass under the first train bridge. Shortly before approaching the second train bridge turn left, crossing the tram tracks, and follow the signs to the Kongress Hotel am Templiner See.
When you come from the west (Hannover):
Change from A2 to A10 (Berliner Ring) in direction Hamburg. Being on the A10 take the exit "Gross Kreutz", drive along the B1 in direction Potsdam-Zentrum, passing through Glindow, Werder, Geltow. After the second train bridge turn right and follow the signs to Kongresshotel am Templiner See.
When you come from the south/east (Leipzig):
Change from A9/A13/A12 to A10 (Berliner Ring) in direction Potsdam. Being on the A10 take the exit "Michendorf", drive along the B2 in direction Potsdam-Zentrum. Arriving at the big bridge opposite to the main train station, turn left, drive over the bridge ("Lange Bruecke"). At the next big crossing turn left on the "Breite Strasse". Follow it until next big crossing, there turn left again on the "Zeppelinstrasse". Follow it and pass under the first train bridge. Shortly before approaching the second train bridge turn left, crossing the tram tracks, and follow the signs to the Kongress Hotel am Templiner See.
