Organisers

• Uros Seljak
• Roberto Trotta
• Martin Kunz

SOC

• Bruce Bassett
• Sarah Bridle
• Steffen Lauritzen
• Andrew Liddle
• Tom Loredo
• Louis Lyons
• Joe Silk
• Alex Szalay
• Licia Verde

LOC

• Adam Amara
  (GREAT08/10 coordinator)
• Suzanne Wilde
  (conference administrator)

>> RETURN Train schedule and shuttle TO Locarno station now online

Travel Information

The Mt. Verita conference center can be reached via flights to Zurich airport, Lugano Airport or Milano-Malpensa airport (Italy). From any of the airports (Lugano being the closest but smallest), there is ground transportation by bus or train, which connects to the conference shuttle bus operating from Locarno train station to the Mt. Verita conference.

By air.
The preferred option is to fly into Milan Malpensa (MPX), which is about 1.5 hours away by car. On the arrival day (Sun, July 26th), regular pickups will be organised to take you directly by private car/minivan from the Airport to the Mt Verita' conference center. On the departure day (Fri July 31st) there will be a return transfer from the Center to Milan Malpensa. The cost for the return journey is 100CHF per person, which will be payable to the organisers upon registration. Please indicate in the registration form if you would like to take advantage of this service. Please notice that this option will only be available for people who have pre-booked it via the conference registration page.
If you fly to Milan Malpensa but do not wish to take advantage of the pickup service, you can use the Malpensa shuttle service (timetable below), which will take you to Bellinzona train station, from which you will need to catch a train to Locarno train station (about 30mins ride). Car rentals are available at the airport (drive time: 1.5 to 2 hours to Ascona. Be aware that you'll have to cross the border into Switzerland).

Alternatively, you can fly to Zürich International Airport (ZHR) and then take a train across the Alps through the scenic Gotthard route to Locarno. You may have to change train in Bellinzona. Travelling time from Zürich International Airport to Locarno train station is approximately 3 hours (see timetable, below).

You may also find a flight to Lugano Airport (LUG). There are direct flights from Geneva and Rome. If you are flying Swiss International Airlines you may have the option of connecting in Zürich to Lugano (45mins flight). This is worthwhile exploring as the cost may be cheaper than a full-fare rail ticket from Zurich (114CHF return), when purchased together with an international or intercontinental flight . There is a shuttle bus from the airport to the train station in Lugano, from which the train to Locarno takes about 40mins (change in Bellinzona or Giubiasco). Car rental is available at the airport (drive time: 45mins to Ascona).

By train
If you are traveling to Switzerland by train your should go to Bellinzona (Gotthard route) and then change train to Locarno. Traveling time from Milano to Bellinzona is approximately 1.5 hours and from Basel or Zürich to Bellinzona 2.5 hours, from Bellinzona to Locarno 20 minutes.

Most transatlantic flights arrive in Zurich before noon. Anticipating arrivals on Sunday, July 26, trains to Locarno leave from the airport train station as listed below. Alternative schedules can be found via Swiss Railways. The Monte Verità shuttle times are subject to change, so please check this page again before departure. A return schedule will be posted at the conference. If you do not catch the shuttle you can catch a bus until ~6pm, or take a taxi.

RETURN Shuttle Schedule (updated 30.07.09):

From Locarno to Ascona it takes about 15 minutes by bus no. 31. The bus stop in Locarno is located opposite the railway station and bus no. 31 leaves every 15 minutes. The bus stops at the post office in Ascona. From there to Monte Verità  it takes only few minutes by taxi or about 15-20 minutes on foot.

After 18:30, we recommend using a taxi (It is about a 15 min. ride and costs approx. CHF 23.-). For further questions contact the organizers.

By car
Drive along the federal highway A2 to Bellinzona, exit at Bellinzona Sud and follow the signs to Locarno. Before Locarno you will enter a tunnel that bypasses Locarno. When you exit the tunnel follow the signs to Ascona and when entering Ascona follow the signs to Monte Verità. Free parking is limited in Ascona, and car parks are quite expensive (> 25 EUR/day). At the Conference center there is only limited parking space. For travel planning click here.

Map of Monte Verità >>>

Travel via Milan (Italy)

Transatlantic flights to Milan should arrive there preferably before 14:00. If you do not wish to take advantage of the pickup service, the most convenient connections for further travel to Switzerland are using the Malpensa Express Shuttle Bus are as follows:

 

Live Webcam Ascona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of Zürich, Switzerland