Travel Information

Arrival by Airplane

Swiss International Air Lines is proud to be the Official Carrier for the IEEE International Carnahan Conference on Security Technology ICCST 2009 in Zürich and is offering special Congress Fares to all participants. These Congress Fares offer reductions of up to 25% depending on the fare type, route and space availability.

Congress Fares are valid on the entire SWISS route network for flights to Switzerland, including flights operated by partner airlines under an LX flight number. These fares are now bookable for the travel period 14 days prior to and 14 days after the event.

To take advantage of this offer, book easily and conveniently through SWISS.COM via this link: www.swiss.com/event.

Please enter your email address and the following event code: 4736-6001-2388-6796

The special SWISS congress fare is marked with a "C". It may not necessarily be the lowest fare but it offers flexibility in the event of rebooking or cancellation.

From the airport to the hotel

  • Taxi

    The easiest way to get from Zurich Airport to the hotel is to take a taxi. To the hotel Renaissance it's about a 10-minutes drive. Please be aware that taxi fares in Switzerland are rather high (estimated fare: CHF 25.00).

  • Tram

    The most inexpensive way to get from Zurich Airport to the hotel is by tram. Conveniently take tram 10 in direction Bahnhofplatz/HB and get off at the station "Glattpark" which is right opposite the hotel Renaissance. The tram is departing regularly every 8 to 15 minutes from the airport and the journey takes you 9 minutes (fare oneway: CHF 4.00)

Arrival by car

For driving directions to the hotel Renaissance please visit the interactive map. Renaissance on-site parking fee: CHF 4.00 hourly, CHF 32.00 daily

Arrival by train

Take tram 11 in direction Auzelg, or tram 10 in direction Flughafen/Airport from Zurich main station (Zürich HB). You exit directly in front of the hotel Renaissance at the station "Glattpark" after 22 minutes. The tram is departing every 7 minutes.

General information

Weather

The climate is moderate with no excessive heat, cold or humidity. From July to August the daytime temperature range is 18 to 28 °C (65° - 82° F) and from January to February the range is -2 to 7 °C (28° - 45° F). In spring and autumn, the daytime temperature range is 8 to 15 °C (46° - 59° F). Depending on the altitude the temperature range may vary.

Passports & Visas

Every traveler must have a valid passport. Visa are required for a continuous stay of more than three months. If your stay is shorter than three months you only need to bring your valid passport with you. This applies to citizens of the following countries: countries of the American Continent (except Belize, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Peru), Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. If you need an invitation letter please send an e-mail to info@iccst2009.com.

Money

  • Creditcards

    The safest and easiest form of money are traveler's checks and credit cards. The cards most used are Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Many banks in Switzerland have equipped their ATM machines with the CIRRUS or MAESTRO system. Many other Swiss banks offer ATM machines for cash advances with your credit card. It is recommended to have a small amount of cash on hand upon arrival in Switzerland for immediate expenses, i.e. taxies, city transportation etc.

  • Currency

    Please note that Switzerland remains with the Swiss franc, usually indicated as CHF. While Switzerland is not part of the European Union and thus is not obliged to convert to the Euro, many prices are nonetheless indicated in Euros so that visitors may compare prices. Merchants may accept Euros but are not obliged to do so. Change given back to the client will most likely be in Swiss francs.

    The Swiss franc comes in the following denominations:
    Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50 Cents and 1, 2, 5 Francs
    Bank notes: 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 1000 Francs

Money exchange places

  • any Swiss bank
  • airport
  • main railway stations (western union)
  • major hotels

Swiss banks offer the best exchange rates for your traveler's checks or cash for foreign currencies (only bank notes). Official exchange offices and hotels may charge a fee for their services.

Swiss National Bank

Money Calculator

Value added Taxes

The VAT you pay on purchased goods in Switzerland is 7.6 %. You may ask at the shops for your Global Refund Cheque and reclaim the VAT: The total purchases in a shop must amount to CHF 300.-- (including VAT). The tourist must be resident outside Switzerland and the goods must be exported within 30 days.

3 easy steps to claiming your refund in Switzerland:

  • In the store: Your total purchases in a shop must amount to CHF 300.00 (Including VAT). You must be a resident outside Switzerland and the goods must be exported within 30 days.
  • Through customs: When leaving Switzerland the Tax-free Shopping Cheques have to be stamped by Swiss customs authorities after they have seen the goods.
  • Collecting the refund: You have several choices: immediate cash at a Cash Refund Office, direct crediting to a chosen credit card or bank account, a bank check and even, for certain countries, a cash refund when you return home.

Discover Switzerland

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit our beautiful country! For more information about Zurich and Switzerland please visit: