A section of Tromsø Island with the mountains of Kvaløya in the background

Norway is  not a member of the EU, but is part of the Schengen agreement. Thus, nationals from countries within the Schengen area do not have to show their passport when entering Norway; however it is recommended that you bring your passport (www.visitnorway.com). Some nationalities will require a visa. Information about which nationalities need a visa, and where and how to apply (including forms) is found at http://www.norway.info/.

Venue, Travel and Accommodation

Location and Weather

The symposium will be held in the city of Tromsø, at almost 70° north. Tromsø is the largest city in the Nordic countries north of the Arctic Circle and is home to the world’s northernmost university, brewery and cathedral. The city lives on education, research, administration, fishing, exports and satellite technology. The centre of the north has about 65,000 residents and the Municipality of Tromsø covers an area of 2558 km². Around 55,000 people live in the centre of Tromsø, while the remainder are scattered throughout the whole municipality. More information on Tromsø can be found on the website www.destinasjontromso.no.
 

In spite of the location so far north, Tromsø enjoys a moderate insular climate. Summer weather ranges from 5°C and rain to 28° and fantastic swimming conditions for the undaunted. The Midnight Sun is visible from around 21 May to around 21 July. Between 21 November and 21 January, the sun disappears under the horizon and we experience the Polar Nights.
 

During the conference dates, Trosmø is experiencing late spring or early summer, depending on your point of view and on when the snow melts that year.  The average high and low temperatures for the period are 11° and 4.5°C, and in all but one of the last 33 years the snow has melted away entirely before the conference will begin.  Temperatures during the conference dates have ranged from 0° to 25°C over the last 33 years, so participants should expect variable weather. More Tromsø weather information is available at www.yr.no.
 

Venue 

The symposium is to be held at Teorifagbygget at the University of Tromsø. Clik here for a map of campus.  Two auditoriums in this building will be used for the oral sessions, and posters will be presented in an area near these auditoriums that will be accessible throughout the symposium.  Lunches will be served in a nearby cafeteria.  The Google map at the bottom of this page shows the University location as well as other relevant locations in the region.
 

Transportation

SAS and Norwegian Airlines operate several flights per day between Oslo and Tromsø. Norwegian also flies direct between London Gatwick and Tromsø on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Some scheduled flights also operate between Tromsø and other cities in Norway and Russia, however the schedules vary seasonally. The following airlines fly direct to Tromsø from the listed cities:
SAS: Oslo (3 to 7 flights per day), Trondheim, Bodø, Harstad-Narvik, Alta, Kirkenes, and Longyearbyen
Norwegian: Oslo (1 to 3 flights per day) and London Gatwick (Tuesdays and Saturdays)
Widerøe: Bergen (not every day) and many locations in northern Norway
Aeroflot Nord: Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, Russia.
 

Tromsø cannot be reached directly by train. The Swedish rail network (www.sj.se) operates trains to Narvik, Norway, and there are regular buses from Narvik to Tromsø (www.nor-way.no), approximately a four-hour ride.
 

Both the university and the city centre are approximately a 10-minute taxi ride from Tromsø Langnes airport. Taxis cost around NOK 150 (€ 17) and can be found outside the arrivals hall. Alternatively, Flybussen operates regular buses from the airport to the city centre for NOK 55 (€ 6) and city bus routes 42 and 40 run from the airport to the city centre for NOK 26 (€3).  This map shows where to get buses and taxis at the airport.
 

The university campus is a seven minute taxi ride from the city centre and regular buses link the two (see www.cominor.no). Participants will receive a bus pass valid for travel on all city buses for the week of the conference. Information and schedules for buses and will be provided to conference participants at registration.
 

Activity in the city centre at 1:00 in the morning

Accommodation Information 

Block bookings have been arranged at several hotels in Tromsø for the symposium period. Accommodation is available at hotels ranging from budget to higher-end, and also in apartments and cottages. In order to reserve a room as part of the block bookings, reservations must be made through the social events and hotel booking page. Most hotels are in the city centre (see the Google map below); buses to campus stop near all hotels.
 

This is a partial list of hotels with block bookings.  See the hotel booking page for a current list of what is available and for exact prices.  All prices here are per room, per night, and are given in Norwegian Kroner (£1 ≈ NOK 10, €1 ≈ NOK 8.6, $1 ≈ NOK 6).
 

• Skansen Hotell, located at the northern edge of the city centre.
  

  Single/Double rooms for NOK 550/750, including breakfast
  Apartments of varying sizes for NOK 450/750/1500, including breakfast
  

• Sydspissen Hotell, located at the southern tip of Tromsø Island, about a 30-minute walk or 5-minute bus ride south of the city centre.
  

  Single rooms for NOK 645, including breakfast

• Thon Hotell Polar, located in the city centre.
  

  Single/Double rooms for NOK 1045/1245
  

• Grand Nordic Hotel, located in the city centre.
  

  Single/Double rooms for NOK 1395/1645

• Clarion Hotel Bryggen, located on the waterfront in the city centre.
  

  Single rooms for NOK 1395

Internet Access

Wireless internet access will be available in the poster presentation area in addition to various locations throughout the university. Details of laptop configuration for the university’s wireless network will be provided on arrival.
 

Map of Area and Hotels