General Information

Insurance

The conference organizers cannot accept liability for personal injuries sustained, or for loss or damage to property belonging to the participants and accompanying persons, either during or as a result of the congress. The registration does not include insurance. It is strongly recommended that you arrange insurance when you register for the congress and book your travel arrangements. The insurance should be purchased in your country of origin.

Currency

The official currency in Germany is the Euro. Credit Cards, such as American Express, Visa, Master Card or Diners Club are accepted almost everywhere. Cash can be withdrawn at numerous ATMs. Foreign Exchange is possible in many banks, post offices, at the airport and at some train stations.

Bank and Exchange

In Germany, most banks and savings banks are open Monday through Friday 09:00-16:00. Some may open earlier, and may even be open on Saturday.

Business hours and shopping

Opening hours vary according to where the store is located and the type of shop. In general, shops are open from Monday to Saturday. Smaller shops, such as bakeries, open very early in the morning and may close a bit earlier, especially on Saturdays. All shops except petrol stations, bakeries and some small tourist galleries are closed on Sundays.
In general, the following opening times apply, although it is up to every individual shopkeeper how long they want to keep their shop open.

Department stores: Mon - Sat 10am - 8pm.

Grocery stores, butchers, small shops, etc. have individual opening hours which, by and large, correspond to the following scheme. Please note that this is only an estimation and that you should check with the individual shop. Mon - Fri 8am - 12:30pm and 3pm - 6pm Sat 8am - 12:30pm. Petrol stations are allowed to be open 24/7.

Tipping

5 -10% tip is usual in Germany. If you are satisfied with the service provided, it is up to you to tip even more.

Electricity

In Germany the norm is 220V, with a frequency of 50 Hz (cycles). The electric plug has two round pins.

Climate

Munich has a continental climate, strongly influenced by the proximity of the Alps. In general summers are quite warm and very wet, while winters are cold with some snow most years. South westerly winds crossing the Alps can bring warm Föhn conditions, during any season but only on a few days per year, pushing up temperatures markedly even in winter. When north-westerly winds blow from the mountains it may get cold.
Therefore, we recommend that you be prepared for mild, as well as for cold weather. Also feel free to check the current weather situation under http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/10866.html

Public Transportation

Munich´s public transport system is dense and well developed. Eight underground lines and seven suburban trains connect all parts of the city as well as the surrounding areas. Tram lines and busses are also available and ensure that getting around in the city center is very easy.
Some of the tram lines can be used as a cheap alternative to a conventional sightseeing tour: Line No. 19, for example, picks you up just behind “Marienplatz” and takes you along the famous “Maximilian Street”, crosses the Isar River just after driving past the “Maxmonument” and the “Bayrischer Landtag”. Continuing through Haidhausen, a popular part of Munich, the tram takes you to Munich Ostbahnhof. From there you can make your way again to almost every other place in town. Also recommended are sightseeing tours by bicycle. Getting around by bicycle is a very popular way for many people living in Munich.

Click on below link to enlarge the map, or get more information:

City map

To view an enlarged city map of Munich, please click on
.

Sightseeing

The city of Munich has numerous attractions to offer for all ages and tastes. Whether you are interested in history, architecture or art; whether you enjoy strolling through parks, fancy attractions like a trip to the Bavaria film studios, guided tours or long for a visit to one of Munich's famous traditional beer gardens, you will always find something exciting in this multi-faceted city.

Some of the main attractions are:

Allianz-Arena
Zoo "Tierpark Hellabrunn"
English Garden
Hofbräuhaus
Olympic Park
Cathedral Church of our Lady (Frauenkirche)
Viktualienmarkt
Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper)

There are also some attractions in the surroundings of Munich, such as the famous Palace Neuschwanstein.

This year, due to the compactness of the Forum, no touristic tours are offered. However, should you be interested in discovering the city of Munich, refer to one of the below links:

AIMS International GmbH

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