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Whether you are travelling from within Europe or overseas, Switzerland offers excellent transport connections, making it easy to reach the ISSAC-5 conference venue. This page provides practical information on travelling to Switzerland, reaching the venue, accommodation options, and visa requirements to help you plan your visit.

Travelling to Switzerland

Switzerland is centrally located in Europe and is well connected by an extensive network of international flights, high-speed rail services, and motorways. Visitors can easily travel to the country from major cities across Europe and worldwide.

For most international participants, Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the most convenient point of arrival. As Switzerland's largest international airport, it offers direct connections to hundreds of destinations and provides excellent public transport links to ETH Zürich – Campus Hönggerberg. The campus can be reached in approximately 20–30 minutes by train and bus or 15–20 minutes by car or taxi.

Participants arriving via EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL) can travel to the venue in approximately 1 hour 45 minutes by public transport, typically via Basel SBB and Zürich HB or Zürich Oerlikon, or in around 1 hour 15 minutes by car, depending on traffic.

Those arriving at Geneva Airport (GVA) can reach ETH Hönggerberg in approximately 3 hours 15 minutes by train using direct services to Zürich followed by local public transport, or around 3 hours by car.

If you require a visa to enter Switzerland, please refer to the Visa Information section below for guidance on the application process.

Transport

Switzerland has one of the world's most reliable and efficient public transport networks, making it easy to travel between airports, cities, and the conference venue. Trains, trams, buses, and boats operate on integrated timetables, allowing seamless connections throughout the country.

For travel planning, we recommend downloading the SBB Mobile app, the official app of the Swiss Federal Railways. It allows you to search for routes, purchase tickets, receive real-time travel updates, and use EasyRide, which automatically calculates the correct fare based on your journey. Local transport within Zurich is operated by the Zurich Transport Network (ZVV) and is fully integrated with the SBB ticketing system.

Taxis and ride-hailing services are also widely available from Zurich Airport, Zurich Main Station, and throughout the city. A taxi journey between Zurich Airport and ETH Zürich – Campus Hönggerberg typically takes 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Useful Transport Links:

Event Venue

ISSAC-5 will be held at ETH Zürich – Campus Hönggerberg, one of Switzerland's leading science and engineering campuses. The modern campus offers excellent conference facilities and is easily accessible by public transport from Zurich Airport, Zurich Main Station, and the city centre.

Located approximately 10 km from Zurich Airport, the venue can be reached in around 20–30 minutes by public transport or 15–20 minutes by taxi. Regular tram and bus services connect the campus with central Zurich throughout the day.

The main event room is: Audi Max (HG F 30) at ETH Hauptgebäude building.

A selection of hotels with exclusive discounted rates for ISSAC-5 participants is available in Zurich. Details can be found in the Accommodation section below.

Accommodation

To make your stay as convenient as possible, the ISSAC-5 Organizing Committee has secured a selection of hotel offers at discounted rates exclusively for registered conference participants. After completing your registration, you will receive an email with booking instructions, promotional codes (where applicable), and information on hotel availability. Participants are responsible for making their own accommodation reservations directly with the hotels.

Partner Hotels

Hotel	Address
CitizenM Zurich	Talacker 42, 8001 Zurich
Hotel Bristol	Stampfenbachstrasse 34, 8006 Zürich
ibis Styles Zurich City Center	Stampfenbachstrasse 60, 8006 Zürich
Leonardo Boutique Hotel Rigihof Zurich	Universitätstrasse 101, 8006 Zurich
Ruby Mimi Hotel Zurich	Beatenplatz 4, 8001 Zurich

Visa Information

If you require a visa, we recommend that you:

Apply as soon as possible after registering for the conference and receiving your invitation letter.
Allow sufficient time for visa processing before your intended departure.
Contact the Swiss Embassy or Consulate responsible for your country of residence to verify local requirements and appointment availability.

Supporting documents commonly requested for conference travel include:

A valid passport
A completed visa application form
An ISSAC-5 invitation letter
Proof of conference registration
Travel itinerary and accommodation details
Travel medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen Area
Proof of sufficient financial means or confirmation of financial support, where applicable

As a general guideline, Schengen visa applications should be submitted several weeks before travel. While many applications are processed within approximately 15 calendar days, processing times may vary depending on your nationality, seasonal demand, and whether additional documentation is required.

For official information, please consult:

State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – Visa Information
Swiss Representations Abroad – Visa Services

Contact Us

If you require assistance with travel planning, accommodation, visa documentation, or any other aspect of attending ISSAC-5, please contact the Organizing Committee at:

We are happy to assist with event-related enquiries and will do our best to support your participation. We look forward to welcoming you to Zurich for ISSAC-5.