About Berlin

Welcome to The City of Freedom!

Berlin is the lively capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. On an area of ​​892 square kilometers, around 3.6 million people of diverse nationalities, religions and lifestyles live peacefully together. Berlin is a livable city with a variety of smaller and larger parks and forests, which are crossed by many small rivers and lakes. In addition, the two rivers Spree and Havel are located in the city.

The city also has a rich wildlife population. Here live more than two-thirds of all breeding bird species that can be found in Germany. In the parks but also in the streets, one meets regularly fox and wild boar, martens, raccoons, hedgehogs, rabbits, frogs, snakes and many others. In the evening, several bat species can be observed.

Berlin is a world-renowned science location with a large number of international distinguished research institutions. The city has four universities, four art colleges, seven colleges and 24 state-recognized private colleges. There are also more than 70 non-university publicly funded research institutions.

We are sure that this will be the perfect place to create a stimulating atmosphere of exciting talks, inspiring discussions, and scientific curiosity.

History

Berlin's history dates back to the 13th century. Since then, the city was the capital of Brandenburg, Prussia and the “German Empire”. After the partition of Germany in 1949, the eastern part of the city became the capital of the German Democratic Republic. With the German reunification in 1990, Berlin became again all-German capital. Today, the city is, among other things, the seat of the Federal Government, the Federal President, the Bundestag, the Bundesrat and numerous federal ministries and embassies.

For a long time, the biotechnology, medical technology and pharmacological companies have been an integral part of Berlin's economy. Information and communication technologies, trade, optoelectronics, energy technology, the trade fair and congress industry, as well as construction and the real estate industry are other important economic sectors. The city is an European hub of rail and air transport and an international tourist center. 

City of Design

Berlin bears the UNESCO title “City of Design”. Berlin's architecture, fairs, concerts and festivals, exhibitions, theatrical performances and the creative scene are known worldwide. If you require information about special highlights in Berlin, please don't hesitate to contact us with your request by berlin.2019@epizone.eu or visit Berlin's official travel portal https://www.visitberlin.de/en! 

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Safety and Welfare

The German capital can be considered just as safe as other comparable metropolises in Europe. The highlights for tourists are among the busiest areas in the whole city. Unfortunately, experience has shown that some basic precautionary measures should always be kept in mind anywhere:

  • Do not carry important items like passports, tickets or valuables with you when attending the symposium or visiting the city. In Germany, it is not mandatory to have an ID document with you all the time. You can leave it in the hotel safe during your stay and carry a copy or your ID card with you.
  • Take off your name badge when leaving the symposium venue. 
  • Be aware of pickpockets - hang on tightly to your bag and rather stow valuable items in your bag than having them hang from your neck (like a camera) or within your hands.

For the local police office call: 110, or from international mobile phones: 112. The operator is able to talk to you in English also.

Weather

August in Berlin is an excellent time to explore this amazing city. The temperatures are pleasant with just a few showers expected. Daily maximum temperatures tend to be about 25°C. The mild nights invite to enjoy the rich cultural life of the city.

Public transportation and Parking

Berlin has an extensive suburban and underground network. In addition, numerous tram, bus and ferry lines run through the entire city. Almost all hotels have easy access to the public transportation services. The city currently has two airports Tegel and Schönefeld and a variety of train stations and a central station for long-distance bus services. Driving and parking in the middle of Berlin is quite difficult for tourists and expensive. There are some parking garages around but we strongly recommend using public transportation. An app „FahrInfo Plus“ is available free of charge.

Medical help and pharmacies

During the conference, you can ask staff for basic medical assistance. The symposium is held close to the Charité University clinics. If you feel seriously ill during the sessions - please ask one of the staff members, they will accompany you and organize medical help immediately.
In case of an urgent emergency, please call 112. The operator is able to talk to you in English also.

In Berlin, most pharmacies are generally open weekdays from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm or later. Additionally, every pharmacy provides a list of “emergency” pharmacies (open during the night, on weekends and public holidays) in the surrounding. Usually you can find this list on the door.

Currency

The official currency in Germany is the Euro (€). There are a number of ATMs and most shops, hotels, restaurants and attractions accept cashless payment with internationally valid credit cards.

Shopping

In the city center, opening times are 10 am to 8 pm on Monday to Saturday. Most shops remain closed on Sundays.

Electricity

In Germany the standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. The power plugs and sockets are of type F. This socket also works with plug C and plug E.

Telephone Calls 

The country code of Germany is +49 and the area code for Berlin is 30, followed by a local number (+4930…). To call abroad, dial 00 before the country code.