Venue details
The event will be held in the Kuppelraum of the Hauptgebäude (Main Building) of the University of Bern.
Address: University of Bern Hauptgebäude Hochschulstrasse 4 CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
A detailed pdf floor plan of the Hauptgebäude can be downloaded here, and further building information is available on the University of Bern building-plan page. To see the location on Google Maps, click here.
Visa
Entry/visa requirements for Switzerland can be checked on the website of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. If you require an invitation letter for a visa application, please send an email with the subject "[WORKSHOP NAME] visa letter - YOUR NAME" to one of the organizers reported in the main page.
Travel to Bern
By train is by far the most convenient way to reach us — Bern's main station is a short walk from the venue (see "Within Bern" below), and Swiss trains run frequently and reliably. (If you're flying in: both Zürich Airport and Geneva Airport have direct trains straight to Bern, so just follow the times below.)
- From Zürich: direct trains to Bern take about 80 minutes, running several times per hour from Zürich HB (and directly from Zürich Airport).
- From Geneva: direct trains to Bern take about 2 hours, running several times per hour from Genève-Cornavin (and directly from Geneva Airport).
- From Bern itself: no train needed — just make your way to the Hauptgebäude directly (see "Within Bern" below).
Tickets can be bought via the SBB website/app or from vending machines at the station, and paid for using Swiss francs, euro banknotes, debit cards with the Maestro logo, or all major credit cards.
By car
The Hauptgebäude sits right next to Bern's main railway station, so the easiest option by far is to leave your car at the Bahnhof Parking (the railway station car park) and walk the last stretch — see "Within Bern" below for the short route up to the building. Coming from the motorway (A1/A12), leave at exit Bern Neufeld or Bern Forsthaus and follow the signs into the city centre / Bahnhof.
If you'd rather park closer to the building itself, be sure to carry a parking disk: much of the city, including the area around the university, lies in the so-called "blue zones," where parking is normally limited to about 1.5 hours. Longer-duration permits (4 hours / 24 hours) are available from Bernmobil ticket machines. Using a public multi-storey car park is convenient but comes at a higher price.
Within Bern
Regardless of how you arrive, you'll end up at Bern Hauptbahnhof — note that the station has two separate exits, on opposite sides of the tracks, so the route differs depending on which one you come out of:
1. Bahnhofplatz exit (the historic main entrance, city-centre side): Take the main underpass ("Hauptunterführung") in the direction of platforms 12/13, following signs toward "Universität." At the end of the underpass, take one of the elevators up to the park known as Grosse Schanze. From there the Hauptgebäude is right in front of you, across the square. Get walking directions on Google Maps →
2. Welle exit (the footbridge/"Welle7" exit, Bubenbergplatz/Schanzenstrasse side): From the Welle footbridge (reached via the escalators/elevators over the tracks), take the stairs or lift down on the north side and cross toward Grosse Schanze; the Hauptgebäude is just on the other side of the square. Get walking directions on Google Maps →
Either way, once you reach the Hauptgebäude: enter through the main entrance (not a side entrance), go up the stairs to the 2nd floor keeping to the right, then take the stairs or elevator up to floor "K" — this brings you to the reception area of the Kuppelraum (dome room).
Alternatively, Bus No. 20 (direction "Länggasse") from the train station stops at "Universität," right by the building; the walk from either exit takes about 5 minutes.
Further helpful information (links)
- Weather forecast - MeteoSwiss
- Tourist information (Bern)
- Lunch menu in Mensa Gesellschaftsstrasse