How to reach the conference location
The best way is to reach the conference is by S-Bahn, line S7, direction to Potsdam if you are traveling from Berlin (direction to Ahrensfelde if you are traveling from Potsdam hbf). The S-Bahn train runs every 10 minutes during most of the day and at greater intervals later at night.
Exit the S-Bahn train at the station "Griebnitzsee" which is adjacent to the University of Potsdam, Griebnitzsee campus. Signs will be posted at the Griebnitzsee platform indicating how to reach the conference facility.
If you come by a DB train into Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the S-Bahn, line S7, passes through the station. Follow the S Bahn symbol to get to the S Bahn platform and take the train in the direction of Potsdam HBF.
If you come by plane to Tegel (TXL), then take either the bus 109 (every 10 mins) or a cab to the Berlin Charlottenburg station (get off the bus at stop "S Charlottenburg Bhf"), and then from there take the S7 line as described above. NOTE: The S-BAHN station in Charlottenburg will be to your left approximately 100 meters away as you exit the bus. Look for the S BAHN symbol near the building. As noted earlier, take the S BAHN, Line 7, in the direction of Potsdam HBF to travel to the conference.
Preferential flight fares with Austrian Airlines
ICSOB-13 has a discount deal with Austrian Airlines for flights in connection to ICSOB.
Ticket Prices
Tickets are multimodal meaning with the same ticket, you can use the bus, tram, S-Bahn (metro) and regional trains. For example, if you purchase a ticket at TXL airport, you are allowed to take the bus to Charlottenburg, and then take the S7 to the University of Potsdam using the same ticket.
- A one-way journey (Einzelfahrausweis) within Berlin requires a Berlin AB ticket (2,40 Euro)
- A one-way journey within Potsdam requires a Potsdam AB ticket (1,90 Euro)
- A one-way journey spanning Berlin and Potsdam (Griebnitzsee is already Potsdam) requires a Berlin ABC ticket (2,60 Euro / 3,10 Euro). Most often, traveling one way from the airport or from a Berlin hotel, this is the ticket you would purchase.
NOTE: You can change the means of transportation, but you cannot go back towards your starting point using the same ticket! (i.e., tickets are not round trip … no "return" is allowed on the same ticket). The place where you started the journey is printed on the ticket when you stamp it. There are controllers who patrol the public transportation and issue fines (approximately 50 Euro) for anyone without a ticket or using their one-way ticket in a roundtrip fashion).
Day tickets allow you to travel on that *same calendar day* as much as you wish within the zones you choose: Berlin AB, Potsdam AB, or ABC (this spans Berlin and Potsdam).
If you plan 3 or more journeys on one day: a day ticket is more convenient than 3 single journey tickets.
You can also purchase a 7 day ticket if you will be staying longer in the Berlin area.
Official sites
- Berlin local transportation company (BVG)
- Potsdam local transportation company (VIP)
- German railway company (Deutsche Bahn)
Arrival by train
Listed below are some example travel routes to the conference facility and to conference hotels.
Flughafen Tegel (Berlin TXL) >> S Griebnitzsee (Potsdam), Conference location
Departures in 10 minutes cycle | Duration: 00:48
one-way journey: 3,10 EUR (Berlin ABC ticket)
| Station | Duration * | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Flughafen Tegel (Airport) | 0 | Bus 109 Direction: S+U Zoologischer Garten via Kurfürstendamm |
| S Charlottenburg Bhf (Berlin) | 18 min | S7 Direction: S Potsdam Hbf |
| S Griebnitzsee Bhf | 48 min |
Flughafen Schönefeld (Berlin SFX) >> S Griebnitzsee (Potsdam), Conference location
Departures in 60 minutes cycle | Duration: 01:04
one-way journey: 3,10 EUR (Berlin ABC ticket)
| Station | Duration * | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Flughafen Schönefeld (Airport) | 0 min | RB14 Direction: Nauen, Bahnhof |
| S Ostbahnhof (Berlin) | 23 min | S7 Direction: S Potsdam Hbf |
| S Griebnitzsee Bhf | 01:04 min |
Other travel routes
Flughafen Tegel (Berlin TXL) >> Berlin Zoologischer Garten (recomm. hotels in Berlin )
Departures in 10 minutes cycle | Duration: 00:19
one-way journey: 2,40 EUR (Berlin AB ticket)
| Station | Duration* | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Flughafen Tegel (Airport) | 0 min | Bus 109 Direction: S+U Zoologischer Garten via Kurfürstendamm |
| S+U Zoologischer Garten (Berlin) | 19 min |
Flughafen Tegel (Berlin TXL) >> Hotel Mercure
Departures in 10 minutes cycle | Duration: 01:04
one-way journey: 3,10 EUR (Berlin AB ticket)
| Station | Duration* | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Flughafen Tegel (Airport) | 0 min | Bus 109 Direction: S+U Zoologischer Garten via Kurfürstendamm |
| S Charlottenburg Bhf (Berlin) | 18 min | S7 Direction: S Potsdam Hbf |
| S Potsdam Hbf | 56 min | Walk |
| Hotel Mercure | 01:04 min |
Flughafen Schönefeld (Berlin SFX) >> Berlin Zoologischer Garten (recomm. hotels in Berlin )
Departures in 60 minutes cycle | Duration: 00:33
one-way journey: 3,10 EUR (Berlin ABC ticket)
| Station | Duration * | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Flughafen Schönefeld (Airport) | 0 min | RB14 Direction: Nauen, Bahnhof |
| S+U Zoologischer Garten (Berlin) | 33 min |
Flughafen Schönefeld (Berlin SFX) >> Hotel Mercure
Departures in 60 minutes cycle | Duration: 01:20
one-way journey: 3,10 EUR (Berlin ABC ticket)
| Station | Duration * | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Flughafen Schönefeld (Airport) | 0 min | RB14 Direction: Nauen, Bahnhof |
| S Ostbahnhof (Berlin) | 17 min | |
| S Potsdam Hbf | 01:12 min | |
| Hotel Mercure | 01:20 min |
Taxi
If you wish to come by taxi, Berlin taxis are usually unfamiliar on campus. The address August-Bebel-Str. 89 is shared by the entire campus, so it is of little help: they follow the navigation system, that sends them far away from our building. The driver will likely insist that that spot is where you wish to go, and might drop you there. Then you can search and walk.
Tell them instead either the coordinates we gave you above, or to bring you to the S-Bahn station Griebnitzsee, and from there navigate according to Google Maps. The S-Bahn station is in fact the best orientation point if you are new on campus.
(However, in general taxis are hardly any faster than the S-Bahn, which races straight through the forest without stops, so there is no definite cab-advantage speedwise).
* average duration