The RR Lyrae 2017 Conference

Maps

Travel to Niepolomice

Niepolomice are located just 20 km from Krakow (Cracow). Krakow is the second largest city in Poland. You can travel to Krakow by air or by train. The International Airport Krakow-Balice (KRK) is located 11 km west of the city center. There are daily direct flights from most European cities.

Bus transportation from the KRK airport to Niepolomice, Sunday, 17th Sep

There will be three buses going from the Cracow-Balice airport (KRK) to Niepolomice. Departure hours are:

• 15:00 - intended for flights that arrive up to 14:30 (flights FR2228, FR4514, SN2547, OS597, AB8204)
• 17:30 - intended for flights that arrive up to 16:55 (flights FR2426, LH1624, KL1995, LO3919, FR8507)
• 19:15 - intended for flights that arrive up to 18:45 (flights LH1368, FR6876, AB8206, LX1370)

In Niepolomice, the bus will stop at the two conference hotels: Hotel Niepolomice and at the Castle Hotel (Guest Houses of the Youth Astronomical Observatory are a short walk from the Castle - see map on the conference web site).

Contact person at the airport: Justyna Put. She will be wearing a blue Youth Astronomical Observatory (Polish: Mlodziezowe Obserwatorium Astronomiczne) T-shirt and a conference id. The meeting point is at the "Eat & Fly" restaurant which should be easy to spot, once you enter the arrival hall.

Travel to Niepolomice from the Krakow main train station (Kraków Główny) - see Local transportation below.

Bus transportation to the KRK airport and Cracow city center from the Venue, Thursday, 21st Sep

There will be two large buses going to the airport and/or Cracow city center. Departure hours (from the Venue) are:

• 11:30 - this bus will go directly to the airport, before the conference ends. It is intended for flights that depart starting from 14:25. It should arrive at the airport at 12:30, the latest.
• 14:00 (after the lunch ending the conference) this bus will first go to the Cracow city center (stop close to the main railway station, Kraków Główny, which is also close to the Old Town) and then will go to the KRK airport. It should arrive at the airport no later than 15:30

Local transportation

In Niepolomice, hotels, Guest Houses, Main Square and Conference Venue are all within short walking distance.

Taxi. Taxi stop in Niepolomice is at the Main Square. If you need a taxi to the airport or to Cracow, it is best to ask at the Reception of the Castle Hotel. They can order a taxi for you. For drives early in the morning or late in the evening, remember to order a taxi well in advance.

Local transportation between Krakow and Niepolomice is served by MPK; bus lines 211, 221 and 301, all go to Niepolomice. Check the ticket prizes and timetables. The convenient bus stop is Niepolomice Rynek. Note that Niepolomice are in zone II, so you need the agglomeration ticket. 90-minute ticket costs 6 PLN. Convenient route planner is jakdojade.pl. It shows detailed route map with bus stops and transfer locations.

Travel to Niepolomice from the Cracow main train station: use jakdojade.pl and set "Dworzec Główny Zachód" as your starting point and "Niepolomice Rynek" as your destination. The convenient route is: bus no 304 in the direction of "Wieliczka Kampus" and then change to bus no 301 (direction "Niepolomice Dworzec") e.g. at the bus stop "Prokocim Szpital".

Direct connections between Krakow and Niepolomice are served by D bus and MATBUS. Check their routes, timetables and regulations here.

Visa information

Citizens of the EU and most of the other countries will not need visa to enter Poland. At the website of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs you will find a list of visa-FREE countries. If your country is not on the list, you will need a visa. Detailed information is here. Let us know if you need any assistance (invitation letter).

Tourist Information

• Visit Niepolomice app: iOS, Android
• Krakow app: iOS, Android
• A guide to Krakow

Foreign exchange, banking facilities

The official national Polish currency is the Polish Zloty (PLN). All the major credit cards are accepted in Poland in places displaying the emblem at the entrance. Currency exchange is available e.g. at the Krakow airport, or in the banks and exchange booth located at the Niepolomice Main Square. The exchange rates applied may vary; the recent mean rates are EUR/PLN=4.3 and USD/PLN=4.1. ATM cash machines can be found at almost each bank or on the street.

Telephone and important numbers

The international code for Poland is 48, the area code for Krakow and its neighbourhood, including Niepolomice, is 12. English is usually spoken at the emergency numbers listed below:

• Ambulance: 999
• Fire Brigade: 998
• Police: 997
• Central help number: 112

Liability and insurance

The organisers cannot accept liability for any personal accidents, loss of belongings or damage to private property of participants and accompanying persons that may occur during the conference. Participants are strongly advised to make their own arrangements to obtain health, travel and property insurance before their departure to the conference.

Electricity

The electricity is 230 V, 50 Hz. Plug and socket types: C and E (see e.g. here)

Time zone

Poland is in the Central European Time Zone. In the summer months clocks are set at GMT+2 hours.

Weather

Check the weather forecast for Niepolomice at ICM meteo or at weather.com.