ITiCSE 2014 location info

Uppsala

Uppsala's profile as a city of learning, with close proximity to Stockholm and Arlanda Airport and a wide variety of modern and historical experiences lays the foundation for a winning concept for both national and international meetings.

Uppsala is the fourth largest city in Sweden, with a steadily increasing population of around 200,000 inhabitants. The city retains the charm of a small town while offering major urban opportunities and attractions. Here are two universities, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Uppsala University, and Uppsala is considered to be the religious and historic centre of Sweden. The city has a solid base of knowledge and tradition from which to progress. At the same time, the atmosphere is youthful, and more than 40,000 university students are a significant factor to this vivacity.

Here is also Sweden's oldest botanical gardens, the Garden of Linnaeus, founded by the great natural scientist himself. Carl von Linné's (Carolus Linnaeus's) professorial residence is situated in the garden. Just outside of the city you can visit his summer residence, Linnaeus' Hammarby.

Uppsala also boasts the largest cathedral in Scandinavia, one of Sweden's most famous locations of prehistoric artifacts (Old Uppsala), the unique anatomical theatre built in 1600's by Olof Rudbeck the Elder, the great university library (Carolina Rediviva) with the Silver Bible, Uppsala Castle dating back from the mid-1500's with the Hall of State, and many more marvelous sites and attractions.

The city's geographical location with only 20 minutes to Stockholm-Arlanda international airport and 45 minutes to Stockholm, the capital, has made Uppsala an attractive place for meetings and to establish new companies. Together with the two universities, Campus Uppsala with more than 300 companies specializing in biomedicine, IT, environmental studies, energy research, materials science, food provision and management, offers a modern and expansive environment for development and enterprise. The city is surrounded by forests and natural resorts and is located next to the lake Mälaren. This offers plenty of opportunities for short term recreation and sports during an exciting and challenging week of Congress.

In June, the weather is pleasant and the temperature is 15–25 °C with a little rain to be expected at some point during the week. Days are very long and the sun rises at 3:30 am and sets at 10:15 pm.

Travel to Uppsala

Uppsala is located 40 minutes north of Stockholm. Uppsala can easily be reached from the four airports in the area. The organisers cannot take responsibility for late schedule changes or price changes. For updates, please check the airport websites. You can reach Uppsala from the four different airports as follows:

Upon arrival at Stockholm-Arlanda International Airport

Stockholm-Arlanda International Airport is located between Uppsala and Stockholm, 36 km south of Uppsala.
Bus 801 runs between Arlanda and central Uppsala once every hour between 1 a.m and 4 a.m, and twice every hour between 4 a.m and 1 a.m. The journey takes about 45 minutes and costs SEK 100 (approximately EUR 11). You can buy the ticket with credit card on the bus (Am ex and Diners are not accepted). You cannot pay the ticket cash on the bus. There are vending machines at Arlanda airport terminals 2, 4 and 5 where you can buy a one way ticket for the bus. Credit card only. There is a small reduction of the price if you buy it from the vending machine in advance of the journey, compared to buying the ticket on board the bus. (SEK 90 appr EUR 10) ("Flygbussarna" connects Arlanda and Stockholm city. It is not recommended to go to Stockholm to reach Uppsala from Arlanda.)
Trains leave Arlanda for Uppsala Central Station directly from Sky City.

Frequency: please consult the timetables online www.resplus.se.
Journey time: 15-20 minutes.
Cost: 90-185 SEK (approximately EUR 10-19) if ticket is purchased in advance.
Ticket Desk: SJ Resebutik/Travel Office, in Sky City (next to Terminal 5).

Taxis leave from outside the arrival hall.

Journey time: about 30 minutes
Cost: about SEK 460 (approx. EUR 50). Ask the driver for a fixed price ("fast pris") in advance. You can pay by credit card or by cash.
You can make an advance reservation with Uppsala Taxi: +46 18 100 000 or with Taxi Kurir, Uppsala: +46 18 123456. You can ask for a driver to be waiting for you in the arrival hall.

Upon arrival at Stockholm-Bromma Airport

Stockholm-Bromma airport is located 9 km west of Stockholm Central Station and 70 km south of Uppsala.
The airport bus runs between Bromma airport and Stockholm city bus terminal, next to the central station.

Frequency: the timetable runs to connect with flight arrivals and departures.
Cost: single ticket: SEK 79 (approximately. EUR 8) or a return ticket: SEK 150 (approximately EUR 15).
Journey time to Stockholm: 20 minutes (depending on traffic).
Ticket Desk: you buy your ticket from the ticket-vending machines or on-line on the flygbussarna.se website. E-ticket purchased on-line is valid for 12 months from the purchase date.

From Stockholm Central Station to Uppsala Central Station:

Frequency: 2 trains per hour from 6 am to 11 pm.
Journey time: 40 minutes.
Cost: about SEK 65-80 (approximately EUR 8).
Ticket Desk: you buy your ticket from a ticket desk in the main hall of the station or from a ticket-vending machine on the platform.

Upon arrival at Stockholm-Skavsta Airport, city of Nyköping

Stockholm-Skavsta airport is located 110 km south of Stockholm Central Station and 177 km south of Uppsala. Airport shuttle buses run between Skavsta Airport and Stockholm Central Station. Airport busses (Flygbussarna):

Frequency: about 30 minutes after every flight arrival. The bus waits for delayed flights. Timetable online: www.flygbussarna.se
Journey time to Stockholm: about 80 minutes.
Cost: SEK 149 (approximately EUR 16) single ticket, SEK 259 (approximately EUR 28) round trip.
Ticket Desk: you buy your ticket from the ticket-vending machines or on-line on the flygbussarna.se website. E-ticket purchased on-line is valid for 3 months from the purchase date.

From Stockholm Central Station to Uppsala Central Station:

Frequency: 2 trains per hour from 6 am to 11 pm.
Journey time: 40 minutes.
Cost: about SEK 65-80 (approximately EUR 8).
Ticket Desk: you buy your ticket from a ticket desk in the main hall of the station or from a ticket-vending machine on the platform.

Upon arrival at Stockholm-Västerås Airport, city of Västerås

Västerås airport is located 77 km west of Uppsala. Bus:

By bus:
- No direct shuttle buses to Uppsala.
- Shuttle taxi from the airport to Västerås Central station.
- Regional bus 773 or 774 from Västerås to Uppsala (in Swedish) Journey time: 1 hour 40 minutes. Cost: about SEK 120 (approximately EUR 12).
By train:
- Shuttle taxi from the airport to Västerås Central station
- There are no direct trains Västerås to Uppsala, but you can reach Uppsala by switching lines in Enköping or Sala. Please see www.sj.se for timetables and prices.

General information

Official Language

The language of the conference is English.

Climate and Clothing

It is summer in Uppsala in June and the temperatures can vary from 15 to 25 °C. Please note there may be occasional rain. The organisers suggest that you bring a jacket or pullover and an umbrella or raincoat.

Weather information and forecasts: www.smhi.se (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute)

Passport and Visas

Delegates are advised to contact the nearest embassy, consulate or travel agency for information about the passport and visa requirements from their country for entry to Sweden.

Local Currency

The Swedish monetary unit is the Swedish krona (SEK), divided into 100 öre. Major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. There are several currency exchange offices and cash dispensers at Stockholm Arlanda International Airport and in Uppsala. Exchange rates may vary. To see current exchange rates, please visit oanda.com or x-rates.com

Electricity In Sweden

The electrical voltage used is 220/230V.

Uppsala University and the IT Department

Uppsala University is Scandinavia's oldest university with over 40,000 students, 600 full professors, and an additional 2,800 teaching and research personnel. Eight Nobel laureates have been connected with the University. Most of these prizes have gone to scientists in the fields of physics and chemistry.

The Department of Information Technology, who is populating the local organisation chairs, hosts a broad range of research activities in computer science, scientific computing, automated control, signal processing, and other related areas. The department has about 250 employees, of which about 100 are PhD students and about 100 faculty, including 30 full professors. The department awarded 138 PhD and 104 Licentiate degrees between 1999 and 2011, and 3,000 undergraduate students take courses at the department annually. Five research centers are associated with the department. The recently established UPMARC research centre (Uppsala Programming for Multicore Architectures Research Center), awarded by the Swedish Research Council, is the only Linnaeus center in computer science. The department is hosting an Vinn Excellence Center WISENET, conducting multidisciplinary research in wireless networks.