A few formal but relevant words here also on visa, travel funds, liability, and insurance:

If you are a national of a country outside the European Union (EU), you should check whether or not a visa is required (and possibly a special health insurance for receiving a visa in some countries). In most cases, fortunately, a valid passport will be sufficient. Should you require to receive an official invitation in order to obtain a visa please contact us; we have prepared a suitable official letter, which we can sign and post or fax to you if needed.

Should your require such an official invitation for raising travel funds or for administrative purposes at your place, you may also contact us for this letter. Travel funds, or partial travel funds, from our side will be available only for a very limited number of participants, mainly from eastern European and developing countries; these will be handled by individual contacts on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to approach national sources at your place for funding (e.g., NASA and NASDA may provide some funding; official sponsorship may be confirmed soon).

On liability, we note that we cannot accept, and we thus disclaim, any liability whatsoever for personal accident, loss or theft of property, or damage to property, which you may incur as a result of your participation in the workshop. We, therefore, advise you to have arranged appropriate insurance cover for the period of your travel and attendance (which best should not only cover all travel-related matters but also potential cancellation costs).

Above all formalities, however, we sincerely wish, and will do our best, that your stay will become a great and positive memory, both scientifically and in all other respects. Welcome to Graz!

You will arrive at Graz-Thalerhof airport, which is most frequently approached from the major airports of Vienna, Frankfurt/Main, Munich, or Zurich. After arrival you may proceed to the Workshop location or your Hotel by bus, a combination of train and bus, or by taxi, the latter being the most convenient and recommended choice (as bus and train schedules are not too frequent).

If choosing bus, start with Bus Line 630 or 631 to the central tramway and bus station Jakominiplatz in the heart of the city. From there it is possible to take Bus Line 39 or 31 to reach the Workshop location (leave Line 39 at stop Uni-Mensa and Line 31 at stop Geidorfplatz). Also your Hotel will usually be within easy reach from station Jakominiplatz.
If combining train and bus, go by train from the airport train station (about 5 min walking distance from the arrival hall) to the central train station Graz Hauptbahnhof. From Graz Hauptbahnhof take Bus Line 58 or 63 to reach the Workshop location (leave Line 58 at stop Mozartgasse and Line 63 at stop Universität). As Graz Hauptbahnhof is served by various tramway and bus lines, it will usually also be not difficult to proceed to your Hotel from there. Information on the way from the central train station to the University is also provided via Universität Graz Anreiseinformation.
Taxis depart right in front of the arrrival hall (at the right hand side after passing exit doors) and will take you to the Workshop location with an about 20-30 min drive (price around 15,- EUR). Your Hotel, if located in the city center area, will usually be reachable within similar duration for a similar price.

You will arrive at the central train station Graz Hauptbahnhof. From there it is possible to take Bus Line 58 or 63 to reach the Workshop location (leave Line 58 at stop Mozartgasse and Line 63 at stop Universität). As Graz Hauptbahnhof is served by various tramway and bus lines (the Tramway Lines 3 and 6 proceed straight to the city center, for example), it will usually also be easy to proceed to your Hotel from there. Information on the way from the central train station to the University is also provided via Universität Graz Anreiseinformation. Taxis depart right in front of Graz Hauptbahnhof. A ride to the Workshop location or city center may cost around 5,- to 7,- EUR (duration of ride similar to going by bus or tramway).

You will arrive at Graz via the A2 or the A9 highway. We recommend that you consult the detailed street maps at the official Graz Tourism Website for detailed orientation. Information on the way from A2 highway exit Graz-Ost to the University is also provided via Universität Graz Anreiseinformation.

The existing dense public transport system of tramway and bus lines is generally the most convenient and reasonable everyday choice to reach the Workshop location, a Hotel, or every other place in town. Most lines run until midnight and start again at 6 a.m. latest.

Building: The workshop will take place at the ground floor meeting facilities of the modern Geography&Mathematics Building of the University of Graz, Heinrichstrasse 36. This Building is part of the University Campus, which is located within only 10-15 min walking distance from city center.

Infrastructure & Facilities: The main meeting hall infrastructure meets all professional requirements including sloped seat rows, two viewgraph projectors, slide projector, and high-end video beamer equipment. A 2nd hall of same size and functionality is available as "backup" should any problems occur in the primary hall.
A computer & business center is available nearby the main hall (cross the poster area), which hosts auxiliary on-site facilities like e-mail terminals (4 stations), desks equipped with Ethernet ports & power supply for participant laptops (4 desks), workshop fax (+43-316-380-2055) and phone (+43-316-380-2050), and other office support. Permanent staff allocated to this center ensures proper maintenance of all facilities and support to participants during the full week.
Furthermore, smaller technically well equipped meeting rooms are available for optional splinter meetings (which may be scheduled Friday, September 20, afternoon).

Book Exhibit: As an interesting sideline, participants will have access to, and are welcome to visit, a Springer Verlag and Cambridge University Press Book Exhibition in the poster area of the 2nd European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology, which takes place in the same week close-by in another Campus building (see map below). Availability of an attractive book stock covering also all fields related to the OPAC-1 Workshop theme has been arranged with both Publishers.

This restaurant is known for its huge-sized "Wiener Schnitzel". Hard to eat all alone!

Besides small dishes like Salads and Pasta, you will get here also Pizzas. Good food.

Traditional Austrian food is served in a "Gastgarten" (outdoor garden), which is among the most beautiful ones in Graz.

Austrian dishes, like different kinds of "Pfandln" (food in pans), are served with a great selection of Beers (maybe nothing for lunch time, but certainly for informal evening sessions).

A quite good Italian. Wide selection of well cooked Italian food served in a pleasing atmosphere.

The University canteen, but more or less a restaurant since refurbishment in the late nineties. Lunch spot for students and professors alike, reasonably priced, varied and generally good food.

A classic Austrian, in the place since ever. Good selection of smaller and larger Austrian dishes, including quickly served menues of the day.

The above is only a selection, there's more around. You will, for example, also find close-by a lot of partly "old-fashioned" but charming cafes like Cafe Fotter. There's also stylish modern bars like Cafe Mocca or Harrach Cafe, however. One cafe you should not miss, especially on a nice warm day, is the Parkhousecafe (or Stadtparkcafe). The cafe is situated in the middle of the Stadtpark (main city park). During daytime you can relax in the shadows of beautiful, huge old trees. Once a week you can listen to and see live bands, mainly from the Styrian modern music scene.

Whatever your preferences are, it is certain that you will always find a good and fitting culinary place given the large number and variety of restaurants, bistros, bars, and cafes both nearby the campus and in the city center area. If needed best get more information during a coffee break chat from the local staff. Then you will, for example, certainly hear the name "Braun de Praun", an old and famous small restaurant with more than 500 (!) different dishes. Well, maybe a few dozens less than that, but after the first three hundred you will stop counting anyway...