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General Information
About Gothenburg
Gothenburg, situated in south-western Sweden on the shores of the Kattegat Strait, on both banks of
the Götaälv River, is  Sweden's second largest city and its leading port and commercial centre. Cultural
life in Gothenburg is found through the art museum, annual film festival, amusement park Liseberg
and free theatres. Its economy is largely dependent on a number of major industries including motor
vehicles (Volvo), the manufacture of ball bearings and the chemical industry.
Gothenburg is a relatively young town, having received its municipal charter from Gustavus Adolphus
only in 1621. There had been four earlier settlements in the area, but all had been destroyed either
by war or by fire. The early development of the town was much influenced by the Dutch settlers who
had been brought in. The town quickly grew into Sweden's largest port, engaged particularly in the
shipment of timber and iron. During Napoleon's continental blockade (1806) it was the focal point for
British trade with northern Europe.
 Gothenburg’s heyday as an international port began in the early 20th century with the development
of transatlantic traffic, and it is now the base of about a quarter of the Swedish merchant fleet. With
over 20km/12.5miles of quays, the port - which is rarely ice-bound - is the largest in northern Europe,
and can accommodate tankers of up to 225,000 tons. The people of Gothenburg are open-minded
and liberally disposed, and have always looked towards the West: in their eyes Stockholm is in Siberia.
Gothenburg has built a bright new global reputation as one of Northern Europe´s most exciting and
above all enjoyable gastronomic hubs. Gothenburg is a friendly and pleasant city of convenient size,
where most of the many sights and attractions of international magnitude are located within easy
walking distance, as are most shops, restaurants and cafés.
Some of the main sites of interest in Gothenburg are the Kungsportsavenyn (main boulevard),
Gothenburg Museum of Art, Gothenburg Botanical Garden, Natural History Museum and the most
popular destination - Southern Gothenburg Archipelago, only accessible by boat.
Source: www.visitsweden.com
Climate and Clothing
Gothenburg has an oceanic climate. At the beginning of September, temperatures are quite cool,
ranging between 9°C and 16°C (48°F and 61°F), and high precipitations can be expected.
Communication
For international calls to Sweden, dial the international code +46 and the correspondent’s number (without the 0).
Credit cards / Cash machines
Credit cards are widely accepted in Gothenburg by numerous hotels, restaurants, shops and petrol
stations. The accepted credit cards are indicated by their logos displayed on the exterior facade of the
respective business (usually on the entrance door). Cash machines are easily available in most areas.
Be prepared to present a picture ID when using a credit card.
Currency
The local currency is the Krona (pl. kronor). 1 Krona = 100 Öre. Approximate exchange rate: 1 EUR =
9.35 SEK. Most banks, the manned ones, can exchange foreign currency. Credit cards are widely
accepted in Sweden and the exchange rate is usually better than for cash or travellers cheques. It is
advisable to find out what the commission is before proceeding with the transaction.
Customs
There are no limitations on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into the country. The
following items may be imported into Sweden without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 100
cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l spirits over 22 per cent or 2l fortified or sparkling wine,
2l wine and 32l beer; a reasonable quantity of perfume; gifts up to a value of SKr 1 700. Travellers
must be over 18 years of age to import any cigarettes or tobacco products; and over 20 years of age
to import any alcoholic beverages. These regulations are strictly enforced.
Electricity
Sweden has 230-volt AC, 50Hz current. Visitors
will need an adaptor for electric appliances,
whereas North Americans need a transformer in
order to use their 110/125V appliances.
230V / 50Hz
Emergency numbers
For all emergencies, please dial 112.
Language
Swedish is the official language in Sweden. English is common in hotels and tourist places and also
spoken by most of the inhabitants.
Official Carrier
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Save up to 20% on travel with the Star Alliance network
The Star Alliance™ member airlines are pleased to be appointed as the Official Airline Network for the ESPEN.
To obtain the Star Alliance Conventions Plus discounts, please quote the event code SK21S11 when calling the reservation office of a participating Star Alliance member airline.
For booking office information please visit: www.staralliance.com/conventionsplus
- Choose “For delegates”
- Under “Delegates login” enter the Event code
- Choose one of the participating airlines listed
- Call the respective reservation contact listed and quote the Event Code when booking the ticket
Registered participants plus one accompanying person travelling internationally to the event can be granted a discount of up to 20%, depending on the fare and class of travel.
The participating airlines for this event are:
Adria Airways, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Blue1, bmi, Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS International Air Lines, TAM Airlines, TAP Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, United, US Airways
Discounts are offered on international flights on most published business and economy class fares, excluding website/internet fares, senior and youth fares, group fares and Round the World fares.
Please note: For travel from Japan and New Zealand, special fares or discounts are
offered by the participating airlines on their own network.
SAS Conference discount on Domestic routes.
SAS will offer you 10% conference discount on all published fares*. Simply log in with the designated event code at SAS Conference Fare Booking tool and book your flight on SAS, Blue1 and Widerøe.
*except 2% on the lowest Economy fares
For more information visit www.flysas.com/conventions
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Public transportation
Gothenburg has a very modern and efficient public transportation network which includes an elaborate
tramway system, buses, and ferries. The city has over 200 trams, covering 11 different routes, all of
which connect to other forms of transport. Gothenburg also bills itself as having "the world's most
modern public transportation system", with electronic signs at all tram, bus, and ferry stops telling
passengers exactly when the next one is coming and notifying riders of any traffic snarls in the system.
The information posted on the trams and stops is in Swedish only, so you should have a good idea of
how the trip should go before starting. www.vasttrafik.se/en
Safety
Gothenburg is a quite safe city. However, beware of pickpockets. As always, do not leave valuable items
in your car or in a cloakroom, and watch your bag in crowded places. Most shops and all major taxi
companies accept credit and debit cards, so there is no need to carry a lot of cash.
Shopping
Department stores and most shops are open from:
Monday - Friday 09:30-18:00
Saturday 09:30-13:00/16:00
Sunday (department stores) 12:00-16:00
In Sweden, many convenience stores (“närbutiker”) are open 07:00-23:00 in major cities, such as
Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.
Taxis
The concierge of your hotel can call a taxi for you, or you may want to call the following taxi companies:
“Taxi Göteborg”: +46 (0)31 650 000 or “Taxikedjan” +46 (0)911-922 66.
Gothenburg’s taxis are one way of getting around in the city, although the meter ticks away alarmingly
when you are stuck in the rush hour traffic. You can share the front seat with the driver if you wish.
There is an initial charge when starting the journey. There is a slightly higher rate per kilometre if leaving
the city limits. If you pay by credit card, it is necessary to inform the driver in advance.
Note! There are a lot of so called "Svart taxis" in Gothenburg. That means a person driving an ordinary
car without a taxi license. Usually they come up to you asking you if you would like a "Svart taxi". We
do not recommend you to take these taxis.
Time
Sweden follows Central European Time (CET) which is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST). At the time of the Conference, summer
daylight saving will be in operation which is two hours ahead of GMT.
Tipping
Service charges are always included and extra gratuities are not necessary unless you wish to show
your appreciation for a good meal or special service. Be guided by the type of establishment and the
service you receive. A good rule in taxis is to even out the total kroner amount of the fare. Porters
and coatroom attendants often charge fixed fees. Doormen at hotels and restaurants are tipped
modestly in Sweden.
Travel Insurance
A travel insurance policy to cover theft, loss and medical problems is recommended. The Organising
Secretariat as well as ESPEN will not be held liable for illness, accidents or thefts suffered by
Participants or Accompanying Persons during the Congress or their stay in Sweden before, during or
after the Congress. Participants are strongly recommended to seek insurance coverage for health and
accident, lost luggage and trip cancellation.
VAT
The standard VAT rate in Sweden is 25%. Everybody who visits Sweden as a tourist and who is
not a resident of an EU country is eligible for the VAT reimbursement (More information at
www.globalrefund.com).
Note that value added tax in Sweden is almost always included in the price that is indicated in shops.
Visitors from outside the European Union are able to reclaim the VAT on goods purchased, either at
the airport or at the border. Look for the tax-free sign in shops and please remember to ask for the
VAT reclaim form at the time of the purchase. Global Refund Sverige has around 15’000 affiliated
shops and department stores. Minimum purchase is 200 SEK. When purchasing the goods, a Global
Refund Cheque is issued and your items are sealed. The Global Refund Cheque can be cashed upon
departure from the EU at any exit point - ports, ferry terminals, airports, border crossings, etc. The
cheque is valid during the month of purchase and during the 3 following months. For additional
information, please contact:
Global Refund Sverige
E-mail: taxfree@se.globalrefund.com
Visas
If you are an EU citizen, you must either present a passport or an ID card valid for the duration of your
stay in order to enter Sweden for tourist visits of up to three months. Citizens of other countries must
have a valid passport. Some non-EU citizens are required to produce a visa. Please contact your travel
agent or the nearest Swedish diplomatic authority for further information. Should you need a letter of
invitation to obtain an Entry Visa, please contact MCI (see page Contacts section). Please note that we
cannot enter into correspondence with the Swedish authorities on your behalf and any invitation letter
does not imply any financial liability on our part.
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