33rd ICTAC – EU Agencies ICT Advisory Committee Meeting (ICTAC33)

Arriving in Thessaloniki (SKG): How to get from the Airport to your Hotel

Taxis are always available outside the main building of the airport. On average a taxi will drive you to your hotel in about 20-30 minutes. Prices range from 20,00 - 25,00 Euro. A double fare is applicable between midnight and 05:00 am. Please quote your hotel to your driver.

City Bus (number 01Χ και 01Ν): This service operates 24 hours a day and connects Thessaloniki Airport to City Center and the Central Coach Station. Route lasts approximately 40 minutes depending on the traffic. The cost of the ticket is 2 Euro and can be purchased on the bus from the automatic vending machines. You need to have the Euro coins as the machines don’t provide change from notes. Online information oasth.gr

Meeting Venue

Cedefop - Conference rooms: EUROPA, Rousseau, Montessori

Address: Europe 123, 570 01 Thessaloniki (Pylea), Greece | Telephone: (+30) 2310490111

Access to the Building: Requires a piece of identity: passport or ID card. Please make sure you bring it with you!

*Internet facilities: Free Wi-Fi connection will be available.

Shuttle Bus – Organised Transfers

Transfers will be provided by Cedefop according to the following timetable:

Thursday 16 May 2019 08:00 am: In front of Hotel Electra Palace (Aristotelous Square) Route: Aristotelous Square – Makedonia Palace - Cedefop Pick up points: 08:00 am – Aristotelous Square 08:15 am – Makedonia Palace	Friday 17 May 2019 08:00 am: In front of Hotel Electra Palace (Aristotelous Square) Route: Aristotelous Square – Makedonia Palace - Cedefop Pick up points: 08:00 am – Aristotelous Square 08:15 am – Makedonia Palace
For both meeting days, the bus will return participants to the centre (Aristotelous square, in front of Electra). Round-trip includes one (1) stop at Macedonia Palace hotel.

In case you miss the Shuttle Service, to access Cedefop please take a taxi at your own cost:

Cedefop is easy to access by taxi within maximum 30 minutes from any part of the city, the city’s suburbs and about 10 minutes from the airport. In general, taxis are easy to find, at the airport and all over the city, taxis are blue-white and easy to stop in the street or be called by your hotel reception.

Please quote to your driver: Cedefop Europe 123, Pylea | Telephone: (+30) 2310490111

City Map for the ICTAC 33rd meeting

You may find an interactive map here for your convenience.

Secretariat desk during the Conference

The Secretariat desk at Cedefop will operate:

Thursday 16 May 2019	08:00-17:00	Cedefop
Friday 17 May 2019	08:30-16:30	Cedefop

Contact Persons

Please do not hesitate to communicate with us should you need any help or assistance before or during the ICTAC 33^rd meeting in the following mobile phone:

Accommodation - Hotels

List of hotels with negotiated special Cedefop rates (mostly under the EU rate) subject to availability. Please mention the code name : CEDEFOP upon reservation. Should have any problems please contact the event secretariat.

Travel and accommodation costs

No costs, allowances and/or indemnities for travel and accommodation needs of representatives from the Community Institutions will be covered.

Dinner

The traditional dinner will take place on the 16th May 2019 at 19h:30, at Tria Gourounakia tavern (within walking distance from most downtown hotels).

The cost per person is 35 euros and it will be handed upon registration to Ms Chryssa Zekou the first day of the meeting (16th May).

To ease the registration process, participants are kindly requested to have the exact amount.

Thessaloniki - Greece

Time

Greece is CET +1 and 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2) throughout the year.

Language

Greek is the official language but English is widely spoken as well as German and French.

Currency

The Greek currency is EURO. Credit cards are widely used in most establishments. Most currencies and traveller’s cheques can easily be changed either at banks, hotels or money-changers with some handling charges.

Power supply

The standard current in Greece is 220 volts. Plugs are European standard with two round pins.

The city of Thessaloniki

Set on the northern shores of the Thermaikos Gulf that opens into the Aegean Sea, Thessaloniki is approximately 550 kilometers north of Athens and in close proximity to Halkidiki's beautiful beaches. It is the metropolis of the Region of Macedonia, one of Europe's oldest cities and the second largest city in Greece.

Founded in 316 BC by Cassander, King of Macedonia, the city was named after his wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander the Great and has been a crossroad of cultures and civilizations for over 2300 years. Few other places have such a density of outstanding historic monuments as Thessaloniki. The atmosphere is a fusion of Greek, Balkan and South-eastern European influences that co-exist harmoniously, creating a multicultural and cosmopolitan environment, where visitors from all over the world feel welcome.

Thessaloniki has the largest university in Greece, Aristotle University, which is one of the most established universities in the academic community in Europe. The city possesses the second largest and most important port in Greece, the International Fair which attracts commercial interest from all over the world, offers cultural events, theatres, Modern Art galleries, libraries, an immense variety of high standard recreational facilities and examples of modern architecture, art nouveau and eclecticism.

A few of the city's many attractions include the White Tower (15th century), the Arch of Galerius (4th century BC) with its magnificent frescoes, Thessaloniki's many churches, in particular the Rotonda (4th century) dedicated to St George, containing mosaics of the period, and the Agia Sofia (8th century), which was converted into a mosque during Ottoman rule. In 1988, 15 monuments of Thessaloniki were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Weather in May              

http://www.meteo.gr/meteoplus/cf-En.cfm?city_id=1

The climate in Thessaloniki is Mediterranean with a definite seasonal variation. Average daily temperature stays at a comfy 24 degrees Celsius, with highs reaching above 26 and lows at around 22. May can be rainy in Thessaloniki.

People & Life

Thessaloniki is a popular destination. You will certainly enjoy a pleasant and interesting stay in the city. People are friendly and happy to help with any questions. The atmosphere is unique during the day in the commercial and shopping center, but especially during the evening, in the wide variety of bars, restaurants and theatres for entertainment. Thessaloniki is renowned for its unique location, along the Thermaikos Gulf, its sunsets, its long history, its monuments and museums as well as its distinguished cuisine.

What to see

Thessaloniki is host to an impressive array of museums, cultural organizations, archaeological sites and monuments. A list includes: 

Monuments & Churches

• The Arch of Galerius (Kamara)
• The Rotonda (D. Gounari str)
• The Roman Forum
• Agios Demetrios church and the crypt
• The Old Walls
• Agia Sofia church (Agias Sofias street)
• The Ahiropiitos
• Vlatadon Monastery (Upper Town)

Museums & Galleries

• Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
• The Museum of Byzantine Culture
• State Museum of Contemporary Art
• Thessaloniki Museum of Photography
• Thessaloniki Technology Park
• Museum of Macedonian Ethnography

Night Out

You won't wonder where to get a drink in a town with this many bars! Thessaloniki is by far the liveliest city in Northern Greece, maybe even the whole country. Most of the bars are situated at the old seafront (Nikis Ave.) and around, many of the taverns are either downtown or in the old city (kastra). You can also find numerous bars and taverns at Krini, an area in eastern Thessaloniki, or you can visit the bars located in the big shopping centers just out of the city en route to the airport. You can find also a lot of nightclubs, bars and restaurants in Ladadika, the neighbourhood with the old warehouses next to the port.

Shopping in Thessaloniki

The city center is one of the most popular shopping areas in Thessaloniki. Shopping malls and department stores are available both in the city center as well as in other city districts. Some of the best – known shopping malls can be found in eastern Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki Airport Area) and are easily accessible by ring road (public transportation and taxis).

The commercial market of Thessaloniki (shops, boutiques, etc) operates as follows:

Monday / Wednesday / Saturday:	09:00 – 15:00
Tuesday / Thursday / Friday:	09:00 – 14:30 17:30 – 21:00

Shopping Malls and big department stores operate as follows:

Monday-Friday:	09:00– 21:00
Saturday:	09:00 – 18:00 or 20:00

Banks in Thessaloniki

Greek and International banks can be found in the city center and all popular districts of Thessaloniki. Most banks operate Monday-Friday 08:00 – 14:00. Some banks located in the city center remain open until 19:00 hrs or operate for the public on Saturday morning (please contact your hotel reception for detailed information). All banks are closed on Sundays and Public Holidays. Currency exchange rates are clearly displayed in every bank that accepts currency exchange.

Useful Websites

• Discover Thessaloniki
• Thessalonikiconventionbureau.gr
• visitgreece.gr
• saloniki.org

Useful Phones

Police  Tourist Police Station Ambulance Emergency Phone*  Phone book information

100 +30 2310554870 / 2310554871 166 112 11888

*After a recorded message in English and Greek, an operator receives the call in English, French or Greek, puts the caller through to the necessary service, and assists with interpretation, if necessary.