General Information
Lucerne, your Host City
Lucerne has many faces – gentle, sonorous, colorful, dazzling and ever changing. Lucerne has the culture, the beauty, the unity and the zest of a medieval city, but with all 21st century amenities. Lucerne is the ideal destination for your incentive trip and convention. What would you like to see while you are in Lucerne? The Chapel Bridge with its gabled paintings of old war scenes and the adjacent quaint quarters with little streets ranging and changing from silence to overflowing liveliness? Lucerne – the mighty gateway to the South, flanked by the two proud mountains Pilatus and Rigi, and the panoramic array of the snow-covered Alps. The choice is yours. For further information about Lucerne, visit www.luzern.org
Climare and Attire
The relatively low medium temperature of 10°C (50°F) should not discourage you. Warm and cold temps are fairly well balanced with the changing seasons.
Average temperature:
| low | high | |||||
| June | + 14 °C 57°F | + 27°C 80°F | ||||
| July | + 15 °C 59 °F | + 29 °C 84 °F | ||||
| August | + 16 °C 61 °F | + 29 °C 84 °F |
Shopping
Lucerne is a wonderful place to shop. While strolling down the narrow streets that feed our city's airy squares, enjoy the sheer multiplicity of shops and boutiques displaying all kind of exquisite goods – there's surely something to suit everyone. Something typically Swiss? Exclusive watches and jewellery of world renown, attractive fashions and stylish accessories? No problem! And do not miss Swiss chocolate! Gather your strength for a shopping expedition in any of our many cafés or restaurants. In Lucerne, everything is at hand, and the old-town centre is pedestrian zone. Shopping can't possibly be any more beautiful than this.
Opening hours:
| Mon-Wed | 8.00-18.30 | |
| Thu+ Fri | 8.00-21.00 | |
| Sat | 8.00-16.00 | |
| Sun | in summer some shops open at 11.00 |
VAT Refund
In Switzerland there is a 7.6% value-added tax (VAT) on goods, which is included in the sale price. Foreign visitors are entitled to a refund of the VAT on purchases over CHF 400.00 / € 267.00 Ask for form no. 1149 in the shop.
Currency exchange
The franc is the currency and legal tender of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The smaller denomination, which is worth a hundredth of a franc, is called “Rappen”. Most hotels and shops in Lucerne do accept Euros, but only in bank notes.
Change at the train station SBB phone +41 51 227 36 46
Opening hours:
| Mon-Fri | 8.00-18.30 | |
| Sat | 8.00-17.00 | |
| Sun | 9.00-17.00 |
As per September 2007 the CHF was worth US$ 0.85 or € 0.61.
Electricity
European electrical plugs (with 2 or 3 prongs) are all 230 volt. Adapters must be used with most foreign appliances.
Internet corner/Internet station
| Internet corner: | Weinmarkt 15; Lucerne | ||
| phone +41 41 412 00 44 | |||
| Interet station: | At the Tourist Information | ||
| At the train station, Lucerne | |||
| Wireless Lan | A´t the KKL, Culture and Convention Centre, Lucerne | ||
| Pre-paid cards are available at the KKL reception |
Letters of invitation
Depending on their country of citizenship, some participants may require an official letter of invitation to the congress to support their application for an entry visa to Switzerland, or a letter to assist their application for a local grant. Please contact the IFHE Office, Kaiser-Friedrich- Strasse 13, D-53113 Bonn, Germany, +49 288 921 25 90, www.ifhe.org, office@
ifhe.org. Please note that a letter of invitation does not imply any commitment on the part of the organisers for the payment of any expenses on behalf of the participant.
VISA Information
For an overview of visa information for entry into Switzerland from each country please follow the link to the Federal Office of Imigration or ask the Swiss embassy in your country.
For more information please click the link below
Ufficio federale della migrazione
Insurance
The organiser cannot accept responsibility for accidents that might occur. Participants should purchase travel insurance before leaving their country. Insurance cover purchased should typically cover accidental loss of belongings, medical costs in case of injury or illness, and other possible risks of international travel.