Travel Info - HPCS2017

The International Conference on High Performance Computing & Simulation

(HPCS 2017)

The 15th Annual Meeting

July 17 – 21, 2017

Genoa, Italy

http://hpcs2017.cisedu.info or http://cisedu.us/rp/hpcs17

Technically Sponsored by IEEE

A regular bus service called Volabus connects Cristoforo Colombo Airport with the City Center and the two main train stations, Genova Brignole and Genova Principe. Buses depart every 30 minutes from the airport arrival terminal (Every day from 5:20 a.m. to 11.30 p.m). Tickets have a fixed cost of 6€ and they can be bought on board before departure. https://www.amt.genova.it/amt/trasporto-multimodale/volabus/english-version/.

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION INFO

Genoa (Genova) is a port city and the capital of northwest Italy's Liguria region. It's known for its central role in maritime trade over many centuries.

How to reach Genoa:

There are several choices a traveler will have to reach Genoa.

By Air

International accessibility since 1962 - approx. 3,688 passengers per day. The “Cristoforo Colombo” Airport is an international airport built on an an artificial peninsula, located in the west part of Genoa, about 7,4 Km from the city center.

The airport has direct connections from/to: London (2h 00), Paris (1h 40), Munich (1h 15), Amsterdam (2h 00), Moscow (6h 40) Barcelona (1h 25), Ibiza (1h 45), Palma De Mallorca (2h 00), Tirana (1h 45), Istanbul (3h 50), Rome (1h), as well as other Italian cities like Catania, Naples, Palermo, Cagliari, Olbia, Alghero, and Trapani.

Both Italian and international companies offer low cost connections to several European destinations. Almost all other European and international destination can be reached through the Munich, Paris, Amsterdam, London and Rome international airports.

Airlines: include: Alitalia, Air France, Ryanair, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, Tap Portugal, Volotea, AirBerlin, Vueling, S7 Airlines, Ernest.

Flight Information:

The complete timetable for “Cristoforo Colombo” Airport can be found HERE.

DIRECTIONS:

The airport has direct links to the local road and national motorway systems for rapid connections to both Rivieras, Piedmont, Lombardy and the tunnels through the Alps.

From the Genoa-airport motorway toll barrier, Nice is 210 km, Sanremo 140 km, Turin 170 km, Milan 140 km, La Spezia 105 km and Florence 225 km.

The motorway access road terminates at the roundabout inside the airport perimeter.

To the west is the marina and cargo area, to the east the fueling area and straight ahead the airport car park and passenger terminal.

For transportation Info, please see http://www.airport.genova.it/en/transportation-airport/.

Buses

Genoa Airport is linked to Brignole and Principe railway stations by Volabus service and to Sestri railway station by i24 service. From all these stations it's possible to reach the main cities in Liguria and in the nearby regions. You can buy your ticket just after the landing, at the arrival hall. You can also buy a 1,6 € bus+train ticket and use both buses and train within Genoa's borders.

Check trains' timetable at www.trenitalia.com.

Trains

Enterprise, Tel. 010 6143056, www.enterpriserentacar.it

Europcar, Tel. 010.6504881, www.europcar.it

Hertz, Tel. 010.6512422, www.hertz.it

Sixt rent a car, Tel. 010.6512111, www.sixt.it

Taxis

Taxi are available outside the arrival concourse. The cost for a taxi varies depending on the trip duration. A taxi from the airport to the city center may cost around 15-20 €. A special fare for shared taxis is also available. A fixed fare of 7 and 8 € per person (min. 3 persons) is available for rides to and from Principe railway station.

Car Rentals:

Most car rental companies serve the “Cristoforo Colombo” Airport.

Avis, Tel. 010.6507280, www.avisautonoleggio.it

Budget, Tel. 010.6507280, www.budgetautonoleggio.it

By Train

The main railway stations are Genova Brignole and Genova Piazza Principe, the first situated in the east side of the city centre, close to the business districts and the exhibition center, while the second is in the west side, close to the port, the university and the historical center. From these two stations depart the main trains connecting Genoa to France (3h 00), Turin (1h 45), Milan (1h) and Rome (4h). The Conference venue is near the Genova Piazza Principe train station.

By Car

Genoa can be reached through the Motorway A10, connecting Ventimiglia (and France) with La Spezia. There are 6 motorway exits in Genoa along the A10 motorway (i.e., Genova Voltri, Genova Pegli, Genova Aeroporto, Genova Ovest, Genova Est, and Genova Nervi). Participants coming from West (e.g., France, Turin, Milan, ...) should leave the motorway at “Genova Ovest” , while those coming from East (e.g., Pisa, Rome, ...) should leave the motorway at “Genova Est” or “Genova Nervi”.

TRANSPORTATION WITHIN GENOA

Bus and Tram

Public transportation in Genoa is mainly organized by the Azienda Mobilità e Trasporti (AMT), http://www.amt.genova.it/.

Genoa has an excellent bus network. Bus connections are well established, except for very late hours (after midnight). (There are night buses, but they do not go that often). Most buses and trams leave either at the two main train stations (Genova Piazza Principe and Genova Brignole) or at the Piazza Dante, in the city center. If you have questions, ask the driver before the bus/tram leaves. You can also purchase your ticket directly on the bus/tram from the driver. There are tickets for 1 or 10 rides, day tickets, and tickets for a week. Tickets can be purchased also at any newsagent shop.

Car

Traveling by car in Genoa is not the best choice as traffic is heavy in early morning (from 7:30am to 9:30am) and late afternoon (from 6:00pm to 8:00pm). Moreover, parking in the city is expensive (€ 2.50 per hour). It might even be difficult to find a parking lot. A map of available parking areas is available at: https://www.tuttocitta.it/parcheggi/genova.

Taxi

Taxis are the most simple and rapid way to move around in Genoa. There are a lot of taxis parking in Genoa, and taxis are available 24/24 at Genova Brignole and Genova Piazza Principe train stations, as well as at the “Cristoforo Colombo” Airport. Please refer to http://www.visitgenoa.it/en/taxis for any information on taxis.

Metro

The Genoa Metro (Italian: Metropolitana di Genova) is a light metro consisting of a single line that connects the centre of Genoa, Italy with the suburb of Rivarolo Ligure, to the north-west of the city centre.

BANKING & CURRENCY:

The official currency of Italy is the Euro. Banks are open from Monday to Friday, between 8:00am and 4:00pm. For cash withdrawal, please look for “Bancomat”, which accepts almost all credit cards.

BUSINESS HOURS:

Italians eat lately compared with typical European standards. Most restaurants in Genoa serve lunch from 12:30pm until 2:30pm and dinner from 7:00pm to 11:00pm.

Most shops and shopping centers in Genoa are open on weekdays from 08:30am to 08:00pm, with the exception of most grocery stores that tend to open earlier and close at 07:00pm. On Saturday, most shops are open from 9am to 7:00pm. On Sundays, some shops are open from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

The majority of bars, clubs, nightclubs and discos in Genoa are open from Thursday to Saturday from 10:00pm on. Some places open much earlier than that. Bars usually open in early afternoon. Clubs will open at 5:00-7:00pm, especially in the old part of the town.

The closing time varies from one club to another, although it is normal to stay up until 3:30 am.

ELECTRICITY:

In Genoa the norm is 220 V (230 V), 50 Hz, the European standard. A two-pin/three-pin plug systems is used.

WEATHER:

In summer, the days are long starting from the second half of May. In July, the average temperature is 27°C (80,6°F), the maximum daytime temperature is about 35°C (95°F) and the minimum nighttime temperature is 18°C (64.4°F). There are 16 hours of daylight per day in July. Chance of sunny day is about 75%. More information about climate and weather in Genoa can be found at:

http://www.accuweather.com/en/en/genoa/213624/weather-forecast/213624.