Meeting Venue

The CTA 2015 Meeting venue Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel, is located right on the banks of the river Aurajoki, a few blocks from the city centre market square.
Address: Linnankatu 32, 20100 Turku. To reserve accommodation in the hotel, please see the page "accommodation". The hotel has payable parking.

MAP

Turku - the meeting city

Turku, in the Southwest corner of Finland, is the oldest city and the first capital of the country. Today it is the capital of its region, the Southwest Finland. Turku is often said to be the only West European town in Finland as all medieval European towns have four things in common: a river for transport, a cathedral for religious power, a castle that represents the secular power and last but not least - a market place for acts of commerce. Turku has them all! Please visit the Turku tourist office Turku Touring's website for more information, or see the film TURKU FINLAND URBAN LEGENDS SINCE 1229.


Travelling

Turku is within easy reach by air via Helsinki (Finnair), via Stockholm (SAS), or via Riga (AirBaltic) or Gdansk (Wizzair). From Helsinki-Vantaa airport there is a shuttle bus to Turku (2.5 hours, departures every hour, tickets à 31,50 euros). It is also possible to take the train, but then you will first have to take the bus to Helsinki city center and take the train from Helsinki main railway station.

Travelling from Helsinki there are hourly train connections to Turku. The travel time is 2 hours and the normal price ticket is about 30-35 euros. For low-cost buses from Helsinki to Turku, there are for example Onnibus and Åbus (only in Finnish!). If travelling with low-cost companies, kindly notice the departure and arrival stops, which vary between different companies.

From Stockholm you may choose to travel to Turku on a ferry through one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world. Daily connections between Stockholm and Turku are operated by Silja Line and Viking Line.

For more information about Turku and travel connections, please visit the Turku Touring's website.


Transport links

Finnair
Airline information and timetables
SAS
Airline information and timetables
Air Baltic
Airline information and timetables
Wizzair
Airline information and timetables
Viking Line
Ferryboat connections from Stockholm
Tallink Silja
Ferryboat connections from Stockholm
The Finnish Rail
Timetables, train connections
Expressbus
Finnish long-distance buses

If you fly to Turku, there is a regular bus from the Turku airport to city centre (distance approx. 8 km), bus line nro 1 which runs every about 20 minutes. Tickets à 3 eur can be bought from the driver (cash, preferably coins). The bus continues from the city centre Market Square toward the Turku Harbour and has a stop also on the Linnankatu street, by the congress hotel Radisson Blu Marina Palace.

Taxi

Tel. +358 2 10041
Taxis are generally easy to get. There are several taxi stands in the city centre, one on the market square. For a taxi ride from Turku Airport to the city centre you may expect a fare between 25-35 euros. After 20.00 there is a small additional charge.


Weather in Turku

Please visit the Finnish Meteorological Institute's website for updated news on weather in Finland. You can also get a 5-day forecast of the local weather in Turku.


Languages

Turku is a bilingual city, official languages being Finnish and Swedish. Furthermore, you may expect that most people (particularly younger people) have at least basic knowledge of English.


Currency

The Finnish currency unit is the Euro. You can exchange foreign currency and traveller's cheques either in banks or in Forex currency exchange company (address: Eerikinkatu 12, by the Market Place). Banks are open from 10.00 to 16.30 on weekdays and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. There are numerous cash machines (ATMs) open around the clock and accepting all major credit cards. Major credit cards, in particular Visa, Eurocard and Mastercard are widely accepted almost everywhere (in hotels, restaurants, shops, taxis, cafeterias, bars, etc.).


Voltage

The electric current in Finland is 230V, 50Hz. Plugs are two-pin continental size.


Time

The time in Finland is GMT+2

Insurance

Please note that the meeting participants are not covered by any insurance (travel, medical, accident or liability) taken by the CTA2015 Organizers. The CTA 2015 Organizers cannot accept liability for any loss or damage suffered by any participant or accompanying person or other person during travel to and from the meeting or during the meeting. Participants are advised to consider purchasing their own travel insurance and to extend their personal policy to cover personal possessions.