XX. International Congress of the International Union for the Study of Social Insects

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Travel and Visa

Travel

The closest airports are in EuroAirport Basel, Mulhouse Freiburg (ca. 1hr bus ride) and Frankfurt (ca. 2 hours intercity train connection). For parts of Europe, travelling by train might be most convenient.

Getting to Freiburg from Frankfurt

Overview

Freiburg is well connected by long-distance train. The journey takes roughly 2 to 3 hours, depending on whether you get a direct train or need to change. There are multiple daily services.

Below you’ll find step‑by‑step instructions, suggested routes, and tips.

From Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Freiburg

Key points

  • Frankfurt Airport has a long-distance train station (Fernbahnhof) as well as a regional train station (Regionalbahnhof). NOTE: they are located at different areas of the airport, so don’t confuse the stations!
  • Some long‑distance trains run directly from the airport to Freiburg.
  • If no direct train fits your schedule, you can either take regional transportation to Frankfurt Main Station and take a train from there (see below), or take a train to for example in Mannheim or Karlsruhe and catch a train to Freiburg from there.
  • The first long-distance train from the airport can depart very early; the last ones depart in late evening.
  • Average journey time for direct trains is around 2 h 10 min.

Finding the right Train Stations

  • Terminal 1:
    • Regionalbahnhof (Local/S-Bahn): Located on Level -1, below the terminal. Follow signs for “Train stations S” to reach it.
    • Fernbahnhof (Long-Distance): Located on the level above the Regionalbahnhof, directly connected to Terminal 1 by a footbridge from Level 3.
  • Terminal 2:
    • You must first take the free Sky Line shuttle to Terminal 1.
    • From Terminal 1, follow the connecting footbridge to the Fernbahnhof or go down to Level -1 for the Regionalbahnhof. 

From Frankfurt Main Station (Hauptbahnhof, Hbf) to Freiburg

Key points

  • There are many daily direct and indirect connections from Frankfurt Hbf to Freiburg.
  • The journey time can be as short as ~ 2h 20m on fast direct trains.

Local / Connecting Transport in Freiburg

  • The Freiburg main station (Freiburg Hbf) is centrally located. Many hotels or conference venues are reachable via tram or bus from the station.
  • Tram lines and local buses depart regularly from platforms outside the station to various districts of Freiburg.
  • Check out the DB Navigator app (for train planning) and Freiburg’s local transit app/schedules (for tram/bus) for the most up‑to‑date connection info.
  • It’s a good idea to to arrive at least 10–15 minutes before train departure to find platforms and get settled, especially with luggage.

Tips & Practical Advice

  • Book tickets in advance if possible (for ICE/IC), especially for desirable slots or busy times.
  • Check for direct connections first, but allow for alternatives with one transfer.
  • Be aware of possible construction or route diversions (rail maintenance can sometimes affect schedules).
  • When using the app (“DB Navigator”) or train company website (https://int.bahn.de/en?dbkanal_007=sprachauswahl-en), search for “Frankfurt Flughafen (Long-distance)” or simply “Frankfurt Flughafen” — the system should consider both regional and Fernbahnhof options.
  • Always validate departure platform shortly before departure (on signage or announcements).
  • For late arrivals, check night trains or whether a change in schedule is needed.

Visa

You never have to apply for a visa if your country is a Schengen member1 . For all the other cases, see https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/buergerservice/faq/-/606848

If you have to apply for a visa to visit Germany, you should start early to familiarize yourself with the application process (see Visa navigator at https://www.germany.info/us-en/service/visa). Depending on the country, you are coming from, this might take a while. We can support your visa application with an invitation letter stating the reason for coming to Germany. You probably have to proof/show that you can finance your trip. How this proof should look like will dependent on your country. Generally, we cannot provide such a proof, except when you are supported by an IUSSI travel grant or as invited speaker.

1Schengen states:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. For non-EU citizens living in another European country regular visa regulations apply.