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. The final station is Freiburg im Breisgau.

Getting to Freiburg from Frankfurt

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.

  • 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 in Frankfurt Airport

  • 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

  • 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 i Brsg 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.