Practical information

The Knowint22 conference takes place on the West Campus Lugano of USI Università della Svizzera italiana. Campus health protection rules will be applied. The use of a face-mask is mandatory in common indoor areas. Plenary and parallel sessions will be held in suitable spaces where social distancing rules can be respected. You can find an up-to-date description of the USI COVID-19 rules at the following link: https://www.usi.ch/en/feeds/13812   

LATEST UPDATES

According to the new Swiss Federal Council ordinances, a 2G Covid certificate (or an equivalent 2G certificate, e.g. EU Covid Certificate or Green Pass) is mandatory to attend any academic event. The 2G Covid certificate is only granted when you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.

From January 22 on, travellers who are vaccinated or have recovered from the disease will not be required anymore to show a negative Covid test when entering Switzerland.

You will find all the information you need for entering Switzerland on this page:
https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/empfehlungen-fuer-reisende/quarantaene-einreisende.html#367328963

For more specific information about the situation in Canton Ticino:
https://www4.ti.ch/dss/dsp/covid19/home/

Participants will be informed immediately of any relevant change of policy regarding Covid Certificates or other restrictions of access.

The city of Lugano is situated in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland, on the shore of Lake Lugano (or Ceresio) between the mountains of Monte San Salvatore to the South and Monte Brè to the Northeast.

By plane

The closest airport is Milano Malpensa, the largest international airport of Northern Italy. From Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 it is possible to reach Lugano directly by the S50 train (direction: Biasca), which runs every hour from 4.30am until 1.00am (see https://www.tilo.ch/en/Collegamenti/Collegamenti-S50.html), or by a shuttle bus (see https://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Shuttle-bus-Lugano-Malpensa/43909.html for information about different companies). Another airport nearby in Northern Italy is Milano Orio al Serio; a shuttle bus takes you to Milan, from where you reach Lugano by train.

As an alternative you might consider flying to Zurich Airport, two hours and fifteen minutes from Lugano by train. There is at least one fast Intercity train every hour directly from Zurich Airport to Lugano. For additional information check the website of the Swiss Federal Railways: https://www.sbb.ch/en/buying/pages/fahrplan/fahrplan.xhtml

By train

Lugano has good railway connections to many cities in the southern and northern part of Europe. When arriving from north, trains pass through the Gotthard Base Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in the world, which was inaugurated in 2016 (https://www.alptransit.ch/en/gotthard/gotthard-base-tunnel/). The station is close to the city centre (about 10 minutes by foot) and is served by a cable car, buses, and taxis. Here you can look up the distances to the main Swiss and European cities and find additional information: https://www.luganoregion.com/en/travel-essentials/getting-here/lugano-by-train. Check the website of the Swiss Federal Railways (FFS-SBB) to find your best solution: https://www.sbb.ch/en/buying/pages/fahrplan/fahrplan.xhtml

By car

Lugano is served by the motorway axis that connects northern Europe to the Mediterranean area.
From Milan: take the Laghi A9 motorway in the direction of Como-San Gottardo or the A8 motorway in the direction of Varese-Stabio (Gaggiolo). Advised exit: Lugano Sud.
From Zurich: take the A2 motorway in the direction of San Gottardo-Chiasso-Italy. Advised exit: Lugano Nord.
Please remember that to drive on Swiss motorways it is necessary to be equipped with the motorway sticker that must be applied onto the car windshield (the cost: CHF 40.-, valid from January to December) it may be purchased at Customs offices (Gaggiolo - Stabio, Ponte Tresa, Chiasso).

We also offer a limited number of free parking-slots in the USI Campus Ovest. Please send a request to the conference e-mail address (subject “parking”): [email protected]

Public transport - mainly by buses within cities and by trains between cities - is organized in the Arcobaleno integrated fare network, which divides the Ticino Canton in different fare zones. A single ticket in the zone of Lugano city (zone 100, CHF 2.30) entitles you to travel as often as you wish for 60 minutes within that zone, using any of the available lines.
For bus lines and timetables for the Lugano area see: https://www.tplsa.ch/en/#.

For information about bus accessibility, visit the following page: https://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Public-transportations-in-Lugano/84573.html.

To reach the USI Campus:
From the railway station, use bus number 6, direction Cornaredo and get off at Università stop.
From the city centre, use bus number 5, direction Viganello and get off at Università stop.

Booking a hotel room in Lugano usually includes a Ticino Ticket. The Ticket allows to travel for free in the whole region by using public transport and to get additional advantages such as discounts on mountain railways and on the entrance fees of the main tourist attractions. Hotel guests receive the Ticino Ticket at the arrival upon check-in and can use it until midnight of the departure day.

To obtain a digital version of Ticino Ticket, you must have a smartphone on you and, when making your reservation, must communicate your name, surname and e-mail address to the accommodation facility. If you prefer to fill in your Ticino Ticket and activate it on your own when checking in, watch the videotutorial or download the user manual at the following website: https://www.ticino.ch/en/ticket.html

The following hotels offer KNOWINT participants rooms at a reduced rate. To obtain the discount, you must complete your booking by directly contacting the hotels. Please send an e-mail to/phone the desired hotel and mention the USI-KNOWINT reservation code. Do not use third parties websites. It is preferable to book rooms before December 15th, 2021.

All prices include breakfast and the local tourism tax.

Hotel City ***

- double room used by one person: CHF 184.65 per room and night 
- double room used by two persons: CHF 229.30 per room and night

Via G. Bagutti 4, 6900 Lugano
+41 (0)91 222 09 00
[email protected]
https://www.hotelcitylugano.ch/

Hotel Nassa Garni ***

- double Economy room used by one person (without lake view): CHF 130.- per room and night 
- double Economy room used by two persons (without lake view): CHF 170.- per room and night
- double Standard room used by one person (with lake view): CHF 140.- per room and night 
- double Standard room used by two persons (with lake view): CHF 180.- per room and night

Via Nassa 60 / 62, 6900 Lugano
+41 (0)91 910 70 60
[email protected]
https://www.hotelnassa.ch/?lang=en

Hotel Acquarello ***

- double room used by one person: CHF  89.50 per room and night
- double room used by two persons: CHF 134.10 per room and night

This hotel is adjacent to the cable car station of Piazza Cioccaro. Most rooms face that direction and have a nice view on Lugano's lively center, but are exposed, from 5.00am to 12.00pm, to the peculiar noise caused by the cable car. You might want to take that into consideration when booking your room.

Piazza Cioccaro 9, 6900 Lugano
+41 (0)91 911 68 68
[email protected]
http://www.acquarello.ch

Hotel Pestalozzi **

- double Comfort room used by one person: CHF 128.40 per room and night
- double Comfort room used by two persons: CHF 141.80 per room and night
- single Flair room: CHF 95.40 per room and night
- single Comfort room: CHF 100.40 per room and night

To book a room on the hotel's website, please insert the USI-KNOWINT promo code. If you plan to stay several nights, please also check the special offers published on the hotel's website.

Piazza Indipendenza 9, 6900 Lugano
+41 (0)91 921 46 46
[email protected]
http://​www.pestalozzi-lugano.ch

On the campuses free Wi-Fi networks are available.

You can connect to Eduroam Wi-Fi, using the credentials of your institution. For a short guide: https://help.switch.ch/connect/connect-to-eduroam/

As an alternative, the USI-GUEST network is also available for free, upon registration. At this link you can find a short explanation of the activation procedure.