OSE5 – Local info & Venue

Ljubljana

Ljubljana is one of those surprising European cities you might not have heard much about, but upon visiting, you quickly realise it’s a secret gem. A vibrant city of delights, characterized by its unique historical heritage, cultural creativity, friendliness and relaxed atmosphere, it has often been compared to -arguably the world’s most “hipster” city- Berin.

Slovenia’s lovely centrally located capital was made “Europe’s Green Capital” of 2016. Car traffic is banned from the city centre, leaving the leafy banks of the emerald-green Ljubljana River, which flows through the city’s heart, free for pedestrians and cyclists. It has one of the best-preserved Baroque quarters in Central Europe, that blends harmoniously with the younger Art Nouveau buildings. The pictoresque open market, a must-see spot, provides fresh ingredients which are the basis for culinary delights served in the many downtown restaurants. Piran, its glittering Venetian port, is one of the pearls of the Adriatic. Its mountains, part of the Julian Alps, provide great skiing in the winter and superb hiking and climbing in the summer.

Ljubljana is also one of the smallest capitals in Europe. This is a big plus, as everything you want to see or do is within reasonable distance, which makes it a great destination for a shortbreak.

Getting there

By plane 

The main international airport is Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, which is set 25 km from Ljubljana. It is currently served by around 250 direct scheduled flights per week from all major hubs in Europe.

OR

You can choose from a number of international airports close to Slovenia, depending where you are coming from. The biggest airport with the most international flights is 243 km away, and is in Venice in Italy. You can fly to Venice from all over Europe, and also directly from North America (Montreal, Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta), North Africa (Tunis, Casablanca) and Middle East (Dubai, Doha). Trieste is another Italian airport (88 km), situated more or less on Slovenian border. If you are travelling to Eastern Slovenia, the best solution is to fly to Zagreb (143 km) in Croatia.  In Austria, the closest airports to Slovenia are Klagenfurt (47 km), and Graz (113 km).

For more information: http://www.fraport-slovenija.si/en/

GoOpti – Low cost transfers from and to airports 

If you travel to Slovenia or want to get from Ljubljana to Venice, Trieste, Vienna, Milano, Bologna, Munich or other cities, the GoOpti service may be useful. On their website you can book transfer services between Ljubljana and numerous airports and cities. Venice – Ljubljana can be bought from €14, Munich – Ljubljana from €32 and Trieste – Ljubljana from €10.

We recommend shuttle service by GoOpti that enables you to book adaptable low-cost transfers to airports and cities, which are instantly confirmed, 100% reliable and carried out by skilled drivers and clean modern vehicles. All transfers are guaranteed, confirmed, available 24/7, door-to-door (from airport directly to hotel). We recommend that you book tickets as soon as possible because of GoOpti dynamic pricing models.
Tel +386 (0)1 320 45 30; Email info@goopti.com; Web www.goopti.com

By car 

You can enter Slovenia via one of the border crossings with Italy, Austria, Hungary or Croatia, or you can rent a car in one of our car rental agencies. Slovenia’s highways are good and clearly signposted.

By train 

Ljubljana can be easily reached from all major European cities. For more information visit http://www.slo-zeleznice.si/en/

Ljubljana Airport Bus 

Public bus No. 28 operates between Ljubljana bus station and Ljubljana airport.
Departures from the airport
From Monday to Friday: 5.00, 6.05, 7.00, 8.00, 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00, 20.00.
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays: 7.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00, 18.00, 20.00.
For more information visit: https://www.ap-ljubljana.si/en/

Taxi 

There is much competition for customers among taxis and shuttles offering transfers to and from Ljubljana Airport. Since you can pay double the price when taking a taxi at the airport at first sight, it may be better to book one in advance, in particular when travelling together with colleagues. These private transfer services offer cheaper rates as well as fast and good quality service.

Travel Documents 

To enter Slovenia you need a relevant travel document. EU/EEA citizens do not necessarily need a passport, a valid identity card is sufficient. Participants from non EU/EEA countries wishing to enter the Republic of Slovenia need a valid passport, or a valid passport and a visa or residence permit, unless otherwise stipulated by law or international agreement. For more information on whether you need a visa to enter Slovenia, choose your country at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Getting around Ljubljana

Taxi

Taxi to the meeting venue from anywhere in Ljubljana should cost between 5 and 10€.

Public transport

If you wish to make us of city bus, you need to purchase the Urbana public transport card – purchase of the ticket on the bus is not possible! The Urbana card is available from LPP ticket office at the main bus station, tourist information centres, most of city’s newspaper kiosks and post offices and also at the green Urbanomat ticket machines located across the city, mostly next to the bus stops (the machines accept both cash and credit cards). The card costs 2,00€ and can store up to 50€ of credit to be spent on city bus fares. The card can be topped up with cash at all the above-mentioned sales points. 90 minutes long ride costs 1.20€.

Bus stops near the venue:

Map of city bus routes.

Accommodation

For Ljubljana all kinds of accommodation together with booking option is available here.

For logistic reason we suggest you to book your hotel in the city centre.

 

Useful information

Slovenia is located in the Central European time zone (CET/CEST), which covers most of Western/Central Continental Europe, except for the British Isles and Portugal.

Mains power supply is 230 V, 50 Hz, Schuko plugs. Visitors from the British Isles, North America, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East will need adaptors.

Tap water is safe to drink. Even more, the quality of tap water in Ljubljana is really high.

The national emergency number is 112.

WORKSHOP VENUE

The workshop will be held at the Jožef Stefan Institute.

Founded in 1949, the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Ljubljana, is the leading Slovenian institution for pure and applied research in natural sciences and technology. At present, it employs about 1000 people and plays the role of a national institute, complementing the role of the universities and bridging the gap between academic research and industrial applications. The Computer Systems Department (CSD) performs research in advanced computing structures and efficient algorithms for massive-data processing, and systems for effective human-computer interaction. We concentrate on the optimization algorithms for complex and dynamic environments, embedded computer systems, pattern recognition, and interactive user interfaces. The research results are implemented within applications for transport, energy, production, environmental sustainability, medicine, and health.

Address

Jamova cesta 39
SI-1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia

SOCIAL DINNER VENUE

The GVW-II and OSE5 social dinner is organized at the Ljubljana Castle – a mighty medieval fortress. The Ljubljana Castle, a symbol of the Slovenian capital, is an interesting tourist point, the idyllic grounds for long strolls just a glance away from the lively city centre. The castle offers many cultural, historic and entertaining events throughout the year.

The dinner will be served in Gostilna na gradu. The meeting point is in the castle’s courtyard, on Thursday at 19:45. You can reach the Ljubljana Castle by funicular or on foot. Note that funicular works in November till 20:00, meaning that walking is the only option for returning from the castle. More information how to get to the castle can be found here.