15th World Congress of Semiotics / IASS-AIS

Venue

All of the Congress’s activities are hosted by the University of Macedonia. It is housed in a group of buildings with a total area of appr. 40.000 square meters, consisting of lecture theatres, teaching and seminar rooms, faculty and administration offices.

Sustainability

The Organizing Committee is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of the 15th WCS. In line with the EMAS guidelines for sustainable meetings and events (2018), we planned an environmentally friendly Congress taking care to:

Congress venue is easily accessible by public transport, walking or cycling
Waste collection and recycling system in place
No additional resources had to be used/transported for Congress rooms’ use
Minimal use of printed materials
Conference pack: includes only natural, recycled and recyclable materials
Catering: involves only seasonal, plant-based food

General Services

Participants have access to a variety of facilities and services:

Free Wi-Fi: Participants/attendees will receive username & password allowing them free internet throughout the Congress venue
Computer hub: for personal communication/writing & printing purposes)
Childcare: To accommodate participants/attendees with dependent children, on-site childcare facilities are available for both pre-school (18 months – 5 years old) and early-school age children (6-12 years old) at a minimal cost (€ 50 for all 5 days of the Congress, or € 10/day). Both groups are run by specialized staff.
Medical services: During the Congress there will be free on-site medical service to ensure immediate response to any potential emergency.

Accommodation

Thessaloniki has a large number of 5* Hotels and a smaller number of 4* Hotels. However, prices are relatively low compared to most other European cities. The city’s 5* hotels offer exceptional hospitality and luxury facilities at very reasonable prices. At the same time, there is an abundance of 3* hotels in the city centre area that also serve for a quality stay at much lower rates.

Average price for a double room (including breakfast and taxes)

in a 5* Hotel : €120-170
in a 4* Hotel : €80-120
in a 3* Hotel : €60-80

For a comprehensive range of hotel options visit this page.

Transportation

From Macedonia Airport to the city centre

Car: On the airport Arrivals level, you may find all major car rental companies.
Taxi: Outside the Arrivals exit there is a taxi waiting area. The taxi fare to the city center is approximately 15–20€ from 5 am to 12 pm, while from 12 pm to 5 am expect to be charged an extra 8 euros for this particular route. Taxi ride time is about 20-30 minutes.
Bus: The airport is served on a 24-hour basis by the public bus service. The route takes approximately 30-40 minutes and tickets cost €2. There are two bus departures every hour. The bus station is located just outside the Arrivals hall.

From the city centre to the Congress venue (University of Macedonia)

The University of Macedonia is located in the centre of Thessaloniki, in walking distance (5-15 min.) from many hotels. It is connected with the city centre as well as other parts of the city with a number of different bus routes. Buses No 2, 8, 14, 31, 27, 28, 58 stop right in front of the University and the ticket bus is €1. In general, buses are a very cheap and effective way to move around the city. Taxis are available almost everywhere in the city. A taxi ride from the city centre to the Congress venue is about 5-10 mins and costs €3.5-5.